Also, try for some of the characters introduced in O'Neil's series. Like, Myra Fermin for a love interest. Also, for the villain, I'd suggest Reveren Jeremiah Hatch. Again, from the O'Neil run. Very cool bad guy. A catholic preist who, shortly after becoming a preist, joined the military in a time of war. He was caught in a particularly bloody battle, and all the death and destruction caused him to loose his faith in God. He let his cross drop to the ground as he brutally slaughtered the enemy. He returned to the states, and used his position as a preist to atain power. Eventually, he became Arch Bishop of Hub City and a powerful crime boss and arms dealer. He';s in cahoots with the Hub City mayor, who's incredibly inept and drunk half of the time. Hatch is also bat**** insane, which is fun to write. And example:
When he first encountered Q, he had Lady Shiva (who was working for him at the time) beat the crap out of him, and had his other henchmen shoot him in the head (it was very low caliber, so he survived) and dump in him in the lake. When Shiva sked if he thought that was too brutal, he responded:
"You're right. I am a fair man, and I shall give him a chance. SHould he rise from the waters, unharmed, singing 'Danny Boy', I will let him live."
