ok, I want to make a superhero cake for a birthday but, do not need many servings. I do want a multi layer cake though. Can I do a fake base? How early can I put fondant on and decorate it - then just add the last layer the night before? What to do to make sure it does not fall off fake layer?Please help!

forgot to tell you I made Michele's Revised Fondant last night and that is what I want to use. (how do I get it black?)

Get a dummy cake (styrofoam) put some crisco on it, and cover like you normally do. Colors will fade a bit in the light (you shouldn't do it more than a couple of days in advance).

Black fondant is a b****. Buy it if you can. Otherwise, start with brown, then add black. Or paint it.

the real cake will not just simply "fall off" the other cake, because you have "glued" your real cake to your fake cake with a bit of thinned fondant or some BC or some royal icing.

Good luck.
HTH