tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14515323437020996552024-03-14T01:04:55.427-04:00The Story MunkeysWe are the Story Munkeys watch us danceDrew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-85971165114550546262012-02-15T11:43:00.001-05:002012-02-15T11:45:09.542-05:00Another Excerpt from my short stories.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHvPRlRNI/AAAAAAAAADo/MwWx960Uk4U/s1600-h/demon+room1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHvPRlRNI/AAAAAAAAADo/MwWx960Uk4U/s400/demon+room1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419316603489961170" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 347px; " /></a><div>As a child I found great comfort in the ever-changing caverns formed by the various quilts and blankets on my bed. Not only did they keep me warm in the winter but also they provided a labyrinth of hiding places from the various monsters under my bed and Trolls living in my closet*. They also provided a secure vantage point for me to observe the nocturnal happenings of the nighttime world. From the mouth of the wool caves I watched the singing winds choreograph the branches of the deep woods behind my parents small farmhouse.<br /><br />On one particular night as the pregnant harvest moon illuminated my tiny bedroom a very peculiar thing happened. The branches of the newly barren trees swayed in the midnight winds, splitting the moonlight and casting my room in a kaleidoscope of shapes that shifted and spun like solid smoke projected across every surface. I nestled beneath the innermost caverns of the mountain of quilts less for warmth and more for the peace of mind that I was in my own secure space. The only entrance to my cave was the tunnel that gave me a perfect view of the wall opposite of the window. A mirror hung next to the opened bedroom door. A collection of books on monsters and lost civilizations sat in a vaguely orderly pile on top of my antique dresser, and may pads of drawing paper and markers lay strewn about my hand-me-down desk.<br /><br />I slipped in and out of sleep as I watched the shadows play in the two feet between my desk and the top of the pile of books that cluttered my dresser to the top of the opened door. The only sounds in my room were the winds whipping at the window and the shallow breathing of an almost sleeping child.<br /><br />There was a sound then, like that of a glass sliding across a very short wooden table. My eyes snapped open and my heart began to race. I froze, still in the fear that this new sound was somehow related to one of the many beasties I knew that lurked in the hidden spaces of the world. My heart was beating rapidly in my chest and it took all my restraint to not breath out in short panicked gasps for fear of whatever had made that sound discovering the mouth of my cave.<br /><br />There was another sound then, closer, and it repeated many times. My eyes stung with tears but I refused to move from my cave. My thoughts were that if it was that something were to do me harm, then it would only react if it knew I was there.<br /><br />It was then that a part of my network of caves shifted, as if something roughly the size of a soda can had pressed into the fabric and pushed it down. A few inches away another depression formed, and then the first depression seemed to lesson for only a moment before another appeared a few inches away from the last, as if something was moving across the top side of the quilts mere inches from my now completely frozen in fear body. I heard the sound of something hitting the floor in front of my bed. I could not see down into the deep sea of shadow cast by the top of my bed. I was almost sure something was moving in the shadows but I dared not move, else I alert the thing to my presence.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHuayxvDI/AAAAAAAAADg/mhzz0Dfrtnw/s1600-h/demon+room2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHuayxvDI/AAAAAAAAADg/mhzz0Dfrtnw/s400/demon+room2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419316589402111026" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 255px; " /></a><br /><div><div><br /><br />In the spiraling shadows that danced on the wall before me I could make out movement. Something the size of a house cat was moving onto the top of my desk. But it moved less like an animal and more like a hunched over man.<br /><br />It riffled though some of the things on my desk and in the moonlight I saw a yellowed four fingered hand the size of a doll's hand lift a small Swiss army knife that I had been given months before. The blades were dull from use as a make shift pencil sharpener but the scissors were razor sharp and I almost cried out as I saw them reflecting the moon light like twin blades of mercury. The small hands moved back into the shadows and then after a moment I heard the sound of what I hoped was the knife hitting the desk.<br /><br />The shadow of whatever it was moved within the forest of two-dimensional branches projected on my wall from the window behind me. It bounded from the corner of my desk to the pile of books, and from the pile of books to the top of my bedroom door.<br /><br />From the glimpses of its outline I could only assume it was a small man now sitting atop the door, his small thin legs hanging down like two poorly carved dolls legs. It was then that it lifted its tiny, yellowed hand and ignited a small rolled cigar that was held between its needle-like yellowed teeth.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHt-XejBI/AAAAAAAAADY/fTaVSFsXNjk/s1600-h/demon+room3.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHt-XejBI/AAAAAAAAADY/fTaVSFsXNjk/s400/demon+room3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419316581771414546" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 212px; " /></a><br /><div><div><br /><br />The little creature was truly terrifying for a small child (who had forgotten to breathe) to behold. Its skin was the color of aged paper that had a waxy sheen. Its face was set with two small black eyes and a large hooked nose. A thin white mustache jutted out above the large jagged slit in its face that I could only assume was its needle-toothed mouth. It was the size of a parlor doll; it was dressed in a black coat and short black pants. And its legs ended in hooves that looked like they were made of polished glass.<br /><br />I was gripped by terror. The thing just sat atop my door smoking its foul-smelling cigarette. It seemed to be unaware of my presence, and after what seemed like an eternity it stood up on top of the door and stubbed out its cigarette with one of its strange cloven feet. It then hopped down to the desk, strode across the desk, and dropped to the floor. I lost site of it, but moments later I heard a scuttling sound across the floor grate that served as the lid to the floor furnace which heated the house. Moments later I heard soft sounds in the kitchen. I had not moved. I was frozen in fear still: there was a small creature roaming my house, and, while I was twice its size, I could not bring myself to moving to investigate. I spent many hours silent and still, listening as the sounds of the little thing moved about my house. I dreaded what it was doing, its needle-teeth filling my head with ghastly images. I took some small comfort in the fact that it never seemed to move to the side of the house where my mother and father were sleeping. I wanted to cry out and warn them, but I dared not do so for fear of the little man.<br /><br />Many hours later as the first cry of the morning birds came I heard the sounds of what I could only guess were its hooves on the floor of my room. Soon after, the indention appeared in the ceilings of my caves and then I heard the sounds on the windowsill. There was the sound of glass scraping which abruptly stopped. Then, I heard it: the little man. It spoke with a voice like silk and broken glass.<br /><br />“<span style="font-style: italic; ">Child, if I or any of my kind had come for you, I would have taken you, there would have been nothing you could have done about it. Your mother and father would have been helpless to stop me and would have awoken to find your bed empty.</span>”<br /><br />I then heard the sound of the glass scraping followed quickly by silence. Some time later the first shafts of dawn began to fill my room. I heard my father moving from his bedroom to the kitchen and the sound of the coffee pot bubbling to life. I waited until the sunlight bathed my room completely before I ventured from my hiding place. I moved to my desk, and there mixed in the pile of markers, was a small chunk of foul smelling cigar and the opened pocketknife.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHtVSh92I/AAAAAAAAADQ/6gVvBeOs7no/s1600-h/demon+room4.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzVHtVSh92I/AAAAAAAAADQ/6gVvBeOs7no/s400/demon+room4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419316570744813410" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 364px; " /></a><br /><div><br /><br />I spent much of the next week in silence, my mind flashing back to the events of that night. I pooled over the books in my elementary school library. But between the shelves about aliens and werewolves there were no accounts of little men. It was at that point I made the decision to further my study of the world outside of my understanding. I knew that somewhere out there, someone else had to have encountered these creatures. The more fantastical elements of television and film began to lose there edge - the monsters that were contained in the 25 inch box that sat on top of my parents' entertainment center seemed less aw inspiring, the wires and zippers were more visible the lines of the makeup were easy to pick out. I had experienced real fear, the fear that comes from the knowledge that we are not alone in this world, that there are things out there in the darkness that can come and go as they please. It was at that point I understood that old cliché that ignorance is bliss, because knowing that there is so much you don’t know, is one of the greatest burdens I have ever had to carry. From that day on I have made it a point to study everything I can about myths and lore, because there are things out there my friends, that we can only begin to understand. Even with all our technology, we are still just fleshy beings cowering near the glow of our flat screen fires in our suburban modular caves.<br /><br />Sleep safely, and as always, believe in everything<br /><br />* I made sure to single out the Trolls for the Trolls must never be omitted else I offend their court and they stop protecting my clothes from the various other things that stalk the shadows of the forest of my closets.</div></div></div></div>Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859116790713483167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-43333984636545723812012-02-15T11:39:00.000-05:002012-02-15T11:39:22.496-05:00TMNT - Mouser Time (sample pages)Just thought I would post the TMNT sample pages and script from the Mighty Mike Exner III<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">PAGE ONE – 3 panels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 1. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are engaged
in furious combat with dozens of mouser robots in their sewer home. The mouser
robots are being taken apart systematically by the efficient and deadly attacks
of the Turtles as they wield their ninja weaponry. Leonardo is the focus of the
panel, as he dispatches the mouser robots with grim resolve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Would somebody mind explaining how
these mouser robots figured out where we live?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 2. Michelangelo and Rafael are engaged with
mouser robots as well, and are fighting side-by-side. Raphael is spearing and
slashing robots with his sai, and Michelangelo is bashing them with his
nunchakus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">RAFAEL:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Aw, who cares, Leo? It’s not like this
little slice of sewer was prime real estate or anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MICHELANGELO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yeah, besides--Donny’s the one with the
big brain. Why don’tcha knock on his shell and ask him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 3. Donatello is thrusting his bo staff through
the mouth of one of the mouser robots with enough force that the end of the
staff is bursting from the other end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<br />
As much as I’m sure you’d enjoy that, Mikey, anybody lays a hand on my shell
and they’re getting the shaft!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">PAGE TWO – 5 panels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 1. Michelangelo is showboating, and dispatching
two of the mousers with his twirling nunchakus, smashing them to pieces. But
because he isn’t taking the threat too seriously, he fails to notice the mouser
descending on him from above, its open jaws aiming for his exposed shoulder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MICHELANGELO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Pretty nice move, Don--but let me
introduce you to a little maneuver I like to call the sayonara spin cycle!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 2. The mouser sinks its metallic teeth into
Michelangelo’s shoulder, drawing blood. Michelangelo reacts to the bite by
crying out in agony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MICHELANGELO:<br />
Aaaggghhh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 3. Donatello’s face is registering his shock at
the injury Michelangelo has received. He’s responsible for it, so he should
look plenty distressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<br />
Aw, no! Mikey!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 4. Donatello uses his bo staff to vault over his
two brothers as they continue to battle the mousers in an effort to keep the
robots from the collapsed form of Michelangelo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<br />
Coming through!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 5. Donatello presses a button on a crudely
constructed electronic device that looks like a control stick of some kind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">PAGE THREE – 6 panels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 1. The mousers abruptly power down and cease to
function. Raphael is perplexed by the sudden change, but Leonardo is already
moving towards the injured Michelangelo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">RAPHAEL:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Hey, they ain’t chompin’ no more. What
gives?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 2. Leonardo is crouched beside Michelangelo,
holding a rag over his wound, but both he and Michelangelo are looking in the
direction of Donatello. Leonardo has a grim expression, and the face of
Michelangelo is registering both his physical and emotional pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ask Donatello, Raph. I have a sinking
feeling this was his doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MICHELANGELO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Ugh. Sick burn. Say it ain’t so, dude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 3. Donatello is approaching his brothers, with a
shameful expression on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Guys, let me explain. After our first
encounter with the mousers I thought it prudent to study one for purely
scientific reasons. Once I’d reverse-engineered the specimen, I found it
remarkably simple to duplicate, and--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 4. Leonardo has jumped to his feet and is poking
a finger in Donatello’s chest. He’s snapping at Donatello, and Donatello is
snapping back<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And what!? You adopted them as pets and
decided to sick them on your family?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It wasn’t like that! I reprogrammed
them, and figured they’d be useful as a training exercise or something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 5. Leonardo and Donatello continue to argue with
one another. Standing between and slightly behind them is Rafael, who sees
something that his brothers do not because they are arguing so fiercely. Though
we cannot see it, Raphael is seeing Splinter enter the room, and he’s trying to
warn his brothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<br />
And this is why I didn’t tell you about it, dude--because I knew you’d get your
panties in a bunch! You think you’re god’s gift to reptiles! Leo knows best!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<br />
I don’t think I always know what’s best, Donatello. But for as smart as you
are, you can be seriously stupid sometimes! In what universe could this be
considered a good idea!?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">RAPHAEL:<br />
Uh, guys…?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 6. Splinter has entered the room, and the
Turtles have reverted to submissive positions in response.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SPLINTER:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What is the meaning of this!? One of
you had better have an extraordinary explanation for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<br />
M-Master Splinter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">PAGE FOUR – 6 panels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 1. Splinter is regarding the Turtles with a firm
expression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">SPLINTER:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 2. Leonardo and Donatello both try to explain
what happened to Splinter. In the background, one of the disabled mouser robots
is lying on its side, with its head facing the scene in front of it. We’re
going to start zooming in on the mouser robot, so it needs to be visible in
this panel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">An ill-fated and misguided training
exercise, Master Splinter. Michelangelo was injured as a result of Donatello’s
carelessness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<br />
Master Splinter, Michelangelo’s injury was an unfortunate accident--and if
Leonardo was half as sharp as his katana he would realize this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 3. We’re zooming in closer on the mouser robot
now, so we should only be able to see certain parts of the Turtles, if any of
them at all, as we move the shot away. Since the mouser robot is on the floor,
we’ll probably only see their lower legs and feet or something like that.
Whatever works best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<br />
Oh, that’s real nice, Donny. And maybe if you’d take the bo staff out of your
ass and listen for a change this never would have happened!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">How about I take it and stick it up
your ass instead, oh fearless leader?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 4. We’ve zoomed very close to the mouser now,
and are seeing the distorted reflection of the Turtles and Master Splinter as
he chides them in its eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">MASTER SPLINTER:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Leonardo! Donatello! That is enough!<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO/DONATELLO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Sorry, Master Splinter…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 5. Baxter Stockman is sitting in a chair in
front of a sophisticated surveillance monitor watching the Turtles and Master
Splinter as the Turtles begin arguing again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<br />
But Leo started it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">LEONARDO:<br />
Shut up, Don.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">DONATELLO:<br />
You shut up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 6. Baxter Stockman is speaking into a
communication device of some kind, and he has a supremely self-satisfied and
smug expression on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BAXTER STOCKMAN:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The rat is in the trap. Are you in
position?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">PAGE FIVE – 2 panels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 1. This is practically a splash page. Old Hob is
standing on a New York street in front of a manhole cover flanked on each side
by large amounts of mousers and his gang of street thugs. The thugs should be
armed with various street weaponry such as chains, bats, tire irons, etc. If
you want to give a few of them guns, go for it. Old Hob should be the central
focus of the shot, and he should look vicious and menacing, hunched over the
manhole cover, showing jagged teeth and claws, as if he can’t wait to pounce
down onto the Turtles and their master.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">OLD HOB:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh, we’re here all right. My boys are
itchin’ to tear those green freaks to pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panel 2. Small panel. Close in on Old
Hob. His face is twisted with hatred.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">OLD HOB:<br />
But the rat is mine. When he dies, I want to hear him squeal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-77959669845292369742012-02-08T22:39:00.002-05:002012-02-08T22:54:11.173-05:00Come away, O human child! To the waters and the wild<div>Another excerpt...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I have just arrived home from the hookah bar, my body went into convulsions, my legs, already working on will power alone gave out on me and I crawled the 20 feet from the front door to the bathroom. In my 29 years of life I have learned that proud men craw if they want to avoid death. I leaned my head over the toilet bowl and expelled bloody bile into the chemical blue water. My body felt like a furnace, heat radiated off of it like warm asphalt during a summer rain storm. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I rested my head against the cool porcine, trying to not think of how unclean my room mates are, my eyes losing focus, it reminded me of a time long ago, when I was in Elementary school... </div><div><br /></div><div>Elementary school was always a little strange for me. There were times when the adults would bring me into these rooms and have me put together handfuls of shapes into all sorts of configurations. Then they would say things like </div><div><br /></div><div>“Have you taken this test before?” or “How are you doing this so quickly?” or “Are you sure you have not been shown the solutions?”</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/S0CNosB48bI/AAAAAAAAAEs/lXE9e0lTgOo/s1600-h/shapes+hand.png"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/S0CNosB48bI/AAAAAAAAAEs/lXE9e0lTgOo/s400/shapes+hand.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422489681507447218" border="0" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 322px; height: 342px; " /></a><div><br /></div><div>At the time I had no idea what they were talking about. Things like I.Q., gifted classes, and magnet schools were concepts that I had yet to discover. The only thing that concerned me was the fact that there were seven red shapes, four blue shapes, and two yellow shape one of them plastic and the other was a cut bit if cardboard painted yellow. The thing that bothered me was the fact that there were two different shades of yellow. I could jump through whatever little hoops they wanted, I was willing to be the strange disabled child that was both well spoken and unable to walk without swagger, but for the life of me I could not figure out why in the name of the old ones these people were not bothered by the fact that there was clearly a missing peace, they felt that a cardboard clone would somehow replace it, and while the cardboard clone did a good job of helping complete the shapes so they would form the patterns the adults would ask for every since told me that there was just something not right about it. The feel was not smooth, it smelled like paint and paper, it even sounded off when it was moved across the table.</div><div><br /></div><div>When I brought this up to the adults asking them why they had done such a thing they told me that the other peace had gone missing and so they replaced it. I was overcome with confusion. My first line of questioning involved their lack of search parties for little plastic shapes, and how long was the little shape missing before they decided to replace it? I was told that because these particular adults move from school to school in an attempt to find students they thought to be gifted they were not in the habit of making the rounds to all the schools but once a year, so it must have gotten “lost in the shuffle.” It bothered me that this was somehow acceptable, the missing shape was given little to no thought, it was so easily replicable, I felt bad for the shape, alone lost somewhere without its clan, left to wander the classrooms or guidance councillor offices of some other school never to see its people again.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next line of questioning I dove into involved asking them why they had chosen to replace the missing place peace with cardboard and not plastic. I was told that it was easier to just replace the peace with what they had on hand and that it made the set different, they had lost a shape and replacing it with a shape that was the same but slightly different was in a way like me being in a classroom full of “normal” kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was then I felt my world shifted slightly at the implications of that statement.</div><div><br /></div><div>Was there another me? If so what happened to the other me? Was there a “normal” me who was somehow lost and I was the replacement me? Was there a me that looked and acted like the “normal” me at a glance but upon closer examination would be easily noticed as something not quite like the rest of the kids, not quite “normal”? Was I that cardboard me?</div><div><br /></div><div>They marveled at the deftness of my hand eye coordination and the ability for me to casually complete what they considered complicated puzzles, my surface thoughts focused on the tasks at hand and my inner mind clicked away at the possibilities that I was somehow a replacement unit for something, or in this case someone that had come before.</div><div><br /></div><div>Later I would go to the library and research replacement people, and it would be by chance alone that after finding scientific journals on the concepts of cloning, books about working out to a new you and even books about androids that may or may not have been having nocturnal memories of electrical farm animals I stumbled upon an old book of folk stories and poems that made mention of something known as a changeling. A man by the name of William Butler Yeats had written a poem titled “The Stolen Child” that poem told the story of faeries who lured a human child away to there wild places to spare him the pain of dealing with the hard reality of the real world.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/S0Ez-vxqZnI/AAAAAAAAAE0/tN1EfpoPlqs/s1600-h/Untitled-1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 378px; height: 359px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/S0Ez-vxqZnI/AAAAAAAAAE0/tN1EfpoPlqs/s400/Untitled-1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422672579400459890" border="0" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/S0CNodwBT5I/AAAAAAAAAEk/7SAjDOPSSRY/s1600-h/reading.png"></a><div><img src="file:///Users/anton/Desktop/Untitled-1.png" alt="" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Often I have wondered if the “normal” me was spirited off to the happy land of freedom and dreams and a cardboard skin was slipped over some imperfect Fay child and left in the incubator at the hospital….</div><div><br /></div><div>…It would certainly explain the odd bent goat legs I have anyway, my inability to fit into society in a way that is acceptable on anything more than the role of "What can he do for us?" type of a creature... </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh well, regardless of if you are the original you, or some other you who is living the other you's life, as always all I ask, is that you, and you, and the other you, believe in everything.</div></div>Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859116790713483167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-35360756008663823402012-02-03T13:41:00.001-05:002012-02-03T13:46:13.464-05:00It's Bananas!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">A while back I was asked by Dario Carrasco to pen a script for a project he was putting together called "<a href="http://www.pandaystudio.com/">Comics for a Cause</a>". You can read more about it at the link provided, but it was basically a way for me to do my part to help a friend in need. We decided to collaborate on something tentatively called "Banana Gang", a story about an 800 pound gorilla named Kongo that runs around a city inhabited by anthropomorphic animals and regular humans that co-exist in relative harmony with one another. Kongo does the hero thing, but he's not very good at it. So he decides he needs a sidekick, and the one he chooses ends up being Bud, a small, frail, brainy kid that's pretty much the polar opposite of Kongo in every way. The series has a lot of humor to it, but it also has a lot of heart. Below is the 6-page script I wrote for the "Comics for a Cause" anthology, as well as some sketches and designs done by both Dario Carrasco and another talented artist named <a href="http://sapienstoonz.blogspot.com/">Fernando Sosa</a> of the main players.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 26px;">*</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">COMICS FOR A
CAUSE PRESENTS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BANANA GANG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">“IT’S A JUNGLE
OUT THERE”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Mike Exner III<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">PAGE ONE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 1. Kongo
is hanging from the ledge of a building by his toes. He’s looking up in
desperation at Bud, who is doing calculations on a calculator in his hand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 200%;">Bud</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%;">, help me up! I’m <b>slipping</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">If you hadn’t <b>mistimed</b>
your jump, we wouldn’t be in this predicament, <b>Kongo</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">You were <b>riding</b>
on my back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 2. Billy
and Bobby Goat (two of the Gruff Goats) are running out of the building with bags
of loot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BOBBY GRUFF
GOAT:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">This job was <b>easy</b>,
<b>Billy Goat</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BILLY GRUFF
GOAT:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">You said it, <b>Bobby
Goat</b>. Think of all the <b>empty cans</b> we can get for this loot! I’m
starting to <b>drool</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 3. The
Gruff Goats are heading for an idling SUV with Turbo Tortoise behind the wheel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">TURBO TORTOISE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">C’mon… guys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">TURBO TORTOISE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Hurry… up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 4. Bud
reaches down toward Kongo. Kongo is reaching desperately for Bud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 200%;">Finally</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%;">! Get a move on, Bud! I think the <b>Gruff Goats</b> are making a <b>break</b>
for it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 5. Bud
takes a banana off the belt of Kongo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Wait--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">What do you
think you’re <b>doing</b>?<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">PAGE TWO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 1. Kongo
is flipping out while Bud tosses the insides of the banana over his shoulder,
leaving only the peel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Hey! That’s my <b>lunch</b>!
I can’t fight on an empty stomach. I get cramps!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Think of it as a
<b>favor</b>, Kongo. You could stand to <b>lose</b> a few pounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">It’s a <b>banana</b>,
Bud! Not a chocolate cake!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 2. Bud
drops the peel off the side of the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">It’s for a good
cause. <b>Trust</b> me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 3. The
peel hits the ground right in front of the SUV with the ani-men in it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">SFX:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Plap!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 4. The
ani-men speed off in the SUV, but the tire of the car is headed straight for
the banana peel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BILLY GRUFF
GOAT:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Step on it,
Turbo Tortoise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">TURBO TORTOISE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Here… we… go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 5. The car
skids out of control, and crashes into something (streetlight, mailbox,
whatever), but there’s not a lot of damage done to the SUV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">SFX:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">SCRRREEECH!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">SFX:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">SKRASH!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">PAGE THREE</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 1. Bud is
finally helping Kongo up. Kongo is not happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">See? I <b>told</b>
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Waste of a <b>perfectly</b>
good banana, if you ask me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 2. Bud
starts running for the fire escape on the side of the building, but Kongo is
lamenting the loss of his poor banana sitting on the roof of the building.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Wait, maybe we
can <b>save</b> it. Five-second rule!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">No <b>time</b>,
Kongo. C’mon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 3. Bud is
running down the fire escape, and Kongo is climbing down the side of the fire
escape like an acrobat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">What’s the
five-second rule, anyway?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">What’s the--? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 200%;">Your</span></b><span style="line-height: 200%;"> people made it up! Food on the ground for less than five seconds is
safe to eat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 4. The two
heroes run out of the alley on the side of the building. Bud is still looking at
Kongo. Kongo is rolling his eyes at Bud in annoyance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">That sounds <b>gross</b>.
Who would eat food from the floor?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Humans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 5. The SUV
is beginning to speed away. Kongo is looking at Bud with an accusing glare, and
Bud is pointing in the opposite direction, toward the street.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Look what you
did! Answering all your <b>weird</b> questions winded me, and now they’re
getting away!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">But look there,
Kongo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">PAGE FOUR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 1. Bud is
on the back of Kongo with his arms wrapped around his neck, and Kongo is
jumping on top of a yellow taxicab.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">You’ve got eyes
like a <b>hawk</b>, Bud. Let’s go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">HUMAN CABBIE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Hey, what the
heck are you doing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 2. Kongo
is pointing in the direction the SUV went.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">By authority of
the <b>Banana Gang</b>, I order you to follow that tortoise!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">HUMAN CABBIE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Yeah, yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 3. The
yellow taxicab is gaining on the SUV, and Bud is asking Kongo a question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">So how come
Turbo Tortoise drives fast but does everything <b>else</b> in slow motion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 4. The yellow
cab is nearly on top of the SUV now. Kongo is preparing to jump from the
taxicab onto the SUV. Bud has a hand up with his finger extended behind Kongo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">How should <b>I</b>
know, Bud? Maybe you should ask his mother. Now stop <b>distracting</b> me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Wait! I have one
more thing to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 5. Kongo
turns around to look at Bud. He’s angry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">What, Bud? What
is it <b>this</b> time?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 6. A bag
of money hits Kongo in the face. Bud is wincing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">SFX:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">WHAM!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Duck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">PAGE FIVE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 1. One of
the Gruff Goats jumps on Kongo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BOBBY GOAT:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">You won’t stop
us, Kongo! We’re eating like <b>kings</b> tonight! Tin cans will flow like
wine!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Oomph!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 2. Bud
hits Bobby Gruff Goat over the head with (whatever Bud uses as a weapon).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Would you settle
for being <b>crowned</b>?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 3. Kongo
kicks Bobby Gruff Goat off of him, and off of the taxicab.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Nice <b>work</b>,
Bud! See, that’s how a sidekick is <b>supposed</b> to act.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 4. Kongo
jumps on top of the SUV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Now let me show
you how a <b>hero</b> does things!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 5. Kongo
reaches into the driver-side window of the SUV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Hey, Turbo
Tortoise. I think this is your turn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">TURBO TORTOISE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">No…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 6. Kongo
yanks the steering wheel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">TURBO TORTOISE:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">…don’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">PAGE SIX</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 1. The SUV
swerves off the road and crashes again, and Kongo is thrown from the roof.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">I’m an <b>ape</b>,
not a <b>flying squirrel</b>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Panel 2. Bud is
tying up Billy Gruff Goat while Kongo tries to recover from flying off of the
SUV. Kongo is pretty woozy from his fall. Tortoise is trying to run away, but
he’s going really <b>really</b> slow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">BUD:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">You <b>did</b>
it, Kongo! But look--<b>Turbo Tortoise</b> is getting away!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">KONGO:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Not to worry,
Bud. He won’t get far. I’ll just take a little <b>catnap</b> and catch him down
the block in a couple of hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdrnrmZ6CLg/TywpHYWZZ1I/AAAAAAAAAOA/Z4cwokMTg_s/s1600/BananaGang_KongoBud_DarioCarrasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YdrnrmZ6CLg/TywpHYWZZ1I/AAAAAAAAAOA/Z4cwokMTg_s/s320/BananaGang_KongoBud_DarioCarrasco.jpg" width="237" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">The heroes of our tale... Kongo and Bud.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqKdDeFvG2A/TywpS_81COI/AAAAAAAAAOI/vs34WlPT9UU/s1600/BananaGang_GruffGoats_FernandoSosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aqKdDeFvG2A/TywpS_81COI/AAAAAAAAAOI/vs34WlPT9UU/s320/BananaGang_GruffGoats_FernandoSosa.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">The primary foes of our tale. The Gruff Goats steal to maintain their lavish lifestyle... and support their habit of eating empty cans.</span></div>Mike Exner IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446100739816747689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-90868832345301359362012-02-02T11:16:00.003-05:002012-02-02T11:54:19.361-05:00Memory sometimes makes merciful deletions<div>Yet Another excerpt from my collection of short stories </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As a kid I traveled a lot to see surgeons and specialists. It was not that I lived in a place that was devoid of medical practitioners, it was the fact that my disability was so out of the ordinary and not many people knew how to analyze and work with it that I had to travel a few states away from where I lived just to find a doctor who was qualified to interpret what was going on with my body.<div><br /></div><div>Lucky for me a friend of my parents lived near the medical university that I was being treated at and my parents and I would stay at his mother’s home. Nora was not her name, but as I have stated not everyone who is mentioned in these recollections will be portrayed by their true name, none the less my love for her was deep and I still look on my time I got to spend with her fondly. She acted as a surrogate grandmother to me and she was for lack of a better word amazing. Nora was small in stature with a deep warm smile and eyes that always seemed to not look at anything but still take the world in on a level generations past hers had forgotten how to. She was always accompanied by a cloud of smoke that issued from her slow burning cigarettes and she would moved about in her slippers and house coat making sure we were all taken care before she would sit and enjoy her cup of lava hot coffee while she played solitaire, the kind with real cards not the computer game, if memory serves me correctly the most modern peace of technology that she owned was an old tube television, her house was not the type of place that seemed to welcome the modern world and as far as I was concerned that was fine with me, after spending so much time surrounded by medical equipment and modern fixtures it was just nice to be somewhere that felt real, a place that had the softness and comfort of a well worn stone.<div><br /></div><div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/Sz9Cqv1bb5I/AAAAAAAAAEc/IelTQGcuiZI/s1600-h/nora1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/Sz9Cqv1bb5I/AAAAAAAAAEc/IelTQGcuiZI/s400/nora1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422125778539868050" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Her house sat halfway up the side of a mountain. Far below you could make out a rural road that wound its way by and somewhere up the mountain from where she lived past the large gardens of vegetable and herbs, pass the crooked trees, and pass the trellis of grape vines her mother lived. Her home was wonderful. Like something out of a story book. I had a room of my own to stay in. The walls were dark wood paneled and the floor was plush green carpet. There was only one light in the room and it was a small orange desk lamp so when the sun went down the lamp would cast the whole room in an almost campfire glow. I would sit on the fold out cot in a forest of dime store novels and comic books and read for hours uninterrupted. She would have an excuse to walk by the door every hour or so, but she never felt the need to ask if I was okay, or if I needed anything. She gave me the freedom to ask if I needed or wanted anything and to be left alone otherwise. I think on some level the old woman understood that I enjoyed my solitude after medical ordeals and I needed the time to slip into the world of Howard or Lovecraft to just get away for a while. There were times I would read well into the night and find myself shocked by the hands of clock as they read half past eleven.<div><div><br /></div><div>It was on one particular night where I was following the adventures of a small boy and his newly found pet dragon that the world off of the pages began to get a little strange. From outside the window I heard something strange, it was not quite the sound of a cat, but something larger, more primal, and less natural. I turned off the orange light, and giving into my curiosity I made my way to the small window in my room. Outside I could make out little more than pine trees and moon light, stars littered the sky and the soft glow of the moon off the evergreen trees cast everything in a beautiful unnatural light. But I could not see anything in the darkness. Whatever had made the sound was not there, or at least I could not see it in the darkness.<div><br /></div><div>It was then I smelled the familiar comforting aroma of slow burning cigarettes passing by the door to my room. I clumsily made my way to the door, my lack of leg braces for support and crutch to lean on had me making use of the ancient chest of draws for support. I launched myself to the door frame and poked my head into the dark hallway just in time to see the tail of a house coat slip out of the screen door. It was late for her to be going outside, she had no problem smoking in the house and any ripe vegetables would have been picked by now. I knew she woke up early, but deep in my stomach I knew something was going on. Using the walls of the hallway to steady myself I made my way slowly to the screen door I had seen the house coat disappear through. It was dark but the large window in the kitchen let in enough moon light for me to make my way around tables and odd artifacts of antiquity. Nora had a strange collection in her home old wooden statues, brass animals, and other things with stranger more indescribable characteristics.<div><br /></div><div>Another strange feline sound spurred me to hasten my movement. Swinging from breakfast window to coffee table to setting chair I made my way to the door in three short ungraceful jerks of my body. I peered through the screen into the yard beyond, wild flowers lined the gravel path leading around the front of the house the summer moon illuminated the soft uncut grass that bordered on the well tended garden. To my left there sat an old barn well worn with age the front of a tractor poking out to my right a field that slowly became the thick woods that surrounded the house. But Nora was nowhere to be seen. The sound came again but this time it was louder, closer, I was not afraid but still I was filled with a strange since of dread. Whatever was making this sound was not of this world.<div><br /></div><div>What happened next is a bit of a blur, it happened so quickly, from out of the shadows of the field a great emptiness strode, it looked as if someone filmed a large jungle cat walking out of the thick grass and then removed it leaving only a hole in space where it should have been, to say it was black would be an understatement, it seemed to be formed out of the absence of space itself. My mind felt like it would fracture just looking upon the thing, then without warning something strange erupted out of the left side of the yard as Nora came around the corner of the house. Her hands on her hips the smoldering cherry of her cigarette looked dim in comparison to the smoldering crimson of her eyes.<div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/Sz9CqVI1oTI/AAAAAAAAAEU/qMm-HEUb2f4/s1600-h/nora+creature.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 293px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/Sz9CqVI1oTI/AAAAAAAAAEU/qMm-HEUb2f4/s400/nora+creature.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422125771373519154" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>At the time I was not sure what was happening, what I saw was thick wind, like smoke with a purpose lashing out at this lack of a creature. I fell to my knees, everything was just so much to take in, this elderly woman who made breakfast and cookies while humming silly little tunes, was somehow willing the natural world to lash out at this thing that was just not there and yet was moving about. The thing leaped at her, it was like a cat, huge, but at the same time it was like nothing, just, not there. Nora stretched out her arm and a sound came from her lips that may have been words but they were constructed in a way that I had never heard before. The nothing thing tore into her arm but when it pulled back all it had in its nothing mouth was a few shreds of house coat, it was at that point Nora’s cigarette became white hot and then….<div><br /></div><div>I woke up in my room to the sound of frying bacon. I serched my memory of the events from the night before but I could not find anything more than what I have recaled here. I made my way to the kitchen to see my mother and Nora chatting and not wanting to seem like I had some sort of nightmare brought on by, as my mother was prone to saying, “to many comic books”. I played the part of the sleepy child and sat at the table. My father came in with a few tomatoes from the garden and we all sat down to breakfast. Nora ruffled my hair and asked me if I slept well and I nodded.<div><br /></div><div>“You were up late.” Nora said.<div><br /></div><div>“I was reading a good book.” I replied softly.<div><br /></div><div>My mother piped up “Nora, what happened to your house coat?”<div><br /></div><div>Looking down there were what appeared to be large scratch marks ripped into one of the selves of the old house coat. Nora just smiled and shrugged. “Who knows she chuckles, you know me, always getting into something.” She reached over and ruffled my hair once more and then noticing that there was plate showing through the mountains of breakfast food she re lit her cigarette and launched into her normal dance of filling plates and frying eggs.<div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/Sz9Cpy2_HjI/AAAAAAAAAEM/48HEmtnjEP8/s1600-h/nora3.png" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/Sz9Cpy2_HjI/AAAAAAAAAEM/48HEmtnjEP8/s400/nora3.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422125762171838002" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div>The lives that I am lucky enough to have twine into mine are important to me. Nora was always a solid part of my childhood, it was like having a story book adventure that had retired and now spent her days as a simple widow woman making me breakfast and telling me stories about giants and talking fish. People would look at her and just see an old lady, even if behind the haze of cigarette smoke and old housecoat there was so much more. As I grew older and more doctors who were closer to my parents home became aware of how to deal with my neurological disabilities I spent less and less time with her, and many years ago she passed on from this world, but I will never forget the way she made eggs, the kindness she showed me or the things I saw on the mountain that night both the things that were there and the things that weren't.<div><br /></div><div>May you always remember those important to you, and as always all I ask is that you believe in everything.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859116790713483167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-83087381445629233192012-02-01T19:08:00.001-05:002012-02-01T19:09:41.788-05:00Page 3/6 of a scifi anthology story written by Ron Fortier<br /><br />Unfortunately I've been working really long shifts at work and this page took me a long longer than it should've. Oh well, never mind that, on to page 4 :)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ud3UA53-_Vs/TynT5i-SWAI/AAAAAAAAAKI/0PUuTmZazww/s1600/marlee3bsmall.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ud3UA53-_Vs/TynT5i-SWAI/AAAAAAAAAKI/0PUuTmZazww/s400/marlee3bsmall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704323388635502594" /></a>jimbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08267000361501000805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-62390539695595848542012-01-30T15:36:00.003-05:002012-01-30T15:49:51.450-05:00But more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books is the secret lore of ocean<div>Another Excerpt from my Short Stories. </div><div><br /></div>She never told me what her name was, or perhaps I just don’t remember that part of the encounter. So many of the details of that day have become hazy with time, but the lesson I learned that day I still keep with me. I sat on the old wooden bench my feet in the warm sand, a thin ribbon of blood flowing from my nose. Strangely, bleeding was nothing new for me. I was a smart child, too smart for my own good most of the time. My raw intellect was not tempered with the wisdom of when it was a good idea to keep my mouth shut and my ideas to myself, especially when faced with three larger boys who needed very little in the way of excuses to lash out at a small wide eyed child with a noticeable disability. <div><br /></div><div>While floating in the shallow end of the public pool during one of the mandatory deep end evacuation breaks that were called whenever the lifeguards needed to go flirt with the teen-age girls who worked at the snack stand, I was corned by three large teen-age boys. They were all dressed in darker colored swim trunks and their haircuts gave away the fact they were enrolled in ROTC. I was addressed by the shorter and more pig-like of the three boys. His thin lips curled over his crooked teeth as he spat out the question </div><div><br /></div><div>“What the hell happened to your legs?” As was the traditional response when people asked me questions of that nature I calmly explained that I had no idea what he was talking about and then, because I did not have the good sense to know I was outnumbered, I added a comment about the lack of white in his teeth. This of course angered the large pig-child. The flash of crimson in Pig-Boy's cheeks brought joy to his two lackeys were overcome with anticipation of the savage beating that was about to be handed to me. Pig-boy grinned a jagged smile as he moved closer to me and informed me </div><div><br /></div><div>“That’s pretty smart-ass talk fer a boy with railroad tracks on his legs.” This was of course a nod to the fact that my legs are lined with many surgical scars. Once more my inexperience with the battlefield showed when I proceeded to brighten up and inform him that my legs and his mother share a key characteristic as both of them have qualities of something ridden by many people. Looking back this was not the best course of action because my arms were quickly pulled behind my back by Pig-boys two accomplishes and he proceeded to punch me rather clumsily in the face. As I reacted to the pain in much the same way a polar bear reacts to the snow, Pig-Boy grew more irritated. He grabbed me by the back of the head, pushed me under water, and held me there. It was calm underwater, the burning sensation of the chlorine had long stopped irritating my eyes, and the sunlight casting the strange net-like patterns on the bottom of the pool was always one of my favorite things to look at. So much so that, after reading a book entitled the “The Black Pearl” I began to use the strange methods of controlled breathing that were contained within its pages to give myself a larger lung capacity so I could stay under longer just to be able to float in the deep silence of the water and watch the patterns shift. About thirty seconds passed and I decided to let my body go limp. I could hold my breath for about four minutes, so I let a few bubbles pass out of my mouth to add to the effect that I was drowning. I felt the two boys who were holding my arms loosen. I remanded motionless, twenty seconds passed and they had completely let go. Pig-Boy pulled my head out of the water but I just let my mouth sag open, my breath still held my chest not moving. My eyes were a dead gaze. It was at that point they began to panic. They shook me trying to get me to show any sings of life, but I had perfected the art of pretending to be asleep to avoid conversations with my grandmother about whatever random church-related insanity she wanted to babble on about, so hanging limp with a mask of death washed over my face was second nature. They let my body go and darted away from me, moving towards the opposite side of the pool, not screaming out that something was wrong for fear of alerting their overly orange-skinned mothers, or worse their mothers' younger overly-orange boyfriends, of the fact they may have just killed the small disabled child. </div><div><br /></div><div>As they moved swiftly away I let out a small chuckle and pulled myself out of the pool making my way to the fence gate that separated the pool from the beach. As I moved onto the beach I could hear the lifeguard yelling at the boys for pulling him away from the snack shack and how he had had enough of their behavior and how they would be banded from the pool.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzwFQOAShfI/AAAAAAAAAEE/hZDb20ObfSI/s1600-h/the+little+mermaid.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 353px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzwFQOAShfI/AAAAAAAAAEE/hZDb20ObfSI/s400/the+little+mermaid.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421213827642590706" border="0" /></a><div><br /></div><div>I found a particularly empty part of the beach and flopped down on the wind worn wooden bench. From behind me a small voice that I can only describe as lyrical said “You’re supposed to have a red band on your wrist, not on your face.”</div><div><br /></div><div> I turned around and was face to face with a girl a little older than me. She was pale and her dark hair hung in curls past her shoulders. Her sun bleached orange T-Shirt had a well-distressed batman logo on it and her arms were laced with various bracelets, ribbons, bangles, cuffs, and charms. </div><div><br /></div><div>“Excuse me?” I responded not sure what she was talking about, nor if she was actually talking to me. It was not normal for a girl, especially one who looked like they had been drawn by Mark Schultz, to randomly start a conversation with me. </div><div><br /></div><div>“Your nose, it’s bleeding.” She said as she sat down next to me on the bench. </div><div><br /></div><div>“Oh” I wiped it with the back of my hand and saw the crimson stain, “Thanks.”<div><br /></div><div>Her green eyes were like something I had never seen before, they looked like the ocean, they were deep and, in one glance, I was sure they held many secrets. It was almost impossible to keep looking at them, and yet, I could not tear my eyes away from her gaze. That was until she told me to look up to slow the bleeding. I did as I was instructed. I felt the bench shift slightly as she sat down next to me, and out of the corner of my eye I could see her looking up as well. We sat in silence for what seemed like forever but it may have been a matter of moments when I found my voice. “What would I need a ribbon on my wrist for?” I asked hesitantly.</div><div><br /></div><div>She chuckled “To protect you from the fairies.” She responded with the same level candor that someone would say, “Because water is wet” or “Because ice cream has no bones”. I turned to look at her to see if she was serious but her hands redirected my head skywards.</div><div><br /></div><div>“Like, Tinkerbelle?” This time she more than chuckled, she laughed a deep full laugh </div><div><br /></div><div>“No, not like Tinkerbelle. Sometimes I wonder how you people survive with all you don’t know. Tinkerbelle is as far from a real fairy as you can get."<div><br /></div><div>“So what is a real fairy?” I asked my curiosity piqued.</div><div><br /></div><div>“Well there are all sorts of fairy, there are and Faun’s and and Nix’s. There are Imps and Brownies and Gnomes.” The only thing I could think was that this girl was clearly insane, or trying to trap me in some sort of embarrassing moment, so I sat silently as she went on about the Redcaps and how they would wash there knit caps in pools of blood to mask there scent in the woods; or their ability to shape-shift to look like small animals so they could observe humans for some one she called the King of the Fay. She explained that mermaids and even banshees, the dead ladies that had horrible screams not the Irish man from the X-Men comic books, were types of fairies.<div><br /></div><div>“Well, while it's interesting that there are so many different types of fairies and all, I don’t understand what any of this has to do with a ribbon?”<div><br /></div><div>She chuckled once more. “Well, fairies, all of them, regardless of if they are large or small, love to play tricks on humans. Tie there shoe strings together, hide one of there socks - some of the more devious fairies go as far as switching medication around or cutting the brakes of someone’s car just to see what type of chaos will come out of it.”<div><br /></div><div>“Cutting the brake lines.” I asked, reading my fair share of crime novels and knowing that a cut brake line was a recipe for disaster. “That’s not a joke, that’s attempted murder.”<div><br /></div><div>“Fairies don’t think about things like humans do, they see humans as stuck up and way to serious, so they think any elements of disorder they can add to their lives helps give them perspective.”<div><br /></div><div>“And the ribbon does what exactly?”<div><br /></div><div>“Well, it shows that your not so uptight, the brighter the better, if a Fay thinks you already have an element of fun in your life, they are not going to try and insert elements of what they may think fun is into your world.”<div><br /></div><div>“I see.” It did not make a whole lot of since to me, but this was the first time in my life a beautiful girl other than a nurse or someone who worked at a restaurant had talked to me, so I was not going to try and logic my way around the conversation. As far as I knew, with all that I had seen in my life, she might very well be right. I had not dealt much with fairies as far as I knew and I was not about to tell her she was wrong. We sat in silence for a while and about the time my neck started to hurt I turned to ask her how she knew this hoping to launch into another conversation where I could get her name and perhaps a way to hang out with her more but she was gone.<div><br /></div><div>I looked around for her but did not see anyone on the beach. There were a few people in the surf, but none had that orange shirt on. I was going to chalk it up to some sort of head trauma-based delusion when I noticed that around my wrist was a string of red yarn tied in a little bow.<div><br /></div><div>That was a long one. Well friend, I am off for the night, and until next time all I ask is that you believe in everything.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859116790713483167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-25468215884305026592012-01-27T11:14:00.008-05:002012-01-27T11:45:37.655-05:00Excerpt from : Unrepressed Memories : My childhood was far from normal.<b><span >I</span></b> sat in the back seat of my parents' car, what make and model it was are lost to me, but at that age, or this for that matter, things like car manufacturers and model types held little interest. I do however remember the way that the sunlight cascaded into the back seat from the driver side of the car, it was tawny and amber like honey mead and it seemed to cut deep valleys of light into the shadows of the back seat. I giggled while talking to my grandfather my fingers letting the thick tendrils of dusk light twist around them. My pink cheeks, small frame, and long black hair, a contrast to his large frame and almost smoke gray wisps of hair that seemed to ebb and flow in and out of the shadowed valleys of the passenger side back seat.<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 201px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Gl5o97oeOLw/SzOHLbH-qzI/AAAAAAAAACQ/TLdd4xnoEiM/s400/grandfather+eye.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418823406986373938" border="0" /><div><div><br /></div><div>He was a man who appeared to be cut from stone. His face was blocky and veined with deep lines. You could almost pick out the cobalt grays that lay just beneath their surfaces. But regardless of his stone-like features his laugh was warm and he seemed to radiate a strange sense of calm. This calm was helpful as I had been sitting in the back seat for quite some time. The old man told me all sorts of stories about wars he had fought in using his bolder-like fists against the seat to imitate tanks crossing over imaginary battle fields. He told me about Russia and Germany, and my father and his brothers and sisters when they were children. We laughed and talked about gophers, and swimming, and all those things only a grandfather and grandson can talk about. The dusk light faded into night and the stars shown in the sky above. At some point I recall my mother waking from her slumber. She leaned back over the seat and asked me what I was talking about and I told her. Her face became a strange mask of concern and confusion, the same kind of face she made the first time I brought up the existence of multiple gods. She cocked her head to one side and asked me where I had heard such things and I pointed to my grandfather. She cast a glance into the empty back seat next to me and said, "sweetheart, your grandfather just passed away. Your father was at his funeral, how can he be sitting in the backseat talking to you?" I remember looking at my grandfather, and his eyes twinkled like deep pin pricks of star light in black pools. He smiled at me, and placed one of his cold hands on my shoulder and said.<div><br /></div><div>“They may never understand boy.” I just shrugged at my mother and watched my grandfather fade into the shadows and starlight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Childhood had an interesting way of making the adults in my life question what I knew to be real, and they would only allow themselves to accept as fits of fancy or figments of imagination. I have found in my years on this earth that sometimes something as simple as the truth, if presented in a way that may not be accepted as normal or mundane, often gets written off as a lie (or at the least a delusion). In a world where strange people make their livings filming old houses with night vision cameras, is it so unbelievable that a small child had a conversation with his grandfather who was still between worlds? </div><div><br /></div><div>How many unexplainable events have you dismissed as fits of fancy? Perhaps next time a child tells you there is a monster under their bed, or a ghost in the attic you should check. Even if you see nothing there, that does not necessarily mean it does not lurk just on the edge of your perception.<div><br /></div><div>Until next time, all I ask is that you believe in everything</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>~AK</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859116790713483167noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-65396006788380457232012-01-27T00:37:00.002-05:002012-01-27T02:17:05.490-05:00Hollywood Swinging<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember... Not too long ago... I went to the city... And I saw the Kool and the Gang show!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is that song stuck in your head now? That was my goal, just so everybody is aware of that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At any rate... SIX days!? We've gone six days without a post, people. That's no good. Luckily, I'm here to save the day with a post so incredible that it's sure to be talked about for at least a few minutes by, y'know... somebody or other. Right!?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, I'm working on this story (and by working on, I mean I'm waiting for the art to be finished so I can beg a colorist to do it on the cheap -- hint hint, colorists!) featuring an original creation of mine called Megastar. Megastar is one of the dozens of characters featured in the very cool <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/DaveRyan/war-of-the-independents">War of the Independents</a> series being put out by <a href="http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=28710">Dave Ryan</a> (plug!). In fact, if you look closely at one of the pictures in that second link you'll spot Megastar amidst a gaggle of other independent heroes. Megastar is an idea I had way back in the early 2000s that went something like this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What if an established, wildly successful celebrity woke up with super powers?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually the idea morphed into a play on the Milestone Universe created by <a href="http://dwaynemcduffie.com/">Dwayne McDuffie</a>. If you're unfamiliar with the Milestone Universe, shame on you! Click that link and start reading! But if you absolutely refuse to do that, it basically consisted of a "big bang" going off that gave a bunch of people in an urban, socially and politically unequal environment super powers. But seriously, that description does not do the concept any justice whatsoever. Click the link! For Megastar, I decided to have a "big bang" go off in a Hollywood-type of environment that gave a bunch of privileged, shallow people super powers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey, I never said it was the BEST idea I ever had... it's a parody, people!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main character is Michael Whitman, also known as Megastar. He doesn't keep his identity secret. He operates in Crescent City (Hollywood, basically), in full view of the public, because that's the best way for him to gain more fame and notoriety from his exploits. The more famous he is, the more products he can endorse, the more movies he can star in, and oh, yeah! The more people he can save! Mmm hmm, yep... he cares about that stuff too. Honest!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because there was a big bang that resulted in Megastar gaining his powers, other people in Crescent City were impacted as well. I created an entire Rouge's Gallery for Megastar featuring villains based on how I thought a mutagenic event would affect various types of entertainers or musicians or what have you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, the story I'm trying to get finished was written quite a while ago, way back in 2006 (yikes!), and originally the art for all 14 pages was completed by an artist named Jake Bilbao. Jake is a fantastic artist, and I've worked with him on a few things over the years we've known one another. He has an incredibly realistic style that reminds me a bit of Bryan Hitch.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-arh-t-4lieA/TyI1-kqlGFI/AAAAAAAAANo/CAhhU9alyNM/s1600/SFX_sketchinks_JakeBilbao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-arh-t-4lieA/TyI1-kqlGFI/AAAAAAAAANo/CAhhU9alyNM/s320/SFX_sketchinks_JakeBilbao.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The story featured a villain called SFX (above, courtesy of Mr. Bilbao), who was formerly a special effects developer or coordinator (whatever you call them), that was transformed into an actual magician. So instead of creating movie magic, now he creates actual magic (gasp!). He has a mad-on for Megastar for reasons that are made apparent in the story, and basically uses his abilities to shunt Megastar into a cartoon pilot </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">created by Michael Whitman's no account brother, Sammy. A whole lotta hilarity and hijinks ensue from there...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said before, Jake originally did the entire story, including the part where Megastar was placed into a cartoon. And he did an excellent job. But I wanted a style that was a bit more recognizable as a cartoon, and also one that really contrasted with Jake's detailed, realistic lines. So I recently turned to my good friend, and an incredible artist to boot, <a href="http://www.pandaystudio.com/">Dario Carrasco</a> to re-create the "animated" pages. Here's a blueline sketch he did of both SFX and Megastar's brother, Sammy Whitman.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4twBI08llqs/TyI2HYv7WQI/AAAAAAAAANw/B9C55FAX9pE/s1600/SFX_SammyWhitman_sketch_DarioCarrasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4twBI08llqs/TyI2HYv7WQI/AAAAAAAAANw/B9C55FAX9pE/s320/SFX_SammyWhitman_sketch_DarioCarrasco.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The styles are so different, that when Megastar is transported into the cartoon, it actually seems like he's in an entirely different world where anything can happen. Anyway, I'll talk more about Megastar as the story gets closer to completion... and publication! In the meantime, here's another sketch by Dario Carrasco of the "animated" Megastar, with inks by the equally talented </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://inkermark.deviantart.com/">Mark Stegbauer</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EG3N6iJS7w8/TyI2QaWxVcI/AAAAAAAAAN4/1uojsnxvO20/s1600/Megastar_sketchinks_DarioCarrasco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EG3N6iJS7w8/TyI2QaWxVcI/AAAAAAAAAN4/1uojsnxvO20/s320/Megastar_sketchinks_DarioCarrasco.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>Mike Exner IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446100739816747689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-86696776980919287652012-01-20T10:15:00.000-05:002012-01-21T22:31:45.563-05:00Lets talk: Diagonals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Okay today we are going to talk diagonals and how they are used in sequential art to inject energy and movement into your story. In the thumbnail below I have used diagonals in my panel compositions to make this page more energetic. I also used the rule of thirds in each panel.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hulk 30.1 Marvel sample</td></tr>
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By using lines diagonal to the panel borders helps create movement and makes it easier to direct the readers eye to desired locations. When trying to make more energy driven panels I try to avoid lines parallel to the borders. Lines that are parallel to the borders are for more static compositions or moments, iconic scenes or maybe moments that require a pause or slow down in your story. This scene however is movement laden.<br />
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In panel one the diagonal can be easily seen by the smoke trail left by the Hulk's descending body. Panel 2 is a little harder, The turn of the Hulks head, the angle of the Hulks torso and the angles created by the Hulks shoulders and hips are my diagonals here. Panel 3 is kind of easy too. the diagonals are used to point out what is creating most interest for the Hulk, The plane. The Hulk line sight creates a diagonal as well as the trees in the background. There is also a plume of smoke that goes in an opposite diagonal to counter balance the panel with the Hulk on the right of the panel. Panel 4 is another easy one. The Hulks shoulders, leg, hand placement and the environment. Panel 5 uses diagonals ultimately to point you the object of Hulks desires, the plane but to help create the sense of movement and drastic change in energy. I use a trail of rocks, the treeline and speed lines following hulk along the same diagonal to the vanishing point that sits on the hulk and The Hulk,of course, sits on a diagonal line that ends at the plane. Okay, Now this panel the whole scene is at and angle to create the off balance feel it needs. The diagonal is used to create an unsteady feel and and the the diagonal shadow is used to conceal the figure in the background (in the script) but also to help bring out the foreground element, the guy at the communications desk saying "oh crap, the Hulk is coming!!!!".</div>
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Using diagonal lines in our compositions is an effective method of creating a little energy and visual excitement in some if not most boring layout choices. </div>
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NOW GO DRAW!!!!</div>
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<br /></div>Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-11542858809357947652012-01-19T08:01:00.003-05:002012-01-19T08:31:56.344-05:00Current Experiment: Markers<div>So, as my first post here, I'd like to share with everyone my current experiment. Because of my lack of exposure as a freelance illustrator (working on that, btw), I've just been trying to build up my portfolio with work. Since a recent incident in my life which had me part ways with my Intuos 4 tablet, I've gone back to traditional media. I can safely say, I've never used markers before December, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I picked up a set of warm and cool gray Prismacolor Markers (really wanted Copic markers, but I'll acquire those soon enough) to try out. The subject of choice: women from X-Men. I started this series of illustrations with Storm, of whom I did not color with the markers (started this subject before they were purchased). Since then, each one has been used as a model to test my ability to effectively generate color in shades of gray. So far I've been pleased with the results, but I know I can push things farther. Any type of critique or advice would be appreciated. </div><div><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7CTapS-c7A/TxgaGgG0bWI/AAAAAAAAANM/Qw48hKqjwFU/s1600/ShadowCatweb.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 236px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S7CTapS-c7A/TxgaGgG0bWI/AAAAAAAAANM/Qw48hKqjwFU/s320/ShadowCatweb.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699334027437436258" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXAvIXcVwfs/TxgaEvYboMI/AAAAAAAAANA/tbS9rzi-YM0/s1600/Moonstar.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZXAvIXcVwfs/TxgaEvYboMI/AAAAAAAAANA/tbS9rzi-YM0/s320/Moonstar.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699333997178101954" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq6seKPMvL0/TxgaDpEQ-jI/AAAAAAAAAM0/vDUs55qEW3g/s1600/WhiteQueen.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq6seKPMvL0/TxgaDpEQ-jI/AAAAAAAAAM0/vDUs55qEW3g/s320/WhiteQueen.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5699333978303035954" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Dimitrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12598545712068179607noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-11689299736146533072012-01-18T09:55:00.003-05:002012-01-18T09:55:37.763-05:00Who's a Demon? You is a Demon.<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is a "Demonized" piece for The Baku Kickstarter fund. This is when I take a picture of a supporter and make him a demon.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bn1G90Rqpk8/Txbc8Z75WLI/AAAAAAAAAIk/o9VYwNhBha0/s1600/keith3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bn1G90Rqpk8/Txbc8Z75WLI/AAAAAAAAAIk/o9VYwNhBha0/s200/keith3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P854sLTAeXA/TxbcacyGkHI/AAAAAAAAAIc/pmKKr-C9xq0/s1600/demonized-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P854sLTAeXA/TxbcacyGkHI/AAAAAAAAAIc/pmKKr-C9xq0/s320/demonized-3.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-82490399615917380762012-01-16T23:11:00.000-05:002012-01-16T23:15:03.130-05:00Once Upon A Time Machine -- Part 1<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So one of the scripts I've done that I'm most proud of to date is my contribution to a collection of stories based on fables, fairy tales, myths and legends that was at first tentatively called "Future Fairy Tales" and was finally titled "Once Upon A Time Machine". The premise of the collection was to take a favorite fable, fairy tale or story of that type and give it a futuristic spin. The idea was to keep the fairy tales recognizable, but interpret them in a fresh, unique way. The story I chose to go with was one of my favorite yarns of all time -- "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those that aren't familiar with the story, it takes place in India. An English couple and their young son move into a bungalow with a beautiful garden. A storm hits that night, and a young mongoose is nearly drowned. The boy finds the mongoose near-death the next morning, and the boy and his parents nurse the animal back to health. They feed it, and the mongoose decides to hang out for a while. Unbeknownst to the humans, a duo of deadly cobras inhabit the garden and spend their time terrorizing the local wildlife. The two cobras are trying to raise a nest of eggs, and they don't want anyone or anything getting in the way. They decide to do away with the family, and it's up to the mongoose, Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, to stop them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the fact that the story was a bit dark and serious, it really appealed to me, even as a young child. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi always struck me as a very heroic character, and the odds he was up against as a relatively young mongoose facing off with two fully grown and deadly cobras was right up my alley. It took me a while to craft a script that I felt did any justice to the original story. I'm still not entirely sure that I managed to pull it off, to be honest, but hopefully I won't be judged too harshly when the story eventually goes to print.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll talk more about exactly how I decided to interpret the story in future posts on the blog, but for now I thought I'd show off some of the art done by <a href="http://capitanhelecho.wordpress.com/">Ricardo Farrula</a>, the artist that came on board and literally saved the story after the artist I had initially chosen was forced to pull out. If you click on his name you can see even more of his work, but these below are the character designs he did concerning the main characters of the story.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ls3F-IQNZdI/TxTwnUrfq3I/AAAAAAAAANI/KDW3XGTFgBc/s1600/OUATM_George_RicardoFarrula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ls3F-IQNZdI/TxTwnUrfq3I/AAAAAAAAANI/KDW3XGTFgBc/s320/OUATM_George_RicardoFarrula.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NUN7J5VLw2g/TxTw3irCl3I/AAAAAAAAANg/y9uLrpZHRg0/s1600/OUATM_Rikki_RicardoFarrula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NUN7J5VLw2g/TxTw3irCl3I/AAAAAAAAANg/y9uLrpZHRg0/s320/OUATM_Rikki_RicardoFarrula.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we have George (the father), Meredith (the mother), Thomas (the boy) and the "mongoose". I feel certain people will notice that the mongoose doesn't look much like an actual mongoose, and they'd be right, but there is a reason for that (I swear!), and I'll reveal more about that as we move along. Ricardo did a wonderful job capturing each of the characters. I tried to craft more of an idyllic family of the future when I was writing the script, and Ricardo keyed in on that magnificently. More to come!</span></div>Mike Exner IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446100739816747689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-60682796606309066132012-01-16T21:10:00.001-05:002012-01-16T21:11:29.406-05:00Page 2 of 6 of a sci-fi anthology story written by Ron Fortier.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29wDdy20JGA/TxTYqDt6nzI/AAAAAAAAAJw/_FXtzhn0YIE/s1600/marlee2small.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-29wDdy20JGA/TxTYqDt6nzI/AAAAAAAAAJw/_FXtzhn0YIE/s400/marlee2small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698417645594517298" /></a>jimbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08267000361501000805noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-10928321047875458352012-01-14T00:44:00.000-05:002012-01-14T00:44:27.411-05:00Agent DFMI wrote this about 2 years ago when I was taking a creative writing class at a community college. It was an eight page script but the artist I hired drew the first four pages and vanished, which is a real shame because I really enjoyed his work.<br />
The story is a simple one. It is a tale of two brothers. One a police chief, the other a mayor. The mayor is murdered and the police chief swears revenge. How will the police chief get his revenge? By using his dead brother's soul to power a killer robot. Duh. Here are first four pages. Enjoy...bob...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-758xCpDIbWc/TxEWBbychmI/AAAAAAAAAF4/2K-9ki_OzOA/s1600/agent%252520DFM%252520issue%2525201%252520page%2525201%252520sml.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-758xCpDIbWc/TxEWBbychmI/AAAAAAAAAF4/2K-9ki_OzOA/s320/agent%252520DFM%252520issue%2525201%252520page%2525201%252520sml.jpeg" width="237" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_TRoaO6gGQ/TxEWDLbunBI/AAAAAAAAAGA/kuxPIzPWVZY/s1600/issue+1+page+2%2528sml%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_TRoaO6gGQ/TxEWDLbunBI/AAAAAAAAAGA/kuxPIzPWVZY/s320/issue+1+page+2%2528sml%2529.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUjRHxIM4ko/TxEWEojGmuI/AAAAAAAAAGI/nYMxVSr0kYM/s1600/issue+1+page+3+sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VUjRHxIM4ko/TxEWEojGmuI/AAAAAAAAAGI/nYMxVSr0kYM/s320/issue+1+page+3+sml.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X2e4Lfm6TWw/TxEWFzPU_AI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/_R2OhPlbncA/s1600/page+4+complete%2528sml%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X2e4Lfm6TWw/TxEWFzPU_AI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/_R2OhPlbncA/s320/page+4+complete%2528sml%2529.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10541584762427926896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-11981670400386770192012-01-13T17:53:00.003-05:002012-01-13T19:47:07.075-05:00Jason and the Cosmonauts<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b>Something I have been playing with, figured i may as well get some fresh eyes on it. </b></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
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<b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">ISSUE ONE</span></b></b></div>
<span style="color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="gmail_quote" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><u>Page One<br /></u>1. A half moon hangs low along <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> tree lines.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. A long stretch of lonely road flanked by thick trees on both sides. A checkered cab drives along in <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the </span>darkness <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> only points of light are <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Taxi Sign, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> head lights, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> stars above.</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Two</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1.<span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> driver, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> Ward tries to stay awake as he runs his hand across his two day old stubble. He pulls a cigarette from behind his ear <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> puts it between his lips. Fishing into his work shirt pocket he produces a lighter.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. In his exhaustion as he goes to light it he fumbles <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> drops his lighter between his legs.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> Ward</b>: "Shit"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> reaches down</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>'s hand grabbing <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> lighter.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><u><br /></u><u>Page Three</u></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1.<span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> Sits up <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> his eyes make contact with a Deer in <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> middle of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> road.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> Ward</b>: "SHIT!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> pulls <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> wheel hard to <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> left <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> slams on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> breaks running off <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> road <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> dirt <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span>short grass sending up a cloud of dust. His driver side tire blows out.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> Gets out of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> car. Hes dressed in a work short sleeve shirt <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> jeans heavy work boots.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. He inspects <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> blown tire, looking up he sees <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> dear leap jump off into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> woods.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5.He lifts <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> lighter to his now slightly bent cigarette <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> lights it.</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Four</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. He takes a deep drag <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> as he breaths out <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> smoke a few snow flakes begin to fall.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Wonderful"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> reaches into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> cab <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> produces a long sleeve shirt <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> a knit drivers cap.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> moves to <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> back of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> car <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> pops <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> trunk.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> sets to changing <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> tire.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> closes <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> trunk. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> snow is still lightly falling as he produces another cigarette <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> lights it.</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Five</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. (Small long panel at <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> top of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> page) An up shot of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> shows a HUGE plane looking ball of fire rocketing over head.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> Watches as <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> ball of fire cuts a path of destruction through <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> trees.</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Six</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> starts to run towards what he thinks is a plane crash.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. As he approaches <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> huge crater created from <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> crash it becomes clear this is no ordinary plane crash.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. A small small star ship sits badly damaged in <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> center of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> crater.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. A body partly covered in debris is silhouetted by <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> burning wreckage.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><u><br /></u><u>Page Seven</u></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> jumps over a fallen tree <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> moves towards <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> body.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> pulls a chunk of metal off <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> body.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. He stands mouth open.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. Laying on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> ground before him is no human but an alien being humanoid in shape but its skin <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> color of evergreen pine. Its eyes are deep orange slits set above a nose less face, its mouth, winder than a human mouth, has rounded white teeth in a deep tongueless black mouth.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Alien being is clad in a one peace flight suite with various pockets <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> straps reaches out a four fingered hand towards <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>.</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Six</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Alien Being looks at <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> with strange eyes.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien Being</b>: (without opening his mouth) "Help me please..."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> standing aw struck above <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Did you just say help me?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien Being</b>: "Please <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>, help me."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> takes off his jacket <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> starts to wrap it around <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b> : "How <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> hell do you know my name, how are you doing that, I can here you, inside</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">my head... this cant be real."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien Being</b>: "They are coming, we must leave or they will kill us."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> lifting <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien up in his arms.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Us, what us, you fell from <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> sky, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> sky is some place I have never been,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">there is no us."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. Close up on Alien Beings face as he is being carried by <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien Being:</b> "They will kill you because you have seen me..."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">6. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> carrying <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien through <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> woods back towards his cab.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Who is this they? More of you Martians folks? I have heard of you ya know, Ive read Burroughs, I know about you Martians, never thought you were real though."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">7. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> sets <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien in <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> passenger seat of his cab.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b> "I have no idea what I am doing Mars Man, I don't know where I am supposed to take you, I wager taking you to a hospital would cause more than a little bit of a commotion."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien</b>: "There coming, we must move quickly, I need to contact my ship."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">8. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> getting into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> drivers seat.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Ship... right, your Martian friends, how do we do that."</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Seven</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> starts driving down <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> road <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> snow has picked up.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. View from outside <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> cab looking into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> passenger window, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien Being lays his head on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> window frame. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien:</b> "We must get to a high point, with a clear view of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> sky, we must hurry, they are close?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. Through <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> windshield showing <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> with his hands on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> wheel <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien in <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> passenger seat.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Who is close?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b> Alien</b>: "<span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Watchers in <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Dark."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Well Friend, I make a living getting people where they need to go, you picked <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> right part of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span>sky to fall out of."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. A black car speeds down <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> road closing in on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>'s cab its head lights blazing in <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> falling snow.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. View from behind <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> as he looks into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> review mirror. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> squints his eyes as <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> head lights of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span>closing car reflects off his rear view mirror.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">6. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> holds his hand out <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> window <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> waves <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> car to pass him</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Come on buddy, if your in that big a hurry go around me."</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Eight</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. A gloved hand with a white sleeve under a black suite arm out of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> passenger window of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> black car pulls <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> trigger on a pistol.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><i>GUN SOUND EFFECT:</i> BLAM!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. From behind <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Cab. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> back window shatters</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. View from <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> front of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> cab <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> is slightly ducked down <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien Being is now sitting up looking over his shoulder towards <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> black car.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "What <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> hell!"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien</b>: "<span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> watchers are here, we must escape, if we do not all is lost."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Why are they shooting at us?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4: Alien being close up on his face.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien:</b> "They want me, my technology."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5: From outside <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> driver window looking in on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>:</b> "Not to be rude Mr. Mars Man, but your technology is scattered across half <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> county, I don't think it is doing anyone much good."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien</b>: "I am not from Mars, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> they want my knowledge, they want to use it to further there goals."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">6: Car picks up speed from outside <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> car looking in to <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> front seat.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Well right now there shooting at my cab, so I could give a shit less what they want."</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Nine</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. A bullet shot pops <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> driver side tire.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> cab skids off <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> road onto <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> shoulder of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> road smacking into a tree.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> leaned back his face bloody, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Alien Being slumped over <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> dash.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Black car slows to a stop behind <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Cab.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Door opens <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> a man in a black suite with a fedora steps out as another man in a black suit <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span>fedora gets out of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> passenger side.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">6. Inside <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> cab <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> reaches over to help <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Hey, you alright?"</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Eight</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Alien Being is bloody <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> holding a crazy Jack Kirby looking Disc in his hand.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien</b>: "They cant have this, you cant let them have this."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> Holding <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Alien in his arms.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>:<b> </b>"Come on, we have to move, there going to be on us soon."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Alien </b>: "I am called<b> </b>Tarn."<b><br /> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "Nice to meet you Tarn, my name is <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> now come on."<b><br /> Alien</b>: "To late for me now, You have to take it."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> is jerked out of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> car by one of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Men in Black.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. View from <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> ground as <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> is tossed into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> gravel on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> shoulder of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> road, <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> snow is falling <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span>one of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> men in black is looking down on him gun in hand.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 1</b>:<b> </b>"Do not move sir."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> second man in black drags <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Aline Being out of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> cab <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> drops his body to <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> ground.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 2</b>: "It appears to be expired."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">6. Man in Black 1 jerks <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> to his knees <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> holds a gun to <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> back of his head.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 1 </b>: "What did it say to you."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">7. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> with a bloody face smiles his face bloody.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span></b>: "He asked me where he could find a nice stiff drink."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">8. Man in Black 1 puts <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> barrel of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> gun to <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> back of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>'s head.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 1</b>: "We are not fellows to be trifled with."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>: </b>"I was just trying to get <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> man to where he wanted to go."</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Nine</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. Man in Black 1 hits <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> harder than it seems a normal man would be able to, it sends him sprawling head over heals into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> dirt.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> props himself up on his arms looking up at <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> Men in Black.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 2: </b>"He knows nothing"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 1</b>: "Then he is of no use to us, kill him burn <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> corps."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> looks down at his front pants pocket a strange green glow with Kirby Dots growing around it pulses.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b> <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>: </b>"Uhhh"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Men in Black move towards him.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 1</b>: "He has <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> device."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span>'s body bursts with Kirby Dots.</span><br />
<u style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: yellow;"><br />Page Ten</span></u><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">1. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Men in black stand over a chard patch of earth where <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> once was.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">2. Man in Black 1 holds up his arm reveling a Dick Tracy style video communicator watch.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 1</b>: "<span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Device is in play."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">3. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> watch screen is grainy displaying a shadowy humanoid figure.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Shadow </b>: "Who activated it?"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">4. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">The</span> Man in Black 1 speaks into <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> watch as Man in Black 2 pores gas on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> cab.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Man in Black 1</b>: "A cab driver."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b>Shadow: </b>"Destroy <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> evidence, return to base."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">5. <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> opens his eyes looking up into a large furry face with four small spider like eyes <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">and</span> a huge toothsome scowl.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">6. Wide shot of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> laying on <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> floor of <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> deck of a star ship around him sits a crew of aliens <span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">the</span> large furry one stands at least eight feet tall looks down on at him a ray gun in its outstretched hand.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><b><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">Jason</span> </b>: "Uhhh... hello?"</span></div>
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<br /></div>Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859116790713483167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-42967449921717619322012-01-13T15:22:00.002-05:002012-01-13T15:29:28.285-05:00Below are a few things I've worked on recently. I'll try and upload more "in progress" works in the future. Anyway, officially my first post as a Munkey :)<br /><br />A recent portrait commission.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07Xy3YqFmXI/TxCTLkjg7JI/AAAAAAAAAJk/US0RT0jR9Es/s1600/laura_and_stewart_by_jimmybott-d4k6zx5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07Xy3YqFmXI/TxCTLkjg7JI/AAAAAAAAAJk/US0RT0jR9Es/s400/laura_and_stewart_by_jimmybott-d4k6zx5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697215355624156306" /></a><br />A recent portrait commission I turned in to a sort of vintage looking movie poster. But I actually really like the black and white line work before I did all the finishes and text.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OSbZ2mCCn7s/TxCTLc8QvyI/AAAAAAAAAJY/U7xgt8MYlwg/s1600/couple_sketch_by_jimmybott-d4kvbqy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OSbZ2mCCn7s/TxCTLc8QvyI/AAAAAAAAAJY/U7xgt8MYlwg/s400/couple_sketch_by_jimmybott-d4kvbqy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697215353580470050" /></a><br /><br />Page 1/6 of a short story I'm working on with writer, Ron Fortier.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwwpYuJrtHg/TxCTLNZnWRI/AAAAAAAAAJM/eVy5Aw01yxU/s1600/marlee1small.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qwwpYuJrtHg/TxCTLNZnWRI/AAAAAAAAAJM/eVy5Aw01yxU/s400/marlee1small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697215349408618770" /></a>jimbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08267000361501000805noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-64035622950307228682012-01-12T23:39:00.004-05:002012-01-13T08:07:35.931-05:00Kuretake No. 8 Fountain Hair Brush Pen<div class="MsoNormal">This is my go to drawing utensil.. I have used other brush pens in the past made by other manufacturers (Pentel, Micron) and none have the control that I desired. <br />
<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I find this pen very responsive and ink flow control is amazing. I believe that the metal ball in the cartridge really helps maintain a consistent flow and, unlike other comparable pocket brush pens, this brush maintains a constant flow throughout the ink cartridge's life. Other brush pens tend to get overloaded in the middle of the cartridge's life and tends to bleed or create undesired line widths. Drawing feathering strokes are also a breeze and do not bleed together. The brush also maintains its spring and has not frayed with heavy use. I have inked many comic pages measuring 11X17 inches on smooth and vellum bristol board and this pen has proven its longevity.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
Some may find the length of the pen to be a negative trait but I like the size and balance of the pen but for those used to a standard pen size this may take a little getting used to.</div><div class="MsoNormal">All in all I would recommend this pen to the hobbyist and all the way to the professional illustrator. Its ease of use and responsiveness make it a great pen for all skill levels.</div><div class="MsoNormal">The Gene Colan piece below was inked with the No. 8 Brush pen. <br />
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Now go get one!!! <a href="http://www.jetpens.com/Kuretake-No.-8-Fountain-Hair-Brush-Pen/pd/2672" target="_blank">www.jetpens.com</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWL4bDuYjeI/Tw-1fLTBGTI/AAAAAAAAAIM/kOXT4rd4_0A/s1600/6495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWL4bDuYjeI/Tw-1fLTBGTI/AAAAAAAAAIM/kOXT4rd4_0A/s320/6495.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pex0vKmXTCA/Tw-1fo4JaoI/AAAAAAAAAIU/acsJUuUYhEY/s1600/gene_colon_inks_by_drewerd-d3abm7m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pex0vKmXTCA/Tw-1fo4JaoI/AAAAAAAAAIU/acsJUuUYhEY/s400/gene_colon_inks_by_drewerd-d3abm7m.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-55649358165497045652012-01-12T09:28:00.009-05:002012-01-12T10:23:32.892-05:00Excerpt from the Fantastic Adventures of Charles Darwin.<div style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: black; background-image: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: yellow;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />(1852 / Somewhere North of Freiburg Germany)</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><span style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-image: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><b>T</b>he eyes of the old cryptozoologist scanned the dark woods. The local folk stories had brought him to the<b>Black Forest</b> of Germany, were he hoped to find further proof of the existence of the Seelie Courts of the Fay. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The old woman at the inn had been very specific: if they were to be found, it would be in the old part of the wood, where ancient things still walked between worlds.</span></span><br />
<div><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The sound of laughter played on the wind as</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Charles Darwin</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">stepped into the clearing. In the shadow of the ancient trees the old man smiled. The source of the laughter seemed to be coming from three small creatures playing in a small pool of water.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">Even with his leg wrapped in a</span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> hydraulic marriage of steel and steam, Darwin’s movements were like that of a cat. Simple and silent, not a step wasted, he made his way across the clearing, as to not disturb the small creatures. His hand slipped into his waist coat and produced a viewing device, at one point a jewelers loupe, but -much like his hydraulic leg brace- his first mate</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Nero</b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">had a way with machinery. The three small Nixes paid little attention to Darwin, as he made notes in his journal.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></div><div><div><span style="background-attachment: initial !important; background-clip: initial !important; background-color: black; background-image: initial !important; background-origin: initial !important; border-bottom-width: 0px !important; border-color: initial !important; border-image: initial !important; border-left-width: 0px !important; border-right-width: 0px !important; border-style: initial !important; border-top-width: 0px !important; color: yellow; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The sound of a tree falling startled him. He looked up from his notebook just in time to see the three small winged creatures take flight, a trail of water and light dancing behind them. As he turned to scan the forest around him, he could not help but feel a cold chill wash over the clearing. Had that been the sound of a tree falling, or of something ripping it off the ground? He would not have to wait long for his answer. Across the clearing a dark shape burst though the tree line...</span></div></div></div>Antonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07859116790713483167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-33789949217774777692012-01-12T01:19:00.002-05:002012-01-12T01:47:14.965-05:00Munkey see, Munkey do...<span >So Drew Moss approached me a while back, and asked if I'd like to join him and a few other creators on a rotating blog that would showcase our work to the masses. Obviously my answer was yes, or you wouldn't be reading this now, but at first I wasn't honestly sure what I'd be able to contribute. I'm a writer by trade (in case anybody was wondering), and while I'm filled to the brim with ideas for stories, writing can be a relatively solitary existence. I'm not exactly tapping strangers on the shoulder to share my stories with them all that often.</span><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Even when the blog went live, it was a struggle for me to think of something worthwhile to post. I'm not sure if this qualifies, actually, but once I saw Bob post his script, and Drew start sharing his character designs and the things he's got lined up for the future... Well, that was when I remembered why I'd agreed to join in the first place. You see, I didn't join this group simply to showcase my work. Don't get me wrong, I would like to do that (and I will), but it's not the primary reason I signed up. My real motivation for joining this jolly band is that each and every person sharing their work and their thoughts on this blog are passionate about the same thing I'm passionate about--storytelling. Each of these creators will dazzle with their work, and my brain is already dazed from the combination of posts that have already gone up.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >But, you see... that's why I'm writing this blog post, and that's why I joined the group. Because when you're a creator, and talented creators showcase their work to you or around you, it inspires you to do the same. I'm inspired when I see the work my fellow story munkeys are producing on a regular basis, and that inspiration serves to drive me as I endeavor to complete my own work. So when I see Jim post a sketch, or Bob drop a script, or Paul accentuate a piece of art with just the right combination of hues, it really gets me in the mood to write something that just might be able to stand up to the rest of the quality work these talented bastards are turning out in rapid-fire fashion.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >What can I say... I'm a story munkey. I see. I do.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Watch me dance.</span></div>Mike Exner IIIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08446100739816747689noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-11455475877494645342012-01-11T23:00:00.002-05:002012-01-11T23:00:43.006-05:00Is that a lizard or are you happy to see me?Nope just a reptile race. Designs for Xion Studios<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XcbmmeW1dxU/Tw5a41q6QSI/AAAAAAAAAIE/gz3ez_RmvIE/s1600/Agkistrodex_male_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XcbmmeW1dxU/Tw5a41q6QSI/AAAAAAAAAIE/gz3ez_RmvIE/s320/Agkistrodex_male_web.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-40886339828003782472012-01-11T18:37:00.000-05:002012-01-11T18:37:15.078-05:00Visions of 2012: Zombies vs. RobotsThank to Chris Ryall for giving me the chance<br />
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<a href="http://ryalltime.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/visions-of-2012-zombies-vs-robots/">http://ryalltime.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/visions-of-2012-zombies-vs-robots/</a>Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-90635825878484961082012-01-11T11:36:00.002-05:002012-01-11T11:36:45.088-05:00The Story Munkeystarting he logo<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvGc8HqUFyQ/Tw26lIMQTUI/AAAAAAAAAH8/WYqZxtbBFDA/s1600/story-munkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XvGc8HqUFyQ/Tw26lIMQTUI/AAAAAAAAAH8/WYqZxtbBFDA/s320/story-munkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-87729155183823386662012-01-10T23:21:00.000-05:002012-01-10T23:21:29.383-05:00Design thisJust working on some character designs and having a blast. This a reptilian race that are dubious in nature. These are some male designs. Note the construction lines. Thank you Loomis, Bridgman, and all the other art books I have ever read. That is all.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1fCjj8dU0A/Tw0NpymshkI/AAAAAAAAAHc/BHPsphuF0Yk/s1600/Agkistrodexhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1fCjj8dU0A/Tw0NpymshkI/AAAAAAAAAHc/BHPsphuF0Yk/s320/Agkistrodexhead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HbcuKDCK4rI/Tw0NqfVbrsI/AAAAAAAAAHk/qPX9UvV354o/s1600/design_this_by_drewerd-d4lv651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HbcuKDCK4rI/Tw0NqfVbrsI/AAAAAAAAAHk/qPX9UvV354o/s320/design_this_by_drewerd-d4lv651.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkatck023Dk/Tw0Nq8GlhDI/AAAAAAAAAHs/RkU-GE7oD68/s1600/design-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hkatck023Dk/Tw0Nq8GlhDI/AAAAAAAAAHs/RkU-GE7oD68/s320/design-2.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1451532343702099655.post-77178019246168172032012-01-10T23:04:00.000-05:002012-01-10T23:04:49.112-05:00The Life of a Story Monkey<div class="MsoNormal">I had this idea for a company of young upstarts, by young I mean new to the field or maybe in the infancy of their story telling careers opposed to age, making comics. The idea that a group of artist and writers could promote their own stuff as well as each other. That idea turns into a studio of story tellers with the same purpose. Promoting their ideas and at the same time helping each other grow and become better story tellers. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: red;">We are the Story Munkeys watch us dance.</span></b></div>Drew Mosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00138395098451206795noreply@blogger.com0