Friday, July 23, 2010

The Penguin - A Bird Without a Hand* - Simon McDonald


The following page is set out in a nine panel grid. The page should replicate this.

1. The Penguin is partially buried under the debris of The Iceberg Lounge; his head and an arm is poking out from the rubble, covered in dust; a cut to his forehead is dripping blood. He looks in bad shape; lucky to be alive, to have survived whatever's caused this decimation.

THE PENGUIN
Uuhhhh...


2. Identical to above.

SFX
Tap Tap Tap Tap


3. Same shot as above: only now there's a person standing in the frame; a man with a walking stick. We're staring at his legs; we can see The Penguin staring at those legs, hopeful of rescue.

THE PENGUIN
Huhhhhhlp meeee...

MAN
You want my help?
That depends...



4. The Man's now crouching down; looking at The Penguin with disdain. We can't see his head, but he's old and balding; like he needs the walking stick, it isn't just for show.

MAN
... how can you help me?


5. Close-up of The Penguin, eyes bulging. He knows the Man's face from somewhere... but can't quite place it.

MAN
You... do I...
I know...
You...


6. Tight on the Man.

MAN
Karma's a bitch, right?

7. Pull back, similar to Panel 3. Focus on the Man's leg's and the walking stick; on the Penguin, still trapped.

THE PENGUIN
I'm sorrrrry....
Please helllp meee....

8. The Penguin's gone limp, unconscious. The Man has moved out of frame.

MAN
(off panel)
Help yourself.

SFX
Tap Tap Tap Tap

9. Replicate Panel 8; the Penguin, unconscious. Alone.  Dying? Dead?

THE END?

7 comments:

  1. Ooo, who is it? Am I meant to know? How intriguing. Love it :-)

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  2. Oh... just looked at your link. Now I understand haha

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  3. Wow, Bill Sienkiewicz drawing "normally". Awesome.

    Nice stuff, Simon. I'm willing to bet that dude is the one who blew up the Iceberg Lounge, and this leads into a story where Batman has to catch the guy and feels weird about it.

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  4. inspired by Bill Sienkiewicz? Simon, you had me at hello!

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  5. @Ivan - that sounds awesome. Would read that.

    @Simon - once again a great script. With a few words you have captured the reader, lockied them in a chair and forced their eyes open wit hthose hook thingies from A Clockwork Orange. That's a good thing.

    Would love to know where you wanted to head with this.

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  6. Sime, I love that you've brought payback to the page. Very well done and kinda nice to see something tie so directly to continuity.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very intriguing and mysterious. This kind of reminds me of the ending of Batman Begins, not sure if that is delibrate or not.

    ReplyDelete

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