Matty Roth – A Favour To Ask, A Menial Task – Ryan K Lindsay

PAGE 1 - 4 PANELS

1. New York. Nice wide establishing shot, we’re about the corner of Central Park West and W 75th Street. A lone room of a building burns amongst the others – flames lick out the window.. We are in Winter so the flames stand out from the rest of the panel. Snow drifts down softly. From this angle we can see the New York Historical Society a few blocks down.

Caption: I had to call in a lot of favours.
Caption: Not all of them.
Caption: Just the most powerful ones.

2. Matty Roth sits on a bench, a thick jacket protects him from the cold. PRESS stands out on his back. He is looking at the fire.

Caption: Wilson had a stockpile of Shi Gao like it was blow and he was Senor Montana.

3. We see over Matty’s shoulder, he’s writing in a notepad.

Caption: The gypsum found in Shi Gao is what’s stopping that fire from engulfing this whole apathetic block.
Caption: We’re safe.

4. We now look up at Matty, eyes concentrated on his notepad, and behind him is a Central Park Ghost creeping up on him, rifle in hand, identity concealed. He should look like a real ghost coming out of the snow. He should look scary as hell.

Caption: But they don’t know that and I need their attention.

 

Of course, I’d only want Brian Wood himself to illustrate this page. At a pinch I’d take Ricardo Burcielli.

I always liked the Central Park Ghosts. Just one of the pieces of genius Wood slid into this book.

Oh, and if you want to read more about DMZ, I wrote an article way back when about how #18 is one of the finest pieces of comics ever. Go, enjoy.