PANEL ONE
Arthur Dalley (new character) is driving his decade-old sedan, on his way to a job interview. He’s dressed for success: suit and tie, hair swept back, shaven; but there’s no hiding the skull mark on his chin; an eternal consequence of the Phantom’s form of vengeance.
CAPTION: I made a mistake, and was punished for it. I did my time.
CAPTION: I was determined to make something better of my life.
PANELS TWO, THREE & FOUR
(These panels are of equal size. Dalley appears progressively more dishevelled, and crushed, through each one, as he is rebuffed by three different employers)
PANEL TWO CAPTION: I tried.
PANEL THREE CAPTION: I tried, damn it.
PANEL FOUR CAPTION: But they can’t see past the mark.
PANEL FIVE
Dalley is sitting on the edge of his bed, dressed in shorts and a singlet, a multitude of beer bottles and liquor bottles dotted around his filthy room. He is holding a revolver, staring at it like it has all the answers he needs.
CAPTION: They can’t see past the mistake.
PANEL SIX
The Phantom is standing in Dalley’s room, looking down on Dalley’s body. Blood has pooled on the floor. The Phantom is holding Dalley’s suicide note.
CAPTION: Can you see past yours?
CAPTION: I made a mistake, and was punished for it. I did my time.
CAPTION: I was determined to make something better of my life.
PANELS TWO, THREE & FOUR
(These panels are of equal size. Dalley appears progressively more dishevelled, and crushed, through each one, as he is rebuffed by three different employers)
PANEL TWO CAPTION: I tried.
PANEL THREE CAPTION: I tried, damn it.
PANEL FOUR CAPTION: But they can’t see past the mark.
PANEL FIVE
Dalley is sitting on the edge of his bed, dressed in shorts and a singlet, a multitude of beer bottles and liquor bottles dotted around his filthy room. He is holding a revolver, staring at it like it has all the answers he needs.
CAPTION: They can’t see past the mistake.
PANEL SIX
The Phantom is standing in Dalley’s room, looking down on Dalley’s body. Blood has pooled on the floor. The Phantom is holding Dalley’s suicide note.
CAPTION: Can you see past yours?
Wow. This is a powerful page, a great done-in-one that is ultimately relatable. Well done, sir....
ReplyDeleteWhoa. The slow, unavoidable build is incredibly well done here, Sime. The two rings have always struck me as a little odd, but this is an excellent look at some of the unintended consequences of their use.
ReplyDelete