book beast vs. smartgirl
I am not in the mood for faithfully documenting my day-to-day, nor for fanciful brain-narration, nor even for another installment of Whoa WTF Chicago. Although today I did see someone riding on a disability scooter who was also smoking a cigarette, talking on a cell phone, sporting a new-looking (all shiny and bleedy) tattoo of Wiley E. Coyote, and wearing (a) a too-small t-shirt that said NOT A TERRORIST and (b) a plastic Popeye’s Chicken bag as headgear. It was QUITE THE LOOK.
Because I am not in the mood for etc etc, I am letting Nora guest-blog today, after a fashion. She will be sharing her latest comic book, titled BOOK BEAST. It is about a book with teeth that comes to life and causes problems. Nora will not win any awards for her art, but I quite like her ideas. I will provide commentary as best I can.
This is the title page. I think it’s kind of interesting that Book Beast is oriented on its side, but I suppose a book looks more like snapping jaws that way. I think it’s even more interesting that Book Beast has been trademarked. Don’t even think of trying to draw Book Beast yourself! Cease and desist! We welcome Book Beast fan fiction, however.
This is a guy at a bookstore or a library (I forget which, and the author is in bed so I can’t ask), minding his own business, when Book Beast jumps off a shelf and chases him. Nora apparently wants to make it very clear that the guy is screaming as he runs away. He runs away screaming for three panels, actually.
Our hero makes it home, to the very top floor of his house, and breathes a sigh of relief. BUT OH GOD LOOK WHAT IS RIGHT OUTSIDE
Carnage. More screaming. Book Beast has destroyed our hero’s home. See the jagged edges of all the broken windows? That diamond heading toward his head is a piece of glass, according to Nora. I thought Book Beast would be a bit more direct with his chomping but it seems he is more into collateral damage.
The broken glass has done its work and the victim is covered in blood. Nora took a disturbing amount of glee in telling me this. However, hope is here in the form of SmartGirl, the superheroine who is somewhat hastily and messily drawn off to the right. I really like the expressionistic quality of the house in this picture, all smushed and swirly.
Okay, NOW it gets weird. Time out for some potty humor! Suddenly and with no foreshadowing, Book Beast is escaping in a “hanglider” which is really just a “diaper attached to a parachute.” And he’s pooping all over the sidewalk, as you can tell! Before it was a tale of destruction, now it’s a tale of destruction + poop! I guess Nora wanted to appeal to all audiences, the true blood-and-gore comic book geeks and the six-year-old set. SmartGirl is supposed to be saving the day but she just looks on bemusedly.
A page vertically divided into two panels that shows SmartGirl delivering Book Beast to jail, and then SmartGirl conferring with a police officer as Book Beast glares from behind bars. Also the ominous “End of Book 1.” How much Book Beast can there be? Personally I hope Book 2 has less pooping.
—mimi smartypants is waiting for the sequel.
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