Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title: C’RONA COMIX BY BOB HALL     9/14/2020

Title panel one: SLENDER PANEL. POD IS IN MIDST OF THE CYTOS, WHO ARE CALMING DOWN  BUT STILL CHATTERING.

PROFESSOR: CYTOS ARE CALMING DOWN.

PROFESSOR: FINALLY.

Title panel two: LOOKING PAST THE POD TOWARD B-CELLS SLIDING DOWN ROPES FROM THE TOP. THEY LOOK LIKE PROFESSIONAL CLIMBERS WITH PITONS (Y SHAPPED) HANGING FROM THEIR VESTS.

MOUSE: HEY! WHO ARE THESE GUYS?

PROFESSOR: THERE’S MORE WAYS THAN ONE TO STOP A VIRUS.

PROFESSOR: MACROPHAGES… T-CELLS… AND NOW… B-CELLS!

Strip One

Panel one: THE B-CELLS HURL THEIR ANTIBODIES.

PROFESSOR (IN BOX): “TOOK THEM A WHILE TO GET HERE, BUT NOW…

Panel two:  A VIRUS IS ABOUT TO UNLOCK A LUNG CELL. THERE ARE INCOMING ANTIBODIES.THAT TURN TO JAM, COVERING THE VIRUS KEYS. 

VIRUS: HUH?

PROFESSOR(IN BOX): …CHECK OUT THEIR ANTIBODIES!“

Panel three: ANTIBODIES FROM THE B-CELLS TURN TO JAM, COVERING THE KEY OF A VIRUS AND THE LOCK IT WAS ABOUT TO OPEN.

PROFESSOR: “ANTIBODIES COVER THE VIRUS KEYS…

VIRUS: HEY! WHAT’S THIS?

PROFESSOR: … AND THE LOCKS ON GRANDMA’S CELLS.”

Strip Two

Panel one: LONG SHOT THE VIRUSES ARE STRATEGICALLY COATED WITH ANTIBODIES AND CELLS ARE BLOCKED. THE B-CELLS CONTINUE TO THROW THEIR ANTIBODIES.

VIRUS COMMANDER: FALL BACK!

VIRUS COMMANDER: TAKE COVER!

Panel two: THE B-CELL AND THE MACROPHAGE.

B-CELL: AND THAT AS THEY SAY, IS THAT!

B-CELL:HEY MAC, GET T’ WORK!

MACROPHAGE: WHY DO I ALWAYS GOTTA CLEAN UP THE MESS?

Panel three: THE MACROPHAGE AT WORK IN THE FOREGROUND. T-CELL AND B-CELL BEHIND.

MACROPHAGE:BURP.

T-CELL: VIRUSES,WE KNOW YOU NOW!

T-CELL AND B-CELL: COME ON… WE ARE READY!

Strip Three

Panel one: THE POD GOING AWAY. THERE WILL BE MULTIPLE IMAGES OF THE POD UNTIL IT DISAPPEARS.

PROFESSOR: CRISIS IS OVER FOR NOW.

PROFESSOR: TIME TO GO HOME.

CAT: CAN WE STOP FOR ICE CREA–

Panel two: CAT, MOUSE, GOAT, BAT AND PROFESSOR STANDING OUTSIDE GRANDMA’S WINDOW. GRANDMA IS A GRAY SILHOUETTE BEHIND THE GLASS SO WE DON’T SEE HER CLEARLY. ARROW POINTS TO VIRUSES IN THE AIR.

CAPTION: TEN DAYS LATER

CAT, PROFESSOR, AND BAT: WELCOME HOME!

MOUSE: GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK,GRANDMA.

GOAT: YO, GRAMMA.

ARROW: VIRUSES

Panel three: CLOSE-UP OF TWO VIRUSES.

VIRUS 1: DO THEY KNOW SOME OF US ARE STILL AROUND?

VIRUS 2: NAH. WE CAN HANG OUT IN THE AIR FOR A WHILE.

VIRUS 1: AS LONG AS THERE’S NO VACCINE, WE’RE A-OK.

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title: C’RONA COMIX BY BOB HALL     9/7/2020

THE POD SHOWS CAT, THE PROFESSOR, AND MOUSE. THEY ARE REACTING TO THE T-CELLS ARRIVING.   

CAT: OH BOY! T-CELLS

Title panel:  T-CELLS ARRIVING. THERE IS A CLOUD OF CYTOS LEADING THEM. MACROPHAGES ARE CLEANING UP VIRUS DEBRIS.

MOUSE: ARE THEY COMING TO THE RESCUE?

MOUSE: WHAT’S GOING ON?

PROFESSOR: THE MACROPHAGES ARE DOING THEIR THING, AND THE CYTOS HAVE CALLED IN MORE T-CELLS. 

Strip One

Panel one: CUT TO THE VIRUSES ON THE DEFENSIVE. A CROWD OF VIRUSES HAVE THEIR KEYS OUT. THE COMMANDER POINTS IN FRONT OF HIM.

PROFESSOR: “THE VIRUSES ARE UNLOCKING GRANDMA’S CELLS…

PROFESSOR: …TO GET INSIDE AND MULTIPLY.”

COMMANDER VIRUS (LOOKING WORRIED): GET BUSY MAKING MORE VIRUSES!

COMMANDER VIRUS: HURRY!

Panel two: A WALL OF GRANDMA’S CELLS. SOME ARE BEING INVADED BY TONS OF VIRUSES WHILE BEING UNLOCKED. THE COMMANDER IS IN THE FOREGROUND. SEE T-CELLS COMING.

COMMANDER VIRUS: DANGER! INCOMING T-CELLS!

Panel three: GRANDMA’S CELLS HOLD OUT A FLAG WITH A PICTURE OF A VIRUS. INDENTED HAND IS VISIBLE. 

PROFESSOR: “THE CELLS HAVE BEEN TURNED INTO VIRUS-MAKING FACTORIES AND ARE SIGNALING FOR HELP.”

Strip Two

Panel one: A LINE OF T-CELLS ARE DOING A ‘HAND TOUCH’ WITH THE INFECTED GRANDMA CELLS.

T-CELLS: YOU’RE INFECTED. EXTERMINATE!  

Panel two: T-CELLS ARE TASERING GRANDMA’S CELLS.

MOUSE: THEY’RE KILLING OFF GRANDMA’SCELLS.

PROFESSOR: GRANDMA’S INFECTED CELLS NEED TO BE DESTROYED.

Panel three: THE T-CELLS ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL AT DESTROYING THE INFECTED CELLS. WE SEE HER CELLS CRUMBLING.

PROFESSOR: T-CELLS ARE LIKE FIRE FIGHTERS WHO TEAR DOWN BLAZING BUILDINGS SO OTHERS DON’T CATCH FIRE. 

Strip Three

Panel one: POD WITH PROFESSOR AND MOUSE AND CAT. THROUGH POD WINDOW THEY SEE THE CYTOKINES GETTING NUTTY.

MOUSE: WHAT’S UP WITH THE CYTOKINES?

PROFESSOR: IF THEY DON’T CALM DOWN, TOO MANY OF GRANDMA’S CELLS WILL GET DESTROYED!

Panels two and three:  TOTAL CHAOS. NOW THE CYTOS GETTING OUT OF CONTROL. THEY’RE ARE CALLING IN MORE AND MORE T-CELLS.

PROFESSOR: HOLD ON TIGHT!  IT’S GOING TO BE A BUMPY RIDE!

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title:  C’RONA COMIX BY BOB HALL     8/31/2020

THE PROFESSOR, MOUSE, AND CAT HURTLE ALONG IN THEIR POD.

PROFESSOR: WE’RE SOMEWHERE INSIDE GRANDMA.

MOUSE: ARE WE SAFE?

PROFESSOR: ABSOLUTELY…

Title panel: POD IS SMALL, LOOKING AT THE VASTNESS OF VIRUSES EVERYWHERE.

PROFESSOR: …JUST NEVER LEAVE THIS POD! 

MOUSE:THE VIRUSES ARE MAKING MORE AND MORE OF THEMSELVES!

Strip One

Panel one: CLOSE-UP INSIDE THE POD WITH VIRUSES SURROUNDING.

CAT: CAN’T WE DO SOMETHING?!

PROFESSOR: WE CAN’T… BUT LOOK WHAT’S COMING.

Panel two: CYTOKINES ENTERING THE SCENE, VERY RAMBUNCTIOUS. THEY MAKE NOISES BUT NEVER SPEAK.

PROFESSOR: GRANDMA’S CYTOKINES ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM TO HER IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Panel three: CYTOKINES GRAB A LONE COVID-19 VIRUS THAT IS SNIFFING AT THE POD.

PROFESSOR (IN QUOTES IN AN INFORMATION BOX): “THEY’RE CALLING IN THE T-CELLS“

Panel four: CYTOKINES DRAG THE VIRUS OVER TO THE T-CELL AND TELL THE T-CELLS IT IS THERE.

PROFESSOR (IN QUOTES IN AN INFORMATION BOX): “NOW THEY HAVE TO FIND A T-CELL WILLING TO TAKE ACTION.”

PROFESSOR (IN QUOTES IN AN INFORMATION BOX): “T-CELLS CAN BE VERY PICKY.”

Strip Two

Panel one: CYTOKINE HOLD UP THE VIRUS TO THE FIRST T-CELL. T-CELL 1 SAYS NO. CYTOKINES CONTINUE SOUNDING ALARMS.

T-CELL 1: I SPECIALIZE, AND IT’S NOT ON MY LIST.

VIRUS: LEMME GO!

Panel two: CYTOKINE HOLDS THE VIRUS UP TO T-CELL 2. CYTOKINES SOUNDING ALARMS.

T-CELL 2: NOT ON MY HIT LIST EITHER.

VIRUS: GUYS! PLEASE!

Panel three: CYTOKINE HOLDS THE VIRUS UP TO T-CELL 3. CYTOKINES SOUNDING ALARMS.

T-CELL 3: YESSS. THIS ONE’S ALL MINE.

VIRUS: BAD NEWS!

Panel four: T-CELL 3 SUDDENLY SQUASHES THE VIRUS. CYTOKINES JUMP IN SURPRISE.

SFX (NO BALLOON): SPLOOSH

Strip Three

Panel one: T-CELL 3 IS GETTING READY TO GO INTO THE FRAY. CYTOKINES SOUNDING ALARMS, GETTING MORE AND MORE AGITATED.

T-CELL 3: HOW MANY ARE THERE?

T-CELL 3 (IN RESPONSE TO THE CYTOS): MILLIONS AND MILLIONS?

T-CELL 3: I’M ON IT. 

Panel two: PROFESSOR AND POD GROUP ARE WATCHING THE GOINGS ON.

PORFESSOR: OH DEAR, THE CYTOS ARE FREAKING OUT.  

CAT: IS THAT BAD?

PROFESSOR: CAN BE… IF THEY GET OVEREXCITED.

MOUSE: LOOK THERE!

Panel three: T-CELLS COMING TO THE RESCUE.

PROFESSOR: T-CELLS!

MOUSE: YAY!

PROFESSOR: THEY’RE VICIOUS ASSASSINS!

Panel four: POD LOOKS AT T-CELL ASSASSINS, AND THE CYTOKINES ARE STARTING TO GET OUT OF HAND IN THE DISTANCE.

CAT: ARE THEY GOING TO RESCUE GRANDMA?

PROFESSOR: THEY’LL TRY… 

PROFESSOR: …BUT IF THINGS GET OUT OF HAND...

PROFESSOR: …THAT COULD BE VERY BAD.

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title panel: THE PANEL IS DIVIDED INTO TWO.

Panel One: A SLIM PANEL OF MOUSE’S APARTMENT BUILDING. A VOICE FROM A WINDOW IS COUGHING. MOUSE IS LEANING OUT HER WINDOW TO HEAR.

GRANDMA: (FROM WINDOW.  WEAK FONT.  WE DON’T SEE HER – JUST HER BALLOON):  =COF=  CAN’T BREATHE… = COF= HELP…

Panel Two: MOUSE, NOW RECOVERED, CALLING 911.

MOUSE: 911? THE WOMAN DOWNSTAIRS NEEDS HELP.

MOUSE: DON’T KNOW HER REAL NAME. WE JUST CALL HER GRANDMA.

Strip One

Panel One: GRANDMA IN BED COUGHING. SHE’S A SILHOUETTE. WE SEE THE VIRUSES ERUPT AS A MIST. THERE IS A WINDOW BEHIND HER, MOUSE’S VOICE COMES THROUGH THE WINDOW AND FROM ABOVE.

GRANDMA: =COF= =COF=

MOUSE: THEY’RE ON THEIR WAY.

ARROW: VIRUSES

VIRUS 1: WHAT HAPPENED?

VIRUS 2:  OUR HOST COUGHED US OUT.

Panel Two: ZOOM IN ENOUGH TO SEE THE VIRUSES. THERE ARE A TON OF THEM, BUT ONLY TWO ARE “IN FOCUS.” VIRUS 2 IS CONTENTEDLY FLOATING.

VIRUS 1: WHAT DO WE DO???

VIRUS 2: RELAX…FLOAT AROUND IN THE AIR…

VIRUS 2: …WAIT FOR A NEW HOST…

VIRUS 2: …WE GOT NOTHING BUT TIME.

Panel Three: A NYC APARTMENT BUILDING AND THE STREET IN FRONT OF IT. WE SEE A PERSON BEING WHEELED FROM THE BUILDING INTO AN AMBULANCE. THERE ARE ANONYMOUS PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND IN WINDOWS WATCHING.

AMBULANCE PERSON 1: WHAT HOSPITAL? ROOSEVELT?

AMBULANCE PERSON 2: FULL. GOTTA DO QUEENS.

PERSON 1: WHO HAS IT THIS TIME?

PERSON 2: GRANDMA.

PERSON 4: PROBABLY TALKED TOO CLOSE TO SOMEONE.

PERSON 5: PEOPLE CAN GIVE IT TO YOU WHO DON’T EVEN HAVE SYMPTOMS.

Panel Four: CAT AND MOUSE ARE ON THE ROOF LOOKING DOWN. THEY ARE WEARING MASKS AND ARE PROPERLY DISTANCED. MOUSE IS ON THE PHONE TO THE PROFESSOR.

MOUSE: IHAD C’RONA. NOW GRANDMA DOES.

MOUSE: WHAT DOES THE VIRUS DO INSIDE US?

PROFESSOR (FROM PHONE): COME TO MY LAB.

Strip Two

Panel One: CAT AND MOUSE ARE TALKING TO THE PROFESSOR. THEY ARE IN HIS LAB, WHICH LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING STRAIGHT OUT OF FANTASTIC FOUR.

PROFESSOR: CLIMB IN MY TRANSPORTER POD.

PROFESSOR: IT WILL TAKE US RIGHT INSIDE GRANDMA.

MOUSE: IS THIS SAFE?

CAT: IT’S COOL.

Panel Two: THE POD STREAMS ACROSS THE PANEL IN AN ARC OF COMIC BOOK ENERGY.

MOUSE: WE’RE GETTING SMALLER.

PROFESSOR: ISN’T IT AMAZING?

CAT: IS THIS SCIENCE?

PROFESSOR: NO, NO. PURE COMIC BOOK.

Panel Three:  GRANDMA’S HOSPITAL ROOM. GRANDMA IS ASLEEP IN THE SHADOWS. THE ENERGY BOLT COMES RIGHT THROUGH THE WALL AND GOES INTO GRANDMA.

PROFESSOR: HERE’S GRANDMA.

PROFESSOR: AND WE’RE IN!

Strip Three

Panel One: PROFESSOR, CAT, AND MOUSE ARE SEEN THROUGH THE WINDOW OF THE POD.

MOUSE: LOOK!AN ARMY!

CAT: INVADING VIRUSES!

PROFESSOR: DON’T WORRY. THEY CAN’T SEE US.

Panel Two: CLOSER ON THE VIRUSES. A LONG LINE OF THEM IN FORMATION STRETCHES OFF INTO THE DISTANCE. THE COMMANDER ADDRESSES THEM. 

COMMANDER: AWRIGHT.

COMMANDER: YOU’VE HAD YOUR TRAINING!

COMMANDER: NOW FOR THE REAL THING!

Panel Three: CLOSE ON THE COMMANDER.

COMMANDER: TODAY WE ARE GOING TO NAVIGATE THE MOST DANGEROUSPART OF OUR HOST’S DEFENSE SYSTEM.

COMMANDER: KEYS OUT AND FORWARD MARCH!   

Panel Four: THEY MARCH AWAY WITH KEYS ON THE ALERT. THE POD FOLLOWS.

MOUSE: THEY’RE SCARY.

CAT: VERY!

PROFESSOR: AND EXACTLY WHAT WE CAME TO SEE.

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title panel: SPLIT PANEL. IN THE UPPER SECTION, THE REPORTER FOX TALKS TO PROFESSSOR ON HER PHONE. IN THE LOWER SECTION, THE PROFESSOR ANSWERS.

FOX: FELICIA FOX HERE.

FOX: THIS PANDEMIC ISN’T GOING AWAY… AND IT’S SPREADING.

FOX: COULD YOU SHOW MY TV VIEWERS WHAT’S HAPPENING?

FOX: SOMETHING VISUAL?

PROFESSOR: HMM. I’LL SEE WHAT I CAN COME UP WITH.

Strip One

Panel one: BAT AND CAT ARE ON THE ROOF TOP AGAIN. CAT IS HANGING UP HIS BEACH TOWEL CAPE AND EYEMASK.

BAT: YOU GIVING UP ON YOUR SUPERHERO OUTFIT?

CAT:I THOUGHT I WAS INVULNERABLE.

CAT: TURNS OUT NO ONE IS.

MOUSE (FROM OFF PANEL BELOW.): I HEAR VOICES ON MY ROOF.

Panel Two: PULL BACK TO SEE MORE OF THE BUILDING, INCLUDING MOUSE’S WINDOW WITH HER IN IT.  BAT AND CAT ON THE ROOF.

BAT: MOUSE. HOW YOU FEELING?

MOUSE: BETTER. MUCH BETTER. 

MOUSE: STILL IN QUARANTINE FOR A WHILE THOUGH.

CAT: BETTER IS GOOD.

Panel three: DOWN SHOT PAST THE WINDOW.  SKATEGOAT RIDES UP.

GOAT: YO, GUYS!

GOAT: I’M MEETING THE PROF HERE.

GOAT: WANTS TO TRY SOMETHINGOUT ON ME.

Panel four: CLOSER ON GOAT. PAST HIM THE PROFESSOR ARRIVES CARRYING A ROLLED-UP STENCIL, A BOX OF SPRAY PAINT, AND OTHER SUPPLIES.

PROFESSOR: SKATE GOAT!

PROFESSOR: HERE I AM. 

PROFESSOR: HELP ME UNROLL THIS STENCIL.

Strip Two

Panel one: PROFESSOR IS SPRAY PAINTING A STENCIL OF A MAP OF THE WORLD. GOAT IS TO ONE SIDE, HAVING HELPED THE PROFFESOR POSTION THE STENCIL.

PROFESSOR: NOW LOOK.

GOAT: YOU’RE SPRAYING A MAP OF THE WORLD?

PROFESSOR: COVID-19 VIRUS AFFECTS THE WHOLE PLANET.

GOAT: PAN . . . DEMIC. GOT IT.

Panel two: PROFESSOR DRAWS A LINE FROM CHINA TO SEATTLE.

PROFESSOR: REMEMBER, WE CAN TRACE THE VIRUS BY ITS MUTATIONS.

PROFESSOR: THE FIRST COVID-19 VIRUS TO HIT THE USA SEEMS TO HAVE COME FROM

PROFESSOR: . . . CHINA . . .

PROFESSOR: . . . TO SEATTLE.

Panel three: THE PROFESSOR DRAWS ANOTHER LINE FROM EUROPE TO NEW YORK.

PROFESSOR: BUT THE VIRUSES IN NEW YORK SEEM TO HAVE FIRST COME FROM EUROPE.

Panel four: THE PROFESSOR EXCITEDLY DRAWS LINES EVERY WHICH WAY. 

PROFESSOR: SINCE THEN THE VIRUSES HAVE MOVED HERE . . .

PROFESSOR: . . . THERE . . .

PROFESSOR: . . . AND EVERYWHERE.

Strip Three

Panel one: ONE PANEL RUNNING THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE PAGE WITH A  BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE PROF’S DIAGRAM. IT’S AN OVERWHELMING MESS OF LINES AND ARROWS INTERTWINED, GOING HERE THERE AND EVERYWHERE. BY THIS TIME EVERYONE IS GATHERED AROUND. ON THE RIGHT OF THE PANEL IS THE WALL OF MOUSE’S BUILDING AND HER WINDOW. SHE IS LEANING OUT GAZING AT THE WORK BELOW.

PROFESSOR: IT’S A MESS.

PROFESSOR: GETIT? 

GOAT: YEAH, WE GOTTA KEEP WEARING THESE MASKS . . .

CAT: AND DISTANCING

BAT: AND WAIT FOR A  VACCINE

MOUSE: AND LEARN TO LIVEWITH THIS VIRUS.

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title:  C’RONA COMIX BY BOB HALL

Title panel: NEWS FOX IS ON TV. PROFESSOR AND GOAT ARE THERE IN PERSON.

FOX: AS A NEWSFOX, I CAN GET C’RONA.

FOX: WHAT ABOUT REAL FOXES? 

.

PROFESSOR: WE ARE STILL LEARNING WHICH ANIMALS GET COVID-19.

GOAT: I’VE STARTED WEARING A MASK ANYHOW.

PROFESSOR: AS A CARTOON, GRAFFITI MOUSE HAS COVID-19.

PROFESSOR: THOUGH WE‘RE NOT SURE ABOUT REAL MICE.

Strip One

Panel one: MOUSE IS SICK. VOICES FROM THE WINDOW OF MOUSE’S APARTMENT.

MOUSE: HI, MA. 

MOUSE: HOW DO I FEEL? 

MOUSE: AWFUL.

Panel two: IN MOUSE’S BEDROOM. SHE IS QUITE SICK. MOUSE IS IN BED TALKING TO HER MOTHER ON A PHONE. SHE LOOKS TERRIBLE.

MOUSE: I COUGH . . . HAVE A FEVER . . . LUNGS ACHE,

MOUSE: BUT I CAN BREATHE.

Panel three:  MOUSE IS IN BED TALKING TO HER MOTHER ON A PHONE.

MOUSE: YES, I . . . – COF – COF . . .

MOUSE: MISS YOU TOO, MA.

MOUSE: OH, THANKS. FORGOT IT WAS TODAY.

MOUSE:  COF – I OUGHTTA GO NOW . . .  – COF.

Panel four:  PROFILE OF MOUSE, ALMOST IN SILHOUETTE, STARING INTO SPACE.

MOUSE: I’M SCARED.

Strip Two

Panel one:  PROFESSOR, CAT, AND GOAT WALK DOWN THE STREET TOGETHER. THE GOAT’S MASK HAS HIS SKATEBOARD SYMBOL. THE PROFESSOR HURRIES FROM BEHIND TO JOIN THEM. HE HAS STACK OF PAPER UNDER HIS ARM.

GOAT (TO CAT): COOL MASK.

CAT: YOURS TOO.

GOAT: MADE IT MYSELF.

PROFESSOR: WAIT UP!

PROFESSOR: I WANT TO SHARE SOMETHING AMAZING.

PROFESSOR: WE CAN TRACKTHE SPREAD OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS.

Panel two: PROFESSOR OPENS PAPERS, AND GOAT IMITATES A ZOMBIE.

PROFESSOR: BECAUSE IT MUTATES.

GOAT:LIKE ZOMBIES?

PROFESSOR: NO, NO.  

Panel three: PROFESSOR OPENS HIS SQUARES OF PAPER LIKE AN ACCORDION. IT SHOWS THREE VIRUSES WITH NECKLACES THAT HAVE THE LETTERS A,C, G, AND U DANGLING. THE LETTERS ARE ARRANGED DIFFERENTLY IN EACH PICTURE.

PROFESSOR: THE MUTATIONS ARE TINYCHANGES IN THE GENETIC CODE.THEY HAPPEN EVERY SO OFTEN.

PROFESSOR: LOOK AT THESE COVID-19 VIRUSES FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.

Panel four: GOAT AND CAT STARE.

PROFESSOR: SEE ANY DIFFERENCES?

GOAT: NO . . .

CAT: SURE. THE LETTERS ARE SCRAMBLED. 

Strip Three

Panel one: PROFESSOR EXPLAINS TO CAT.

PROFESSOR: YES! THOSE LETTERS ARE INSTRUCTIONS . . . THE GENETIC CODE.  

PROFESSOR: AS ZILLIONS OF COPIES OF THE VIRUS ARE MADE . . . MISTAKES HAPPEN.

PROFESSOR: LETTERS GET ADDED OR DROPPED.

CAT: YOU MEAN ACG BECOMES GAC?

Panel two: CAT WITH THOUGHT BALLOON WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS ABOVE HIS HEAD.

PROFESSOR (OUT OF FRAME): YES.  THESE MUTATIONS PROVIDE CLUES TO WHERE THE VIRUS HAS BEEN.

CAT:LIKE A DETECTIVE?

Panel three: PROFESSOR TALKS TO CAT AND GOAT, WHO IS DOING HIS ZOMBIE WALK.

PROFESSOR: YES! AREN’T MUTATIONS WONDERFUL?

GOAT: I GUESS. BUT NO  ZOMBIES?

PROFESSOR:  WE CAN EVEN SEE HOW THE VIRUS HAS MOVED AROUND THE . . .

BAT (INTERRUPTING FROM OFF PANEL): HEY PROF. IT’S TIME! 

Panel four:  JUST BAT IN THE AIR. THE OTHERS ARE NOT SEEN.

BAT: YOU ALL READY?

BALLOON: (3 POINTERS TO THE UNSEEN CAT, PROFESSOR AND GOAT): READY!

Panel five: THEY HAVE ASSEMBLED BELOW MOUSE’S WINDOW TO SING.

BAT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,

CAT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,

PROFESSOR: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GRAFFITI MOUSE. 

GOAT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

MOUSE (THOUGHT BALLOON FROM THE WINDOW. WE DON’T SEE HER): IT’S GOOD TO HAVE FRIENDS.

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title:  C’RONA COMIX BY BOB HALL

Title panel:  PROFESSOR, BAT, AND CAT TALK TO US.

CAT: AS A CARTOON CHARACTER, AM I A CAT OR A PERSON?

PROFESSOR: ACTUALLY, AS DRAWN, YOU ARE BOTH. 

PROFESSOR: AND SO ARE THE REST OF US.

BAT: IF THAT CONFUSES YOU, JUST THINK WHAT IT DOES TO US.

Strip One

Panel one: GOAT IS SKATING; BAT IS FLYING. URBAN STREET BACKGROUND.

BAT:  WHY DON’T YOU WEAR A MASK?

GOAT: MAYBE I SHOULD.

GOAT: WHERE’S YOURS?

Panel two: SIDE VIEW OF BAT’S FACE.

BAT:  I DON’T’ HAVE A MASK…

BAT: . . . BUT I BELIEVE IN MASKS.

Panel three.  CLOSE UP OF BAT’S FACE.

BAT:  MASKS PROTECT MY FRIENDS . . .

BAT: . . . MY FAMILY . . . EVERYONE AROUND ME.

BAT: WHY DON’T I HAVE ONE?

Panel four: THE SAME.

BAT:  IT’S BECAUSE THE CARTOONIST DRAWING THIS STRIP DIDN’T GIVE ME ONE.

Panel five: THE SAME BUT WITH A MASK.

BAT: THANKS.

Strip Two

Panel one: BAT FLIES INTO A PANEL DEPICTING CAT AND GOAT STANDING IN FRONT OF MOUSE’S GRAFFITI WALL, WHICH HAS GRAFFITI MESSAGE FROM MOUSE. THE CHARACTERS STARE AT THE GRAFFITI.  FROM HER WINDOW WE SEE MOUSE WAVING.

GRAFFITI: 

BEWARE

I’M POSITIVE 

AM IN QUARANTINE

MOUSE.

BAT: WHERE’S MOUSE? 

BAT: I WANT TO SHOW HER MY NEW MA…

BAT: OH . . .

CAT:  NOT FAIR. SHE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.

GOAT: YEAH, WHY HER?

Panel two: BAT FLIES UP TO MOUSE’S WINDOW, WHICH IS VERY SLIGHTLY OPEN SO A CONVERSATION CAN OCCUR.  WE LOOK PAST BAT AT MOUSE IN THE WINDOW.

BAT: WAS IT MY FAULT?

MOUSE:  DOUBT IT. YOU ALWAYS KEPT ENOUGH DISTANCE.

BAT: HOW’D YOUGET IT THEN?

Panel three:  SAME IDEA, BUT LOOKING PAST BAT AT MOUSE OUTSIDE HER WINDOW.

MOUSE: MAYBE I TALKED TO SOMEONE WITH NO MASK . . .

MOUSE: . . . INSIDE AND TOO CLOSE.

MOUSE: DOESN’T TAKE MUCH.

Panel four: PULL BACK ON THE WINDOW FROM OUTSIDE.

MOUSE:  TELL OUR FRIENDS TO GET TESTED. YOU TOO.

BAT (FLYING AWAY):  WILL YOU BE OK?

MOUSE: SURE. 

Panel five:  VERY SLIM PANEL OF MOUSE INSIDE TURNED AWAY FROM THE WINDOW.  SHE HAS REMOVED HER MASK.

MOUSE: BOY, I FEEL LOUSY.

Strip Three

Panel one: FAIRLY CLOSE ON THE DRIVE-BY TAKEOUT WINDOW OF A COFFEE SHOP.  THE INVISIBLE VIRUS IS SITTING ON THE COUNTER. WE CAN’T SEE HIM YET, JUST THE BALLOON POINTER GOING TO THE COUNTER. 

ARROW: VIRUS.

VIRUS: THEY WIPED DOWN ALL THE COUNTERS INSIDE…

VIRUS: BUT THEY FORGOT THIS ONE.

Panel two: MUCH CLOSER, SO WE ACTUALLY SEE THE VIRUS WAITING.

ARROW: VIRUS ENLARGED.

VIRUS: PRETTY SOON THAT GUY OVER THERE WILL PICK UP HIS COFFEE.

VIRUS: WITH ANY LUCK I CAN CATCH A RIDE.

Panel three:  PULL BACK SO WE CAN SEE THE CORNER OF THE WINDOW

VOICE OF BARISTA (FROM INSIDE THE WINDOW):HEY GOAT. YOUR LATTE’S READY.

VIRUS: AND HERE WE GO.

Panel four: GOAT’S HAND GRABS COFFEE. WE SEE THE HAND AND THE COUNTER. THERE IS A “BURST” WHERE THE COFFEE WAS AND SPEED LINES LEADING TO THE RECYCLABLE COFFEE CONTAINER IN THE GOAT’S HAND.

GOAT: THANKS.

VIRUS: HEY!

Panel five: GOAT SKATEBOARDING AWAY HOLDING HIS COFFEE.

VIRUS: WAIIIIIIIT!!!!

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Lettering by Ted Sikora
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title:  C’RONA COMIX BY BOB HALL

Title panel:

PROFESSOR GREY: THE VIRUS CAUSING THIS PANDEMIC IS ONE WE’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.  IT GOES BY A LOT OF NAMES: NOVEL CORONAVIRUS, SARS CORONAVIRUS 2, SARS-COV-2, COVID-19 VIRUS . . . AND, IN THIS COMIC, C’RONA.

Strip One

Panel one: FOX REPORTER IS IN SECURE ROOM WITH VIRUS.

FOX:  FELICIA FOX HERE,  INTERVIEWING AN ACTUAL SARS CORONAVIRUS 2.

C’RONA: THAT’S ME. RIGHT DOWN HERE.

C’RONA:  I’M NEARLY INVISIBLE, AND SUPPOSEDLY DANGEROUS.

Panel two: CLOSE UP ON CHAIR.  FOX HOLDS THE MICROPHONE CLOSE TO THE CHAIR.

C’RONA: BUT ACTUALLY, I’M FRAGILE AND MISUNDERSTOOD. 

C’RONA: I NEED A HOST TO SURVIVE.  WOULD YOU BE MY HOST?

FOX:  BAD IDEA.

Panel three:  THE FOX PULLS AWAY.

C’RONA: IT’D BE FUN.

FOX:   TOO CREEPY. I‘M OUTTA HERE.

Panel four: FOX DROPS THE MICROPHONE AS THE VIRUS SAYS:

C’RONA: TOO LATE.

C’RONA: I’M ON YOUR MICROPHONE.

Panel five:  A TERRIFIED FOX LOOKS AT US AS C’RONA SAYS:

C’RONA: TOO LATE AGAIN…IN YOUR NOSE.

C’RONA: OOH, I LIKE IT IN HERE.

Strip Two 

Panel one: THE STREET.  MOUSE IS PAINTING ANOTHER MESSAGE ON THE WALL WITH THE SYMBOL OF THE VIRUS AS WELL:  CAT AND  BAT ARE THERE TOO.  THE CAT IS  HOLDING HIS BANDAGED HEAD, RECOVERING FROM HIS FALL LAST PAGE.

BAT: YOU OK?  YOU FELL A LONG WAY.

CAT:  I REALLY WANTED TO FLY.

MOUSE: YOU’RE NOT A SUPERHERO. WHO CARES?

Panel two: CLOSER ON MOUSE AND CAT. GRAFFITI: THIS AIN’T THE FLU. 

CAT: SUPERHEROES CAN MAKE ALL THE BAD STUFF IN LIFE OK.

MOUSE: I THINK WE HAVE TO DO THAT FOR OURSELVES.

Panel three:

BAT (HOVERING): CHEER UP.  MAYBE YOU ARE INVULNERABLE. 

         YOU FELL FIFTY FEET WITHOUT A SCRATCH.

CAT: (THINKING ABOUT IT): YES?

Panel four: HEADS OF MOUSE AND BAT AND FULL FIGURE OF CAT RUNNING OFF JOYOUSLY.

CAT: THAT’S MY SUPERPOWER! I’M YOUNG AND INVULNERABLE!

BAT: OH BOY!

MOUSE: NOWHE THINKS HE’S INVULNERABLE.

BAT: I SHOULD HAVE KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT.

Strip Three

Panel one:  THE HEAD OF PROFESSOR GREY.

PROFESSOR: WANT TO  ACTUALLY  SEE THE COVID-19 VIRUS?  YOU CAN THROUGH THE MAGIC OF COMIX.

Panel two: THE VIRUSES.

FLU VIRUS: AM I VIRUS ENOUGH FOR YOU?

FLU VIRUS: I’M MEAN! I’M DEADLY! I’M…

C’RONA: AN EDGE OF THE CORONA VIRUS INTERRUPTS:  NOT COVID-19 VIRUS.

FLU VIRUS: OK, IT’S TRUE. I’M FLU. 

Panel three: THE CORONA VIRUS FLOATS IN.

C’RONA:  AND I’M  C’RONA! PEOPLE THINK I’M LIKE THE FLU.  BUT SEE…NO RESEMBLANCE.

C’RONA: HAD YOU GOING, DIDN’T WE?

Panel four: LONG SHOT ACROSS THE TOP – THE TWO VIRUS GIGGLE TOGETHER BUT WE HAVE NOW PULLED BACK TO HUMAN SCALE SO THE GIGGLING SOUNDS COME FROM THE SIDEWALK IN TWO BALLOONS WITH THE VIRUSES BEING TOO SMALL TO BE SEEN. SKATE GOAT IS SKATE BOARDING BY TO THE LEFT. HE HAS NO MASK.

FLU VIRUS: IT’S SO EASY TO CONFUSE HUMANS.

C’RONA: HEY, WHO’S THIS?

GOAT: COVID 19 YOU’D BEST TAKE NOTE.  DON’T TRY TO GET THE SKATING GOAT.

              SPEED’S AT THE CORE OF MY PERSONA.  I MOVE TOO FAST TO CATCH C’RONA.

Panel five: A LONG SMALL PANEL SHOWING ONE OF THE GOAT’S HOOVES ON THE REAR OF THE  SKATEBOARD AS IT EXITS THE PANEL TO THE LEFT. . . THE VIRUSES’ BALLOONS COME FROM THE SIDEWALK.

C’RONA (INVISIBLE NOW. THE BALLOON COMES FROM THE SKATE BOARD):

BOY, HE’S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

Credits

Art by Bob Hall
Story by Bob Hall, Liz VanWormer, Judy Diamond
Web Site by Bolero Information Systems LLC

Title: C’RONA COMIX  BY BOB HALL

Title Panel:  MAIN CHARACTERS ARE POSITIONED 6 FEET APART

Strip One

Panel one: BAT HANGS UPSIDE DOWN TALKING TO CAT.

BAT: THE LIFE OF A BAT AIN’T FAIR. I WANT SOME RESPECT.

CAT: AND I WANT JUST ONE SUPER POWER.  I KNOW IT’S IN ME.

BAT: SEE, US BATS HAVE A LOT OF VIRUSES.

Panel two: THE SAME, BUT A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE.

CAT: AND YOU DON’T GET SICK?

BAT: NOT USUALLY. OUR IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE AMAZING.

BAT: BUT PEOPLE BLAME US FOR SPREADING VIRUSES…EVEN THIS NEW C’RONA. IT’S DEPRESSING. 

CAT: YOU CANFLY.  THAT’S SOMETHING.

Panel three:

CAT(GETTING BIG): HEY, IF I HAD ONE SUPER POWER IT’D BE TO FLY. 

CAT: I’M GONNA TRY.

BAT: BAD IDEA!  

CAT: UP, UP AND . . .

Panel four: THE CAT LAID OUT IN SPACE AND FLAPPING ARMS.

CAT: AWAY!!

Panel five:  THE BAT LOOKING OUT AT US. THE CAT IS GOING DOWN WITH SPEED LINES GOING DOWN.

BAT:  WAIT! YOU NEED WINGS TO . . .

BAT: . . . TO FLY . . .

Strip Two

Panel one:  MOUSE USES SPRAY PAINT PLUS PAINT AND A LADDER. HER EQUIPMENT IS ALL AROUND HER.SHE IS PAINTING A WALL WITH THE MOTTO ‘MASKS ARE . . .’  SHE IS TALKING TO PROFESSOR GREY.

MOUSE: MY FRIEND CAT SURE THINKS HE’S A SUPERHERO.  HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT FLYING.

PROFESSOR: SUPERHEROES ONLY EXIST IN COMICS. 

MOUSE: PROFESSOR, THIS IS A COMIC.

Panel two: MOUSE WRITES THE NEXT WORDS ON THE WALL.  . . . ARE DOPE!

PROFESSOR: AH YES. THEN ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

Panel three: THE CAT FALLS FROM THE SKY AND CRASHES, UPSETTING PAINT

BUCKETS.

SFX  SPLAT!

Panel four: THE CAT IS LYING IN THE DEBRIS BUT IS OK.

MOUSE: YOU OK?

CAT: YOU KIDDING?  I ALMOST FLEW!  NEXT TIME I’LL MAKE IT.

Strip Three

Panel one: THE REPORTER FOX IS LOOKING OUT AT US, AS IF AT A CAMERA.  SHE HAS A DESIGNER – NANCY PELOSI LIKE – MASK THAT’S AROUND HER NECK AT THIS POINT. SHE STANDS IN FRONT OF A SECURITY DOOR, STEEL WITH RIVETS AND A SMALL WINDOW WITH GLASSS AND STEEL WIRE.

FOX: BEHIND THIS LOCKED DOOR IS THE NEWEST THREAT TO MANKIND.

FOX: AN ACTUAL,  SARS CORONA VIRUS 2 . . .

FOX: . . . THE CAUSE OF COVID-19.

Panel two: FOX UNLOCKS THE DOOR AND PUTS ON HER MASK.

FOX: THIS WILL BE THE FIRST EVER LIVE INTERVIEW WITH A C’RONA.

FOX: A MOMENT WHILE I PUT ON MY MASK AND UNLOCK THE DOOR.

Panel three: A VIEW FROM ABOVE OF THE “SECURE ROOM.”  IT IS EMPTY EXCEPT FOR A REMOTE CAMERA AND A CHAIR, WHICH APPEARS TO BE EMPTY AS WELL.

FOX: AND HERE WE . . .

FOX LOOKS OVER HER SHOULDER AT UNSEEN TECHNICIANS PRESUMABLY IN A BOOTH.

FOX: HEY GUYS! WHERE’S THE VIRUS?

Panel four: BALLOON FROM THE EMPTY CHAIR: 

CHAIR: HI THERE.