2021-11-20

#255: On Trial (Part Seven)

[Time, Fred, and Max.] \n CAPTION: BACK IN THE PRESENT... \n Time: well, time to go home, i suppose. \n Fred: Oh boy! Can we take the fire donkeys again? \n [Time and Fred.] \n Time: well, uh...you got here by eating negative saltines? \n Fred: And broke reality, which sent me here to prevent further damage. \n [Close-up of Time.] \n Time: um...you'd want to...obviously, you could...maybe...uhhh... \n [Fred runs away gleefully.] \n Time: sure, take the fire donkeys again. \n Fred: Yayyyy! \n [Max and Time watch Fred off-panel.] \n Fire donkey: ROAR \n Fred: Giddyup! \n [Max turns to see an annoyed Life staring down at him.] \n [Max talks to Life.] \n Max: Life, I know you're disappointed in me- \n Life: I'm not disappointed. I'm just mad. \n [Max begs.] \n Max: But I don't know what I was thinking and I'm really sorry and can I have another chance? \n [Life is moved.] \n [He grudgingly restores Max's magic.] \n Life: Fine. You can have your magic back. \n Max: Yay! \n [Time restores Max's magic.] \n Time: you know you'll have to recharge next year, Max. \n Max: I know. \n Time: so we're sending you to the Other Side to find magic. \n Max: Oh, ok. \n Life: We are? \n [Max juggles fireballs in the background.] \n Time: i know it's dangerous, but it's not his first trip and- \n Life: It's not? \n Time: ... \n [Life points at Time, who is angry, while Max drops a fireball and starts a fire by accident.] \n Life: I *knew* it! You *do* like that place! \n Time: those trips were strictly necessary! he needs to find some sustainable magic source! the less magic there the better! \n [Time turns to Max as Max waves and disappears.] \n Time: anyway, you should probably get going. \n Max: Bye! \n Time: your magic should last till Halloween '21, so you should leave for the Other Side around then. \n [Zoom out to show the main Universe HQ buildings are on a large floating island in space with patches of grass and vines. There are other similar floating islands with energy bridges between them.] \n Time: seriously though, how many mortals did you marry? \n Life: Just the ones I married? \n Time: *sigh* \n CAPTION: HAPPY HALLOGIVING FROM TINY STRIPZ
Finally, I can return to the present. Tune in next comic for Max's adventures with the Pillbug in the Other Side!

2021-11-13

#254: On Trial (Part Six)

[Elaine and Alex are looking down at the camera, dark and blurry.] \n Max: Ughhh... \n [They become less blurry and lighter.] \n Max: Is that... \n [Zoom out, leaving Max's POV. Elaine and Alex are next to Max's hospital bed.] \n Elaine: Max! You're awake! \n Max: Wha...what happened? \n [Cut to Norris Poker leaning on a wall.] \n Norris: You and your uncle were found unconscious by Lookout Road with uranium poisoning. It was a struggle to save your uncle, but you were easy. It was like you has gotten a...a boost. \n [Norris takes off his sunglasses, which glow with a lens flare.] \n Norris: Almost...supernatural. \n [A nurse pushes Alex, Elaine, and Norris out of the room.] \n Nurse: Alright, out, you three. Patient needs his rest. \n Norris: Hey! Do you know who I am? \n Alex: But I didn't say anything yet! \n [Max lies in bed.] \n [Time and Life appear to the left.] \n SFX: ZAP \n Time: and that's our cue. \n Life: Hi Max! \n [Max lookes angry.] \n Max: Guys, you can't be in here! What if someone saw you? \n Time: it's ok, life cast an invisibility spell. \n Life: Wait, what? \n Nurse (off-panel): Oh my *god*! \n [Nurse is staring at the two gods. Alex and Elaine are trying to get past to see.] \n Time: seriously? what happened to your invisibility spell? \n Life: It's really hard to cast your brand of magic, ok? \n Elaine: Wait, what's going on? \n [Alex and Elaine stare at Max. Life and Time vanish.] \n Life: I'll see myself out. \n Time: as will i. \n Max: Guys! Seriously? \n [Alex crosses his arms.] \n Alex: Ok, you had better explain that, and fast. \n Max: Fine. \n [Focus on Max.] \n Max: So I got bitten by Fred, and then some gods appeared and wanted to kill me so I could work with them, but I said no, so they healed me but still employed me. Now, here I am. \n [Elaine is shocked, Alex is not.] \n [Same scene.] \n Alex: Wow. \n [They walk down the hospital hallway. Elaine is in shock for the rest of the comic.] \n Max: I kinda thought you would be...more surprised. \n Alex: I expected this to happen sooner or later. You always could control weather, and my room catches fire when you're mad. \n Max: Oh yeah. Sorry about that. \n [They walk to their Tesla past an ambulance.] \n Max: Do you think Mom will be ok? \n Alex: She's just in shock. She'll be fine. \n [Focus on the family.] \n Alex: Mom, are you ready to drive? \n Alex: ...Mom? \n [Max drives, Alex in the front seat, and Elaine in the back.]

Max shouldn't be driving for another 12 years, but there you have it.
I haven't updated in quite a while, so I guess this is my Halloween comic? He nearly dies and blood is shown, so that's good enough. In a blood bag, but it still counts.