#shadowbrood comic

TRANSCRIPT: RUSSELL: [approaching Glenn with a stern expression] Look Glenn, you can't keep running from this. Please just take the letter, read it, and figure this out yourself. I understand you're busy, but surely you can take a little time tonight to at least write a response. GLENN: [backing away, visibly anxious and scanning his brain for some kind of excuse to get out of this] Err...y-yes, of course! It's just...um...s-something very important has come up! something I ABSOLUTELY CANNOT reschedule...you see, I was going to...uh... [he glances over his shoulder at Axel and Waylon, watching the whole conversation unfold with confusion. Instantly he smiles, running over to stand in-between them with his arms outstretched] Take the kids camping! You know, for being such...good, well-behaved boys. RUSSELL & ASTRID: WHAT?! AXEL & WAYLON: [happily] REALLY? ASTRID: Oh Glenn! How thoughtful of you! RUSSELL: [scowling] Yes, how...convenient. GLENN: [snatching the paper out from Russell's hands, a smirk on his face] Sorry, Russ. Hate to prolong this situation any further myself, but we all have life and important matters to attend to. I’m sure she’ll understand! In the meantime, I’ll take this off your hands! I’ll keep it niiiice and safe, trust me. [he throws it on the floor] RUSSELL: [off-screen, meanwhile Waylon examines the letter] I...hope you realize what you might be getting us into, Glenn. [Waylon picks up the letter, holding it closer to the screen] You expect me to stand before the council with another half-baked excuse as to why you can’t turn up a progress update, even though it’s been months, and you expect everything to just go smoothly? GLENN: [striking a sassy, arms-crossed pose with a shit-eating grin] Family dilemma. WAYLON: [dropping the letter] This is so exciting! We can identify and study various species of indigenous birds! AXEL: And chase rabbits! [zooms in on Glenn's face, showing his grin beginning to fade into more of a nervous expression, sweating] WAYLON: And go stargazing! AXEL: And get all muddy! [zooms in even closer on Glenn's face, his smile completely gone and replaced with a look of absolute dread] WAYLON: And spend time with Father! AXEL: Yeah!! This is gonna be GREAT!

TRANSCRIPT: Downstairs, while the children and their mother play, there's a knock at the door. Their living room looks refurnished since the last time we've seen it; the walls are painted blue with white borders, there's a small dresser stationed at the front that houses an open can of pink paint, brushes, papers, and other art supplies. A broken, lopsided statue of Glenn stands on the opposite end next to the door; a ruined project of Astrid's that now served as a coat hanger. Above, the old, broken ceiling lamp has been replaced by a black chandelier, designed to look like small dragons breathing fire in a circle. ASTRID: [opening the door] Oh! Hey Russo! RUSSELL: Err...it's Russell. Anyway, is Glenn awake yet? I was sent to deliver a letter on behalf of the council. I can't read it, obviously. It's written in those strange...mumbo jumbo hieroglyphics they always use— [his eye grows huge as he spots the interior of the house. Astrid continues to stand obliviously at the doorway, while behind her, the entire living room is ablaze.] ASTRID: Oh, I was just playing with the kids! I tend to get a little too 'in character' at times. RUSSELL: ...'In character'? ASTRID: [turning her bonnet upside down to resemble a pirate's handkerchief] Oh yes! Today I got to ravage the seven seas as the fierce, bloodthirsty plunderer—Ingar the Unsightly!! [she pauses, turning away to recollect the character's name in a moment of confusion] Or was it...Ingar the Insufferable... [she turns back to Russell with a smile] I like snowmobiles. RUSSELL: Astrid, please! Let's stay on track here! Can I speak to Glenn? [Meanwhile, Glenn has his head against the door in the bedroom, listening intently to their conversation. Y'know, despite the fact that there's a gaping hole in the wall he could just listen through, but naw your girl only remembered that AFTER everything was already drawn so we're not gonna talk about that ok] ASTRID: Oh, yes yes! He was upstairs in the bedroom last I checked. He's a busy bee, you know! RUSSELL: I'm aware, but the council seems to be getting a little...impatient with his lack of progress updates. Especially Meredith. I may not know the contents of this letter, but from what I was able to gather from her...dramatic entrance this morning, she's not...entirely pleased. GLENN: [to himself, putting his hands on his head with fear] Shit. [he quickly darts away from the door, frantically pacing around] SHIT. SHIT. SHIT. Characters/Artwork © Anisopterror

ASTRID: [unleashes a huge gust of fire at the two children, and they scramble into opposite directions to avoid the flames]

ASTRID: [smiling] Here, come on in and get comfy! We’ll clear away all this ouchie glowy stuff! won’t we, Agnes? [With her back to the door, Astrid faces the flames in the living room, holding  up a third child--a small, beige-colored hatchling that resembled her mother and big blue eyes like her father--and uses her ice breath as a fire extinguisher to allow Russell to enter the house the safely. She then proudly holds up her child, her long reptilian tongue drooping happily from her mouth as she smiles widely.] There, all better! [to Russell] Oh, you wouldn't BELIEVE how long it took to get Glennypoo cozied up to the idea of having another one! It's a miracle he finally agreed! RUSSELL: [cringing] Ah, that's...information I didn't need or ask for. AXEL: [appearing atop his head, removing his hat and placing it on his own. Russell flails his arms upwards, desperately trying to grab it away from him.] Uncle Russ! You know magic too?! Your hair is disappearing! [Russell enters the house, and we get a view of Glenn looking over the banister on the second floor.] RUSSELL: [grumbling] Hell, if I knew magic, you’d be seeing quite the opposite, lad. ASTRID: [leading him deeper into the house] Come to the kitchen! I made some chocolate spaghetti bagels! GLENN: [mustering enough courage to confront Russell, he descends the stairs, a nervous smile on his face] Russell! My ol' chum! So kind of you to stop by this lovely morning! Unfortunately I’ve come down with—err—abdominal throat foot, and it’s...contagious! yes, HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS!! So you might not want to stick around! Just saying! RUSSELL: [glancing over his shoulder, through the perspective of the stair railing] Glenn! There you are! [he unfurls a scroll from his back pocket, presenting it to Glenn. A strange, illegible text can be seen on its surface, and Glenn smiles nervously, backing away from the letter.] Mrs. Ocasio wanted this expedited to you. She's expecting a response no later than tonight—your position in the council depends on it. GLENN: My position in the council?! She can't be serious! I've given her plenty of progress updates thus far. I’ve stated numerous times that my work has been delayed due to a family dilemma! Look, maybe you can tell her that I’m almost finished with my next progress report, and I just need a few extra days. That’s all. RUSSELL: [angered] I can’t keep doing this, Glenn! i’m tired of being a messenger for you! I’m tired of keeping this whole mess under wraps for you! The council is GROWING SUSPICIOUS! I can’t keep using the same excuses over and over again! This is YOUR JOB! You need to do your part! [As the two argue, Waylon gazes up at them in curiosity, attempting to piece together what's being discussed. Axel, on the other hand, is seen off-screen snickering and admiring his new hat.]

An unspecified amount of time has passed since the last page. The scene opens with an early-morning view of the Wexler house through the trees. A second panel shows a faint light pouring through the pink curtains outwards from the bedroom window. Finally, a third, larger panel reveals a very exhausted and defeated Dr. Glenn Wexler, his desk now surrounded in tons of papers, books, and a mess of notes and boxes of files scattered haphazardly all over the floor of the bedroom. He's fast asleep at his work station, resting his chin on his arms. The scientist slowly shifts and opens his eyes, a piece of paper stuck to his cheek. Sitting up, he peels it away from his face, sluggishly skimming the page. The next panel shows a back view as he hopelessly rests his head back onto his arms, his messy hair draping over his face. GLENN: Day...2,753. No noticeable developments in data for quite some time now. No new findings, no new objectives...still stuck in the same place where I started... WAYLON: Day 2,753? That's about seven years, six months, two weeks and around 33 hours-- GLENN: WAYLON! [Waylon is seven years old now, dressed in a small periwinkle suit with a red bow tie and darker blue pants. He smiles up at Glenn with big blue eyes, his small, clawed hands against the stack of books by the leg of his chair.] WAYLON: [excitedly] Axel and I are trying to bring an evil pirate to justice! You want in? GLENN: I think I'd rather receive open heart surgery from a garden snail. [he turns back in his chair to resume his work, but Waylon is still speaking to him from behind. Glenn looks over his shoulder smugly.] WAYLON: Oh WOW! That's very oddly specific, Father! What led you to such a unique response?