Otherworldly Goods, Chapter One – Page 7
A little late on this one, even though it was completed weeks ago. Oops. Sorry! It’s been a busy Fall, between work, parenting, and other stuff.
Border security is everywhere, even in the Underworld. Used to be you could go pleasure boating down the Styx with just a wave of the Medusa’s head at the three-headed dog and off you go, have a lovely time. Now it’s all paperwork and inspections. What’s a journeying hero to do?
I am happy with how this page turned out, even if I want to go back in and correct some things. Well, that’s what the print edition is for, right?
↓ Transcript
PANEL 1
Closer on Charon foreground, Fetch background
CHARON: So… how long you been gone?
FETCH: Um… ten years?
PANEL 2
Side-view as Charon drives the boat forward, the logo “DEATH CAB” plainly visible
CHARON: Ten years? Boy, a lot has changed around here since then.
PANEL 3
They approach a border security checkpoint. Boats backed up several deep, customs agents passing boats through, others inspecting boats. It will look like a Stygian version of the Mexican-US border. Signs everywhere.
CHARON: A lot has changed….
LARGE SIGN: NOW ENTERING HADES
SMALL SIGN: PLEASE WAIT UNTIL WAVED FORWARD.
HAVE PHOTO ID READY.
REMAIN IN VEHICLE UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED.
PREPARE FOR RANDOM INSPECTION.
Closer on Charon foreground, Fetch background
CHARON: So… how long you been gone?
FETCH: Um… ten years?
PANEL 2
Side-view as Charon drives the boat forward, the logo “DEATH CAB” plainly visible
CHARON: Ten years? Boy, a lot has changed around here since then.
PANEL 3
They approach a border security checkpoint. Boats backed up several deep, customs agents passing boats through, others inspecting boats. It will look like a Stygian version of the Mexican-US border. Signs everywhere.
CHARON: A lot has changed….
LARGE SIGN: NOW ENTERING HADES
SMALL SIGN: PLEASE WAIT UNTIL WAVED FORWARD.
HAVE PHOTO ID READY.
REMAIN IN VEHICLE UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED.
PREPARE FOR RANDOM INSPECTION.
Spread the joy:
Reminds me of the old days when visiting our relatives in Canada was just a matter of stating we were born in the US and then flipping the booth attendant a quarter. Haven’t been back since 1999. Maybe someday I’ll get a passport or an “enhanced” license.
It was a shock to me in 2006 when for the first time since 9/11 I was asked for a passport to enter Canada crossing the Peace Bridge.