Timely

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1: Early morning, outside on a city street corner. DEATH checks his WATCH. A SOUL looks at their former body.

SOUL

Oh, man! This is too soon! I need more time, Death! Give me more time!

Panel 2: DEATH consults his BOOK for answers.

DEATH

Well, let’s see...this week is no good...and you are already dead...

SOUL

That matters?

Panel 3: DEATH and the SOUL walk away from the body. DEATH continues to consult his BOOK.

DEATH

I can tack on 5 years at the start of your life. You’d get a new birthday! That would be fun!

SOUL

I want more time now, not then!

Panel 4: DEATH and the SOUL look intently at the BOOK.

DEATH

How about when you’re 2 we send you to a parallel universe for a bit? 20 years there is a day here - so when you come back you could still be the man-baby you are today.

Panel 5: The SOUL realizes DEATH is pulling his leg.

SOUL

You can’t give me more time, can you?

DEATH

Not even a little. This is a library book - I need to return it after I’m done with you.

Panel 6: DEATH guides the SOUL into the beyond...

SOUL

You’re a really bad Grim Reaper.

DEATH

Oh, I don’t know - I feel I give the role the seriousness it deserves.

Tough Crowd

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1: OUTSIDE, NIGHT. A poster on a brick wall advertises Open Mic Nite at THE COMEDY PLACE.

GHOST (voice over)

…and then the first crow says “So, what happened to all his hats?”! Ha,ha!

Panel 2: DEATH and a GHOST exit through the back door of THE COMEDY PLACE into the ALLEY.

GHOST

Get it? He said “What happened to all his hats?”.

DEATH (Unconvinced the joke was funny)

I got it.

Panel 3: DEATH and GHOST walk the ALLEY.

GHOST

But you’re not laughing. I guess being Death doesn’t require much of a sense of humour.

DEATH

What? I have a great sense of humour. Here, I know a joke -

Panel 4

DEATH

Knock, knock.

Panel 5

GHOST

Who’s there?

Panel 6

DEATH

Nobody. You’re dead.

Panel 7

DEATH

Hee, hee, hee, hee!

Panel 8

DEATH

Get it? Because you’re dead.

GHOST (Annoyed)

I got it.

Thirds 1

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1 - DEATH is leading a GHOST to the great beyond. Behind them, a ladder leans against a garage roof. A bottle balances on the peak.

GHOST

I guess I should’ve worn a mask, huh?

Panel 2

DEATH

Well, yeah, but more immediately maybe you shouldn’t have been drinking on the roof of your garage during allergy season.

Panel 3

GHOST

So, maybe?

DEATH

Sure. Whatever, man.

Death Takes a Break

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1: Mid-day, Hemlock Park. DEATH sits on a park bench, enjoying a bag of popcorn. There are PIGEONS. It’s very relaxing.

Panel 2: PIGEONS have moved to his shoulders, and lap, and all around him, as he shares his pop corn with them. DEATH is quite happy.

Panel 3: Finally DEATH runs out of pop corn. He shares the last kernel with his bird friends.

Panel 4: DEATH stands up, and tosses the empty pop corn bag into the nearby trash can.

DEATH Okie-dokie! All done! Let’s move out!

Panel 5: DEATH turns around to see MANY GHOSTS have been waiting patiently, and a bit confusedly, just off panel. They’ve been waiting for DEATH to finish his break.

DEATH Oh!

Panel 6

DEATH Were there this many of you here before my break? You know what? It doesn’t matter. Let’s just go.

Panel 7

RANDOM GHOST Dude - you take really long breaks.

DEATH Yeah, well, if you think 15 minutes was long, eternity is going to blow your mind.

Death and Agatha McMurray

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1: An open apartment window. The breeze moves a curtain, gently.

Panel 2: AGATHA, in comfy clothes, carries a large bowl of popcorn.

AGATHA

Munch, munch, munch.

Panel 3: AGATHA clicks a button on the remote control.

AGATHA

Munch, munch, munch.

Panel 4: AGATHA sits on her couch, in front of the tv eating her popcorn. She chokes on her snack, and dies.

AGATHA

Munch, munch, munch, munch. Choke.

Panel 5: The moment AGATHA dies, DEATH arrives. She berates him for making her wait. DEATH checks his watch, but doesn’t respond.

AGATHA

Finally! What took you so long?!

Panel 6: DEATH escorts the fuming AGATHA away.

AGATHA

This life was stupid! A lousy education, a boring job. I was miserable all of the time! All I wanted to do was make art. But I had no confidence! I took no chances! Nothing!

Panel 7: AGATHA, still ranting.

AGATHA

I want to lodge a formal complaint! Who’s in charge here, anyway? Do you have a manager? My next life better be an improvement over this one, or there’ll be hell to pay!

Panel 8: AGATHA and DEATH are gone. The apartment is empty.

Panel 9: The popcorn sits quietly on the arm of the couch.

Panel 9: Suddenly, DEATH pops back into frame. He grabs a hand full of popcorn. He apparently kind of loves popcorn.

DEATH

Mmm…

Panel 10: DEATH exits, leaving a trail of popcorn behind.

DEATH

Munch, munch, munch.

I Am Death

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1: An OLD MAN, and DEATH stand together to the side of a old farm house, somewhere in the country.

OLD MAN

You’re him, aren’t you?

DEATH

I am death.

Panel 2: The OLD MAN and DEATH stand together, in conversation.

OLD MAN

Where’s the robe? Where’s the scythe?

DEATH

Oh, uh…I’m trying something new.

Panel 3

OLD MAN

Well, it sucks.

DEATH

That’s harsh.

Panel 4: The mailbox sits quietly nearby, flag up, ready to be emptied.

OLD MAN

Did I hurt your little feelings? Is wee Death going to cry? Boo hoo!

Death

The kid in the shop said I looked cool.

Panel 5: The stone chimney of the old house stands patiently, awaiting the smoke from a warm winter fire.

OLD MAN

He lied! HA HA HA HA HA

DEATH

I’m beginning to understand why your wife poisoned your tea.

Panel 6: The ghost of the OLD MAN and DEATH look casually on, over the corpse of the now dead OLD MAN.

OLD MAN

You enjoyed that, didn’t you?

DEATH

Not as much as this next bit.

Panel 7: The world slips away slowly from the ghost of the OLD MAN and DEATH.

OLD MAN

Why? What’s the next bit?

DEATH

It’s nothing.

Panel 8: Nothing.