Crows and the Zika Virus

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1: CROWS sitting on a RAIL FENCE.

CROW 1

Cough. Cough.

CROW 2

What’s with the cough? Are you sick?

Panel 2: Close up on a MOSQUITO, flying into the BEAK of CROW 1.

CROW 1 (voice over)

Well, I didn’t want to worry you, but I ate a mosquito earlier, and now I’m pretty sure I have Zika and I’m going to die.

MOSQUITO

?

Panel 3: Close up on CROWS

CROW 2 (not believing this)

I see. Who told you that?

Panel 4: CROW 1 looking at a BROWSER WINDOW with the header ‘Sketchy Web Doctor’.

CROW 1

I Googled it.

Panel 5: Silhouette of the CROWS sitting on a RAIL FENCE.

CROW 2

You do realize the Zika Virus is primarily a concern only to pregnant women and Olympians - and here’s an important point - not at all by birds?

Panel 6: Close up on CROW 1.

CROW 1 (really worried)

Oh really? Then why do I feel so lousy?

Panel 7: Close up on CROW 2.

CROW 2 (this is stupid)

I don’t know, maybe because mosquitos are gross, and when you eat gross things you feel sick.

Panel 8: Silhouette of CROWS sitting on a RAIL FENCE, staring at each other. CROW 1 is considering that maybe CROW 2 is right.

Panel 9: CROWS eating a ROADKILL LUNCH.

CROW 1

Ohmygawd! I’m cured!

CROW 2 (sarcastic)

It’s a miracle.

Crows and the Mosaic-Tailed Rat

Comic written and illustrated by Ryan Reid

Panel 1: CROWS landing on GARBAGE BAG.

Panel 2: CROWS digging into GARBAGE BAG, and having a nice lunch.

Panel 3: CROWS, still on GARBAGE BAG. CROW 1 has a thought.

CROW 1

You know who we haven’t heard from in a while? That Mosaic-Tailed Rat.

Panel 4: Close up on MOSAIC-TAILED RAT wearing a lovely BOWLER HAT.

CROW 1 (voice over)

He wears the best hats.

Panel 5: Close up on CROWS.

CROW 2

Oh yeah. He’s dead. Actually, his entire species is extinct.

CROW 1

What?! How?

Panel 6: Close up on CROW 2.

CROW 2

Climate change, primarily. Rising seas destroyed their habitat, and killed all the rats.

Panel 7: Panel frames CROW 1, who considers CROW 2’s words.

CROW 1

Huh.

Panel 8: Reverse silhouette of CROWS on GARBAGE BAG. CROW 1 still in thought.

Panel 9: GARBAGE BAG is obliterated. CROWS stand where the GARBAGE BAG once was.

CROW 1

So, what happened to all his hats?