Today in 3 Panels, by Dean Mang-Wooley

Dean is looking at a news story on the CBC website. The headline reads: BC minimum wage now the lowest in Canada. Dean thinks to themself: "God. Why am I quitting my job?"

Minimum wage

Apr 5, 2016

Panel 1: Close up image of Dean's left hand. Lightning is striking the area in between Dean's thumb and forefinger, symbolizing pain. Panel 2: Dean is looking at their hand. Dean says to themself: "My thumb-pit is burning." Panel 3: Dean hods their left hand with their right, looking worried. Dean thinks: "spontaneous combustion."

Chili peppers

Aug 28, 2008

Dean, aka Rita, describes what they observe at a church service. Image text reads: Staring at what looks like malignant melanoma on the neck of the woman in front of me. Listening to a surprisingly beautiful rendition of Ave Maria on the trombone. Watching a flash of light dance in time to the music.

One Sunday in Melville

Aug 3, 2008

Panel 1 image: The sun, larger than usual, framed by trees. Panel 1 text: I can't stop looking at the bright red sun, magnified by ash. Panel 2 image: a wildfire consumes a forest. Panel 2 text: Wildfires aren't supposed to choke out whole provinces. Panel 3 image: A prize wheel wherein each segment contains an image of some kind of natural disaster, A flood, a drought, and a hurricane are depicted. Panel 3 text: I wonder what next summer will bring.

Wildfire

Jul 6, 2015

Dean's mom and dad are stting together at the kitchen table. Dean's mom is sweating, and is putting a cold pack on her head. She says to Dean's dad: "This feels really good." Dean's dad replies: "It looks very good too. Mrs. Gumby."

Hot flash

Sep 22, 2008

Panel 1 image: Dean lying down on a couch. Panel 1 text: Is it 2006 or 2016? Am I 28 or 18? Panel 2 image: A record playing on a turntable. Panel 2 text: I feel like I've been repeating the last 10 years without any aim or intention. Panel 3 image: Dean's hands taking the record off the turntable. Panel 3 text: Feeling guilty about not moving forward.

Time loop

Aug 1, 2016

Dean and their friends are playing Pictionary. Dean is drawing a picture and their friend Joelle is guessing what it is. Dean draws a picture of a baby, a plus sign, a downward-facing arrow, and a person with a prominent butt sitting down. Joelle guesses: "Baby butt? Baby...bum? Baby...Ass baby?" Dean looks at Joelle and says: "ASS BABY?"

Pictionary

Oct 12, 2008

Panel 1 image: a life-drawing model undoes their robe. Panel 1 text: There's a brief moment of tension right before a model takes their clothes off. Panel 2 image: the model sits naked on a fabric-covered block, holding a walking stick. Panel 2 text: But once they're naked, it's fine. Panel 3 image: the model stands facing a student. The two are talking to each other. Panel 3 text: Still, it's bizarre to see the other students talking to them.

Life drawing

Sep 24, 2008

Dean is sleeping face-down in their bed. Jordan comes into their room and says: "Hey Rita! It's 3 o'clock!" Dean looks up and says: "That's ridiculous!"

3 in the afternoon

Oct 14, 2008

Dean, Hannah, and their friends Alison, Joelle, and Kesinee are having dinner together in a pub. Kesinee points to her food with a fork and says: "This stuff that looks like throw up? It's mustard." Joelle clarifies: "It's grey mustard." Kesinee says: "I love grey food!"

Grey mustard

Aug 27, 2008

Dean and Jordan are talking to each other in their living room. Dean says: "They should make a movie with Michael Caine and Maggie Smith as a brother-sister crime-fighting duo!" Jordan adds: "Disguised as butlers!"

Pitching a script

Aug 30, 2008

Dean's mom and dad are stting together at the kitchen table. Dean's mom is sweating, and is putting a cold pack on her head. She says to Dean's dad: "This feels really good." Dean's dad replies: "It looks very good too. Mrs. Gumby."

Hot flash

Sep 22, 2008