Today in 3 Panels, by Dean Mang-Wooley

Dean is talking to their mom on her birthday. Dean says: "You are 48 years old. How do you feel?" Dean's mom says: "Old. My sister didn't get to be 45."

Birthday blues

Oct 13, 2008

Dean is on a city bus, reading a book. Text reads: As I was reading 'Heart of Darkness' on the bus, I started listening to two women talk about the life they left behind in Botswana. Everything I do is trivial.

Microcosm

Sep 23, 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

Panel 1 image: Dean is staring at a blank sketchbook with a pencil in their hand. Panel 1 text: Trying to think of something--anything--to draw about.... Panel 2 image: close up of actor Hugh Laurie's face. Panel 2 text: But all I can think about is Hugh Laurie in 'Blackadder.' Panel 3 image: Dean smiles dreamily, resting their chin in their hands. Panel 3 text: Damn that British funnyman and his wide horsey smile.

Distraction

Sep 2, 2008

Panel 1 image: Dean as a child looking toward the right with an awed expression. Panel 1 text: When I was really young, I had a very strong emotional response to Rick Moranis. Panel 2 image: 3 portraits of actor Rick Moranis portraying Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors; Doug McKenzie on SCTV; and Wayne Szalinsky in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Panel 2 text: Seeing him evoked a feeling that was simultaneously positive and negative--a mixture of reverence, recognition, and embarrassment. Panel 3 image: a portrait that is half Dean as a child, half Rick Moranis. Panel 3 text: I felt like we were the same person, living two different stages of the same life.

Rick Moranis

May 5, 2018

Jordan and Hannah are sitting together in their liing room. Hannah says to Jordan: "If you're bored, you should do something. We could dress up in silly costumes and clean our rooms!! We could pretend to be superheroes!"

Superheroes

Aug 26, 2008

Jordan and Hannah are sitting together in their liing room. Hannah says to Jordan: "If you're bored, you should do something. We could dress up in silly costumes and clean our rooms!! We could pretend to be superheroes!"

Superheroes

Aug 26, 2008

Dean's family is eating dinner together. Dean's dad says: "Dad had a stroke..." Having not heard him, Dean's mom says to Jordan: "Could I have some of your gravy, Jord?" Dean's dad looks down at the table and says: "Never mind."

Stroke

Sep 12, 2008

Dean is in class. One of their classmates says: "saying that our notion of beauty is a 'white' notion of beauty...that's like...comparing a garden with a dump." Dean angrily whips their head around to face their classmate and thinks: "What the FUCK?"

Classroom racism

Sep 19, 2008

"Is it too much to ask for a normal public transit experience?"

Impatience

May 8, 2016

Dean is sitting at a computer, working on an animation. They think to themself: I just drew the same thing 60 times. And 2 hours have mysteriously disappeared.

Animation vortex

Sep 27, 2008

Dean and their dad are at Value Village, looking at a trophy with a country's flag printed on it. Dean asks their dad: "What country's flag is that?" Their dad replies: "Taiwan." Dean asks: "How do you KNOW this stuff?" Dean's dad shrugs and says: "I don't know!"

Value Village

Sep 13, 2008