Today in 3 Panels, by Dean Mang-Wooley

The comic is laid out like an instructional pamphlet. Panel 1 image: Dean is standing in a neutral position, facing the viewer. Panel 1 text: 1. Make eye contact. Panel 2 image: Dean looks down, surprised. Panel 2 text: 2. Look down suddenly. Panel 3 image: Dean looks at their cellphone with a puzzled look on their face. There is an arrow pointing to the cellphone with the words: "not on." Panel 3 text: 3. "check" cellphone. Repeat.

How to approach strangers, the Mang-Wooley way

Sep 3, 2008

Dean is sitting across from their friend David in a restaurant, holding their wallet in one hand. Their wallet is bulging with receipts. David says: I love your fat wallet. Dean says: I can't make it any thinner. David says: Those are load-bearing receipts.

Fat wallet

Jun 1, 2018

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 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

"I think that guy is taking photos of us" *waves*

Buccaneer days ’16

May 15, 2016

Dean walks down a residential street, looking happy. Suddenly, they look a little worried. Image text: "I walked home without shoes. As soon as my feet touched the cool concrete, I felt a sudden electric surge of joy. Until I realized I was walking down the wrong street."

Barefoot bliss

Aug 16, 2008

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

"I think that guy is taking photos of us" *waves*

Buccaneer days ’16

May 15, 2016

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

Dean and their dad are cleaning in the basement of Dean's old school. Panel 1: Dean's dad holds a plastic bag in front of his face and says: "Qu'est-ce que the hell est this?" Panel 2: Close up image of the plastic bag's contents. A dried-out, moldy piece of fruit. Image text reads: "Maybe it was a mango?" Panel 3: Image of a table with a large stain on it. Image text reads: "After a year or so in the school's basement, its juices had coagulated into a dark brown tar on one of the tables."

A mystery

Aug 21, 2008

Panel 1 image: Dean stands between 2 anonymous people, holding the strap of their shoulder bag with both hands. Panel 1 text: I stick out like a sore thumb here with my blue jeans and ratty shoulder-bag.... Panel 2 image: 3 people sit together at a table and talk. There is food in front of them, and table settings that include many utensils. Panel 2 text: Surrounded by important people who know which fork to use for which course. Panel 3 image: Dean sits alone, looking uncomfortable. Panel 3 text: Funny that I feel so alone and out of place at a lecture on identity.

Class (self) consciousness

Oct 3, 2008

Dean is writing a test. Panel 1: wide shot of a large room full of desks. Panel 2: close up image of the test booklet. It has the words "Written response" printed on the front. Panel 3: close up image of a heart being struck by lightning bolts, symbolizing anxiety.

Jitters

Aug 13, 2008