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, 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

Dean is lying in bed, awake. Suddenly, they think about the art commission that they have to finish soon. They say to themself: "I'm dead."

Dread

Sep 4, 2008

Panel 1: Dean is taking a shower. Panel 2: Dean is out of the shower, putting on their clothes. They think to themself: My clothes smell like sour dandruff. Panel 3: Dean looks up, sniffing the air. They think: The whole house smells like sour dandruff.

Reek II

Sep 25, 2008

Petting manta rays: "This is the happiest I've ever been"

Vancouver rays

May 9, 2016

Dean sees a newspaper on a table. Dean says: "Hmm?" The newspaper headline reads: "Angry kids may suffer defiance disorder." Dean gets angry and slams their fist down on the table, saying: "Oh, what the HELL?"

Defiance

Aug 5, 2008

A stranger starts talking to Dean on a path. The stranger says: "Excuse me, does this path lead to the water?" Dean replies: "Yes. I think so? The water is kind of...diagonal from here." The stranger says: "But I can get to the boats from here?" Dean replies: "Yes. Maybe? Douglas...uh, Dallas street...Dallas road will take you there." Dean starts sweating and thinks to themself: "6 years I've lived in this city and I still can't give directions."

Directions

Sep 9, 2016

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 their back yard, using a hose to spray water onto a pile of dirt. Dean thinks: "My only goal right now is to turn this pile of dirt into a pile of mud." There is a close up image of the water hitting the pile of dirt, followed by a close up image of Dean's head. Dean's eyes are closed, and their mind is empty.

Pre-housesitting meditation

Aug 7, 2008

Dean is standing a the kitchen sink and 5:00 am, holding a bowl of food in one hand and a spoon in the other. They look down at the bowl of food and think: "Why did I just push all the food to one side?" Then they look at the spoon and think: "and where did I get this spoon?"

5 in the morning

Sep 16, 2008

Dean is talking to a customer outside of the cafe that Dean works at. The customer says to Dean: "You have very prominent eye-teeth." Dean replies: "Yeah, they've been that way for a while." The customer then asks: "Can you see your own reflection?"

Prominent eye-teeth

Jul 8, 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