Today in 3 Panels, by Dean Mang-Wooley

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

Dean is using a tablet in a classroom at school. There is a loud, repetitive "pow" sound coming from the adjacent room. Dean thinks: That hammering is driving me NUTS! Dean walks to the adjacent room, thinking: What are they doing? When they get to the room, they see the source of the noise: a video projection of balloons popping, with popped balloons scattered on the floor in front of it. Dean thinks: Oh.

Wall of noise

Sep 30, 2008

Dean and their mom are making grilled sandwiches in the kitchen. Dean picks up a container of mayonnaise and says: "What's the date on this?" Dean's mom looks at the container and says: "2008...", then she gets a concerned look on her face and continues: "April...10th."

Mayonnaise

Sep 15, 2008

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 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

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

Dean's friend Alison is at a clothing store. She looks into a box of hats and sees a baseball cap with a large garish cross printed on it. She buys the hat at puts it on. She grins and gives a thumbs up.

Fate

Aug 14, 2008

Panel 1 image: a cricket in a sink, near the drain. Panel 1 text: There was a cricket in the studio sink. Panel 2 image: Dean, with their hands clasped in front of them, looking concerned. Panel 2 text: I scooped it up in my wet hands and headed outside. Panel 3: A close-up image of the cricket lying on its side on the ground. Panel 3 text: It died before I reached the door.

Cricket

Sep 26, 2008

Panel one image: a person with an under bite and a person with an over bite try to kiss each other. Panel one text: "I was going to draw about something interesting today...(imagining strangers with orthodontic problems kissing)." Panel two image: an x-ray of a person's head and neck. The back of the head is cracked. Panel two text: "but I've got a headache so bad I want to puke." Panel three image: two dogs barking loudly. Panel three text: "And it only gets worse."

Migraine

Aug 15, 2008

Dean's friends Anne and Christoph are talking to each other.

Didn’t get the memo

Apr 16, 2016

Dean's mom is serving the family a casserole. She says to Dean's dad: "Be careful of the casserole...It's got a lot of--" Dean's dad interrupts and says: "Nails?"

Interruption

Sep 6, 2008

Panel one: Dean pours a jug of milk down the sink and says: "Ugh. This old milk is horrible." Panel two: Later, Dean takes a sip of new milk that they just bought. Panel three: Dean grimaces and sticks out their tongue, saying: "BLECH! This new milk is even WORSE!"

From bad to worse

Aug 17, 2008