Torso Script

In the absence of time to create any wondrous new blog posts, I am posting the script of a mini-comic I did for an anthology, like a year ago. (No, this is not the most recent thing I wrote. I keep very busy writing new shit.) It was illustrated by the illustrious Ryan Kelly. Anyway, if you like it, see a preview of the art and/or buy the Side B Anthology here. Lots of other good shit in the book too. Enjoy.

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TORSO

By Kat Vapid

 

 

 

PAGE 1

PANEL 1: Outside of dingy club, à la Fireside Bowl or some shit. We see the sign: INSURRECTION ALLEY, and a brick building, maybe grain elevators or downtown in the distance. It’s snowing hard and the streets are lined with cars and outside are one or two punks smoking.

PANEL 2: close-up of flyer on door:

THIS SATURDAY MOFOS! Friday, January 18, 2008 At INSURRECTION ALLEY 1225 N.E. PARRANT ST., MINNEAPOLIS ANARCHO-PUNK MANIA!!! FEATURING: FLORIDA MACHINE With: DECIMATION (U.K.) the SCREAMIN’ BITCHES (Chicago) the TORSOS BLUNT DAGGER (LaCrosse) DOORS 8:00 MUSIC 9:00 18+ FUCKERS!!!!!! $10 smoking preffered

PANEL 3: Inside of club, maybe throw in some panels of the show winding down, people drinking, etc.

PANEL 4 Backstage. The Torsos have just played and are sitting around drinking. There are guitars, ripped flyers, all the usual trappings.

Band members are: Gina (lead), Jason, Max, Saul.

Gina swigs from her giant Newcastle bottle.

PANEL 5

GINA: Fuck! I’m sorry, but we kicked ass!

PANEL 6: Rest of the band sitting around quietly, looking down.

PANEL 7

MAX: You thought so? I fucked up during “Empty 40.”

I mean, the set was all right…

GINA: Waaayy better than 7^th Street. More people, too. 

PAGE 2

PANEL 1.

JASON (to Max, quietly): You gonna tell her, Max, or should I?

MAX: Uh….

GINA: Tell me what? You’re pregnant?

TINY PANEL 1.5

GINA:(giggles)

PANEL 2

JASON (looking pissed): You’re out of the band.

PANEL 3

GINA (jokingly): Oh, right. (drinks).

PANEL 4: <Maybe like a horizontal strip across the page?>

We see the three band members from Gina’s perspective; they are all stone-faced.

PANEL 5

Gina’s face is in shock as she realizes they are serious.

PANEL 6

GINA: Oh…you’re fuckin’ serious.

PANEL 7

GINA: Well, who the fuck is gonna sing? I am the Torsos. I am the Torso.

JASON: Julianna, from AK-77.

PAGE 3

PANEL 1

GINA: Julianna? What the fuck, man? If I have an archenemy, it’s her! I mean, she’s talentless. She has no stage presence! Why her?

SAUL: She’s a good worker and she’s really nice.

GINA: Did you just say nice? I’m not sure how that’s relevant. I mean, I add so much to this band. All the reviews of our music, they all said I have a great voice.

PANEL 2:

JASON: Gina, you think you’re a good member of the band? You’re combative. And always drunk.

GINA: Combative? That’s the whole point of punk rock!

JASON: No, it’s about helping each other out and building an  alternative community.

PANEL 3

GINA: Did you seriously just say that? All you care about is being featured in Punk Planet, in headlining at 7^th Street. Community, give me a fuckin’ break.

JASON: You see? You don’t get along with anyone. You need to respect people more.

PANEL 4

GINA (pointing to self): Stage. Presence!

PANEL 5       

JASON: I mean, you need to go somewhere and get your shit together.

GINA: You don’t make any fuckin’ sense. Do you wanna make kick-ass music, or do you wanna have a fuckin’ hippie love-in? Christ!

PANEL 6

GINA: Max, are you on my side? Or you agree with this bullshit about me being combative?

PANEL 7

MAX (not looking at Gina): Um…you can be – a little on the argumentative side. I mean, it’s not all bad, but…we all gotta work together in a band.

MAX: We all like you, Gina. It’s just – professional. You know.

GINA: All right, man. Fuck this.

PAGE 4

PANEL 1

Gina picks up her bag.

GINA: Enjoy your new fuckin’ lead singer.

PANEL 2 Large panel? Outside, Gina shown from behind and above as she trudges through the snow. As she walks away she mumbles to herself, lights cigarettes, drops shit from her bag, etc.)

PANEL 3

GINA: …alternative community….combative….don’t make me fuckin’ laugh

PANEL 4

GINA: …drunk……respect…get my shit together….fuckin’ bullshit.

PANEL 5 Gina sees exterior of bar that says:

LAST CHANCE BAR

HAP Y HOUR 4-6

THURS BILL WILLARD BLUEGRASS BAND

FRI KARAOKE

PANEL 6

GINA (smiling): Oooh…

PAGE 5:

PANEL 1: Interior of bar; Gina framed in the doorway, wind & snow whipping inside; it’s sort of a record-scratching moment, as the mouth-breathing locals turn to look at her.

PANEL 2: Guy is onstage singing

I got friends in low places, Where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away.

PANEL 3: GINA sits at table while guy sings in background:

I'm not big on social graces, think I'll slip on down to the oasis….

PANEL 4

UNSMILING WAITRESS: What can I get you?

GINA: Surly Furious, please.

PANEL 5:

WAITRESS: We don’t have that.

GINA: Summit?

WAITRESS: Nope.

GINA: Grain Belt?

WAITRESS: ‘Kay.

PANEL 6: Gina looks at karaoke book.

PANEL 7: Waitress sets beer on table.

PAGE 6

PANEL 1: Gina sips.

PANEL 2

KARAOKE GUY: Okay, folks, we got a newcomer comin’ on up here. Let’s welcome Gina to the stage!

PANEL 3: Onstage. Music is playing.

PANEL 4-5:

GINA (singing): My dream world tumbled to the gro-ho-hound….the one I love has let me down….

GINA: …Oh stop the world and let me oo-oo-ooff!

PANEL 6: Crowd cheering.

PANEL 7: Gina walks to table smiling.

KARAOKE GUY (unseen): Wow, great job by newbie Gina…okay, we got Judy comin’ back up here, Captain Ken is on deck, Mike’s in the hole…

PANEL 8: Gina sits at table and drinks beer contentedly.