Click on image to see spectacularly larger view of today’s comic.
I love doing single-panel gags. Good, quick punch lines are a joy—if not forever then at least a couple of seconds.
But I also enjoy writing actual stories. And few stories have brought me as much pleasure as “Widow Miss Muffet.” Mainly because it gave me a chance to work with Dick Giordano.
For quite awhile now, I’d been thinking of serializing one of my comic book stories on the web. But which story? After Dick passed away on March 27, I realized that “Widow” had to be the story.
Dick Giordano helped make Last Kiss possible. He was there from the start–although I wouldn’t meet him until years later.
The first Last Kiss gag I ever wrote featured romance art by Dick. All of my Last Kiss comic books have had Giordano covers. And I’ve recycled Dick’s old art (to his great amusement) for countless snarky Last Kiss gags.
In addition, Dick (when asked) was generous with valuable info about comics, artists and (Gasp!) life itself. And—to top it all off—he agreed to draw “Widow” for me.
Unfortunately, it was the only time we ever worked on a story together.
So enjoy. Subsequent episodes will be smaller. But they’ll be often. In fact, the next one is tomorrow!
Love & Last Kisses,
John
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? To read this comic in German click here.
CAPTION: "My Auntie Maim had the perfect life! She married an elderly tycoon who died during their honeymoon from what Auntie said was...'An overdose of happiness!' Afterwards, Auntie bravely carried on...partying and traveling all over the world! And she always had the most amazing adventures!"
MAIM: and, instead of sacrificing me to the volcano, the chief carried me off to his hut where we...uh, played a special sort of wrestling game for adults!
MUFFET: Gosh, Auntie! Did he pin you?
PANEL 2-SCENE: Maim leans in close to Muffet.
MAIM: Baby, I got pinned more often than a cheerleader at a frat party!
MUFFET: ???
PANEL 3-SCENE: Cut to Muffet all dressed up in oversized adult woman's clothes, pretending she's getting married to her stuffed animal (rabbit), Mr. Fluffy.
CAPTION: "I wanted to be just like Auntie Maim! when I grew up I was going to marry an old codger with a sick heart and a Healthy bank account!"
MUFFET: I now pronounce us, husband and wife!
PANEL 4, SCENE: Cut to a shallow grave where Mr. Fluffy is apparently buried. (We can see his ears sticking out above ground.) Muffet is crying.
SIGN ON GRAVESTONE: Mr. Fluffy
Beluvved husband of Mitzi Muffet!
STORY TITLE: Widow Miss Muffet
CREDITS: Script by John Lustig, Art by Dick Giordano
MUFFET: Goodbye, Mr. Fluffy! At a time like this (Sniff!) there’s only one thing to do!
PANEL 5, SCENE: Cut to close up of Muffet, crying, but smiling.
MUFFET: I'm going to Disneyland!
Wonderful!
[…] today, however, he’s running a special ongoing story of his own writing, with art by the late but great Dick Giordano. Judging from the first page, […]