Page 1
Panel A: The panel is wider than it is long, stretching across the entire width of the page but only half the length. Two drunken hoboes are lounging in an alley, leaning up against a wall full of graffiti, and they’re surrounded by garbage. They both have a worn down look composed of dirty and torn cloths, missing shoes, and unshaven and unkempt hair. Both appear cartoon-like and in full color. The one on the left smokes a joint (smoke emanates from the joint) while a passing stray dog looks at the man on the right, not bothering him whatsoever. They both have the facial expression of someone very hopeless.
Bubble 1 is a thought bubble coming from the dog. It has a corkscrew in it, indicating his perplexity as to what these two men are doing.
Frank: What a cute lil’ doggie. Hey Pike, remember dat dog you had way back when in Deetroit? Shi’, we musta got him high like fifty times o’ somtin like dat.
Panel B: Same exact position and facial expression of the two men, but their appearance is that of some jock in the 50s. They are sitting in a car, with Frank’s bulldog in the backseat. They’re all clearly very high, dog included, and Pike still smokes the joint. The panel is now in black and white, and they’re driving a 1958 ford fairlane 500, thus giving the indication that they’re in the late 50’s. It is on the bottom left of the page, half the width of Panel A.
Text on bottom: (Pike narrates his response to Frank) Hawhawhaw, yessiree buddy I do! Dam those were good times. Juz bein on the road like dat wuz the life ma friend. Drinkin day n’ night, ladies to put us to sleep and wake up next day…
Bubble for talking dog: Hey Pike, pass that J.
Panel C: Same exact position of the hoboes, with Pike’s dog sitting in between them. Again, all three are clearly high, and Pike still holds the joint. Their appearance is that of rebel college kids. Jimmy Hendrix stands behind them, eyes closed, playing his guitar. His head is that of the dog’s wearing the bandana. It is on the bottom right of the page, below the right side of Panel A.
Text on bottom: (Pike continues narrating his response to Frank) But them years aint nothing compared to when we got Jimi and our acid. O dam…imagine we still trippin with Hey Joe!?
Bubble for dog-headed Hendrix: Hey Pike, pass that J.
Page 2
Panel D: Same exact position of the hoboes, with Pike’s dog sitting in between them. Again, all three are clearly high, and Pike still holds the joint. Now, the panel is in full color, rainbows and flowers in the background. Their facial expressions are the same (someone looking stoned) but they have afros, necklaces, bandanas, and tie-dye shirts, even the dog. The panel is only a quarter of the page in length, but stretches the entire length.
Text on bottom: (Frank narrates his response to Pike) Hold up…doze times don’t compare to dat trip we took in summer of 69. I swear it, dat show was just mystifyin, electrifyin, out of dis world brother….
Bubble for talking dog with an afro: Hey Pike, pass that J.
Panel E: Same position again, but now the three appear in army uniforms. Bombs and explosions are in the background. There is color, but only made up of dark shades (black, dark green). The panel is just below Panel D, and is the same width and length.
Text on bottom: (Frank continues to respond to Pike) Especially since not too long later did we almost the three of us die out in Nam. Shi’ that was scary…
Bubble for talking dog: Hey Pike, pass that J.
Panel F: Same position again, but now the three have long hair and are in regular cloths. Behind them is Nixon in his famous stance, stretching out his arms and making the peace sign with his hands. However, is his is that of the dog’s. The two sit in front of him, to his left and right.
Text on bottom: (Frank continues to respond to Pike) And what do we come back for? A country dat don’t give a dam about our fightin! And a president that could kiss my ass!
Bubble for Dog-faced Nixon: Hey Pike, pass that J.
Panel G: Same position of the hoboes and the dog, except they all appear younger. There is a lot of empty space around them, and the whole panel has a white background. A dried out haystack whooshes past them as they sit up against the wall, as happens in a classic western cowboy film on the eve of a showdown. The panel
Text on bottom: (Narration switches to Pike) True words Frank. But what about them 80s and 90s?
Panel H: Back to the present. They are shabby, worn down, good for nothing hoboes now. Pike (on the left) is still smoking the J, and Frank (on the right) is being peed on by that stray dog. He looks mad about this.
Pike: And what about now?
Frank: Dammit! That sonofabitch doggie just pissed on me!
Dog: Just take the dam J already!
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There's a real facility here with two things: First, you've managed to tell something that is set up, expanded and explored, and then comes to a neat resolution. Partly that is a result of the circular structure, which works very well. Second, you've really used the comics form to great effect. It's hard to imagine another medium being able to pull this off, largely because most of its affect has to do with the juxtaposition of a consistent text with always changing images, each of which themselves depends on very clear iconography from a particular time period.
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