It’s Iimi! Between Iraq and a Hard Place!

 When a window of opportunity opens for Carl to bring Ehsan Abbasi (father of Noor) back to the United States, he finds himself on a flight to Tehran. But given the hostilities between the two governments, how will Carl fare when he finds himself… Between Iraq and a Hard Place! 

Pre-Comic Notes:

Reviewing Issue 280 may provide context for Carl’s actions.

The time difference between California and Tehran is 10 ½ hours. The current time difference between California and the UAE is 11 hours. 

A note on currency. Iran is in transition from the rial to the Toman. At the time of this writing, one US dollar is worth 42,000 Iranian Rials (IRR). The Iranian government’s solution is to remove four zeros and call it a Toman. Therefore, 10,000 IRR is equivalent to one toman. During the transition (lasting until 2028), both types of banknotes are still in use. Both versions are cited on the street. So, it’s wise to clarify when haggling.

The characters convert Rials and Toman to Euros instead of dollars because Euros are accepted as a safe and stable currency. Dollars are considered unsafe to own in this current climate. 

Post-Comic Notes:

If you’re wondering what the Author Avatar was humming, it was the Mission Impossible theme song.

Image Credits

Cover © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved. 

AI Disclaimer

I discontinued using AI for covers and background scenery after Issue 277. I still use it to create logos, doodles, and symbols simply because there are no non-AI logo creator programs (suggestions are welcome). Some previously used images have been kept for consistency (iconic buildings and “historic photographs”) with the intent of replacing them when possible. Any other appearance of AI means the stock art seller I purchased from misrepresented their product.

 

It’s Iimi! Chasing Iimi

When Iimi presses forward with life, others take an interest in spending more time with her. Will they be respectful? Or will they wind up… Chasing Iimi

Content Warning:
While I approach the topic according to the Catholic views of right and wrong, part of the story does deal with the issues of same-sex attraction and teenage lust.

Pre-Comic Notes:

Riley Jo and Zaid are reacting to Iimi by making themselves the stars in their favorite anime. For those who don’t know these series (after all, they are close to 30 years old), here are some brief synopses:

Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997) is a surreal anime about a teenage girl who vows to become a prince after experiencing childhood trauma. At Ohtori Academy, Utena duels other students to protect Anthy, the mysterious “Rose Bride,” who is treated as a passive prize in a ritualized power game. The series explores themes of emotional projection, gender roles, and rescue. It vaguely hints at gay themes (vaguely being the only way to fit within the restrictions of the Japanese standards and practices of the time). It is a series that would appeal to Riley Jo.

Rurouni Kenshin (1996-1998) follows Himura Kenshin, a former assassin who wanders Meiji-era Japan seeking redemption as a peaceful swordsman. Though skilled in lethal combat, Kenshin refuses to kill (his katana is reverse-bladed), believing in atonement and the power of walking beside others rather than dominating them. The series explores themes of legacy, moral restraint, and the tension between protection and autonomy. I understand that nowadays, people often associate the phrase “de gozaru” (“to be”) with the anime One Piece. However, this is the source from which Zaid borrows the phrase. 

Post-Comic Notes:

The comic was initially intended to be called “Dojo Rats,” reflecting how Iimi, Krysta, and Gali are always hanging out there. However, once the outline expanded to include Zaid and Riley Jo, the likelihood of someone perceiving “rats” as a slur aimed at the two sophomores required a name change. I’ll probably recycle that title later.

AI Disclaimer

I discontinued using AI for covers and background scenery after Issue 277. I still use it to create logos, doodles, and symbols simply because there are no non-AI logo creator programs (suggestions are welcome). Some previously used images have been kept for consistency (iconic buildings and “historic photographs”) with the intent of replacing them when possible. Any other appearance of AI means the stock art seller I purchased from misrepresented their product.