Krysta and Daryl are fighting again (what else is new?) and rope Iimi into their dispute over the state of the Church. So grab your towel and crank up “Journey of the Sorcerer” as Iimi explains why she’s telling us, Don’t Panic!
Preliminary Notes: The cover is an homage to the computer graphics in the 1980s BBC version of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Once I had the title of the comic, I knew that the cover would have to go this way.
Post-Comic Notes:
Since one reader has already asked me: No, Iimi’s NOT gay. This is the residue of the rumor that emerged in Issue 108. It will probably remain with her throughout high school and pop up at the worst possible times.
Normally, I don’t give away the secrets. But since at least one reader was troubled by that, maybe others are as well. I’d rather not lose readers over a misconception.
When we last left Iimi, the fear that Iimi will have another nervous breakdown led to her mother forbidding her from continuing her defense of the Church. Iimi feels caught between the moral obligation to obey her mother vs. the call to help Krysta and Daryl by encouraging them to “Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11)
Part 2 of a 2 part story.
Post Comic Notes:
This will be the last comic with the “full-figure” model of Krysta.
The problem with Comipo is it only has four basic models: Child, Male, Female, and Heavyset Male (which can only wear a business suit, or it would be the model for “Author Avatar.”). Every person in that body type has exactly the same figure. There are no “plus size” versions. I originally wanted to introduce different body types in the comic and thought Krysta, being six feet tall, was a good candidate.
The problem with my attempt was it’s cumbersome to edit, as each panel had to be adjusted. In addition, it was hard to make the edit look natural as I couldn’t create the proper shading.
I wanted to change this for awhile, but I felt trapped because I would need an excuse to explain the abrupt change.
So, learning that “minimizing bras” were a thing, I added a couple of lines of dialogue about a self-conscious Krysta wanting to change her wardrobe to justify eliminating the edits.
I doubt I’ll try that kind of edit again unless the plot requires that body type… and I can’t imagine how it would.
Iimi’s mental soundtrack on page 11 can be heard here:
On the heels of the recent deaths of beloved Church figures come media reports of writings that claim to prove these men believed Pope Francis’s pontificate was harmful to the Church. When faced with these documents, how can Iimi defend the Church when in order to do so, she’s… Playing Against a Dead Man’s Hand! (Part 1 of a 2 part story).
Pre-Comic Notes:
As of the time this comic was scripted, there was no scheduled English release for Archbishop Ganswein’s Nothing But Truth. But that didn’t stop the anti-Francis Catholics from using the quotes as if they were proof of deliberate wrongdoing by the Pope. The revelation that Cardinal Pell authored an anonymous memorandum attacking the Pope and publishing his article against the current Synod shortly after his death added fuel to that fire. Both of the Cardinal’s documents are available in English. I’ve read them… and could not reconcile them with the obligation to give religious submission of intellect and will to the authoritative teaching of the Pope.
Post-Comic Notes:
“Dead Man’s Hand” is traditionally Black aces and black eights. Legend is, it was the Poker hand Wild Bill Hickock was playing when he was murdered. But “Hand” can also be used to say “writing” or “action.” So, the title and cover give us a double meaning.
Now, on to the documents discussed in this comic.
I wasn’t bothered by the quotes attributed to Benedict XVI in Nothing But Truth. Even if quoted in context, all we have is a case of the Pope emeritus privately expressing his concerns on whether some policies were the best way to handle things… but fully acknowledging Pope Francis’ authority. We don’t even know if Benedict wanted his views published. We know he wanted his private papers destroyed upon his death.
As for Cardinal Pell, that struck me as being more serious. When it came to the pseudonymous memorandum, aside from Fr. Fessio (who questioned the authorship claims), it was generally accepted that Sandro Magister’s revelation was true. As for the article, it was openly submitted by the late Cardinal, and the authorship is undisputed.
And there’s the problem. I can’t get around that these writings were attacks on the Pope and the policies he has the authority to enact. But, unfortunately, people like Daryl in the real world see this as justifying their hostility to the Pope. That hostility must be opposed. And this is why I| needed to write this story.
If you’re interested in the song Iimi is angrily playing on page 13, panel 1, it can be found here:
