It's Iimi! International Intrigue!

When Bahrudin brought his wives to Malta with a scheme to get them all European citizenship, he hoped for a peaceful and simple trip. But Sumeja realized this was her one hope of setting up an escape hatch. But is she being followed? And if so, by whom? From the Emirates to Malta, from Malta to Zurich, from Zurich to Lisbon, how will Sumeja handle being caught up in the middle of… International Intrigue

Post-Comic Notes:

This was indeed a story aimed at providing background information for future stories. So, our heroines don't appear much in this story. But Iimi's point is a good one to frame the story in. We should pray for people to protect them from harm or to mitigate inevitable harm.

And, of course, when looking for heroes and villains, it would be good to remember that Kismetta's family is dysfunctional.

Between the rough draft and the publishing date, the EU requirements for a UAE passport holder changed. When the story was being prepared, an Emirati passport holder needed a Visa to visit the EU nations. It now allows visa-free travel for 90 days (It still needs a Visa for the United States). The American passport, beginning in 2025, will require an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) to travel Visa-free for 90 days in the Schengen zone countries of Europe.

That change required a rewrite of some pages. But the long and the short of it is that Sumeja wants Kismetta to live with her, and Bahrudin's polygamy means Zara can't apply for permanent residency in the United States. Therefore Europe. 

Art Credits:

The Cover was designed by "Bree Orlock" and Stardust Publications. Used with permission.

All page wallpapers by Figu Design.

Most of the panel backgrounds were done through AI. I wanted to capture the feel of these countries without risking violating the photography rights of those providing actual photos in the size and resolution I needed. (You can get free photos, and you can get high-quality photos. But the two categories seldom intersect.)

It's Iimi! CATHOLIC AMERICA: CIVIL WAR!

 It's a lazy Saturday youth group. The girls go, hoping for a quiet session. Little do they realize they are about to participate in… CATHOLIC AMERICA: CIVIL WAR!

Pre-Comic Notes:
The arguments from Daryl and Sean are ones I've personally experienced from these factions on Social media.

 Post-Comic Notes:
Obedience to the Pope and bishops in communion with him is a key ingredient in being Catholic. It doesn’t matter whether or not we agree with the politics of the dissenter. Obedience to the Church, with the Pope being the arbiter of what interpretation is correct is mandatory. If we don’t have that, we’re blind guides.

What can I say about the cover? I've always been a fan of the Silver Age comics…

 I originally had "Rad Skull" with the emblem of the SSPX. But I decided not to use it because the comic might inspire factional comments that it was supposed to be acting against. However, I do not apologize for portraying Daryl and Sean's decisions as morally wrong.

 The Parish response to the SSPX setting up in Babylon was loosely based on a different group, Iglesia ni Cristo, setting up a storefront church and aggressively targeting Hispanic Catholics in our (real life) parish. They didn't last. But it was a concern at the time.

It’s Iimi! …There the Vultures Will Gather

It’s been a week since Anne’s car accident left her crippled, and everyone is struggling to make sense out of it all. But conspiracies move forward as Helen Otios’ faction seeks to take advantage.

If you think that Anne’s comments about her amputation seem implausible, you should be aware that, in the recovery room, I once told the nurse on duty, “I’ve heard healthcare cost an arm and a leg, but this is ridiculous!” Sometimes, dark humor is a coping mechanism.

 

Three months is roughly how long it took me to be fitted for a prosthetic after my amputation. Comparing that to whatever “normal” might be, a Google search revealed that it can be anywhere from six to ten weeks after the wound heals.

 

Technically, visitors must wear protective clothing to prevent germs from entering where the amputation is stitched closed. But my program doesn’t have the assets I need to create that.