WORDS
Ad Infinitum
The nothing from which we came, is the nothing to which we shall return.
Ad Infinitum |
PAGE 1 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
JOHN DOE stares at his right arm, where a puss-filled scab has formed.
PANEL 2
Left hand pointer finger scratches at the edge of the scab.
PANEL 3
The scab lifts away… a dark hole is visible underneath.
PANEL 4
In the center of the dark hole, where the scab had once been, we see a baby connected to an umbilical cord.
PAGE 2 | 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Left hand thumb and forefinger push outwards, expanding the edges of the dark hole. There is no baby or umbilical cord.
PANEL 2
In the center of the dark hole, we see a swirling universe.
PANEL 3
At the center of the swirling universe there are two eyes, gazing directly at the reader.
PANEL 4
The universe points and laughs at the reader. It looks – strangely – like the devil.
PANEL 5
No panel box, no color, just the caption.
PAGE 3 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
The baby now flies through deep space, laughing at the devil as he passes.
PANEL 2
An apple rots on the ground beneath an apple tree. Worm holes are visible. Flies swarm nearby.
PANEL 3
At the center of a spiral (somewhat mirroring the spiraled universe on page 2, panel 2) a fly sits atop the head of a worm, which sits atop the head of the baby. All three are screaming.
PANEL 4
Solid black panel.
PAGE 4 | 3 PANELS
PANEL 1
Solid black panel.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
A small light glows from the center of the black panel.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
A universe explodes into existence.
PAGE 5 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
Close up of John Doe’s eye.
PANEL 2
John Doe is holding a half-eaten apple in his hand.
PANEL 3
John Doe is taking a bite of the apple. A worm hole is visible. A fly buzzes nearby.
PANEL 4
No panel box, no color, just the caption.
END
PANEL 1
JOHN DOE stares at his right arm, where a puss-filled scab has formed.
- CAPTION: One day a scab appeared on my right arm.
PANEL 2
Left hand pointer finger scratches at the edge of the scab.
- CAPTION: I felt compelled to pick at it.
PANEL 3
The scab lifts away… a dark hole is visible underneath.
- CAPTION: Eventually it gave way.
- CAPTION: Beneath the scab, there was nothing.
PANEL 4
In the center of the dark hole, where the scab had once been, we see a baby connected to an umbilical cord.
- CAPTION: Not the nothing of negation.
- CAPTION: The nothing of having never been born.
PAGE 2 | 5 PANELS
PANEL 1
Left hand thumb and forefinger push outwards, expanding the edges of the dark hole. There is no baby or umbilical cord.
- CAPTION: I continued to pick and peel at the edges, expanding the hole.
PANEL 2
In the center of the dark hole, we see a swirling universe.
- CAPTION: Looking deep inside, I hoped to see distant universes.
PANEL 3
At the center of the swirling universe there are two eyes, gazing directly at the reader.
- CAPTION: But there was nothing. Just a void. No abyss staring back at me.
PANEL 4
The universe points and laughs at the reader. It looks – strangely – like the devil.
- CAPTION: No conscious awareness of any kind.
- CAPTION: No reflection.
- CAPTION: Just absence.
PANEL 5
No panel box, no color, just the caption.
- CAPTION: It was the germinal nothing.
PAGE 3 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
The baby now flies through deep space, laughing at the devil as he passes.
- CAPTION: I kept going.
- CAPTION: I wanted to see where I ended, and the void began.
PANEL 2
An apple rots on the ground beneath an apple tree. Worm holes are visible. Flies swarm nearby.
- CAPTION: My body disappeared, one peeled layer at a time.
- CAPTION: Like a giant 6-foot apple, pared inch by inch, revealing a hollow core.
PANEL 3
At the center of a spiral (somewhat mirroring the spiraled universe on page 2, panel 2) a fly sits atop the head of a worm, which sits atop the head of the baby. All three are screaming.
- CAPTION: As I dissolved into the ether, there was no turning back.
PANEL 4
Solid black panel.
- CAPTION: I merged with the void.
PAGE 4 | 3 PANELS
PANEL 1
Solid black panel.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 2
A small light glows from the center of the black panel.
NO DIALOGUE
PANEL 3
A universe explodes into existence.
- CAPTION: In the vacuum of space, universes collapse and explode into existence, without making a sound.
PAGE 5 | 4 PANELS
PANEL 1
Close up of John Doe’s eye.
- CAPTION: We appear.
PANEL 2
John Doe is holding a half-eaten apple in his hand.
- CAPTION: We dissolve.
PANEL 3
John Doe is taking a bite of the apple. A worm hole is visible. A fly buzzes nearby.
- CAPTION: Repeat…
PANEL 4
No panel box, no color, just the caption.
- CAPTION: Ad infinitum.
END