Dead Butlers, Page 1

PAGE ONE

Panel 1

Pallbearers carrying a coffin. At the front are two men, one about forty the other thirty, both with black hair. Floating behind them are their heroic alter egos as kind of specters. The older, on the left, is Hemingway, a.k.a. The Ferryman, a black-costume cowl-with-no-ears version of Batman. The younger, on the right, is Sonny, a.k.a. Soul, a white costume variant of Robin (perhaps similar to what Damian wore when he debuted, complete with the hood attached to the cape).

CAPTION: In all the years I knew him, I’m not sure I ever actually said the words.

Panel 2

Pulling in on Sonny. This is a full body shot.

CAPTION: And for that I feel a terrible shame.

Panel 3

Closer in on Sonny. Perhaps only up to his torso.

CAPTION: “I love you.”

Panel 4

Closer in on Sonny. Perhaps just his face at this point.

CAPTION: “Thank you.”

Panel 5

Closer in on Sonny. Now just an eye.

CAPTION: “You were more of a father to me than he ever was.”

Panel 6

Pulling out again. The eyes are looking to the left as we again see the whole face.

CAPTION: “I don’t know how you ever found the time.”

Panel 7

Pulling out more. Now we see the torso, see that Sonny is seated in a church pew.

CAPTION: “I took you for granted.”

Panel 8

Pulling out more. Now we see Sonny, seated next to Hemingway, who’s facing forward, while Sonny continues to look to his left, in the center of the aisle.

CAPTION: “We all did.”

Panel 9

And so in the aisle, of course, now, we settle on the coffin, alone.

CAPTION: And I honestly don’t know what to make of a world without him in it.