TICK
Arthur, old chum. You’ve got nothingto
worry about. So whatif you’ve never
kissed her before?
ARTHUR
I don’twant to talkabout this.
The Tick shrugs. Arthur hangs his head in shame.
TICK
Besides, it’s been over a week. I’m sure
she’s almost completely forgotten the
mistletoe debacle.
The Tick is looking at an ostentatious wristwatch as he
continues.
TICK
Anyway, it’s almost midnight!
CROWD
(sfx)
Ten...nine...eight...
Page 5
Panel 1
The Tick has one hand on Arthur’s back. He’s shoving an
unwilling Arthur right at Carmelita.
TICK
Go get her, partner!
CROWD
(sfx)
seven...six...five...
Arthur and Carmelita are uncomfortably face-to-face now.
She’s ready to be kissed. Arthur is very nervous.
ARTHUR
H-h-hi, Carmelita!
Closer still, Arthur and Carmelita have puckered up, their
eyes are closed.
CROWD
(sfx)
three...two...one...
Wide to include the Tick, who looms behind the just-about-
to-kiss couple, they are frozen in the same position as
last panel. The Tick is so happy he doesn’t notice the
drink he’s spilling. Any one else visible is looking at
their watch or otherwise frozen in state. (Perhaps we
should color the frozen people in a monochrome to
distinguish between them and the various unfrozen
characters in this sequence?)
TICK
(burst)
Happy New Year!!!
TICK
Kissher Arthur! Kiss her like you do that
sort of thing all the time!!
Page 6
Panel 1
A perplexed Tick looks at the frozen couple.
TICK
Arthur? Carmelita?
Speed-lines indicate the Tick is rapidly waving his hand
between Arthur and Carmelita. They do not react.
TICK
They’re not moving?
Closer. The Tick looks wonderingly at his glass and the
liquid spilling from it, both suspended in mid air. Tick
pokes at the liquid.
Wide looking down on the Tick in the center of the frozen
TICK
Nothing’smoving! What’s goin’ onhere?
OFF-PANEL NOODGE
I cannotanswer your question, Arachnid,
though know the answer I do—
Page 7
SPLASH
Standing majestically in mid-air above the frozen crowd,
mist swirling about his robe, the NOODGE is twenty feet
tall. Fully a third of his height is his bald head. He has
big eyes, like in a Keene painting, and very bushy
eyebrows, which combine to give him a creepy, leering
expression.
NOODGE
—such is my power! Such is my curse! For I
may observebut neverinterfere.
NOODGE
(burst)
I am...the Noodge!
NOODGE
Member of a race of cosmic beings that was
old when the universe was young!
Page 8
Panel 1
New angle reveals foreground Tick still goofing with the
drink frozen in mid-air. His tongue is stuck out
experimentally. He’s thinking of taking a lick of the
drink. Tick is all but oblivious to the Noodge’s huge face
dominating the background of the panel.
Favoring Tick, slurping the drink. Noodge is angry.
SFX
(Tick licking drink)
![[made with GoClick]](imgs/goclick.gif)
