Darkness Surrounding Graphic Novel Teaser

By

Kat Mellon

Darkness Surrounding by Kat Mellon

Copyright 2012 Kat Mellon ataviststrilogy@gmail.com

Panel Description Dialog

Page 1

1.1 Through chain-link fence.

Toby, Sean, and Zanni are

playing basketball. Sean and

Zanni’s backs face the fence.

TOBY

Pass it here!

1.2 Half-view of Zanni’s face as

she throws the ball across the

panel. (SFX: SWOOOOSH!)

1.3 Toby is in air. Show arc of

ball through air and hoop

(SFX: CLINK!) and across the

ground (BUMP-BUMP).

1.4 Toby wiping his head with his

shirt. Sean standing in the

background, red-faced and

unhappy. Toby’s face fills

right half of panel.

TOBY

That’s the game!

SEAN

Kept pushing me, man! Would’a had

that if you -"

1.5 Toby scooping up ball

mid-stride and grinning. Sean

is open-mouthed and ranting in

the background.

TOBY

You and me, Zanni. We’re a team.

Always and forever.

SEAN

"--shoved me, stupid prick --"

1.6 Head-shot of Zanni with

off-kilter, goofy smile.

Panel Description Dialog

Page 2

2.1 Sean pouting in distance. Caption: Doesn’t seem fair to

leave Sean on his own.

2.2 Toby laying on grass, staring

up at the sky with the

basketball clenched in his

hands.

Caption: I’d always liked Toby.

He was a good friend, and for the

first time in seventeen years, I

realized the obvious.

2.3 Toby sitting up and looking

straight at reader with a smug

smile.

Caption: The dude was

good-looking.

2.4 The same frame as before, but

blurred (SFX: SHIVER)

Caption: Not again.

2.5 Zanni gesturing toward fence

mid-stride.

ZANNI

Give me a sec, guys. I’ll be right

back.

Panel Description Dialog

Page 3

3.1 Zanni walking down pathway.

3.2 Zanni climbing through a

shrub.

Caption: No teenaged story would

be complete without a little

weirdness. In my case, it was

these strange bursts of dread I’d

been having for several months.

Panel Description Dialog

Page 4

4.1Full-page panel of Zanni in

shrub. Her arms are wrapped

around her knees. Capture the

leaves and little details. Let

her look more at ease.

Caption: They were unpredictable

and chilled me to the bone every

time.

Panel Description Dialog

Page 5

5.1 Flashback of mother and

Zanni, age seven, in store.

An overweight Native American

man is handing her mother a

bag.

Caption: When I felt this way, I’d

think of the angel figurine my mom

bought me when I was seven.

5.2 Angel figurine in curio

cabinet amongst other

trinkets.

Caption: It was like a guardian

angel, and as childish as the

notion was, it was comforting all

the same.

5.3 Zanni scooping dirt into her

palm.

5.4 Dirt falling through Zanni’s

fingers.

5.5 Zanni’s eyes are wide. Her

head is cocked to the side.

Caption: In that moment, I knew

something had changed.

5.6 The remainder of dirt falls

from Zanni’s hand

Caption: It was almost as if the

earth had shared a hushed but

important secret with me...

5.7 Zanni sitting up and looking

caught off-guard.

TOBY

Zanni? Where’d you go?

Panel Description Dialog

Page 6

6.1 Zanni sliding out of the

shrub, her foot extended.

Caption: I was so lost in thought

I’d forgotten about Toby and Sean.

6.2 A hand gripping her leg (SFX:

YANK!)

6.3 Wide panel of Toby dragging

Zanni across the grass by

her leg. Toby is smiling, and

Zanni is panicked.

TOBY

Playing hide-and-go-seek, eh?

6.4 Zanni glowering.

6.5 Zanni cracking a sarcastic

smile.

ZANNI

Sure thing, dude.

Caption: Naturally, I hadn’t told

Toby about any of it.