Seymour!

Written by John Weldy
Concept Art by Michelle Weldy

I got the idea for Seymour! while watching an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  At one point a character spoke, but the words the viewer heard were not what the character was saying but what Buffy was hearing ... her interpretation.

Well "breaking the fourth wall", as I later heard this referred to, had long been one of my favorite pop culture conventions.  From Bruce Willis talking to the camera on Moonlighting, to Ambush Bug knowing he's in a comic book, to mingling with the audience in character during a play I performed in High School ... I just couldn't get enough of it.  So I started thinking, how many entertaining ways are there to break the rules in comic books?

In Seymour!, I tried to see just how many of those ways I could squeeze in to a 5-page funny animal story rife with clever dialogue and pop culture references. Seymour! plays like a cross between an episode of Animaniacs or Bugs Bunny and an old Abbott & Costello routine.  There are more jokes crammed into these 5 pages than most full-length comedy comics have today.

Seymour is the lead character, a crazy little squirrel who breaks the conventions of comics like they are his personal plaything.  And whenever you have a comic you have to have a straight man, right?  Seymour's straight man is James Bunny, a rabbit superspy who takes himself way too seriously.  Of course, what good is a superspy without a supervillian?  James' nemesis is Blowfish, a fish in a bowl who is an homage to Earthworm Jim and the good old brain in a jar.  

Seymour! was originally intended as a submission for Digital Webbing Presents, but due to several different factors, it hasn't really gone anywhere yet. Shortly after I wrote the first draft, I looked far and wide for an artist, never really finding one who shared my passion for the project. I thought I hit upon the right person when my wife Michelle, who had never drawn a comic panel in her life but is pretty crafty with them drawing implements, decided to take a crack at it. Deep into the project, Michelle decided she should probably devote more of her time to "legit" work (and who can blame her? Have you seen her Gallery?).

Since then, I've really been too busy to look for another artist. I'd still love to do the project, though. I think it's a dynamite script. Take a read through the sample page and see if you don't agree.

If you or someone close to you is a Comic Artist with a passion for Funny Animals, shoot me an e-mail at john@bucketoflizards.com and maybe we can work something out.

Sample Script Page

Page 1, 7 panels


panel 1

A RABBIT alone in a dark room. We view him from the back. He is getting dressed in a tuxedo and his ears are slicked back. Specific panels show him doing things like straightening his bow tie, putting on his jacket, placing his pistol inside a holster in the jacket, and lighting a cigarette. The BUNNY is very serious at what he does. 

There is a mirror in front of him as we view him from the back. You can use the reflection to show what he's doing as long as you don't reveal his face. 

CAPTION (BUNNY): the PLACE: rancho cucamongo taco grande. CHIPSANSALSA, mexico.
CAPTION (BUNNY): the VILLIAN: a particularly OBTUSE fiend who goes by the name of BLOWFISH. 


panel 2

As the BUNNY goes through dramatic, macho poses getting ready, an ODD LITTLE SQUIRREL saunters into the frame. He is the Costello to the BUNNY's Abbott. His name is SEYMOUR. 

The size difference between the characters is considerable...think Rocky & Bullwinkle. 

The BUNNY doesn't notice him and just goes about his self-important dialogue.

CAPTION (BUNNY): the JOB: stop his diabolical plot at ALL COSTS.
CAPTION (BUNNY): how do i KNOW he has a diabolical plot? they ALWAYS have a diabolical plot. 


panel 3 

SEYMOUR is reading JB's text boxes, maybe even standing on top of the 2nd one.

CAPTION (BUNNY): diabolical and DUBIOUS. diabolical, dubious, and DOWNRIGHT DIRTY. 
CAPTION (BUNNY): just lots of things that begin with the letter d, i suppose.


panel 4

SEYMOUR waves to the reader.

CAPTION (BUNNY): that's when they call ME in. i'm an international SUPERSPY. my name is BUNNY.


panel 5

Large, tall panel. We see the BUNNY from the front for the first time as he straightens his cufflinks. The smoke from the cigarette has formed the words "Eat at Joe's".

SEYMOUR is prominently in the frame, looking up at JAMES in awe. 

CAPTION (BUNNY): JAMES BUNNY
SEYMOUR: gee, YOU'RE a tall drink of water.


panel 6

JAMES looks down at SEYMOUR and scowls.

 CAPTION (BUNNY): WHAT THE -- ?!?
SEYMOUR: hey, do you ALWAYS talk in those self-important text boxes?

JAMES (no longer speaking in those self-important text boxes): ahem...what EVER are you talking about?
SEYMOUR: you know...those little BOXES you use to make it seem like what you're saying is more important than it really IS. 


panel 7

Full frame of SEYMOUR, mocking one of JAMES's macho poses from earlier. He may even be in a mock-up of James' suit just for this panel.

CAPTION (SEYMOUR): like THIS.
CAPTION (SEYMOUR): or THIS.