Stanley Schuster // D8 {FIN}

COVER

THE ADVENTURES OF STANLEY SCHUSTER: TAILOR'S SON

ISSUE #1
JAN '63
Joel
SCHUSTER
Jerry
LIEBER
Robert
ROSS

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$2.99

PAGE ONE

PANEL
1. HEADER: "OUR STORY BEGINS IN DISTRICT EIGHT"

(SFX: CLICK) The light turns on. Stanley enters the grimy bathroom with a yawn battling to make its way free from his face; Green eyes staring blearily at his reflection in the mirror. He hasn't cut his dark hair in a few months and it has started to get shaggy.

2. He fumbles for a toothbrush and begins attending to his teeth, scraping the plaque off with vigorous gusto, knocking a bar of soap into the toilet as he does so. (SFX: KER-PLUNK)

3. Our hero grimaces as he fishes the offending item out of the toilet.

Stanley (INTERIOR MONOLOGUE)

Third time this week I've done this. I need to get more sleep or those circles under my eyes aren't going to go anywhere.

Having retrieved it, he places it back on the soap dish before rinsing his mouth out. (SFX: SQUEAK, PSSSSSH) Stan is expected to get up this early every morning to work alongside his father as an apprentice tailor.

4. Stan leaves the washroom and heads into his bedroom. Here we can see the product of a busy mind, clothes and other objects including several novels of varying lengths scattered haphazardly around the floor and the bed. The dust of the windowsill suggests that the room has not been cleaned in some time.

5. Selecting some clothing from the pile, Stan dresses himself, a patronizing look etched on his face.

Stanley (INTERIOR MONOLOGUE)

Dad just hasn't been the same since mom died. I wish he would talk with me more.

PAGE TWO

PANEL

1. Transition: "LATER THAT MORNING..."
Close up of Stan eating a scant breakfast consisting of a bowl of oatmeal and two slices of buttered toast.

2. Side shot of Stan going down the stairs. The banister is quite filthy. Somewhere off down and to the right he hears a sound. (SFX: KA-CLINK JINGLE-JANG)

3-4. (Splash panel)
Here we have a two panel sized rendition of the bottom level of the shop. Close up of Stanley with an outstretched hand, gesturing at everything that can be seen. In the window, several half dressed mannequins are posed in various positions, each wearing a different article of clothing. To Stanley's right, his FATHER sits on a stool with his back to the reader, attending to a rather large tear in a suit jacket. To the right, we can see a matronly looking WOMAN in a blue dress expectantly watching the two of them from over the counter.

5.
Mr. Schuster half turns on the stool to look at his son; His face is obscured by the clothing, and his hands clutch a needle trailing a line of black thread.

STANLEY'S FATHER
Ring up Mrs. Parker will you Stan?

STANLEY

Right Da.

The register makes noise as Stanley brings up the total. (SFX: VRRRIP, DING, KA-CHUNK, DING) The woman waves as she leaves, clutching her bag in one hand and exiting via the front door.

6. Stan sits on the chair behind the counter and utters an audible noise of discomfort. (SFX: SIGH)

PAGE THREE

PANEL
1. Transition: "FLASHBACK TO FIVE YEARS AGO"
Here we see Stan as a younger lad of around thirteen years of age. He is walking with both parents away from a clothing store. All are dressed warmly. Features are obscured, both parents cannot be viewed above the chest area. Center shot on Stanley's face. He appears happy.

2. Transition: "FLASHBACK TO FOUR YEARS AGO"
Colors shift from all tones to sepia. A pair of peacekeepers stand in front of an open door, one of them holding a piece of paper. Stanley's father has one hand covering his face. Stan looks on in confusion.

3. Color tones shift to black and white. Close up of his father mouthing something. Empty word balloon. Nothing in the panel but his father's face. Tears shimmer in the corners of his eyes.

4. Top down view of Stanley on his knees, screaming wordlessly at the sky. Shaded background makes it seem as if nothing in the panel exists but Stanley himself.

5. Transition: "THE FUNERAL"
Color tones are still mostly black and white. Stan places a bouquet of flowers on the coffin. Emphasis on his fathers eyes in the background, which sparkle a steely blue. Emphasis on the flowers which are a shade of purple.

6. Transition: "BACK IN THE PRESENT"
Stan rubs at his eyes before getting up and walking towards the door.

STANLEY

Da, is it alright if I head down to the library for a couple of hours?

STANLEY'S FATHER
(SFX: GRUNT)
Be back before dark.

STANLEY (INTERNAL MONOLOGUE)
You couldn't care less about me could you?


AD SPACE
Stanley is Eighteen years of age
Residing in District Eight
Face claim is Matt Prokop
odair




So, if you haven't given up on reading this by now, Stanley represents the Comic Book Genre in Lalia's Library Plot. He is written in the style of scripting common to most major american graphic novels, before being added to the pre-existing artwork. I realize that like all of the characters in this plot, the bio may be hard to follow along with especially if you've never read a comic book, and if needs be, I'll edit it. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed Issue #1. <3