🍽️The One You Feed Pt. 3
A Werewolf Tail Continues
Episodes of Storymaze feature: writing tips or a work-in-progress; something creative I’m digging; + a quote that’s got me thinking.
Presenting part 3 of a lil’ werewolf tale I found in the Storymaze, after an inspiring chat with the crazy-talented Mark Nelson. It’s called “The One You Feed.” © 2025 D.G. Chichester
*PAGE 4*
*PANEL 1
EXT. PARK PLAYGROUND -- DAY
It's late in the afternoon as Foster walks forlornly around the outer edge of a high-gated park playground. Within are colorful climbing cubes and saddle-animals on spring rockers, a seesaw and swing set. PHILLIP, a young boy of about 8, rides the swings.
FOSTER/CAPTION: "I started to think about...all sorts of people..."
*PANEL 2
A haggard Foster studies Phillip, looking through the bars at the child in the near-distance.
FOSTER
Excuse me...young man!
*PANEL 3
The action and attack across the rest of the panels on this page can also seem like "faux action" -- again in Foster's mind. But as we'll see at the end, at some point they do occur...
A resigned Fosters extends his arm through the bars, holding up a colorful toy: an electronic Transformers-style robot, with flashing lights. He's calling to Phillip, who looks in Foster's direction with guarded curiosity.
FOSTER
Is this yours? It was sitting here by the fence.
PHILLIP
Mine? Sure...okay.
*PANEL 4
A tentative Phillip reaches for the toy -- the boy still guarded, but also a little greedy. Foster's expression is kind.
FOSTER
Pretty cool toy. I wouldn't want you to lose it.
PHILLIP
Yeah, that's mine. Thanks mister --
*PANEL 5
Foster's expression shifts quickly to calculating as he grabs Phillip's arm, the boy panicking and shouting.
PHILLIP
(burst)
Let go let me go help he's --
*PANEL 6
Foster has wrenched the boy's arm out between the bars of the gate. As the screaming boy is trapped against the other side of the metal, Foster is chomping down on the child's arm.
PHILLIP
(weak balloon)
-- hurting me --
SFX
(biting arm/grisly style)
KRNKKCH
*PAGE 5*
*PANEL 1
EXT. HOSPITAL -- NIGHT
Establishing shot of a sprawling, modern medical center, the pinnacle of medical science -- and a beneficiary of Foster's philanthropy. The sign out front reads, "Trillian Medical Center."
FOSTER/CAPTION
"The hospital I sponsor..."
*PANEL 2
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR -- NIGHT
The long corridor is shadowed in "after hours" low-level night-lighting.
On Foster as he stands outside the door of a room, Foster looking side-eyed down the corridor, checking to see if anyone's watching.
Looking past Foster into the room we see FELIX, an old man laid out in bed with one leg up in an elevated sling. He's got long gray hair spread out on the pillow around him.
FOSTER/CAPTION
"...wouldn't look twice at me coming by for an after-hours visit."
FOSTER
(whisper)
In fact...they wouldn't look at all...
PANEL 3
The action and attack across the rest of the panels on this page can also seem like "faux action" -- again in Foster's mind. But as we'll see at the end, at some point they do occur...
A committed Foster in the room, at Felix's bedside. A bleary-eyed Foster is just waking up, confused at Foster's presence.
FELIX
Who...I -- I haven't had a visitor in a while.
FELIX
Do I know you?
FOSTER
No, Felix. But think of me as a friend.
*PANEL 4
Foster's has a look of strength and commitment as he puts an almost caring hand on Felix's shoulder. The old man is still shaking off sleep -- but appearing appreciative at Foster's visits and promise.
FOSTER
I've seen your records. I know you're having trouble paying these bills.
FOSTER
What if I said I'd take care of all that for you?
FELIX
No charge?
*PANEL 5
Foster looks intently at Felix's elevated leg -- eyeing it like it's a mutton chop.
FOSTER
Not in dollars, perhaps.
*PANEL 6
Foster has grabbed Felix's elevated leg like a giant spare rib and is biting down into it as the thrashing old man howls in pain.
FOSTER
We should never put a price on our long-term health...
FELIX
(rough balloon, small letters)
No no no please --!
SFX
(biting leg/grisly style)
SMMRRNCH
The final chapter — next Storymaze!
I was meh, bleh, and WTF on the trailer for Skeleton Crew. It smacked of kiddie-fare, a Goonies-wannabe — and in all truth, I was never a big fan of the Goonies. (Heresy, I know. But we’re in a safe space, right?) One more miss in Disney’s stumblebum approach to Star Wars. (With notable exceptions of The Mandolorian and Andor. A little Ahsoka. But The Acolyte needs to be consigned to the same fate as Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru.)
Man, I’ve rarely been so glad to be wrong. It’s tonally Star Wars, but seen through a refreshingly different lens. This it’s not a “great kids show” — it’s just really well-executed entertainment, with highs, lows, humor, story beats, surprises, reveals, lines that all land with the solidity of an SM-33 droid laying into Jude Law’s impressive chin.
The pirate flair is delightful, as are the excellent “80s-vibe” callbacks — broad, brilliant winks if you get ‘em, not in the way at all if you don’t. (I have to give high praise to the E.T. nods in episode 7: flashlights in the forest, call home, and a comm device that is a loving homage to that lil’ guy’s ship.) Don’t let a space rat block your eye circuits — give this one a look.
Axles Infernal #2 is in prelaunch on Kickstarter. If you sign up now you’ll get first alerts on its launch — and a chance at some cool first 48 hour rewards. A lot has changed since I wrote its original proposal 25 years ago (!) — but it’s interesting to revisit those early days.
THE UNDERWORLD TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
According to the Barna Research Group, sixty-two percent of Americans do not believe in the devil as a living being. Less than thirty-one percent of people surveyed believe in Hell as an actual location. In a time when ninety-five percent of individuals express a belief in the literal existence of angels, Heaven, and God, Hell is simply not delivering the goods.
That doesn't sit well with the original down Under, and the infernal powers are committed to redressing that p.r. problem. Borrowing a page from rapid parcel services such as Federal Express, Hell has established the Underworld Transportation Authority to deliver tortures and seductions in an aggressive manner. Seeing is believing, and Hell promises to be seen everywhere -- and always on time.
Making the system work is a FedEx-style system of interdimensional "hubs" that UTA couriers use to swiftly traffic their deliveries from one Earth location to the next. These hubs illustrate the elaborate reality behind the multidimensional conglomerate that is the larger fearsome enterprise functioning as a virtual "Hell, Inc."
Each hub is an underworld from across time and cultures. There is crass commercialism in the hell based on Dante's ever-popular Inferno. In the Egyptian Amenti, there is a multitude of flesh-eating worms, but also a Hall of Truth that metes out justice for a life well led. Iblis, lord of the Islamic hell, has dressed his realm as an elaborate shrine to the God he loves so deeply. The Catholic Hell-with-a-capital-H is steeped in contradictory sufferings and oppressions, while the Greek Hades is an arrogant menagerie of boasting legends. There are private hells and dying hells and hells just spawned. And there's a part of all of them out for delivery on Axles Infernal.
Humanity is largely ignorant to the true existence of the underworlds; most men and women just have to suffer the consequences of hell's reality. Percy Cross gets to go along for the ride.
The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.”
― Eden Phillpotts
I’ve lined up the first comic con for 2025: GalaxyCon in Richmond, VA, 3/27-3/30. I hope that means a chance to meet some of you fine folks face to face. Be table ready: first person to show up at the show with a copy of any Daredevil: Black Armor issue or trade — the autograph is free. Show up in a Black Armor cosplay: get a full set of the original Fall From Grace comics!
Amazing Times
I’m D.G. Chichester. Seems pretentious to me, so if you’d rather just call me “Dan”, and have a go at the last name as Chai (like the tea) Chester (like it looks).
I earned my word-cred writing comic book titles like Daredevil, Terror Inc., Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD and Clive Barker’s Hellraiser. I like weird tales, so if things here bend that way — now you know why!
Folks seem to like the comic book adventures I’ve written, so if you haven’t checked one out — please do. Many are now available in fab collected editions — including the recent rad retro
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