Jocelyn Marthe - Viminy Crowes Comic Book

Text copyright 2014 by Marthe Jocelyn and Richard Scrimger
Illustrations copyright 2014 by Claudia Dvila

Published in Canada by Tundra Books, a division of Random House of Canada Limited, One Toronto Street, Suite 300, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2V6

Published in the United States by Tundra Books of Northern New York, P.O. Box 1030, Plattsburgh, New York 12901

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013943886

All rights reserved. The use of any part of this publication reproduced, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the publisheror, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agencyis an infringement of the copyright law.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Jocelyn, Marthe, author
Viminy Crowes comic book / by Marthe Jocelyn and
Richard Scrimger; illustrated by Claudia Dvila.

ISBN 978-1-77049-479-4 (bound).ISBN 978-1-77049-480-0 (epub)

I. Scrimger, Richard, 1957-, author II. Dvila, Claudia, illustrator III. Title.

PS8569.O254V56 2014 jC813.54 C2013-904480-9
C2013-904479-5

Edited by Tara Walker
Designed by Andrew Roberts and Claudia Dvila
The cover illustration was rendered digitally. The interior comics were rendered in ink.

www.tundrabooks.com

v3.1

To my father, who taught me to laughR.S.

For Henry, Thomas and Joseph. First listenersM.J.

For Michael and YolandaC.D.

A fter the best morning of his life, Wylder Wallace faced a big decision.

French fries or onion rings?

The good news was that he liked them both.

But which did he want right now?

The tall girl ahead of him in line at the food court was having trouble too. From the expression on her face, nothing looked good enough for her.

Not that one, she said. That doesnt look fresh. The one beside it, please. She pointed at a container of salad.

Of course, thought Wylder. A lettuce lover.

An announcement came over the loudspeaker. The Vampire King would be signing autographs at booth 1282 in five minutes. There was a lost child in the lobby. Would the owner of a car with license plate number AYYB-663 please move from the loading dock?

Wylder imagined biting into an onion ring. The sweet, sharp flavor breaking through the batter, coating his mouth in amazingness. Oh, yeah. But french fries were pretty good too. Little wedges of energy, so familiar, so satisfying. Eating a french fry was like coming home.

The tall girl took her container of lettuce and grated carrots and moved toward the cash register. Wylders turn now. But before he could open his mouth, he felt a tap on his shoulder. Superman was standing behind him.

Mind if I butt in here, sonny? Im in a hurry.

The square jaw, the dark curl over the forehead, the muscles, the blue tightshe was perfect. His hand rested for a second on Wylders shoulder. A man in line took a photo with his cell phone. Wylder tried to act casual.

Sure, sure. Uh, go ahead. Is someone in trouble? Is it that lost child they were talking about over the loudspeaker? Is that what youre doing here?

The Man of Steel smiled.

Nah, Im late, thats all. I have to be in Hall B in ten minutes so people can get their pictures taken with me. Tuna sandwich, he said to the lunch lady. Put it on DCs tab.

You got it, Clark. She tossed the sandwich over the counter.

Shhh! He shook his finger at her. Dont give away my secret.

Hey, Superman! said Wylder. Which should I orderfrench fries or onion rings?

He turned in a swirl of scarlet cape. There was the smile again.

Onion rings. The answer was definite. You can get fries anywhere.

Thanks, Superman!

But he was already gone, dashing through the crowd.

What a guy.

There was only one empty chair in the whole food court. Wylder didnt notice who was sitting at the table until he was almost there.

Oh, hi, he said. Someone sitting here? Did you see Superman just now? He told me to try the onion rings. Pretty cool, eh? Like we were buddies, me and Superman. I think Ill get his autograph later. He had a tuna sandwich, by the way. Ill have to start eating more tuna myself. Want an onion ring? he asked. Good enough for the Man of Steel. What do you say?

The girl shook her head without looking up from her comic.

Wylder shrugged out of his backpack. He wasnt going to have this wonderful day ruined by a girl with a mouthful of carrot.

The International Comic Book FestivalComicFestcame to Toronto every other June. It was a huge show, taking up the entire downtown convention center and spilling over into the domed stadium where the Blue Jays play baseball. Thousands and thousands of people came. Two years ago, Wylder had come with his mom, his aunt Mary Lee and his cousin George. Hed had a pretty good time. The Fist postersigned by both Bill Avery, who drew the comic, and the villainous Underhand himselfwas one of Wylders prized possessions and hung over his bed. But two years ago, Wylder had been ten years old. Now he was almost twelve. Old enough to go to ComicFest on his own, hed told his mom, who had agreedreluctantly. And what a time he was having! Already hed picked up five brand-new comic books, a signed photo of Wolverine and a free video game introducing PhlegmA Hero for Tomorrow!

He ate two onion rings in quick succession. They were brilliant. Superman was right, of course. Wylders feet didnt quite reach the floor. He kicked happily against the plastic legs of his chair.

Wylders cell phone vibrated. He sighed. Mom checking up on him again. The text read: u ok?

He wanted to text back: i am fine. the same way i was fine a half hour ago. leave me alone. He texted back: yes

She worried about him all the time. Breakfast to bedtime, school day or holiday, she had to know he was there. Shed knock on his door or call up from the kitchen.

Yes? hed say.

Just checking, honey.

It was like she thought he would disappear if she wasnt in touch all the time. Or wander away and never come back. Wylder wondered if her anxiety had something to do with his dad moving out. That happened years agohe couldnt even remember a time when Dad lived with them. Was Mom afraid Wylder would walk out too?

Another message came through right away: luv u

What were you supposed to say to that? Nothing, thats what. For a chatty guy, Wylder often had nothing to say to his mom. It was easier with Dad, who only texted to find out where Wylder wanted to go for dinner.