SCRIPT:

PANEL 1: It was an explosion; a hole has been torn in the roof of the gym! Gilrs flee toward foreground, trying to get away from three weird figures descending through the hole with jetpacks on their backs. The three aliens are wearing "pro-wrestler"-type outfits; one even wears a wrestler-type mask.

PANEL 2: Reverse angle: Tetsuko has put herself between her students and the (o.p.) aliens, her arms outstretched protectively. Ichi stands next to Tetsuko, concerned.

TETSUKO: ICHIKUN! Take the class away to a SAFE DISTANCE, and ALERT the PRINCIPAL!
ICHI: And LEAVE you here alone to face those - -?
TETSUKO: DO AS I SAY! GO!!

PANEL 3: Tetsuko stands defiantly before the aliens.

TETSUKO: And as for YOU THREE...
TETSUKO: Where do you get off DISRUPTING my class and SCARING my STUDENTS?? What do you WANT?

PANEL 4: Stunned expressions on the faces of the three aliens.

PANEL 5: The aliens have pulled (seemingly from nowhere) charts, photos, maps, tricorder-like devices, etc. and pore over them, extremely puzzled.

ALIEN #2: Are you SURE we've found the right one?
ALIEN #1: This is where "Arnie" is supposed to OPERATE!
ALIEN #3: And this is where the SENSORS led us!
ALIEN #2: Sure doesn't LOOK like Arnie... She's not even the same SEX!
ALIEN #3: Wull, maybe they, like, CHANGE SEX, you know, when they MATURE. Like in a COCOON or somethin'...
ALIEN #1: Yet she IS the source of the INCREDIBLE POWER we detected...
ALIEN #2: Wanna try it ANYWAY?
ALIEN #1: Well, we DID come a long way... might as WELL...

COMMENTS: If there was any one reason why I decided to post this script and these layouts for you to read, it's that last panel: these three aliens, trying so hard to be "badass", and totally stumped when their target turns out not what they expected. Still makes me laugh even after all this time...

"Ninja High School", its associated characters, locations, designs, etc. © Antarctic Press

All other material © 2006 David C. Matthews