Citizenship Follies

A couple of years ago in my Grade 10 Civics class, we had some assignment where one of the options was to make a comic about civics and citizenship. Obviously I jumped at the chance, especially cause the other options were probably "write an essay" or an oral presentation something.

Earlier today I found the comic while looking for a guitar magazine. It's kind of ruined, but you can still see some of the pictures and make out some of the writing. I think it's pretty funny. Note: It was technically a collaborative effort-- my friend Anthony did some very nice colour "tinting" for the panel backgrounds. We both got good marks, but you can barely see his hard work now, thanks to me leaving the comic in my civics binder.

Anyway, since it's so hard to read at some points, I've transcribed the text under each picture. Also I translated it into English (it was a French class).

This was the "rough conceptualization and colour guide" page where we came up with the characters. Actually I had come up with Matt the Cat and Bonzo the Bulldog at least a year earlier, but I felt like drawing them again before starting the comic anyway:


TEXT:
Matt the Canuck Cat (Smoke Grey!)
Bonzo the Mean Bulldog
Marco the French-Canadian Rabbit
Zoltan the African-American Elephant
CITIZENSHIP FOLLIES

Colour Guide:
Canuck Blue (Royal Blue)
Canuck Grey (Smoke Grey)
Inner-Ear Pink (Cerise)Page 1
Panel 1
"CITIZENSHIP FOLLIES"
By Aaron 10D (and Anthony)
Ah, Canada! What a nice country! Here's our friend, Matt the Canuck Cat! He's nice to everyone.

Panel 2
Today, Matt's going to the park.

Panel 3
Oh no! It's Bonzo, the discriminatory bulldog! He's really mean!

Panel 4
And here, we have Marco the French-Canadian rabbit! Uh oh, I think there's going to be some trouble here!
Marco: Hello, my buddies!


Page 2
Panel 1
Bonzo: Get lost, stupid francophone! Go eat poutine or something!
Marco: Oh, ok.
Matt: Hey, that's not good citizenship!

Panel 2
Later...
Marco: Boohoohoo... That was mean, but I DO like poutine.

Panel 3
Zoltan: I'm Zoltan, the African-American elephant!
Matt: Hello!
Bonzo: Ahh! Another outlet for my rage!

Panel 4
Bonzo: Go back to Africa! We don't want any big elephants like you!
Zoltan: WHAT did you say?!!!

Panel 5
Zoltan: BRAATTT!
Bonzo: Ouch!

The next day... At the hospital...

Panel 6
Matt: Zoltan, do you have something to say?
Zoltan: Uh, yes...

Page 3
Panel 1
Zoltan: I'm sorry for trampling you.
Matt: Good, good.

Panel 2
Bonzo: It's okay. It was equally my fault.
Matt: Ah, that's good-- you're taking responsibility!

Panel 3
Bonzo: I won't ever discriminate against other nationalities. I've seen the error of my ways.
Matt: Bonzo, you know what? I think you're a good citizen now! Come on, let's go eat some cake!
Zoltan: Agreeable!
Marco: Joyous!

Panel 4
Bonzo: This cake is superb!
Matt: Ah, yes!
Zoltan: Canucks, a French rabbit and an African-American elephant eating this cake together-- this is the true meaning of citizenship!
Marco: Cake is good, but poutine is the best.


Hope you enjoyed it. And more importantly, I hope you could read it.