Soup the Comic Strip by Alun Clewe
Comic strip for December 31 2023.
PANEL ONE: Top view of Erlak lying on the grass, his feet in a body of water, as Jasda approaches him. JASDA: Oh, hello again, Erlak. ERLAK: Hey. PANEL TWO: Same scene, but from the front instead of from above. ERLAK: Hey, do you know what you look like from this angle? JASDA: Not really, and it's probably best you don't tell me. PANEL THREE: Erlak sits up. ERLAK: Jasda, can I ask you a question? JASDA: Sure PANEL FOUR: Close on Erlak, 3/4 view ERLAK: As Goddess of Time, what special powers do you have? PANEL FIVE: Close on Erlak, side view. ERLAK: I mean, can you actually send things through time, or travel through time yourself? To the distant past or future? PANEL SIX: Jasda looks at Erlak as he continues talking. ERLAK: Maybe to a time even before the gods when this world was just another part of the Wild Lands? Or a distant future when the last mortal walks the world alone? PANEL SEVEN: Close on Jasda. JASDA: I can't actually travel through time, Erlak. But I can control the passage of time, make it faster for some things than for others. PANEL EIGHT: View from slightly below eye level as Jasda continues talking to Erlak. JASDA: And I CAN bring other objects and places from the past — bringing back things that don't exist yet, or restoring an older version of something that does. With certain qualifications, I can even bring objects and places from the future. PANEL NINE: View of Jasda and Erlak from the side. ERLAK: How big an object or place can you bring? JASDA: I don't know. I've never really tested the limits of my power. PANEL TEN: Jasda and Erlak in profile. ERLAK: If you brought, for example, the whole world back from the past, the way it was, wouldn't that be the same as traveling to the past yourself? JASDA: I suppose it would, but I don't think I could do that. PANEL ELEVEN: Back to the front view. ERLAK: Have you ever accidentally brought something from the past, or future? Just thought subconscious– ly about it, and there it was? JASDA: No; I think I've got pretty good control. PANEL TWELVE: Erlak suddenly looks worried. ERLAK: Oh my gosh — maybe I shouldn't have said that! JASDA: Why not? PANEL THIRTEEN: Close on Erlak. ERLAK: Well, maybe it's because you hadn't considered the possibility — but now that I've brought it up your subconscious will kick in and start bringing things without your will! PANEL FOURTEEN: Extreme close-up on Erlak's eyes. ERLAK: Maybe you'll unintentionally revert the whole WORLD to an earlier state! You'll create a temporal loop! JASDA (off panel): I seriously doubt that. PANEL FIFTEEN: Erlak starts to walk away. ERLAK: Yeah, you're probably right. Well, I'd better get going. JASDA: Um... All right. See you. PANEL SIXTEEN: Erlak sits by the waterside in the same position as in panel three. ERLAK: Jasda, can I ask you a question? JASDA: You're not fooling anyone, Erlak.
December 31 2023

Unfortunately, my getting yesterday's strip up on time was apparently not a portent of future success. I got this strip up late again. Sorry. I swear that in the new year I'll be more on top of things; this has been a very busy week.

My gosh, this is another wordy strip. Words words words words words words words words words words words words words words words.

Ugh. That last panel. Erlak's question is supposed to come before Jasda's line, but the way the word balloons are arranged that's not at all clear. I really could have done a better job with that. Sorry.