Little Witch #4: Bethany's Mother

When I made this in December, it was going to be a one off story. But, there are two more in the Bethany subseries in coming months. She's just too much fun. Maybe I should have named the series The Little Witch's Friend. Hah. While these were supposed to be "a gag a day" style (gag a month?), they aren't necessarily going to be funny.

This comic is the first with colored word balloons. I've updated the prior two comics, but not the original comic. Why be consistent! Now that I have continuity, I've reordered some of the future comics. This story line was going to play out over these next three comics. Now there are support stories intermixed with the tale of Bethany.

The washed out looking panels viewed from above Bethany's Mother's head within the bookshelf originally were nearly pitch black (see the bonus below). I could have just done "proper" lighting but that would also look weird as one might wonder why Bethany setup some lights behind where she was hiding her mother. In the end, being able to see Bethany's face made the most sense. (Night vision goggles? Nah.)

Transcript

Panel 1, left one-third: Dad and Angela are eating together at a table.

Daddy: Angela, Bethany's father called. He said her mother is missing and you had something to with it.

Angela: Bethany got hold of Mommy. To get her back she had me turn her mother into a doll.

Daddy: You didn't have her mother's okay to cast a spell on her. Did you?

Angela: There were extenuating circumstances, as I told you.

Daddy: Why would the school teach you that phrase?

Mommy, a doll on the table, thinking: Good words, Angela!

Mommy, thinking: Oh, dear. I hope Bethany hasn't shelved her mother like she did to me. She's always had mommy issues. Not really surprising.

Panels 2-6, right half, five intercut panels: Seen from out of a bookshelf, a doll is placed between books.

Bethany's Mother, thinking at her daughter: Bethany Ann Wilson! Get me out of here! This prank has gone too far.

Bethany's Mother, thinking: Stop giggling! This isn't a joke.

Bethany's Mother, thinking: What are you doing with that book? You can't just hide me on a shelf. I'm your mother. Bethany!

Panel 7, lower half: Giggling the whole time, Bethany is leaving the library. The walls are covered with shelves of books. None are out of place.

Bethany's Mother, thinking: Where are you going, young lady? Get back here.

Bethany's Mother, think shouting, large text: Bethany!

Panel 8: Darkness... silence...

Narration: Later...

Bethany's Mother, thinking softly, tiny text: Bethany?

Bonus Content

Below is the original dark paneled version of the comic: