Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for December 21, 2014
Transcript:
Your Story What's going on here? Where is this place? Who are these people? What do they want? And, why? Who are the "good guys"? And who are the "bad guys"? Is this the story's beginning? Middle? Or climax? These are your questions. There are no wrong answers. This is your story! Now go ahead and jump in! Let your imagination run free! Your story can be as long or as short as you like. You can write it alone or make it a team project with family or friends. It's entirely up to you! Rules: Only one...have fun!
jnik23260 almost 10 years ago
It’s Danae’s history or the 20th century.
Varnes almost 10 years ago
What a delight….Thank you Wiley…..
Varnes almost 10 years ago
“Only one rule…Have fun” Runnin’ a pretty tight ship there Miller…..Oh, and thank for the Wiley bear it wouldn’t be complete without it………
Varnes almost 10 years ago
Of course a monkey with a quiver is pretty cool too……
Argythree almost 10 years ago
This ’toon is ready-made for all the posters on this site who have millions of interpretations of whatever Wiley intended. If they post a story now, everyone else gets to comment, interpret and criticize. What a great idea…
Argythree almost 10 years ago
It would be great to see a story where the Wiley-bear is the main character, maybe even the deity setting it all in motion,or the guru who interprets it…
Argythree almost 10 years ago
Please do, since most of us know that you write but don’t have any idea of how to find your writings…
WoodEye almost 10 years ago
Nah, too predictable, everyone knows the unicorn did it with the Holy Grail in Atlantis!
Watcher almost 10 years ago
Danae and Jeffrey were heading back in time to find out the date and the reasons why boys became boogers for her report due in the morrow. As they were gliding back through the centuries, they past through and unknown to everyone until this moment, a supernova explosion that disrupted the timeline continuum which hurled them into a new timeline.As they departed their time machine, Danae, now a little white witch with her Familiar Jeffrey were captured and are being dragged off to the cave of the Wiley Bears for interrogation…to be cont’d.
Ironic Eggbeater almost 10 years ago
Once upon a time they all lived happily ever after.
Ida No almost 10 years ago
Imposed house rules:1) No politics.2) No trolls.
strictures almost 10 years ago
Wiley seems to have put most of the creation fantasies into this toon.Where he wants it & us to go is beyond me.
thirdguy almost 10 years ago
I’m not positive, but I am pretty sure, that my story, doesn’t have quite so many critters with tails, in it.
dadoctah almost 10 years ago
“Once upon a time, there was a cartoonist named Wiley who came up with a sneaky way to get his readers to do his work for him while he still got paid for it.”
tinmanzzz almost 10 years ago
I don’t know what the big deal is, Anyone should recognize the ending chapter of “Rescue of the Last Basselope”
WCLamb almost 10 years ago
Despite the many mythical animals pictured, at least it doesn’t lend itself to any recipes being posted. Hallelujah!
Toonerific almost 10 years ago
There once was a planet named Zarcas;What went on there was really a fracas!Some people thought it was a terrible place;Others new better, they’d seen a different face.Yet the planet had a hidden sideAnd from planet earth it had to hide.Here the Loch Ness monster and woolly mammoth roamedThey knew their extinction was indefinitely postponed.However, Polar bears often captured penguinsYes, admittedly there were a few gremlins.
They also had a fable,But this one wasn’t about a stable.Although it did involve a girl and a horseBut that wasn’t the main course.They awaited the coming of a saviourThey had heard of Danae but worried about her behaviour;But it seems her only sister KateWas on top of it and would change their fate.She made a potion that turned Danae into a catOn the third try, the first was a rat and then a bat.
But Lucy saw and did run and hide;The change of events she could not abide.The aliens she did implore to help in her taskAfter all she was one of them, all she had to do was ask.They captured the girls in a bubbleOh then Kate new she was in trouble!
She wasn’t sure this was going to be funBut she did know that she couldn’t run.Danae smuggly sat and smirked;Her plan had after all worked!Hadn’t she known all alongThat she’d get here and nothing would go wrong?For only one who thought outside the box,And was often as a sly as a fox,Could save this planet from forces unseenAnd turn it to a planet peaceful and green.
Kylop almost 10 years ago
Oh dear, Wiley’s gone and forgotten we don’t think for ourselves….again.
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 10 years ago
Me and my cousin knows how to do stories like this (but only for fun, not profit) and believe us, we won’t make an Endtown thing! (or Adventure Time, for that matter)
nstaehling almost 10 years ago
Congress “Doing the People’s Business” with another comprehensive bill.
milano99 almost 10 years ago
I think Wiley had a 70’s flashback.
Egrayjames almost 10 years ago
….and so God spoke, but only a few understood her.
llennok1 almost 10 years ago
perfect-
Ernest Lemmingway almost 10 years ago
And this is different from how GoComics posters argue the meaning of any strip—not just Non Sequitur—how? Besides being told flat out to do it?
Darryl Heine almost 10 years ago
No address or e-mail to send a story idea? This is too early for an April Fool’s style joke even though Christmas is only 4 days away!
car2ner almost 10 years ago
no clever pun? No, “better you than me” moment? No, “Oh that so happened to me too” moment? It is a good thing I so enjoy your drawing style.
becida almost 10 years ago
Barsoom!
puddlesplatt almost 10 years ago
just wonderful, made my year!
Duncan Idaho almost 10 years ago
Should have ran this in late October in preparation for the November NaNoWriMo
hsawlrae almost 10 years ago
CONGRESS in session.
sarah413 Premium Member almost 10 years ago
So, this is what The Amboy Dukes were referring to in 1968? Journey to the Center of Your Mind
David_J Premium Member almost 10 years ago
“Well, that’s the last time I have Rarebit before bedtime.”
Wiley creator almost 10 years ago
It would appear that this needs more explanation for some here. This is not a contest. It is meant mostly for young readers to help serve as a spark to light the fires of dormant creativity. So much of entertainment today in movies and television makes the viewer just passive observers. The joy of reading is that it makes the reader a more active participant, and that joy is so much more when one writes their own story. But more often than not, the problem is not knowing where to start. So I thought I’d provide a visual to help provide that spark and hopefully inspire a young mind to sit down and explore his or her own imagination rather than passively observing someone else’s efforts. I figured the holiday season was good time to do that, when kids are on vacation. Hope this clears it up for some of you.
Perkycat almost 10 years ago
If it is as you say – it is brilliant. But, say it like it is – you couldn’t come up with something for today so draw a neat picture and leave it up to the readers. One thing, though, I usually only read the comic because there are too many comments. This did get me to read the comments to see what stories the readers came up with. I was sadly disappointed except for Toonerific – very creative poem!
dabugger almost 10 years ago
OK, if you say so……….
elvin272727 almost 10 years ago
What a cool Christmas present! Thanks, and have a wonderful holiday.
mr_sherman Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Kewl!
goweeder almost 10 years ago
My brain hurts!
mzkdad almost 10 years ago
Bravo! I seem to recall when I was a kid in the 50s and early 60s some special holiday season comic strips which reached out to kids to be involved. Sad to see the cynicism of one reader.
dan66 almost 10 years ago
Very nice. Merry Christmas.
locoboilerguy almost 10 years ago
All walks of life and life in the universe are converging on the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas for the week between Christmas and New Years. Its very busy in Vegas that week.
Calvins Brother almost 10 years ago
Great idea, Wiley. I’ve been reading books for over 55 years now and have found the “Theater of the Mind” to be a wonderful place. Thanks.
Brown Leghorn almost 10 years ago
l I would suggest to lay off the spiked eggnog that close to bedtime!
robert.h.reed almost 10 years ago
Awesome job thank you!
freewaydog almost 10 years ago
Ok, once upon a time, there was a bunch of stuff drawn in the Non Sequitur comic strip. Readers were asked to make up a story. The End.—THERE! ;)
Ginny Premium Member almost 10 years ago
A delightful and well-done strip. The myriad of ideas suits the myriad of peoples in the world.
dogday Premium Member almost 10 years ago
@ Wiley: This was not only a fabulous idea, but extremely generous on your part. I’ve been an aspiring writer since I was ten years old (and yes, I have the proverbial book “in the works and nearly finished”) but the problem was always what story to tell? This is a wonderland of ideas just waiting for any number of stories. And, while I haven’t read all the comments and may be repeating someone, the best advice if you want to write is “WRITE!” Pick a sentence that’s in your head and WRITE it. See what flows from that, even if it’s nonsensical. Break that first block and watch it go! Even “Gone With the Wind” started somewhere! That being said….
puddleglum1066 almost 10 years ago
My first thought upon seeing this strip was “what a neat, open ended strip, kind of like the very best final strips of comics like ‘Calvin & Hobbes’ or ‘Opus.’” My second thought, of course, was “Oh no! Wiley’s not ending the strip, is he?” Then I found Wiley’s explanation. Thanks… now I can breathe again…
dogday Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Danae broke the first Law of Physics, the one that says, “DO NOT OPEN THIS!”. Breaking this law made Pandora opening her old box look like kitten’s play. As all Time and Creation erupted in one place like a pop-up book, Danae was taken in hand by the Captain’s Cat and rendered harmless for the moment, as she impatiently wondered what all the hoo-hah was about. Then, just as the….
Stupid almost 10 years ago
This is how “Lost” was supposed to end.
Ervin Johnson almost 10 years ago
It was a dark and gloomy night…
KEA almost 10 years ago
Geez – there’s enough in that pic for a Trilogy.
Hunter7 almost 10 years ago
A long time ago, in a land far, far away a strange and wonderfully scary thing happened. Tomorrow, in the northwest outskirts of Seattle, bears discovered fire.Only a young girl with a fierce beast of a cat as a companion, had seen this discovery.NEXT!
KieranO1 almost 10 years ago
Very interesting but…
mr_sherman Premium Member almost 10 years ago
I had a dream several years ago (about thirty) that after some major disaster (the end of oil makes the most sense, after reflection) civilization broke down to city-states. These city-states were ruled from the nearest modern equivalent of walled cities. That right, Malls! Anybody wanna go with it?
mr_sherman Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Thank you, Wiley. I agree, this is one strip that should be a poster in every school.
Dtroutma almost 10 years ago
Thanks, Wiley. With our new 3 year old granddaughter, I’ve already had her start to make up her own stories from pictures in her picture books, but most things now come out “frozen”.
annamargaret1866 almost 10 years ago
Thank you!
William Bednar Premium Member almost 10 years ago
This looks like the inside of one of Petey Oterloop’s (ala cul de sac) shoe box dioramas.
neeeurothrush almost 10 years ago
thank you – and happy solstice
neeeurothrush almost 10 years ago
young minds unfettered and not yet polluted are a marvelous source of wonder and delight. i’ve tried not to grow up as i grew older – only marginally successful
tomielm almost 10 years ago
Wiley, my family has always encouraged cleverness, creative thinking and laughter. Today we (two English teachers, an artist and a techie) tackled your assignment. We had a blast! So many laughs, such fun. Thank you. More, please!
Wiley creator almost 10 years ago
@Tomielm-Thank you! You made my day. That was the purpose of the piece, to activate your brain and have fun composing your own story. I do intend to do this periodically.
52james almost 10 years ago
Whether lighter than airOr denser than water,You’ll always do wellTo swim like an otter.
Take points with you alwaysAnd keep them sharply pointedWhen the tide comes in, floatWith it adroitly: flexibly jointed.
Keep your ropes untangled,And don’t step in their coils;Be on the lookout for wranglesWith tricksy guys and goils.
A snowglobe comes in handyWhen the flakes have all sublimed,But enjoy the cold and wet stuffWhen it falls where Anoesis rhymed.
In other words: don’t worry.Get on up, no reason to hurry;No reasons anyway unless theyMove you. Just tell the story.
dogday Premium Member almost 10 years ago
That is true, NG, and was, I believe, one root of Pandora’s problem. But, yes, I did mean physics. After all, this is a ‘toon, so they’re ’toon physics. And I love a Law of Physics the first of which is “DO NOT OPEN THIS!” Imagine what the other laws would be. ;-)
KristiedeTucson almost 10 years ago
Thank you so much for this! I do reading tutoring with kids, and am always on the lookout for wordless picture books that they can write their own stories to. This is wonderful.
jamesayers1 almost 10 years ago
Hurry up, the Buffett closes in an hour.
Lynda Dahl Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Whatever the story is, the art is quite lovely! Thanks, Wiley!
garcalej almost 10 years ago
Maybe she’s from Atlantis, an advanced semi-alien colonial outpost, and those pirates who’ve captured her are one of many primitive human tribes who want the technological secrets of that civilization for themselves and are holding her for ransom. The boy hunter riding the purple mammoth is the hero who will save her. The monkeys are another tribe who at war with the humans and also want to capture the girl. Polar bears and trains are just ancillary elements of the plot.