The cover. Alex, Fez and a smiling blonde girl in a black swimsuit dive through a bright blue sky. Fez's screen reads 'Weee!'. The title reads 'The tales of Alex & Fez #2, by Paul Spencer'.
The title page. Fez rides on Alex's back like a backpack, both grinning, with autumn leaves falling around them.
Story & illustration by Paul Spencer.
The 24 hour comic book challenge. “24-Hour Comics Day” is an event held around the world which challenges writers and artists to create a full 24-page comic in 24 consecutive hours. Thousands of artists participate in the challenge every year and the comic you’re currently holding is the final product from the challenge that I completed successfully in 2012.
Each year, a theme or idea is given on the day, which is encouraged to be worked into the comic; this ensures that the story is not pre prepared. We were tasked to incorporate a song into the comic, be it the theme from the song, the title or some lyrics. Don’t ask me why, but I immediately began humming ‘Beyond the sea’, from Finding Nemo, so I went with it. I immediately purchased the sound track for Finding Nemo, and plugged myself in, playing the album on loop, jotting down all ideas and imagery that sprang to mind. This is what came from those ideas.
I hope you enjoy this comic book, I had a blast making it. Until issue three.
A red car drives along a coastal road past green bushland and a blue river under a cloudy sky.
Inside the car, Dad drives, Mum sits beside him in glasses, and Alex smiles in the back seat.
The car pulls into a space under a sign reading 'Beach parking'.
Alex climbs out of the car, grinning, in a Goonies T-shirt.
Alex grins over a wooden fence.
Alex shouts: “Yes!”
A wide view of the beach: rolling waves, a few swimmers and sunbathers on the sand. Alex stands at the fence looking out over it all.
Alex: “This is so cool!”
Alex races down the path through the dunes towards the beach.
Mum, in big sunglasses, cups her hands and calls after him.
Mum shouts: “Alex! Stay where we can see you.”
Alex's shoes go flying.
His Goonies T-shirt is flung off.
Alex runs across the sand towards the water in his board shorts, snorkel in hand, leaving his clothes and shoes behind.
Alex hops across the burning sand.
Alex: “Ooo, ooo, ooo! Hot, hot, hot!”
Alex steps into the cool water with a huge sigh of relief.
Alex shouts: “Aaaaaaaagggh!”
Alex pulls his goggles and snorkel on, looking determined.
Waist deep in the sea, Alex speaks into his wristwatch.
Sound effect: Beep Alex: “Come in, Fez. Do you receive, over.”
Fez bursts up out of the water beside a startled Alex, arms raised. Fez's screen reads 'Hello!'.
Fez: “Hello!”
Alex hugs Fez tight, eyes closed and smiling.
Alex: “Awesome, you made it!”
Fez holds out a small breathing device. Fez's screen reads 'Follow me...'.
Fez: “Follow me...”
Fez dives under, feet in the air.
Sound effect: Splash
Alex clutches the breathing device, looking unsure.
Alex takes a huge breath.
Alex: “Gaaasp”
Alex dives under, his feet kicking up out of the water.
Sound effect: Splash
Underwater, Alex swims down towards a bright coral reef full of tropical fish, while Fez zooms ahead with a propeller whirring from his feet.
Sound effect: Vrrrrrrrr
Fez tows Alex along above the coral.
Sound effect: Vvvvrrrrrrrr
Alex gazes in wonder as colourful fish swim around him.
Alex runs out of breath, bubbles bursting from his mouth.
Sound effect: Bluurp
Alex reaches out a hand as Fez speeds away into the distance.
Underwater, Alex looks at the little device in his hands.
Close up of the clear breathing mask as it presses over his mouth.
Alex takes a huge gasp through the mask.
Alex: “Gaaaaasssppp”
Alex realises he is breathing.
Alex: “I... I can breathe underwater!”
Alex punches the water with joy above the coral.
Alex shouts: “Awesome!”
Alex swims towards Fez, who gestures towards a huge dark cave in the rocks.
Alex: “Woah! What is this place?”
Close up of Fez, frowning and unsure. Fez's screen reads 'Don't know...'.
Fez: “Don't know...”
Fez throws his arms wide, grinning. Fez's screen reads 'It's Awesome!'.
Fez: “It's awesome!”
From behind, Alex peers into the pitch black mouth of the cave.
Alex: “It's a pretty big cave.”
Close up of Alex, uneasy.
Alex: “What do you think is in...”
A long eerie sound echoes out of the dark cave.
Sound effect: Eeeeeeeeeeee
Alex freezes, wide eyed.
Fez looks up as Alex flees upwards
Alex bursts up out of the sea, gasping, the mask still on his face.
Alex: “Ggaaaaaasssppp”
Alex, shaken, treads water while Fez pops up behind him with arms raised. Fez's screen reads 'Weee!'.
Alex: “Woah! That was close.” Fez: “Weee!” Alex: “What do you think was in--”
A blonde girl leans in right beside Alex's ear. Alex screams.
Wendy: “Hi!” Alex shouts: “Aaaaagggghh!”
The girl crouches on a rock above the water, grinning down at Alex and Fez.
Wendy: “My name's Wendy!”
Wendy climbs higher up the rock. Alex scowls, eyes closed.
Alex: “You know, you shouldn't sneak up on people.” Alex: “It's rude.”
Alex and Fez look up at the rock.
Wendy: “Sorry.”
Wendy cannonballs off the top of the rock, hugging her knees.
Wendy shouts: “Geronimoooooooo”
Wendy lands beside Alex with a huge splash that drenches him and knocks his goggles flying.
Sound effect: Splash
Alex, dripping wet, glares. Wendy smiles sweetly.
Wendy chatters away happily. Her words fill the whole background, half hidden behind her, while Alex sweats and scowls.
Wendy: “...If I had one wish, it would be red hair. Not just red, though, curly red...”
Alex climbs out onto the rocks as Wendy keeps talking, arms in the air. Fez waves along with her.
Wendy: “Do you love picnics? I love picnics. I love getting a basket and filling it with tasty things, laying down a rug... I love packing sandwiches... I have tea parties with my dolls...”
Alex rubs his face, exasperated, while Wendy crouches down to talk to Fez.
Wendy: “And look at you! What a cute little guy. What are you? Some cool robot or something? I'm not sure but I like you... Sci-fi... Have you seen Star Wars? It's my favourite.”
Alex folds his arms and glares at Wendy, who looks hurt.
Alex shouts: “Why don't you leave us alone.”
Wendy looks down, disappointed. Alex turns away from her, pointing back out to sea. Fez looks unsure; his screen reads 'Hmmm'.
Wendy: “You... you don't want to play?” Alex: “No! We just found a cool cave and we need to slay the evil monster that's protecting the treasure.” Fez: “Hmmm”
Wendy asks hopefully. Alex folds his arms and sneers.
Wendy: “But that sounds fun. Can't I come?” Alex shouts: “Not unless the evil monster's weakness is hand stands!”
In silhouette against the sun, Alex walks away. Wendy and Fez stay standing together.
Alex: “Come on Fez.”
Wendy looks down sadly. Fez looks back at her, frowning.
Alex shouts: “Fez?”
Alex walks off with Fez, who glances back at Wendy with a tear in his eye.
Wendy folds her arms, frowning with determination.
Her foot on the rocky shore at the water's edge.
Close up of Wendy, eyes narrowed.
Wendy dives into the sea, feet kicking up behind her.
Sound effect: Splash
Alex strides along the rocks. Fez follows, frowning.
Alex: “Adventuring is no place for dumb girls, right Fez?”
Alex folds his arms. Fez scowls, hands on hips; his screen reads 'Not cool!'.
Alex: “Why are you upset? She was ruining our fun!” Fez: “Not cool!”
Alex and Fez, small silhouettes on the headland, look out at a buoy tower in the sea.
Alex: “Don't be mad, we just need to defeat the monster in the cave. How about you swim to that buoy and turn it into a cool ray gun! Then we'll be ready to rock!”
Fez glares, hands on hips; his screen reads 'Later'.
Fez: “Later”
Fez walks away along the shore as Alex calls after him.
Alex: “Fez? Where are you going? Buddy?”
Alex, in silhouette, points after him.
Alex shouts: “Fine then, leave!”
Alex shouts through tears.
Alex shouts: “I'll fight the monster without you!”
Alex covers his face with his hands and sobs.
Alex: “...I'll... *sob* *sob* *sob*”
Alex dives back down alone, wearing the mask, and swims towards the dark cave mouth in the reef.
Sound effect: Splash
From behind, Alex faces the cave as the eerie sound echoes out of it.
Sound effect: Eeeeeeeeeee
Alex narrows his eyes, determined.
Alex kicks off into the darkness of the cave.
Inside the green-lit cave, a huge eel looms out of the gloom towards Alex, screeching.
Sound effect: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
The eel's long body slides right past Alex.
The eel's tail knocks the mask off Alex's face.
Sound effect: Ping
The glowing mask drifts away from Alex's reaching hand.
Alex chokes as his breath escapes in bubbles.
Sound effect: Bluurp
Running out of air, Alex feels a metal hand on his shoulder.
Sound effect: Bluurp
Alex bursts up into an air pocket in the dark, gasping.
Alex: “Ggaaaaasssppp”
Fez, arms out, looks at him with concern; his screen reads 'You ok?'.
Fez: “You ok?”
In a hidden cavern, Wendy stands on a rock ledge with her arms folded as Alex treads water below.
Wendy: “Look who it is. Captain of the He-Man Woman Hater Club.”
Alex, in the water, looks up at Wendy sheepishly.
Alex: “I'm... I'm sorry for being mean to you. Can we be friends?”
Wendy crouches on the ledge, smiling down at him.
Wendy: “Hmmmm... I dunno. You were a bit of a jerk.” Wendy: “Maybe. If you're nice.”
Wendy grabs Alex's hand and pulls him up out of the water.
Alex: “Hey, how'd you get past the eel?” Wendy: “He was very impressed with my handstands and let me pass.”
In a sunlit cavern, Alex, Fez and Wendy share a picnic on a checked blanket.
Narration: “Fin-”
The back cover: blue sky with a cloud, and the Guardian Comics shield logo.
Narration: “A story about a boy, his robot best friend and the adventures they share together.”
