Xan
@comicsbyxan.bsky.social
790 followers 240 following 1.6K posts
Perpetually tired trans comic artist, making trans comics. Creator of Pandora's Tale and Thinking Too Much to Think Positively. Co-host of the podcast Can't Stop Hibari-kun. https://pandorastale.com/
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#10

As a cat, Pandora is indeed good at climbing and hiding, but she's also fated to knock stuff over constantly
PAGE 10
PANEL 1
Closeup of PANDORA. Her ears prick up and she looks alarmed.
PANEL 2
Shot of PANDORA addressing PETRICHOR urgently.
PANDORA
Someone's coming! I have to hide!
PANEL 3
PANDORA thrusts the cellphone through the bars and into PETRICHOR's hands.
PANDORA
Um... Take this!
PANEL 4
PANDORA runs off to hide as COP 1 becomes visible in a doorway.
PANEL 5
COP 1 peers at PETRICHOR suspiciously.
COP 1
Hey, was someone back here?
PANEL 6
PANDORA is hiding in a storage closet, surrounded by boxes and stacked chairs.
COP 1 (OFF)
I heard noises.
PANEL 7
PETRICHOR plays innocent. COP 1 looks skeptical, and peers at the storage closet.
PETRICHOR
I didn't hear anything. Must be the wind.
COP 1
Hmm...
PANEL 8
As PANDORA backs up, a box of papers tips over.
SFX
WHUMP!
PANDORA
Oh no...
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
How come nobody ever talks about the work of Leni Riefenstahl? Must be because she's a woman
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#9

Really like some of the art on this page

Also say hi to Petrichor, the Philip J Fry of the resistance
PAGE 9
PANEL 1
Shot of PANDORA climbing the exterior wall.
PANEL 2
CON, HEMMEL and NATALYA observing. NATALYA has the binoculars. CON looks horrified.
NATALYA
She made it in!
PANEL 3
Inside the building. PANDORA climbs down from the window into an area filled with janitorial supplies.
PANEL 4
PANDORA knocks over a bucket.
SFX
CLANG!
PANDORA
Whoops...
PANEL 5
PANDORA sneaking out into a hallway.
PANDORA
I need to be quiet...
PANEL 6
We see PETRICHOR, the resistance member, seated inside a cell. He looks up in surprise.
PANDORA (OFF)
Oh! Hello there!
PANEL 7
PANDORA and PETRICHOR converse through the bars. PANDORA looks pleased with herself, and PETRICHOR seems baffled.
PANDORA
Are you Mr Petrichor? I'm here to rescue you!
PETRICHOR
What. The hell.
PANEL 8
Shot from behind PETRICHOR as PANDORA explains.
PANDORA
I don't have a call sign yet, but I'm with the Pioneer City resistance!
PETRICHOR
Uh... well... hi.
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Celery has a horrible texture and a weird smell that sort of clings to you

American Beauty is so bad that the only value to watching it is being able to commiserate with other people about how bad it is

Born to Be Wild isn't a bad song, it's just tied to a specific traumatic childhood memory
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you'll never watch again, and one song you can't stand:

Celery

American Beauty

Born to Be Wild
sailorsoapbox.bsky.social
Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you'll never watch again, and one song you can't stand:

Tuna salad

Grave of the Fireflies

Black Velvet
redwellyfeats.bsky.social
Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you'll never watch again, and one song you can't stand:

Eggs

Deep Blue Sea

Brown Eyed Girl
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Magica Riot's got me thinking about bands I loved that never made it big, but have stuck around in my head.

A big one for me is Pink Kross. Super raw and riot grrrl influenced, the garageiest of garage punk.
Pink Kross - Scumbag
YouTube video by Henry Ner
youtu.be
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Death metal? Francium works if you're quick enough
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#8

Pandora hasn't played any video games so she's yet to learn that stealth missions suck
PAGE 8
PANEL 1
PANDORA, CON, HEMMEL and NATALYA as before. NATALYA is looking at her phone, and HEMMEL now has the binoculars.
NATALYA
She isn't responding.
HEMMEL
It looks like there's a small window open on the upper level. If one of us could get inside with a GPS, we could scope the place out and figure out where to break in.
PANEL 2
Shot of the building, with the open window visible.
CON (OFF)
It's a tiny window, though. It'd have to be someone small...
PANEL 3
NATALYA confidently raises her hand, to HEMMEL's mild annoyance.
NATALYA
I volunteer! Remember me well, comrades!
HEMMEL
Someone small, Natalya.
PANEL 4
HEMMEL looks thoughtful, and PANDORA chimes in.
HEMMEL
I might be able to squeeze through...
PANDORA
Um... I can do it.
PANEL 5
CON responds with alarm, but HEMMEL seems intrigued.
CON
No. No way. Absolutely not.
PANDORA
But I'm good at climbing and hiding!
HEMMEL
Hmm...
PANEL 6
CON and HEMMEL argue, while NATALYA looks at PANDORA with pride.
CON
Come on, this is ridiculous!
HEMMEL
She's one of us now. If she thinks she can do it...
NATALYA
Such revolutionary spirit!
PANEL 7
HEMMEL and NATALYA are briefing PANDORA on the mission, and hand her a cellphone. CON is beside herself with worry.
HEMMEL
This phone has a GPS built in. Contact us once you've found Petrichor. And be quiet, if the cops hear you you'll be in trouble.
PANDORA
Okay!
CON
Oh God.
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#7

The game is called HeruPara, a reference to the NekoPara games and their associated weird implications.

This page is dedicated to all the early 2000s otaku who went out of their way to get the secret catgirl ending in their pirated copies of True Love
PAGE 7
PANEL 1
Shot of the truck arriving in a deserted, abandoned town. It looks like it hasn't been inhabited in decades.
HEMMEL
These are the coordinates.
CON
A ghost town, huh?
PANEL 2
PANDORA looks to CON and HEMMEL in confusion, as NATALYA uses binoculars to scan their surroundings.
PANDORA
Ghost town?
(cont)
A town for ghosts?
PANEL 3
CON and HEMMEL talk to PANDORA, while NATALYA continues scanning the horizon.
HEMMEL
Places like this are all over the desert. After the restructuring, most remote towns just couldn't support themselves anymore.
CON
Irrigation became too expensive... The land became impossible to farm.
NATALYA
Ah, I have detected a small problem.
PANEL 4
A shot of a two-story building in the distance. A small window is set into its upper level.
NATALYA (OFF)
That is the outpost. It is not of the standard design.
PANEL 5
As PANDORA watches, CON and HEMMEL discuss the situation. NATALYA has her phone out.
HEMMEL
They're using the old police station. Damn.
CON
What now? We have no idea what the layout of that place is!
NATALYA
I'm calling Comrade Zero. She may be able to find a floor plan.
PANEL 6
Shot of a mid-nineties style anime dating sim. A Helper-like catgirl is talking to the POV character, with her dialogue displayed at the bottom of the screen.
LULULU
Even though you're not my Master... I just can't stop thinking about you!
PANEL 7
A shot of ZERO in her room, wearing a VR-type headset. Her phone is nearby, buzzing, but she fails to notice.
ZERO
Oooh, the plot thickens.
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
When I eventually get my artist groove back, the first order of business is going to be fanart for this series
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
One of the many things I enjoyed about Magica Riot (which by the way is good and you should read it) is that on two separate occasions the plot seemed to be headed in a direction that was going to give me anxiety, only for the author to turn around and not do that thing after all
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Given the long history of queer-coded villains, I started wondering what straight-coded villains would look like.

Not bigoted or anything, just... embodying stereotypes of heterosexuality

All I can think of is a straight couple who clearly dislike each other, but there's got to be more than that
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#6

Pandora locking up like that is existentially horrifying but also kinda fun to draw
PAGE 6
PANEL 1
PANDORA converses with NATALYA.
PANDORA
So who is this Petrichor person we're rescuing?
NATALYA
A fellow member of the resistance. He usually works with the smaller cells in Sector 36.
PANDORA
It's an unusual name...
PANEL 2
HEMMEL cuts in and addresses PANDORA, with CON and NATALYA in shot.
HEMMEL
It's a call sign! For long-range communications, we don't use our real names.
(cont)
For instance, my call sign is Monarch. Con is Paragon, and Natalya is Redshift.
PANEL 3
Shot of PANDORA as she raises her hand excitedly.
PANDORA
Mx Hemmel! I have a question!
PANEL 4
PANDORA addresses HEMMEL hopefully.
PANDORA
Since I'm in the resistance, may I have a call sign?
HEMMEL
Well, why not? What would you like us to call you?
PANEL 5
Shot of PANDORA with a glazed, blank expression.
PANDORA
I...
PANEL 6
CON and HEMMEL talk in the foreground as NATALYA snaps PANDORA out of her trance.
NATALYA
Comrade?
CON
Ah, right... The name thing. Helpers can't name themselves.
HEMMEL
I guess that applies to nicknames too?
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#5

The three new resistance members here are unnamed in the script, but I did give them names in the script for the still-unfinished chapter 12. From left to right, they're Type B, Ruth and Little Discourage.

Natalya's ancient anti-tank rifle is a Simonov PTRS-41.
PAGE 5
PANEL 1
PANDORA, CON, HEMMEL, NATALYA and a few RESISTANCE MEMBERS are riding in the back of a pickup truck through a semi-desert looking area. CON and HEMMEL are in front, with PANDORA, NATALYA and the RESISTANCE members gathered together at the back.
CON
This is a bad idea.
PANEL 2
The RESISTANCE MEMBERS are excitedly petting and talking to PANDORA, who is delighting in the attention. NATALYA is working on a large, scary-looking Soviet-era anti-tank rifle. HEMMEL and CON are visible in the foreground.
RESISTANCE MEMBER 1
She's so soft!
RESISTANCE MEMBER 2
Do you like that?
HEMMEL
Look, it's fine. Everyone loves her.
PANEL 3
CON and HEMMEL converse.
HEMMEL
She's like a mascot. A good luck charm.
CON
Sigh... what's the plan?
PANEL 4
HEMMEL explains, while CON looks distracted by something out of shot.
HEMMEL
Most remote police outposts use a standard design. Zero sent over the plans. There are several known weaknesses we can exploit to spring our guy with minimal risk.
PANEL 5
CON berates NATALYA, who is showing a curious PANDORA the anti-tank rifle.
NATALYA
This model was used by the Red Army against the Nazis!
PANDORA
Oooh, impressive!
CON
Don't let her touch that!
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
(Music Lover) is his middle name
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#4

"Trans communist sees polyamory as a form of collectivism" is something I wrote as a joke but is also broadly true in my experience
PAGE 4
PANEL 1
PANDORA and NATALYA are sat in a corner of the resistance base. PANDORA is still looking at the tablet.
PANDORA
It feels strange being away from Mistress.
NATALYA
Well, Comrade Isabelle is a magnificent woman.
PANEL 2
NATALYA addresses PANDORA with a conciliatory expression, while PANDORA looks cheerful.
NATALYA
I, ah, hope that it isn't inappropriate to mention my interest in her. I know that you are fond of her as well.
PANDORA
Oh, I don't mind at all! It makes me happy when other people appreciate my Mistress!
PANEL 3
PANDORA and NATALYA continue to converse.
NATALYA
An admirably collectivist philosophy! I approve of this.
PANDORA
Besides, I'm just a Helper! It wouldn't be proper for me to be jealous of a human.
PANEL 4
Positions as before, with NATALYA looking concerned.
NATALYA
Now this philosophy, I approve of less.
HEMMEL (OFF)
Okay, people, listen up!
PANEL 5
HEMMEL addresses the room, with an alarmed CON at their side.
HEMMEL
We've just received word that Petrichor was picked up for suspicious activity. He's being held overnight at an outpost in the desert.
CON
What? If they find out he's one of us, he's as good as dead!
PANEL 6
HEMMEL gestures, already making to leave. CON looks panicked.
HEMMEL
Natalya, Con, you're with me!
CON
But... but I can't leave Pandora!
PANEL 7
HEMMEL waves away CON's concerns.
HEMMEL
She'll have to come too. Come on!
CON
Oh geez.
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#3

There's a story about Trotsky wanting to get the workers' revolution started but then acknowledging he doesn't actually know any workers. Natalya is clearly very excited to finally know a Helper
PAGE 3
PANEL 1
Exterior shot of the resistance base at night. It's actually the Mountain Cement Company building at 900 S and 600 W. I should probably go and take some pictures of this...
CON (OFF)
So, uh... this is the resistance, I guess.
PANEL 2
Inside the building. A semi-abandoned industrial setting with a few RESISTANCE MEMBERS just sitting around. CON and PANDORA are in the foreground, taking off their face masks.
CON
Isabelle told me to keep you out of trouble, so let's just...
PANEL 3
PANDORA and CON are joined by an excited NATALYA, who is carrying a tablet.
NATALYA
Comrade Pandora!
PANEL 4
NATALYA thrusts the tablet into PANDORA's hands, while CON watches. PANDORA reads the title, puzzled.
NATALYA
Comrade, please do me the honor of looking over this essay. I'm submitting it to the quarterly newsletter!
PANDORA
"On the necessity of Helper liberation as a component of the broader class struggle"...
PANEL 5
Closeup of PANDORA as she reads.
PANDORA
Goodness, this is long!
(cont)
What is a "Marx"?
PANEL 6
As PANDORA reads, NATALYA reacts with alarm, and CON looks exasperated.
NATALYA
You don't know Marx? Comrade, what have they been teaching you?
CON
Slavery, Natalya. They taught her to be a slave.
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#2

Pandora, get out of the sink. Pandora, stop trying to drink from the faucet
PAGE 2
PANEL 1
TALLULAH and ZUFOLENE approach ISABELLE, and the three converse enthusiastically.
TALLULAH
Isabelle, come out with us tomorrow night!
ZUFOLENE
Yeah, the three of us haven't hung out in ages!
ISABELLE
Oh, that would be fun!
PANEL 2
ISABELLE pauses, and glances over at PANDORA.
ISABELLE
Ah, but Pandora...
PANEL 3
ISABELLE moves up to CON with a huge grin on her face. CON is immediately suspicious.
ISABELLE
Heyyyy, Con...
CON
What do you want?
PANEL 4
ISABELLE addresses CON hopefully, while CON looks nervous and uncomfortable.
ISABELLE
Wanna watch Pandora for me tomorrow night?
CON
I dunno... I've got, like, resistance stuff.
PANEL 5
ISABELLE responds skeptically, while CON looks defensive.
ISABELLE
You mean playing board games with Hemmel and Natalya?
CON
That's a mischaracterization! That isn't all we do!
PANEL 6
ISABELLE gets closer to CON, her expression serious.
ISABELLE
Con. Listen to me.
PANEL 7
ISABELLE's stress becomes evident, while CON shrinks back.
ISABELLE
I adore her. But she's barely left my side in three weeks.
(cont)
She pines for me when I'm in the bathroom. I can't poop without feeling guilty!
PANEL 8
ISABELLE cheerfully but forcefully addresses the resigned-looking CON.
ISABELLE
Just don't let her do anything dangerous and it'll be fine!
CON
Well... maybe just for one night...
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
In honor of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

"Misassociated sample got reported"
sailorsoapbox.bsky.social
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

"Deadbeat dad bomb threat.”
normwilner.bsky.social
In honour of spooky month, share a 4 word horror story that only someone in your profession would understand.

"A reel is missing."
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
One of my fanfics back in the day got a review that said "This was so good it managed to entertain me, a hardcore hater of lesbians"

And yeah, I was halfway between "Well, I hope this has been a learning experience" and "You're a bad person and I wish I hadn't entertained you"
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
#1

A lot of the time I find the comedy I go for with Pandora is "This is funny but also depressing if you think about it." In other news I am transgender
PAGE 1
PANEL 1
Interior of O, Fortuna. PANDORA, ISABELLE, CON, MISS FORTUNA, ZERO, LYRA, TALLULAH and ZUFOLENE are present. MISS FORTUNA is addressing the others as they stand around.
MISS FORTUNA
Thank you for your hard work, everyone.
(cont)
Your paychecks have been forwarded to your credit accounts.
ZUFOLENE
Aw yeah!
PANEL 2
MISS FORTUNA addresses PANDORA specifically, and hands her a wad of bills. PANDORA looks fascinated.
MISS FORTUNA
Except for you, Pandora.
(cont)
Since you don't have a credit account... or much of a legal existence... I'll be paying you in cash.
PANDORA
Oooh... Currency.
PANEL 3
PANDORA looks at the money in her hand for a moment, contemplating.
PANEL 4
PANDORA turns and offers the money to a surprised ISABELLE.
PANDORA
Mistress, here!
ISABELLE
Wait! I don't want it!
PANEL 5
ISABELLE presses the money back into PANDORA's hands and addresses her patiently.
ISABELLE
Pandora, you earned this money yourself! You get to keep it!
PANEL 6
As before, but ISABELLE's expression is now more ambivalent.
ISABELLE
I mean... some of it.
(cont)
Since you're living at my place rent-free and eating my food.
(cont)
But most of this is yours!
comicsbyxan.bsky.social
Pandora's Tale Chapter 5
Cover

This is a fun chapter. Also check out Pandora's extremely lesbian outfit
PANDORA'S TALE
Chapter 5: Good Luck Charm