LL |iii

MARIN COUNTY iil

3293 9850

~ Douc TENNAPEL
Marin Co. Teen Graphic Novel
Teen Graphic Novel TenNapel
Cardboard :
31111032939850

DATE DUE

LY
PRINTED IN U.S.A.

AN IMPRINT OF
MBSCHOLASTIC

} ay, +i Navicn { :
oronto London Auck noLit oyaney J L¢ CO UITY
 This book is dedicated to The Chestertonians.

Copyright © 2012 by Doug TenNapel

All rights reserved. Published by Graphix, a division of Scholastic Inc.,

Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are ee
Evevel(og oes trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

No part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, me-
chanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written per-
mission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write
to Scholastic Inc., Attention: Permissions Department, 557 Broadway,
New York, oF 10012. -

LibaryofF Congress
ControlNiumber: 2011934533

ISBN on 0-545-41872-0 (does

ISBN 978-0-545- 41873-7 (paperback)
; 121110987654321- 42 18 16 1546
ne Timed in Cine 138. :

- Firstedition, August2012
Book design by Phil Falco

ure Ck
 AIN’T GOT
NOTHIN’.

WHAT
ABOUT ALL OF
THOSE HALF-BUILT
NITS OUTSIDE?

I COULD
FINISH ‘EM UP
FOR YOU!

MR. MACHOUSKY,
IF I WAIT FOR THIS ECONOMY
TO TURN AROUND BEFORE I
WORK AGAIN, I’M GONNA
STARVE!

THEY JUST PULLED

THE PLUG ON THOSE d
UNITS! —
WE WON'T BE HIRING
ON THEM AGAIN UNTIL THE
ECONOMY TURNS AROUND.
WE’RE ALL STARVING,
RIGHT NOW, MIKE/

DID YOU ASK

GRASSLY? HE’S GOTTA
HAVE SOMETHING
GOING. GRASSLY’S
PUTTING IN A HUNDRED
AND FIFTY UNITS
ACROSS TOWN!

THAT GUY
BURPS MONEY
IN HIS SLEEP/
 I DON’T
HAVE TO BE THE
SUPERVISOR OF
CONSTRUCTION!
I CAN HAUL
TRASH!

MAYBE
YOU NEED A
LITTLE CLEANUP
AROUND THE
SITE?
NOPE.
I GOT NOTHIN’ RIGHT
NOW, MIKE.

LOOK, Ne
THE MONEY
ISN’T EVEN
FOR ME.

IT’S FOR
CAM.
TODAY IS HIS
BIRTHDAY AND
I DON’T EVEN HAVE
\. ENOUGH TO BUY
; US DINNER/

WELL, YOU’RE IN LUCK/

I’VE GOT A HEART AND YOU’RE
BREAKIN’ IT RIGHT NOW/
 DON’T TELL
ANYONE... BUT I
THINK I CAN FLOAT YOU
A LITTLE SOMETHING
‘TIL THINGS TURN
AROUND FOR
YOU. I KNOW
YOU/RE
GOOD FOR
Ie

BOSS, BUT I
CAME IN FOR
A JOB, NOTA
HANDOUT.
ce ait
z Bt
iy
iq
;
 CHEAP TOYS,
RIGHT HERE/

GET YOUR
CHEAP TOYS FROM
OLD MAN GIDEON/

THEY’RE
CHEAP/ MADE
IN CHINA, FOLKS/
 OH, WHAT DO
WE HAVE HERE?
A CARPENTER/

YOU DRIVE
A WORK TRUCK.
THERE’S SOME
SAWDUST ON YOU USED TO
YOUR SHIRT. BE MARRIED. YOU
GOT IN THE HABIT
OF SOMEONE ELSE
DOING YOUR
LAUNDRY.

YOU HAVE A
KID... NO WAIT,
A SON/ HE HAS
A BIRTHDAY
COMING UP!

YOU’RE
OBSERVANT.
I GET IT.
CAN I HELP
YOU FIND SOME-
THING, SIR?
 WELL, LET
OLD MAN A GOOD Boy?!
GIDEON TRY WHY DIDN’T YOU
TO FIND YOU TELL ME THAT
SOMETHING! THIS WAS FOR A
TELL ME, GOOD BOY?
WHAT’S
YOUR BOY -.-BECAUSE
LIKE? A GOOD BOY
IS RARE,
INDEED/

HE’S A
GOOD BOY,
MR. GIDEON.

WOULD HE LIKE
A PLASTIC SWORD?
IT’S NINETY-NINE CENTS/

THIS IS THE
ACTUAL PLASTIC
SWORD THAT PLASTIC
SINBAD USED TO KILL
THE CYCLOPS/

--. THE PLASTIC

CYCLOPS, OF
COURSE!

I DON’T
THINK I .
EVEN HAVE
NINETY-NINE
CENTS ON
ME/

10
 IT HAVE
THE BEST, MOST
AMAZING, AND UTTERLY
STUPENDOUS GIFT IN
THE HISTORY OF THE
UNIVERSE...
..-BUT I’M SAVING
IT FOR A REALLY
GOOD KID/

IS A PRETTY DANG
GOOD PERSON,
MR. GIDEON.

HE TAKES THEN YOU

AFTER HIS MUST GIVE HIM
MOTHER. WHAT EVERY SON
WANTS FROM
HIS DAD...

11
 GIDEON,
THIS IS EMPTY?
AN EMPTY IT’S FULL/
BOX. FULL OF
IDEAS...

HE NOW YOU’RE
DOES LIKE GETTING IT/
TO MAKE MAKE A SUBMARINE,
THINGS. A MONSTER, A TRAIN!

IT BEATS
THE HECK OUT OF
SOME DUMB OL’
HUNDRED-DOLLAR,
REMOTE-CONTROLLED
CAR/

TO THE NAKED EYE,

IT APPEARS TO BE JUST
A PLAIN OLD CARDBOARD
VESSEL/

BUT THIS IS
ACTUALLY A FATHER-
AND-SON PROJECT IN
DISGUISE!

SLAY THE GIANT!

KILL THE NAZIS/
HUNT FOR BURIED NO, THIS IS NOT
m TREASURE! IT’S JUST A BOX! IT’S
UP TO YOU! EVERYTHING MANKIND
EVER NEEDED TO
ACCOMPLISH PRESSED
INTO A CUBE OF
CORRUGATED PULP/ j

12
 THE
PRICE IS
RIGHT THERE
ON THE LID.

SEVENTY-
EIGHT
CENTS/

THAT’S THE
EXACT AMOUNT OF
CHANGE I HAPPENED
TO PULL OUT OF MY WHAT A
POCKET! COINCIDENCE!

WAIT!
THERE ARE
RULES/

RULES?

13
 YES, THERE ARE ALWAYS
RULES WITH THESE KINBS
OF THINGS/

SCRAP YOU
DON’T USE/

YOU MEAN,
I HAVE TO COME
BACK HERE?
-0e 1O YOU?!

---AND SECOND,
YOU CAN’T ASK ME FOR
MORE CARDBOARD. DO
THIS IS ALL YOU MAY YOU AGREE
TO THESE
RULES
OR NOT?

YOU’RE RIGHT.
I DON’T KNOW
WHERE I COULD
EVER FIND MORE
CARDBOARD!

14
 : THEN
SURE... YOU FELLAS
WHATEVER.

WORST
a PRESENTIN
THE HISTORY OF
* BIRTHDAYS.

15
/ SPEAK TO
ME, FANG!
DON’T TELL
ME IT’S ALL
OVER/
DON’T HEAD
INTO THE LIGHT!
RUN AWAY! RUN
AWAY FROM THE
 DOES
HIMS WANT
A LIVE
CRICKET?
POOR
ITTO-BITTO /
FANGO-
MAN!

NO THANKS TO
YOU, PINK EYE!
WAY TO MAKE ME
WRECK MY CAR/
 DON’T
PUSH ME,
YOU JERK!

I DON’T
SEE WHAT PROBABLY.
YOU’RE SO
WORRIED
ABOUT!

IF YOUR
STUPID CAR
BREAKS, YOUR
DADDY WILL
JUST BUY
YOU FIVE
MORE!
 PLANET
KILLER’ GET
A HYBRID!

RIGHT
AFTER YOU
GET A HAIR-
7 BIRTHDAY ¥
PRESENT IN \\
THAT BOX?

WHAT
A RIP! IT’S
EMPTY!
 NOW
MIND, WAIT JUST
MARCUS?! A MINUTE,

COME ON, ---ARE YOU

CAM! LET’S GET TELLING ME
INSIDE! THAT THE BOX
IS CAM’S
BIRTHDAY
PRESENT?/

SHUT UP, THAT’S

MARCUS. THE ONLY
PRESENT
THAT COULD
POSSIBLY
BE WORSE
THAN A PAIR
OF SOCKS!

CAM
GOT A
CARDBOARD
\ BOX FOR HIS
BIRTHDAY!
 YOU DAD, ONE
KNOW, THING I KNOW
MARCUS IS ABOUT MARCUS
PROBABLY IS THAT HE’S NOT
RIGHT. RIGHT ABOUT
ANYTHING!

I JUST
THOUGHT...
MAYBE WE
COULD MAKE
SOMETHING
OCUPOralis
YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING
OH, YEAH/
I ALMOST
FORGOT/
 MRS. PENDERGAST
LET ME MOW HER LAWN
FOR FIVE BUCKS!

I WANT
YOU TO HAVE
IT, DAD!

BUT I
EARNED IT
FOR YOU!
 PUT THAT
AWAY AND LET ME
WORRY ABOUT
PROVIDING FOR
OUR FAMILY.

NOW LET’S
GET ON WITH
YOUR BIRTHDAY
PRESENT!
 WHAT
SHOULD IT’S
WE MAKE? YOUR
BIRTHDAY.

WHAT
SHOULD I
MAKE OUT OF
A CARDBOARD
BOX?-.

YOu
MEAN,
.--A BOXER! LIKE WITH THE
BOXING HEAVYWEIGHT
GLOVES?! CHAMPION
OF THE
WORLD/
 SHOULD
FLATTEN THE
BOX ON THE
FLOOR.

FOLLOW
ALONG AND
 DAD, HOW DO
YOU EXPECT THESE
Meee as
THIS IS NO SUCH . cappBoARD
A LOT MORE THINGS TO GET DONE?
WORK THAN Tancie?. .MAN, WE GOTTA
--e- MAGIC?! ‘ BUILD IT/ THAT‘S
I THOUGHT
IT WOULD WHY I'MA
BE? CARPENTER...
LET YOU IN
ON A LITTLE
SECRET,

I LIKE TO
MAKE STUFF
WITH MY OWN
: TWO HANDS! 77 1 \\NA

OKAY! OKAY!
I’M ON BOARD
TO WORK...
PRESENTING Sie)
. .

THE BOXER
 HAPPY
BIRTHDAY,
SON.
 HAHAHA!
THAT’S SO COOL!
\
pt i

a
>.
’ ae
Fa
q
>

x.
s
 NO, BILL/
THAT’S MY
DAD/ HE’S
A GOOD
Guy!

BILL, THIS IS
MY DAD, MIKE/

NICE TO
MEET YOU,
MR. MIKE/
 r DAD/
HE’S ALIVE!

YOU DID IT/

BILL IS THE
BEST BIRTHDAY
PRESENT IN THE
UNIVERSE/

AT LEAST
YOU’RE
7 eee | (WEARING
sorry \ | @ _ P- &\ Giovrs.
I BELTED | . > >
YOU INTHE — | 7
KISSER! [ a. ae BUT MAN,
: YOU'VE GOT
ONE HAMMER
OF A LEFT

BUT EDONT
WHAT ABOUT KNOW. DO
: BILL? WHERE CARDBOARD
PEOPLE EVEN
LATE FOR W IS HE GOING x
TO SLEEP? eect
YOU TO BE B 2
AWAKE!
 THIS
WILL BE YOUR
COUCH--ER,
BED/

so YOU/LL
HOw DO I DO FINE, BILL/
GOOD NIGHT.
SLEEP ONA
WHAT IF I
FAIL? BUT WAIT!
WHAT IF I
TRY TO SLEEP
BUT CAN ’T
FOR SOME
SLEEP ISN’T INE XPL
SOMETHING REAS ICABLE
ON?!
YOU LEARN/

IT’S
SOME-
THING
YOU JUST
DO.
 BEHOLD
THE LAWN

PUT
YOUR
BIG OL’
HANDS ON
THE HANDLE

I’M MOWING!
I’M MOW-ING
THE LAW-AWN/

42
 SO LONG MIKE,
WHAT’S THAT
ete: THING MOWING
YOUR YARD?

THIS IS
THIS MIGHT ALL, A MAGIC PRETTY CRAZY. ,
LOOK ALITTLE CARDBOARD I DO KNOW BU
MAN ISN’T AN THAT! YOU DO
FREAKY AT EVERYDAY TRUST ME,
RIGHT?
OCCURRENCE!

M-M-MAYBE AFTER
HE’S DONE WITH YOUR WOULD
YARD, HE CAN DO IT SPOIL THE
MAGIC IF L
PAID YOU TEN
NOW BUCKS FOR
YOU/RE MOWING MY
TALKIN’!

43
 SPOIL IT?
TEN BUCKS
IS THE BEST
KIND OF
MAGIC!

YOU THINK
YOU/RE KIND [3
OF TAKING
ADVANTAGE

Oye
45
 T’VLL
TRADE YOU J
MY EXPENSIVE é I CAN’T
REMOTE-CONTROL | SELL HIM/
RACE CAR FOR HE‘’S MY
YOUR CHEAP FRIEND.
CARDBOARD f

NONSENSE! BUT JUST

PINK EYE |S MY LOOK AT HOW
FRIEND AND FAST THIS THING
I’D SELL GOES! IT’S THE
FASTEST CAR
THAT MONEY
CAN BUY!

WAIT A MINUTE.
SOMETHING’S WRONG! I CAN
SEE THAT,
YOU MORON!
THE
REMOTE
IS OUT OF
BATTERIES!

46
47
 CALL THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT!
ALL
I HEAR
IS GURGLING
SEWAGE. ---OR THE
U.S. ARMY!
 DID
YOUR
BABY TOY
RUN OUT OF
BATTERIES?!

SEE,
MARCUS? NO
BATTERIES!
 MR. SOUZA,
THIS IS MIKE...

CALLING AROUND,
PUTTING IT OUT
THERE THAT
I’M LOOKING
FOR WORK.

--e THIS
IS MIKE
HOWERTON.

WHATEVER
YOU’VE GOT. I’M
WILLING TO
WORK WEEKENDS
AND HOLIDAYS,
TOO.

5O
 NOTHING?

I KNOW...

I KNOW IT’S
TOUGH OUT
THERE.

WELL, IF
YOU HEAR
ABOUT ANYTHING,
LET ME KNOW.
 HELLO,
MIKE! YOU
LOOKED A
LITTLE DOWN
SO I BAKED
YOU SOME ff
COOKIES! 4

THAT ISN‘T
GOING SO
WELL.

/mayBE “ I’LL MAKEA

LCAN LIST OF EVERYONE I PROBABLY...
HELP/ YOUVE CALLED SO
4 FAR. YOU DON’T HAVE ---L PROBABLY
TO LOOK ALONE/ SHOULDN’T TAKE
THESE.

THE WRONG /iay

IDEA.
 I DIDN'T
MEAN

BELIEVE ME,
IT’S NOT YOU!

OH,
OF COURSE
COULD I
POSSIBLY
HAVE BEEN
THINKING?!

53
 mi
= al AT) | 8 ESS

KEEP LS
YOUR FEET HARDER
MOVING! TO HIT A TARGET
THAT’S IN
CONSTANT MOTION
THAN ONE THAT’S
HOLDING STILL.
SEEZ
 WHEN
BO I GET
TO THROW A
PUNCH?

I WANT
YOU TO BE ABLE
TO AVOID GETTING
PUNCHED,

DON’T
FORGET TO
CLENCH YOUR IT WILL
TEETH INA KEEP YOU
FIGHT! FROM GETTING
YOUR JAW
BROKEN.

wow!
ARE THOSE
BOXING

55
 I MEAN,
I’‘VE GOT LOTS ALL RIGHT,
OF MONEY. MARCUS!
I CAN PAY!

I JUST WANT
A LITTLE BOXING
LESSON/
I FIGURED
MAYBE YOUR
FRIEND, BILL, CAN
HELP US LEARN TO
FIGHT BETTER SO WE
CAN ALL STOP SOME
BAD GUYS! (

OKAY,
FIRST THING
YOU GOTTA DO
IS GET INTO
YOUR STANCE.

S56
 ME, TOO!
CHECK OUT
MY STANCE!

WHAT ARE
YOU GUYS [> ABOUT YOUR
YEAH
DOING? CARDBOARD [suis is
FOR
SCIENCE!

57.
CARDBOARD

58
 rm

a a
wO
<a 2
HAVE A
STRUCTURAL

SS,
=
=o
 iY §6CARRY Vie
| ME HOME, !
\ PINK EYE/ S \ YOU/RE A
MONSTER!

KINDA HEAVY.
COULD YOU
GET OFFA ME
NOW?

WOULD THEY
DO THIS

60
 WELL, IF
YOU HEAR OF
ANYTHING THAT
OPENS UP, FEEL
FREE TO GIVE
ME A CALL!

WHAT
HAPPENED?! a» MARCUS WE
SQUIRTED DON’T
BILL’S LEGS HAVE ENOUGH
WITH WATER AND CARDBOARD
THE CARDBOARD LEFT TO
MAKE HIM A
NEW PAIR OF
LEGS!
 GOTTA DO
SOMETHING!
 WHY
ELSE WOULD
YOU COME
BACK HERE IF
NOT TO IGNORE
THE RULES I
GAVE YOU?

AFTER
ALL, YOU
DIDN‘T
RETURN
YOUR
LEFTOVER
SCRAPS,
EITHER.

Proll t=)
IS AN
EMERGENCY!

63
 TWO
THERE ARE DUES
BUT TWO
RULES! MR,
AND MIKE,
YOU
BROKE THEM!

IT’s THEN GIVE

NOT THAT ME MORE
I DON’T WANT CARDBOARD!
TO HELP...

NOBODY SAID
THAT GIDEON
DIDN’T WANT TO
HELP!

RULE
NUMBER ONE
IS THAT THE
RULES OF
CARDBOARD
ARE FOR
SAPS!

WELL,
I’VE GOT
SOME RULES
OF MY
Ne OWN/

64
 OO

I THINK
HE’S DEAD.

HE’S THE
DAMPNESS IS
LOST A
SPREADING TO ee
LOT OF
OTHER AREAS. LOOK
CARDBOARD.
INSIDE.
 WEIRD.
HIS CARDBOARD
BLOOD MOVES
JUST LIKE
A LIQUID!
HE’S NOT
DEAD YET! 7
 YOU
STAY HERE
WITH BILL.
 YOU'RE
AWAKE!

CAM... | YOU ARE WELL, ...I JUST

AGoOOD ff DOGS AREN’T WANT TO
PERSON... | MADE OF BE A PLAIN
\ O) CARDBOARD... OLD REGULAR
---NOT FRIEND.
A CARDBOARD
THING LIKE ME.

..e THEY’RE
MADE OF
FLESH AND
THEY’RE NOT
AS HUMAN AS
YOU ARE/ dA

YOU
MAY BE
MADE OF
CARDBOARD,
BUT I THINK
OF YOU AS
A REAL
PERSON/
I DON’T
WANT TO
BE A
CARDBOARD
FRIEND.
I’M JUST
FINISHING
UP/

HERE
GOES
NOTHIN’.
TO BED IF
YOU WANT.
Lis
PRETTY LATE
AND I CAN
FINISH THIS UP
MYSELF.
 LONG DO
YOU THINK
WE HAVE TO
WAIT UNTIL
HE WAKES
UP?
 BILL’S
BACK!

LIGHTNING-FAS
R EFLEXES. : . THE RETURN
OF BILL BY
 MOVE,
he Mk CREATURE!
WORKING.

STUPID. YOU TO COME

 I DON’T
UNDERSTAND/
HOW COME MY
CARDBOARD
CREATIONS
DON’T COME
TO LIFE?

SO DIFFERENT
ABOUT CAM’S
CARDBOARD?
 SOMEONE’S
BEEN BUSy/

78
«
e)
 GOOD
MORNING,
MR. MIKE.

YOU’/RE
READING
BOOKS
NOW?

CAM |S
TEACHING
ME ABOUT ALL
THE GREAT
BOOKS OF
WESTERN
CIVILIZATION.

8O
 IT DOESN’T
SEEM FAIR THAT
CAM SHOULD GET
TO CREATE LIFE
WHILE I CAN’T.

i I LOVE
LIFE MORE THAN
HIM.

Den | @
MY HERMIT :

/
AND MOST
OF ALL...

. |
we
)

WAS
\ i

| j

BELIEVE
HARDER
THAN ANYONE
HAS EVER
BELIEVED
IN ANYTHING/

81
 OH, AND
I DON’T
WANT TO JUST
BE YOUR
LAWN MOWER
ANYMORE.

END OF HIS
LIFE.

T SAVE YOUR LIFE

AND AY REWARD IS THAT
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
MOW AY LAWN
ANYMORE?
 TOO
COOL TO
BE MY
GARDENER
ANYMORE?

WANNA BE
A GOOD
MAN.

HE’S IN
HIS ROOM
WORKING
ON SOME-
THING HE
DOESN’T
WANT YOU
TO KNOW
ABOUT.

COOL.
STRANGE,
BUT COOL.
 WATCHA
GOT GOING

NOTHING!
NOTHING! I’M
MAKING
NOTHING!

84
 I THOUGHT
THAT IF I MADE HER OUT
OF THIS STUFF... MAYBE I
COULD HEAR HER VOICE

I CAN’T
REMEMBER
WHAT SHE
SOUNDED

85
 BUT YOU
CAN‘T DO I DON’T
HER, TOO,
THIS. KNOW WHAT
CAM. WOULD HAPPEN
IF YOU FINISHED
THAT MODEL,
BUT YOU JUST
FOUND THOSE
SCRAPS YOU
WERE LOOKING
FOR/

IS THAT
wait. “=! SUPPOSED
TO BE
ME?!
 THAT‘’S , IT’S TIME
NOT GOOD a TO GET SOME
ENOUGH eur ANSWERS!
FOR ME/ 2

HEY!
WOULD YA
PICK ME UP |
A SIX PACK nie dix
WHILE YOU’RE
OUT?
 TINA!
I’M SORRY I
GOTTA DO THIS,
BUT WOULD YOU
MIND COMING
OVER AND
WATCHING CAM
FOR A MINUTE?

RUN OUT
REALLY
QUICK/

WE CAN WORK® —_I DON’T A q |

OUT A PAYMENT EXPECT YOU TO ye ee.
LATER WORK K FOR FREE!! Syn en
E SOMETHING TO
MAKE SURE IT
DOESN’T
GET...

AWKWARD
THING YOU
CAN DO IS TO
WORK SO HARD
NOT TO
LET IT GET
AWKWARD!

88&
 RELAX,
_{ MR. GIDEON,
I DIDN’T COME
FOR MORE
CARDBOARD
THIS TIME!

I NEED
SOME BASIC THINGS ACT
INFO ABOUT SELE=
THE CARD- /| AWARE?
BOARD
ITSELF?
THIS IS
SOME KIND
OF A TRICK,
RIGHT?

89
 I’M NOT
SURE WHAT YOU’RE COME
TALKING ABOUT. HERE!
YOU SILLY

YOU MAY THINK ALL OF THIS 4 SURELY, THE MAN WHO CARED SO
FANTASY STUFF IS REALLY NEAT... MUCH ABOUT HIS GOOD BOY WOULD
BUT NOW IT’S MESSING WITH MY BOY’S FOLLOW THE ONLY TWO RULES HE WAS
MIND/ GIVEN REGARDING HIS BIRTHDAY PRESENT!

ANSWERS, RENEGADE
MR. GIDEON. BUNCH OF
UFO HUNTERS
SAW A FLYING
SAUCER FALL
FROM THE
SKY!

90
 A CRASHED
ALIEN SHIP/ HUNTERS
FOUND THE
CRASH SITE
BEFORE
ANYONE ELSE
EVEN KNEW
ABOUT
cae

.»» THEN PACKED

SALVAGED PARTS THEM INTO CARDBOARD
OF THE ALIEN BOXES TO BE MAILED
CRAFT... TO A TESTING FACILITY
IN NEW MEXICO/

MAYBE ’
BUT WHEN THE CONTENTS idaaie
THE PACKAGES WERE STOLEN/ EVERYONE
ARRIVED AT THEIR
DESTINATION... THOUGHT
AT FIRST!

91
 BUT THE
SHIP PARTS RATHER,
WEREN‘T THEY MERGED
STOLEN. INTO THE WALLS
OF THE CARDBOARD
SHIPPING
BOXES/

AHA! SO IT’S Rees

NOT MAGIC! IT’S ALIEN ieee > P) Aotaecuie
TECHNOLOGY! pe WAS A WIZARD/

SO IT’S MAGIC.
KIND
THE Piet
OF.
YOU’RE SAYING ff ALSO A PARTICLE
THAT MAGIC PHYSICIST EXPERI-
IS REAL? MENTING ON SUB-
ATOMIC SPACE
TRAVEL.

52
 SO HE WAS AN
ALIEN WHO STUDIED
MAGIC, BUT ALSO HAD
AN INHUMAN GRASP OF
QUANTUM PARTICLE
SCIENCE!

HE
WAS ALSO
RELIGIOUS.
DO YOU WANT TO
KNOW ABOUT
WHICH FAITH
HE--

93
 YOU MEN LIVE
LIKE COMPLETE THAT’S
FROM WHEN
DAD ATTEMPTED
TO MAKE
MAC AND CHEESE.
YOU GET
THIS MUCH
GUNK ONA
BURNER?!

..-AND
FAILED.

WHO FAILS
AT MAKING
MACARONI! AND
CHEESE?!

TOO MUCH
SOY SAUCE
AS I RECALL.

94
 LOOK/ LOOK!
EVEN MY SPIT |S
TOTALLY MADE OF
CARDBOARD!
 WHAT DO I’M
YOU WANT?!2] SORRY TOI
TRIED

KILL YOUR
CARDBOARD

I CAME
{ OVER TO Say }]
THAT I’M
SORRY.

I DON’T
BELIEVE
LEMME
EXPLAIN. THE
DOCTOR SAYS
I’M BIPOLAR.
IVSA
GENETIC
PROBLEM SO
MY OUTBURSTS
AREN’T REALLY
MY FAULT.

96
 ANYMORE. HE’S A BAD
INFLUENCE. |

CAN YOU EVER

FORGIVE ME?

I GUESS.
I FORGIVE YOU.
 -e FHINK
YOU CAN HELP
ME WITH MY
PROJECT? A MAKING
: 4} SOMETHING
COME ALIVE,
LIKE YOU...

---BUT I
COULDN’T
GET IT TO
WORK!

IT WON’T COME TO oe
LIFE BECAUSE YOU’RE mm, ( ALREADY TOO
USING THE WRONG KIND
OF CARDBOARD \ «@ SWART AOU
THIS STUFF/
THIS IS A REGULAR
CORRUGATED TWO-PLY STOCK.

WILL YOU
PLEEEASE
HELP ME?

98
 wow!
THIS HOUSE
IS SO SMALL/

SORRY,
BILL/ I
WASN‘T
THINKING
OF YOU/

AMAZING!
He‘S STICE
BECAUSE ALIVE!
NOBODY
THINKS
ABOUT THE
ALMOST-MAN
MADE OF
CARDBOARD/

NO THANKS
TO you!

pe)
 AW, BILL.
I’M SORRY I
TRIED TO KILL ES
YOU. SHAKE
i HANDS AND
BE DONE
WITH IT

THAT’S
ENOUGH/

SEEMS TO SO WE
WANT TO MAKE SHOULD AT LEAST
THINGS RIGHT. ys HEAR HIM OUT.

SERIOUSLY/
I DIDN’T
MEAN ANY-
THING By IT.

I WAS
JUST BEING
STUPID/

100
 COME ON,
LITTLE MIKE.
ALL OF
A SUDDEN
I DON’T LIKE
THE SMELL OF
THIS ROOM!

GOOD-BYE,
CAM.

SEE YOU
LATER,
COUNT
CHOCULA! ,
»

YOU MADE I COULD REALLY?!

THAT LITTLE SHOW YOU THAT WOULD
ONE, TOO? HOW IT’S BE COOL!
DONE IF
CAM, YOU’RE YOU’D
AMAZING!

101
 NO,
SERIOUSLY.
WHAT IS
IT?
A MAGIC P
CARDBOARD |@
MAKER!

NO, I
AM BEING
SERIOUS!

ALL I
GOTTA DO
IS PUSH THIS
BUTTON AND
MAGIC
CARDBOARD
COMES OUT!

WHOOOOA! THEN, WE --AND SCULPT

THAT IS SOME CUT IT INTO ITINTOA

Mole) CREATURE,
SERIOUSLY MAGICAL PIECES--
ANIMAL OR
INVENTION.
[

102
 THEN WE
PAINT IT OVER
HERE.
THE PAINT
HELPS THE
CARDBOARD
KNOW WHAT
I WANT IT
TO BE.

THEN IT
COMES TO
LIFE WITHIN
AN HOUR

DOES THIS
ONE HAVE FLAMES
PAINTED ON IT SO
IT WILL CATCH
ON FIRE?

103
 ..-PASSED

I’VE GOT AN
IDEA TO TAKE
YOUR MIND OFF
OF YOUR MOM/

YOU STARE
OUT THE
WINDOW!

OKAY.
I’M STARING.
 YOU’RE YOU
JUST IN MADE
TIME FOR DINNER?
DINNER. I DIDN’T
EXPECT YOU
Topo J
THAT!

ARE YOU
KIDDING?
USUALLY I ONLY
GET TO COOK
FOR MYSELF.

IT MIGHT
NEED A LITTLE
PEPPER.

106
 LIKE
SMELLS FLOWERS.
GOOD, TOO.

OH,
THAT’S
JUST MY
PERFUME.
 I DIDN’T
WANT TO
GIVE YOU THE IMPRESSION
IMPRESSION THAT WHAT?
THAT--
--THAT YOU
LIKE MY FOOD?!
--THAT YOU
LIKE ME TO
COME OVER
AND VISIT?

--THAT
YOU LIKE
ME?!
 NO!
DON’T
TAKE IT ALL
PERSONAL
LIKE THAT!

TELL ME HOW
TO PROCESS MY OWN
FEELINGS, MIKE/

7 BETWEEN THE \ |
TWO OF US, I’M
4) NOT THE ONE
HAVING PERSONAL
PROBLEMS WITH
THE PAST!

109
 SHE’S
GONE--AND
I’M ALIVE!

DAD, OH, I JUST

DID YOU SAW HIM RUNNING
SEE MARCUS UP THE STREET.
LEAVE?

10
 HE TOOK
IT, DAD/
HE TOOK THE
CARDBOARD
MAKER!

DID
YOU GET ANY
INFORMATION?

WHAT
DID YOU
FIND OUT?
 I DION’T
JUST GET
INFORMATION!

I WON
THE LOTTERY!

MARCUS!
HOW MANY
TIMES HAVE
I ASKED
YOU NOT TO
SLAM YOUR
DOOR?!

DO YOU DON’T ADDRESS BUT

YOUR MOTHER THIS IS AN
HAVE TO EMERGENCY!
THAT WAY!
BARGE IN
WITHOUT IF CAM COMES
OVER HE’S GOING
TO MAKE UP LIES
ABOUT ME STEALING
SOME CARDBOARD/
 WHO SON, I KNOW YOU TO
WOULD STEAL BE A GOOD, HONEST BOY.
IF YOU SAY YOU DIDN’T
STEAL SOMETHING, THEN
YOU DIDN‘T STEAL IT.

WE’RE SUPER
RICH/

WHY WOULD WE NEED

TO STEAL CARDBOARD?

BUT I SAW YOU TUCK SOME YOU KNOW THAT I

CARDBOARD INTO YOUR BACK- CAN ALWAYS TELL
PACK. NOW, I’M NOT SAYING YOU WHEN YOU/RE YOU STEAL
STOLE IT--BUT, MARCUS, YOU LYING. CARDBOARD?
I KNOW
CAN TELL US THE TRUTH. THIS MAY LOOK
FUNNY, BUT
YOUVE GOTTA
TRUST ME.
Dy

I DION’T STEAL
CARDBOARD.

13
 OPEN |, RUN
THIS DOOR, 7 ALONG, SON.
a I’LL TAKE
CARE OF THIS
FROM HERE.
IT’S CAM’S
FATHER!

WE
KNOW YOU'RE
IN THERE!
WE WANT TO
TALK TO YOUR
\ PARENTS!
Saedeeataties
——e |

———

WHAT’S YOUR
PROBLEM?

YOUR SON TOOK

SOME CARDBOARD
FROM OUR HOUSE!
I JUST SAW
MARCUS AND
HE DIDN’T TAKE
ANYTHING.

LOOK, IF WE CAN JUST SIT --AND THAT’S

DOWN AND TALK ABOUT ALL YOU NEED
THIS, I’7M SURE WE CAN TO KNOW.
WORK IT ALL OUT.

YOU’RE
NOT WELCOME
IN MY HOUSE.
I TOLD YOU
I JUST SAW MY
BOY AND HE
DIDN’T TAKE
ANYTHING!

114
 BUT YOU REALLY I HAVE
HE STOLE SHOULD STOP EXCELLENT
FROM US/ SLANDERING LEGAL REPRE-
MY SON. SENTATION!

DOES
THAT MEAN
ANYTHING
TO YOU?

BUT HE
TOTALLY KEEP
STOLE FROM WALKING,
US! SON.
 I CAN SEE
HELP ME 7 ABUNCH OF
_\| SCRAPS UNDER
GATHER UP \ THE COUCH!
ALL OF THESE }
SCRAPS! £ AND, Ew,
THERE’S AN
OLD HAM
SANDWICH!

WHAT ARE LET’S MAKE ont Peete

WE GOING TO ANOTHER
MAKE? CARDBOARD bale aeeAeniC
FACTORY! THE RULES OF
WE’LL SHOW CARDBOARD
MARCUS WHAT AGAIN.
HAPPENS WHEN
YOU STEAL
FROM US!
 THIS ISN’T FAIR! WHY SHOULD
THERE WAS THIS MARCUS GET TO HAVE A HE’S
OLD MAN WHO SOLD ME CARDBOARD MAKER BUT RICH, DAD!
THAT FIRST CARDBOARD I DON’T?! HE’S GOT
BOX AND HE GAVE ME EVERY-
THESE RULES I HAD THING!
TO FOLLOW. | !
--LIKE THAT
WE’RE SUPPOSED TO
BRING ALL OF THESE
SCRAPS BACK
TO HIM.

WHY DO THE BAD WE CAN’T

GUYS ALWAYS WIN? I’M EVEN AFFORD
TIRED OF THIS/ THINGS TO HAVE MEAT
ARE SO EASY FOR MARCUS, WITH OUR
AND LOOK AT US/ MAC AND
CHEESE!

I’M HE’S RIGHT,

TIRED OF MIKE. IT’S NOT FAIR WELL, I’LL
ALWAYS BEING THAT A BAD KID JUST PUT A CALL
POOR, DAD/ WOULD GET MORE IN TO THE
THAN A GOOD KID/ LIFE-ISN’T-FAIR
POLICE!

117
 \
WE MAY
BE DOWN ON
OUR LUCK THESE
DAYS, BUT WE ARE
NOT POOR!
UNFAIR
IS STILL SO
UNFAIR/

YOU KNOW WHAT’S UNFAIR? ‘*YOU ARE IN A POSITION

I GET MAGIC CARDBOARD WHY CAN‘T I
GET THE MAGIC TO DEMAND NOTHING. I, ON
WHILE SOME OTHER GUY GETS THE OTHER HAND, AM INA
TO WIN THE LOTTERY! WHERE I WIN
A MILLION POSITION TO GRANT NOTHING. “
DOLLARS?
 KEEP THAT THE
CARDBOARD cpgeaTURE
COMING, — FACTORY WILL
PINK EYE! Be OPERATIONAL
IN JUST A FEW
MINUTES!
 WHERE’S THE FUN
I DON’T IN DOING HARD WORK WHEN
UNDERSTAND I CAN USE MY INGENUITY
WHY WE’RE ISN’T TO HAVE SLAVES DO My ff " DON’T FEAR
MAKING A BUILDING WORK FOR ME? _. PROGRESS,
CREATURE A MONSTER PINK EYE.
FACTORY. BY HAND
WHERE ALL
THE FUN
IS AT?

SOUNDS
LIKE AN
EXCUSE TO
BE LAZY.
WELL,
THAT, TOO.

YOU’VE
MADE SO MANY
MONSTER
DESIGNS--
WHICH ONE
 OH, YES. JUST POP
THIS ONE IS THE ART INTO
PERFECT. THE TOP OF THE
A
MASTERPIECE. FACTORY--

--AND LET
THE MACHINE
DO ALL THE
WORK!
I
 THIS IS
I HAVE FANG. HE NEEDS
SOME FUN
TO YOU
TAKEHAVE
CARE HIS WOOD SHAVINGS
REPLACED EVERY
Se acs i eaOF MY HERMIT COUPLE OF DAYS.

YOU PULL PEE AND POO. THEN YOU DUMP

OUT THIS TRAY AND THE BAD STUFF
IT’LL BE COVERED IN THE TRASH.
IN PEE AND POO.

POUR FRESH WOOD SHAVINGS

ON THE TRAY AND SLIDE IT BACK IN/

122
 YES,
MASTER.
FEED THESE DRAWINGS I MEAN,
INTO THE CREATURE FACTORY MARCUS!
UNTIL WE HAVE A SUFFICIENTLY
INTIMIDATING ARMY OF MONSTER
SLAVES!

NOTHING CAN a ie
STOP MY PLAN \ ’ Z IT’S BED-
FROM COMING TO LD. VL TIME!
FRUITION!
 ANSWER
ME, OR I’M
COMING IN/

I’M FINE,
MOM!

GOOD NIGHT,
ALREADY!
 NOW TO
ADD A LITTLE
SUGAR AND SPICE AND
EVERYTHING SLICE!
 --THERE’S
WHICH THIS OTHER WHO
REMINDS BOXER DOWN THE THINKS
ME-- STREET WHO THINKS HE’S BETTER
HE’S BETTER THAN THAN ME?!
YOU.
 HE‘S A
CARDBOARD
CHAMPION!

HIS NAME
IS BILL!

HE’S GOT
THE TITLE
AND YOU
DON’T!
 SOMEONE’S
IN THE HOUSE!

YOU BE
QUIET!
 PUT UP
YOUR DUKES,

RUN THERE’S
TO TINA’S NOWHERE TO
HOUSE! HIDE FROM
DEATH BOXER!
 YOUR
BOXING...IS
WEAK/ LET ME
GIVE YOU A FEW
POINTERS!
 IF YOU KEEP SANDBAGGING
LIKE THIS, THE FANS ARE GOING
TO HATE ME EVEN MORE

BUT
WHEN BOXING
FAILS AS
ENTERTAINMENT--

--THERE’S
ALWAYS
THE ROMAN
COLOSSEUM!
 KEEP ae
< AWAY FROM [\ ‘Vea
MY FAMILY! :

\ YOU’RE NO
FINALLY, A \\ CHAMPION! ~ MORE LIKE
MATCH WORTHY A CHUMPIAN!
OF A CHAMPION/
(Smarr é
-
f.-
i
ey
l_
fF :
 KNEE TO
THE FACE IS
CHEATING!

135
 THIS GUY’S
A BUM! HE’S
NOTHING BUT
A CHEATING
BUM!
BUT YOU/RE
NOT/ YOU’RE A
HERO. YOU’RE A
MEMBER OF THIS
FAMILY--

--AND
YOU CAN
TAKE THIS
CLOWN/

HOW
MANY
FINGERS
DO YOU
SEE?
 IF YOU
LOSE, WE’RE
GONNA DIE!

HERE GET HIM,

’ BILL! YOU
Be OMS. CAN TAKE
THIS BUM!
 YOU’RE
GOING DOWN!
YOU HEAR : --YOU
ME?! a ‘B a AND YOUR
Ee FAMILY!
 OOF!
WHO PUT
THIS CRACK
IN MY HEAD?

THE
CHAMPION
OF THE
WORRRLD!!

DAD/
OVER HERE/

THAT
BOXER TRIED
TO KILL US!
 BILL,
WOULD YOU CAM AND I
STAND GUARD NEED TO TALK
FOR A OUTSIDE.
MINUTE?

NOBODY
CAN GO IN
OR OUT
WITHOUT GETTING
PERMISSION
FROM THE
WORLD CHAMP
FIRST!
 BUT--BUT
WHAT
ABOUT BILL?

HE“LE
JUST HAVE
TO FINDA
WAY TO TAKE
CARE OF
HIMSELF.
 --EXPECTING
US TO COME
WE CAN‘T BACK!
JUST LEAVE
BILL BACK
THERE ALL
ALONE--

BEFORE THIS NO WAy! THIS IS

--IT WAS ALL A LOT CRUEL TO
OF FUN AND GAMES. NOW IT’S DO TO HIM!
FOR REAL!

WE MADE
SOME NEAT
STUFF OUT OF
CARDBOARD-- --BUT THAT
WAS BEFORE
IT TRIED TO
KILL US/

m0
HE’S JUST
CARDBOARD!

HE’S
NOT REAL!

THAT’S
NOT TRUE!
 YOU ONCE DAD, YOU
TOLD ME THAT SAID YOU BROKE
MOM WENT TO THE RULES OF BUT
A BETTER THIS MIGHT
PLACE. BE BREAKING
, SOMETHING
® EVEN WORSE!
WELL, SHE’S
NOT MADE OF
FLESH, EITHER.

YOUR
MOTHER USED
TO GIVE ME
THAT LOOK.
 WILL
YOU
ENG STAND . , TO THE
DEATH, MIKE.
MATTER WHAT? ie ATI’DLEAST
DO
| MY BEST
TO!

YOU’/RE
A GOOD MAN,
BILL.

JUST THINK
HE OF IT!
CALLED ME
A MAN!

“BOXER BILL:
REAL MAN”!
 BEFORE YOUR
MOM DIED, I TOLD
HER I’D TAKE GOOD
CARE OF YOU.
I THINK
I BROKE THAT
I PROMISED PROMISE.
THAT EVERYTHING
WOULD BE OKAY.

I ALWAYS
THOUGHT I WAS
JUST BORN TO SWING
A HAMMER. IT’S THE
ONLY THING I’M
TOU Be
ASLEEP SO
REALLY GOOD AT.
I CAN TELL
YOU MY SECRET--
I DONT KNOW
ANYTHING ABOUT BUT WHAT
HOW TO BEA AM I SUPPOSED TO
FATHER. DO WHEN NOBODY IN
THE STATE NEEDS
THE ONLY THING I’M
GOOD AT?
 OH,
CAROL.
I’M SUCH
A SCREW-
UP.

I WISH
YOU WERE
HERE.

MICHAEL.
 WHAT’S | : I/D KNOW
WRONG WITH THAT VOICE
YOU?! ANYWHERE!
ee —

YOU/RE--

--YOU/RE
HER!

YOU/RE
a UNSHAVED,
--BUT WHO 5 DROOPY, MOPING
ARE YOU? AROUND, WEEPING
ALL OVER YOUR
SON’S BED!
MICHAEL,
WHEN DID YOU
BECOME SUCH
A WHINER?!

STILL
DEFENSIVE!
THAT’S MY
MICHAEL/

S|
 HA-HA. OH,
YOU CAME MICHAEL.
TO INSULT
ME.
WHAT
AM L GONNA
DO WITH YOU?

I WAS
JUST WONDERING
THE SAME THING.

I’M
THINKING
ABOUT GOING
BACK TO
SCHOOL.

YOUVE GOT A
THAT’S NOT BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
WHAT I’M TALKING . FALLING ALL OVER YOU
ABOUT. AND YOU’RE PENT UP
IN THIS HOUSE.
YOU NEED TO we |
MOVE ON. YOU , —
KNOW WHAT I & : IT’S TIME TO
oo = GET OUT OF YOUR
BOX, MIKE.

I’M NOT
HAVING THAT
CONVERSATION
WITH YOU.
 I’M NOT
READY.

EVEN IF
YOU’RE JUST
A DREAM,
IT’S GOOD
TO HEAR
YOUR VOICE
AGAIN.
 HEY,

MAN/ THAT’S
NO WAY TO
{ SPEAK TO
RIDICULOUS -\ THE KING!
CROWN TO
THE TABLE?

. THE DARK {were you

AND CIRCLES UNDER UP ALL NIGHT
THAT’S NO : YOUR EYES/
WAY TO TALK
TO YOUR
MOTHER!

YOU WE’RE GOING TO

LOOK LIKE YOUR GRANDFATHER’S
A ZOMBIE. HOUSE FOR SOME
4 HORSEBACK RIDING/

UGH/ DAD, I DON’T

WANNA GO SEE HIS STUPID
WILD ANIMALS CRAWLING ALL
OVER THE PLACE WITH THEIR
DISEASES AND FLIES
EVERYWHERE/

152
 SEED
BESIDES, NOW THAT THAT’S WHY I
HIS DIABETES IS RAGING, SHOULDN’T HAVE
GRAMPA DOESN’T HAVE TO GO/ BECAUSE
ANY ICE CREAM IN THE I’M GOING TO
EMBARRASS YOU
WITH SOMETHING
I’M GOING TO

WHAT
A TERRIBLE
THING TO

CAN’T I
JUST STAY
HOME?

DAD, I’M LT A #Se

ALMOST A MAN, \ Bt tjedlaty
AND IT’S ABOUT /
TIME YOU EXPANDED ay
SOME OF MY
RESPONSIBILITIES
TO REFLECT
THAT FACT.

I WAS ABOUT
YOUR AGE WHEN
MY PARENTS TRUSTED
ME TO MAKE
MORE OF MY OWN
DECISIONS.
BUT YOU HAVE
TO PROMISE THAT
WHILE WE’RE GONE,
YOU’LL EAT ONLY
HEALTHY, ORGANIC
FOODS AND KEEP THE
MTV DOWN TO LESS
THAN FOUR HOURS
A NIGHT.

153
 --AND I WON’T/
DON’T LEAVE YEAH, DON’T
THE LIGHTS DON’T BE A WORRY!
ON ALL OVER WASTE-BUG/
THE HOUSE!

I DIDN’T
K THINK THEY’D
EVER LEAVE/
{el

MY
SLAVES
MUST HAVE FETs
BEEN WORKING SEE WHAT
ALL NIGHT! KIND OF WORK
THEY’VE BEEN
DOING FOR
THEIR KING/

154
 GOOD
MORNING,
MASTER!

WE HAVE SOME
GREAT DEVELOPMENTS IN
PRODUCTION TO SHOW HIS
MAJESTY!
 WE’VE NOW STREAMLINED WELL
CARDBOARD PRODUCTION AND DONE
DISTRIBUTION TO A SCIENCE! HERMES
IT’S PRODUCED, CATALOGUED, -
THEN STORED ON THE BACK PATIO. I JUST
DECIDED
YOUR NEW
NAME IS
HERMES.

156
 HEY/ GO
EASY WITH THAT'S
MOM’S
THAT STUFF, FAVORITE

THIS WAY,
MASTER
KING/

WHAT
ARE THEY
DOING?!

NEEDED
MORE ROOM
SO WE’RE BUT
TEARING UP THEYRE
THE FLOOR. RUINING THE
HOUSE/

157
 WE’RE NOT
DESTROYING
DESTROYING YOUR PETS. WE’RE
MY SACRED REPURPOSING
THEIR MAKE-
UP FOR A
CARDBOARD
TOMORROW!

YperS77! WAITA
MINUTE!
WHERE’S
FANG?

158
 nese
y eee SeUP
STOP LOOK, YOU HAVE YOUR
WOM ateoF
TO STOP DIGGING
M
FLOORS, AND YOURS-- |
y
I DON’T
UP MY HOUSE! STR she Coe
LIKE

WHY DON’T YOU BOYS TAKE A BREAK?

WE’LL WORK ALL OF THIS OUT LATER. BUT
RIGHT NOW WE SHOULD SHOW A LITTLE
MORE UNITY AND TRY NOT TO.

WE SHOULD
ALL JUST TAKE
ALITTLE BREATHER
AND THINK ABOUT
HOW WE CAN
| FOR RUINING |.

YOU CAN’T BE
THE KING/ WE ARE MADE
OF CARDBOARD WHILE
YOU ARE MADE OF
PALE FLESH/

NEA.
Taare ;

160
 a2“Q
A
ea Fa rear
\\ >~>==eon
uw Zoe
TOs
S XC
OCS toe
/ | iwanaumwcuse| Sib nZ,0

161
 LET’S MAKE
A FEW HUNDRED
MORE CREATURE
FACTORIES!
 THEY’RE
MAKING
A CITY!
WHAT
ARE THEY
DOING DOWN
\ THERE?

NO, THEY’RE MAKING

A CARDBOARD WORLD!
 WHAT
HAVE
WE DONE?

WA
we \
>

ARE YOU NO, DON’T

AREN‘T YOUR CRAZY? YOUR GO! YOU’VE
PARENTS GOING HOUSE IS OVER- ALWAYS BEEN
TO BE UPSET RUN BY EVIL THERE FOR
CARDBOARD. I’M
PINK EYE/ | \ OUTTA HERE!
YOU’VE GOTTA
HELP ME/
 IN THE GRAND
SCHEME OF THINGS,
THIS IS WHAT TRUE
FRIENDSHIP IS ALL
ABOUT!
WE SHARE THE |
GOOD AND THE A) A THIS
BAD EXPERIENCES/ wee MOMENT!
[}) ¥ IT WILL BE
WE MAY Y, HILARIOUS!
BE IN THE tH
TRENCHES RIGHT
NOW, BUT ONE DAY,
WHEN WE GROW UP,
WE’LL LOOK BACK
ON THIS MOMENT
AND HAVE A GOOD
LAUGH/

YOU’RE
GOING TO
GET ME HERE ARE
Ene YOU GOING,
LITTLE FLESH
MAN?

166
 WHAT‘S
THIS?
WHAT HAVE
YOU DONE?
 OKAY, I’VE I’M
DECIDED TO ; SORRY. DID
NEGOTIATE YOU JUST SAY
WITH YOU | SOMETHING?
PEOPLE.
I'MA
BF GOOD KING }
\ fi] AND I WANT
TO START J
LISTENING
TO MY af
SLAVES!

I WANT TO ENTER
INTO PEACE TALKS
ABOUT HOW I CAN
BETTER SERVE YOU
AS KING.

CLEARLY, ; SOME
YOU ALL ARE rie I’M LISTENING.
UNHAPPY WITH MY ;
LEADERSHIP STYLE,
SO I DECIDED TO
SPEND MORE
TIME AS
AN ACTIVE
LISTENER.

WE DON’T
THINK A FLESH
BOY CAN
REPRESENT
THE INTERESTS
OF A CARDBOARD
KINGDOM,

168
 NO, YOU’RE
NOT/ I’M THE ONLY
MARCUS AROUND
HERE.

YOU’LL
JUST HAVE TO
CHANGE YOUR
NAME.

FEED HIM TO
YOU’RE
THE MONSTER!
DISMISSED.

169
 JUST
KEEP CRAWLING ~
FROM YARD TO --AND
YARD. WATCH
— OUT FOR
SPRINKLERS!

STAY UP
AGAINST THE
BUSHES! /
 OPEN UP, \_ ca ae
tif f
Metta b f{ RIGHT NOW!

YOU GUYS
TOTALLY
STINK!

WAIT. ARE
YOU MOCKING

WHAT IN
WAIT. ARE THE WORLD
YOU BLAH BLAH IS GOING ON,
HERE?!
 YOU’RE STILL NO, I DION’T
MAD ABOUT OUR LAST 7 MEAN THAT OUR LAST
CONVERSATION, BUT E \ CONVERSATION WASN‘T
THIS IS SERIOUS! if 2 SERIOUS! IT’S
JUST THAT--

SHE HATES
WHAT’S YOUR DAD
WRONG WITH BECAUSE HE
WON’T MOVE ON
WITH LIFE AND
OPEN UP.
 WE ONLY
HAVE A LITTLE
CARDBOARD, AND
EVEN LESS TIME.
WE‘VE
GOTTA BE
SMART!

WEAPONS. INDEED.

THE
ore BIGGEST LIKE A A. OR ATASTES
THAT TANS
ips ela CATAPULT THAT LIKE HAM!
LAUNCHES GIANT
CAN Leek J FROG COWBOYS!

MAYBE
WE SHOULD
THINK A LITTLE
LESS CRAZY-
STYLE.
 HONEY/
DON’T THROW
THE NEW
TRASH CAN
AT HIM!
 CAM
WILL BE
THERE FOR
ME!
 I’M DON’T
MAKING A TOUCH THEM
SUPERHERO YET/ THE
BACKPACK! GLUE ISN’T
COMPLETELY
DRY.
THIS ONE IS FOR
THE JET PACK!

BEHOLD, THE
PARTICLE PROJECTION
CANNON!

BOOM-DADDY!

oe

WATCHA
GOT THERE,

I’VE BEEN
WORKING ON
A CARDBOARD

180
 HO-HO-HOLD ON/
‘2

sh CLOUDY!
COULDN’‘T - THAT’S
YOU MAKE SOME WKN IT!
THING A LITTLE
LESS MUSHROOM- f 3
CLOUDY?

I DON’T KNOW WHY,

BUT NOW I’VE SUDDENLY GOT:
A LITTLE THIS KNOT IN MY STOMACH!
PAINT SHOULD
DO THE
TRICK.
 STINKIN’ HELP/ YOUR
MARCUS! CARDBOARD
JUST WHO IS TRYING
WE NEED TO TO KILL THAT’S
SEE RIGHT NOT MY
NOW! CARDBOARD/
THAT’S YOUR
CARDBOARD! J

THEYRE
ALL OVER
THE FRONT
YARD/
INTRUDERS/
 SO,
I’D SAY
THE GUN
WORKS.

I HOPE
YOU DON‘T
THINK THIS
MAKES BUT I
EVERYTHING JUST SAVED
OKAY BETWEEN YOUR LIFE/
YOU AND ME/

--BUT
YOU ARE
MY HERO.
YOU’RE
GOING TO
HAVE TO DO
BETTER THAN
THAT--
 THERE’S
NO HIDING
FROM US,
CARDBOARD
TRAITOR!
 WHERE
ARE YOU,
LITTLE FLESH
PEOPLE?

JUST HOLD
ON TO ME,
 YOU PUT
ME DOWN
RIGHT NOW!
OH, MY
NECK IS hg : HAVE OTHER
THRASHED/ ( & an P PLANS FOR
 STOSE
THO P THEY'VE
PUT ME
a THE HORDE AND I’LL
ON US! SUE YOU!

=
=

es

‘<

THERE’S
TOO MANY
OF THEM!
 ‘PLEASE!

WHERE
DO YOU
THINK YOU/RE
GOING, LITTLE
COWARD?
197
«+e PUNCH/

I THINK
THE WHOLE
CARDBOARD
ARMY IS
ON TOP OF
Us/

I HOPE
MY GUN
IS POINTED
IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION/
 WE MADE A FEW
IMPROVEMENTS
TO THE PLACE.

YOU’VE
RUINED OUR
HOUSE!
 WELCOME
TO YOUR
DESTINY!
WHAT
HAVE YOU
DONE TO
MY LIVING

SHUT UP/
THE LORD
OF THIS WORLD
HAS ASKED
FOR SOME
HUMAN FOOD!

OH, WELL...
HUNGRY, WE'VE \ Og i HA-HA!
GOT SOME PIZZA ima RY YOU'RE FUNNY,
IN THE FRIDGE!
 --ANYWAYS,
GOOD-BYE!

DISGUSTING,
FLESH-RIDDEN
 HOW DO
YOU KNOW
IT’S TOO
STEEP? I KNOW
IT’S TOO
STEEP
BECAUSE
THAT‘’S THE
WE WAY I WOULD
HAVEN’T b HAVE DESIGNED
EVEN TRIED! IT!

WELL,
THEN YOUR
DESIGNS ARE
OBNOXIOUS!

WHY
DO YOU
THINK I’M SO
TERRIFIED?
 THEY
LOOK
Bane HUNGRY!

HERMIT
CRABS DON’T
LOOK SO COOL
WHEN THERE ARE
FORTY OF THEM
AND THEYRE
BIGGER THAN
DOGS!

I’LL TAKE CARE OF

THE CROWDS, BILL,
IF YOU CAN PICK
OFF THE OUTLIERS!
 THERE’S
THE GORILLA
MONSTER THAT
TOOK CAM!

OVER
THERE!
Wy --BuT X<
LOOK AT
HIS BELLY!

LOOK
BEHIND THE
GORILLA : HE’S
MONSTER/ GUARDING
THE FRONT
‘DOOR!
 FIRST
COURSE?

A KNUCKLE
SANDWICH!

THEY’RE
NOT SLOWING IVE GOT
DOWN AT --AND I’M AN IDEA.
ALL/ GETTING GRAB ONE
REALLY OF THOSE
TIRED! DISCARDED
SHELLS!
 THESE
ARE BIG HURRY UP/
ENOUGH TO WE DON’T WANT
COMPLETELY THEM TO SEE US
COVER US/ GETTING INTO
COSTUME!

I’M
THINKING
CRABBY
THOUGHTS!
 IT’S
WORKING/
 ¥
my
A)
a
‘“FRIEND*-- --THEN
PULL THE
TRIGGER!
 I THINK
WE’RE WE CAN TAKE
GOOD, MARCUS. THESE THINGS
OFF, NOW.

I THOUGHT WE I KNOW! I WAS

WERE GOING TO WEAR STARTING TO WONDER
THEM FOR THE REST HOW WE WERE GOING TO
OF OUR LIVES. WEAR OUR GRADUATION CAP
AND GOWN OVER THAT SHELL/ HAHA!
AND HOW
COULD THEY
FIT ME IN THE
CASKET AT
MY FUNERAL?

WE’/D
HAVE TO
WEAR A
GARBAGE BAG
FOR A HAT!
HA-HA/
 IT’S FUNNY YOU
SHOULD SAY THAT,
YOU BECAUSE I WAS
MUST BE THE REASON THAT
THIS WHOLE WORLD IT WOULD
EATEN! WAS MADE! BE LIKE THE
CHARACTER
IN A STORY
THAT ATE ITS
 HE’S NOT
LISTENING
TO ME! HE’S
GONE
CRAZY!
 I‘LL FIND
YOU! I DON’T
SLEEP!
 VIDEO GAMES
HAVE BEEN MY
ONLY FORM OF
.+-Iay
FAILED EXERCISE! ;

GET
BEHIND HERE
AND HOLD
STILL!
MARCUSSS?

YOUUU?
oot
TrTOZz
iL
- LEAVE...

--- MEEEEE!
 LOOK AT
ALL OF THESE
STRANGE MARKS
ON THE GROUND/

THERE
ARE HUNDREDS
OF THEM/

WHAT
KIND OF
ANIMALS MADE
THESE?
 THESE
CREATURES
HAVE A LOT
OF POINTY
LEGS—

--AND
THE BOYS’
PRINTS ARE
GOING THAT
WAY!
 SOMETHING
IAFRAID,
GUESS.
I DON’T
KNOW IF
I HAVE
WHAT IT
TAKES TO
BE BRAVE.

CHICK.

WHAT‘’S
THAT
SOUND?

Cheese naina
 DO WE
GO INTO
THAT CITY
OR GO
BACK INTO
THE FOREST?

WITH THAT
GIANT MONSTER
YOU IN THE

wow!
THESE
BUILDERS
HAVE BEEN
BUSY!
 7 MY
FRIEND AND SEE
I ARE A LITTLE MY PEOPLE
LOST AND WE’RE ARE SUPER
LOOKING FOR
A ROAD OR
PATH OUT OF
THIS WORLD/

I THINK
I CAN HELP
A LITTLE
YOU. COME
ON IN/ CLOSER,
PLEASE.

COME BACK!
I ALREADY
KNOW! YOU
DON’T HAVE I MADE
TO SAY IT/ YOU A PIE/

MY MIND
 FOR
TODAY’S
SPECIAL, WE HAVE
LET’S
CRAB LEGS ON CRACK
THE MENU/ SOME
SHELLS/
 LOWER!
I’M AFRAID
OF HEIGHTS/
I’M ALSO
AFRAID OF
ALL THIS
ATHLETIC
ACTIVITY!

ONLY
CRIMINALS
NEED LURK
IN SHADOWS.

PLEASE,
APPROACH
THE THRONE/
 YOU MAY
GREETINGS, SHUT UP, HEY! YOU
MARCUS. IDIOT! DON’T
HAVE TO
TALK TO HIM
LIKE THAT/

HE’S AN
OKAY GUY!

BUT CAM IS NEITHER A MARCUS YOU CAN‘’T

NOR IS HE MADE OF CARDBOARD. LIVE OUT THOSE
THEREFORE, HE MUST BE DESTROYED/ IDEAS. I WAS
JUST PLAYIN’/
YOU’RE NOT THINKING
STRAIGHT. YOU PROBABLY
DON’T KNOW THIS, BUT YOU BUT HOW I
WERE BUILT AROUND MY CONDUCT MY
WORST THOUGHTS/ AFFAIRS IS NOT
YOUR CHOICE!

--OR
I CAN HAVE MY
GIANT DEVOUR
YOU.
 --AND I I FEAR
KING MARCUS, KNOW THAT NOTHING!
I KNOW WHAT’S DEEP DOWN -
IN YOU BECAUSE INSIDE YOU/RE
I KNOW WHAT’S \ od AFRAID.

YOU’RE AFRAID Seeespesey

THAT IF PEOPLE ACT LIKE A
EVER REALLY
KNEW YOU, THEY JERK AND BEAT
WOULDN'T : LIKE PeTHEM TO THEair
EXPERIENCE THEIR
REJECTION OF THE
REAL YOU.

HOLD ON,
CAM. YOU/RE
RUINING MY
FLOW.

--AND YOU
KNOW YOU/LL NEVER
ADD UP TO YOUR
FATHER’S DEFINITION
OF SUCCESS/

HE’S JUST PLAIN

MADE OF SOMETHING
BETTER THAN YOU!
NOBODY CAN BE, THAT (@
GREAT, SO JUST GIVE
UP NOW!

233
 YOU/RE
LONELY BUT YQU
CAN‘’T HELP BUT
PUSH PEOPLE
AWAY.

BUT IT
MOST DOESN’T
OF ALL, REALLY
YOU’RE-- MATTER.

--YOU/RE
AFRAID OF YOU LEAVE. \
BEING THEY LEAVE.
ALONE. NOTHING
CHANGES.
 BOOM
GO THE
CRABBIES/

I’M NOT
IMPRESSED
WITH MARCUS’S
IMAGINATION. IT’S EITHER
COPIED FROM
SOMETHING OR
IT’S JUST DARKNESS
FOR DARKNESS’
SAKE.
 WHAT
ABOUT ME?
DO YOU THINK --BUT
I’M BAD, MARCUS
2 MADE THIS
il PLACE BAD.

IMAGINE
THE CREATURE
THAT MADE
THOSE GIANT
FOOTPRINTS/

NOT
A MERE
CREATURE...

---A MONSTER!
 AT LEAST
WE KNOW THEY’RE
STILL ALIVE IF THEY ...INTO THAT
WERE CHASED BY FOREST!
CRABS AND A GIANT
MONSTER!

WHAT
IF WE DON’T
WANT TO BE
US?

/ WE CANBE )
(| SOMETHING /
ELSE. ff
 I’M MADE
OF CARDBOARD--

WHATEVER
THAT THING IS
--BUT SO THAT IS NOT JUST
IS THIS CARDBOARD
WALL THAT IS PART OF
WE’‘RE SITTING WHAT MAKES
ON. ME “ME.”

YET
I CAN SIT IF THERE
AND TALK. I IS A ME THAT
CAN DO. THIS EXISTS
WALL CAN‘T BEYOND JUST
DO ANYTHING. THE MATERIALS
I’M MADE OF--

SOMETHING
BESIDES JUST
CARDBOARD
AT WORK
IN ME.

--THEN
ARE WE REALLY
A SLAVE TO THE
MATERIALS?
 ALL I’‘VE
EVER WANTED WAS
TO BE SOMEONE
DIFFERENT. YOU’RE
BOUND BY
WE’RE STUCK CARDBOARD
WITH WHO WE AND I’M BOUND
ARE. BY FLESH/

WE’RE NOT al
TRAPPED BY
WHAT WE’RE
am BUT
erie vociod
MADE OF! HG,
YA hee
WE’RE :

I FIGURED a eckiaiey
YOU AND I
Sy WOULD ALWAYS
BE ENEMIES/

--I
DECLARE
THIS WORLD
FREE FROM
ALL THINGS
MARCUS!

\
\eyKe\y
z IN
N

N L/J 1 IS THE
(N | le
NEW KING!
 I’M
GOING TO
THINK ABOUT
GOOD
THIS IS THINGS!
A LOT OF
PRESSURE!

OOONLY
THE GOOD!

I DUNNO.
I DON’T | I DON’T DID YOU SEE
UNDERSTAND. THINK YOU/RE HIM SQUINTING?
Vi CONCENTRATING
HARD ENOUGH/
IF HE
THINKS THAT
NOTHING HARD AGAIN,
HAS CHANGED/ HIS HEAD MIGHT
EXPLODE/

240
 I WISH
I NEVER TOOK
THAT STUPID
CARDBOARD
HOME!

I DON’T
CARE ANY-
MORE.
IT DOESN’T
MATTER WHAT
YOU DO.

MIKE, I’M
READY TO
DO THIS
NOW!
 THANKS, KING/
FOLLOW EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE
THIS WALL ME, I THINK YOU’RE
‘TIL YOU HIT A PRETTY COOL!
CROSSROADS.
TURN RIGHT
AND YOU/LL BE
ON THE PATH
BACK TO YOUR
WORLD.
 THAT
GUY IS
ALL RIGHT.

GET
OFF THE
GROUND!
 SHUT UP/

THE MAN I
ONCE KNEW
WOULD NEVER
GIVE UP!

I GUESS / OF COURSE YOU THINK

YOU’RE I’M RIGHT! YOU’VE YOU NEED YOUR PROBLEM
RIGHT. GIVEN UP TO MOVE = |S THIS CARDBOARD
ON ALOT ON, MIKE. WORLD, BUT YOU’VE
OF THINGS, BEEN LIVING IN A BOX
MICHAEL-- EVER SINCE I
PASSED.
| fy CAM NEEDS
MA FATHER--

--AND A
--A LOT OF MOTHER!
IMPORTANT J
THINGS! ff

OH, I’M
AND JUST SURE YOU CAN
WHAT IS THAT FIGURE IT
SUPPOSED OUT!
 DON’T THINK
WHERE THAT JUST BECAUSE
ARE YOU YOU’RE RUNNING, I’M
GOING?! GONNA CHASE
You!

SHE’S TOO
FAST! I CAN
JUST BARELY
SEE HER/
 RIGHT
OR LEFT?
I FORGOT!

CARDBOARD
ME SAID THE
WAY HOME WAS
TO THE RIGHT!
I FOUND YOU,
FLESHIES!
 THIS
IS WHAT
YOU GET FOR
TRUSTING IN
PEOPLE LIKE
CAM!

YOU LET
HIM INTO YOUR
LIFE, HE GETS
YOU INTO
TROUBLE!

THEN
HE LEAVES
YOU! HE
WILL ALWAYS
LEAVE
YOU!

THAT'S
NOT TRUE!

DON’T
BELIEVE HIM,
 you
SPIT HIM
OUT, RIGHT
NOW!
DAD, WAIT!
MARCUS
IS IN HIS
STOMACH!
 HA-HA/
YOU MISSED
ME!
 I DIDON’T
MISS. I JUST
DESTROYED
YOU.
 IT’s
TOO LATE
FOR THAT
NOW.
 THE
RAIN...

Sool bee
-. BEAUTIFUL.
 WILL
CARDBOARD
PEOPLE...BE
IN HEAVEN?
THIS STUPID
CARDBOARD.
MOMMY!

DADDY!
 YOU
FEEL THAT?
WE CAN
GET BACK
HOME, THEN
CALL FOR HELP
TO SAVE
MARCUS!
 JUST
LIKE YOUR
MOTHER!

I DIDN'T
ASK TO BE
MADE...LIKE

13 Ufiy fiyy

We bh
jie p -
ile
yi

sflosy 2Losy

SP/OSU
 HIS STOMACH
HAS GOTTA BE IN IT’S SO
HERE SOMEWHERE! WET, IT ONLY
COMES OFF YOU’LL
IN TINY NEVER
PIECES! MAKE
ney

IT’S TOO
DENSELY
SE THISTAKE
COULD
HOURS/

rT
sem 1!
GET AWAY
FROM ITS
MOUTH/
 OH, YEAH?
WELL, I SMELL
LIKE HERMIT-
 RUN!
RUN! RUN!

EVEN~ ,
THE SKY
IS COMING °
DOWN/
 I THINK
Wy =THIS IS
THE RIGHT y
WAY! KEEP
MOVING,
BOYS! YOU’RE
DOING FINE.

THE
TERRAIN
IS CHANGING
SO MUCH, I
CAN BARELY
RECOGNIZE
THE WAY
HOME!
 I CAN
ALMOST
REACH THE
HANDLE/
 HI,
NEIGHBOR!

BEAUTIFUL
HOUSE!
 BUT
WHAT‘S
IMPORTANT
DID NOT.

--I KNOW
YOU HAVE
NO REASON
TO EVER
BELIEVE
ME AGAIN--

I DON’T
WANT TO BE
BAD ANY-
MORE.
 SIR,
I TAKE FULL
RESPONSI-
BILITY/

I’M THE
ONE WHO
BROUGHT THE
CARDBOARD
HOME.
IvM
THE ONE
WHO BROKE
THE RULES/

MIKE, I
COULD USE
A GOOD
CONTRACTOR
TO BUILD
US A NEW
HOUSE!

WAIT.
ARE YOU
OFFERING
GETTING
TIRED?
NO WAY!
I COULD
DO THIS
ALL WEEK/
 LET ME
KNOW IF YO U
RUN OUT
OF NAILS/
OKAY?

279
I COULD
USE A
JOB/

YOU EVEN HAVE

A SCRATCH ON
YOUR ARM! IN A LITTLE
FIGHT LAST
NIGHT.

BUT
DON’T
WORRY!

STILL SWING
A HAMMER
JUST FINE/

280
 WILLIAM,
YOU’RE
HIRED/

MY
FRIENDS
CALL ME
BILL.

281
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
While my name goes on the cover, a lot of talented people helped to make
this book, and I’m in their debt. I can’t thank Der-Shing Helmer enough
for coloring all 288 pages of CARDBOARD! It’s a herculean task, yet it
was performed by such a dainty, artistic biologist!
I'd like to thank David Saylor, Adam Rau, and Phil Falco for their editorial
help. A lot can go wrong in a story like this, and they helped me make it
go right.
Thanks to my friends Ethan Nicolle and Mark Lorenzen, for being great
storytellers in their own right.
A generous thank-you to my generous family: My Beloved Angie, Ahmi,
Edward, Olivia, and Johnny.
CARDBOARD was drawn digitally using Manga Studio EX 4.
 BAei ce; TE NNAPEL is the acclaimed author and illustrator
of GHOSTOPOLIS and BAD ISLAND, both published by Graphix. Among
other honors, GHOSTOPOLIS was an ALA 2011 Top Ten Great Graphic
Novels for Teens, a 2010 Kirkus Best Book
of the Year, and a School Library
_ Journal Best Comics for Kids published in 2010. BAD ISLAND was a
School Library Journal Top 10 Graphic Novels for 2011 and 4.2012 ALA
Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection. a Oa

Doug's other books include Tommysaurus Rex, Monster Zoo, and Creature
Tech, and he is the creator of the hugely popular character Earthworm
Jim. He lives in Glendale, California, with his wife and four children. x
 ADVENTURE BEGINS WHEN
CARDBOARD COMES TO LIFE!
Cam’s down-and-out father gives him a cardboard box for his birthday and he
knows it’s the worst present ever. To make the best of a bad situation, they bend
the cardboard into a man — and to their astonishment, it comes magically to life.
But the neighborhood jerk, Marcus, warps the powerful cardboard into his own
evil creations that threaten to destroy them all!

Ny
nike
Wy Z . : ; BADISLAND Cover art © 2012 by Doug TenNapel
Se Cover design by Phil Falco
ISBN 978-0-545- il
7

Visit the GRAPHIX site at $12.99 US |Liil |mill

www.scholastic.com/graphix $14.99 CAN I Il
An Imprint of MESCHOLASTIC www.scholastic.com | 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012