KEON
The Boy With the Black Flame
Read the opening of the manga as its storyboard: the panels, the lettering and the script’s own directions, laid out while the art is drawn.
Volume 1: The Truth of His Birth. Chapter 1: An Ordinary Day.
Chapter 1An Ordinary Day
Prologue
Since the beginning of human emergence, two mighty nations stood in opposition: the Bacchanalists and the Tainotaks.
Long ago, an ancient artefact of unbridled power emerged. It was said to grant the user’s every desire.
It appeared in the forgotten past to a member of one of these warring tribes, a desperate soul in search of strength.
In his arrogance, he used the relic’s power to ascend to Godhood.
But with this great power came terrible consequences.
The power corrupted him, and he perished.
The power that was bestowed upon him has now been passed down through the ages, taking on different forms and granting select individuals superhuman abilities.
It gave birth to the Shujaa, superhuman beings who walk among the humans today, some hailed as heroes, others as villains while others chose to not stick out and blend in with the crowds.
Legends of the great Shujaas past have been passed down through generations, shrouded in mystery and grandeur.
Quito Quito City. Morning, present day.
Keon’s room. Morning. The room is messy.
Keon says: Sigh...
He looks tired and slightly unmotivated. Yawns and stretches. He slept in his hero clothes.
The fridge: nothing, really. Cereal and bananas on the counter.
Keon thinks: Why is my life so shitty?
He mixes milk with cereal and the banana, and eats.
Woman shouts: Ahhhh! Someone help, that guy stole my purse.
Outside, a woman is yelling.
Keon says: Okay, let’s do this.
Close up on the serious look on his face.
He puts on the jacket and flies out the window, getting a view of the city.
Keon says: Hi, uhh I can help, which way did he run off to?
Woman says: He went that way, down Keetos Street.
He flies down to speak with the woman. She points.
Keon says: Okay, just gimme a sec, I’ll get it back for you.
Woman says: Thank you so much... umm... what’s your name?
Random guy says: That’s just some idiot “shujaa” who tries to be a hero, they call him “The Fool”.
Keon thinks: Nice to see I have a fan.
A random guy in the crowd.
Thief says: Heh heh, another day, another helpless bitch to rob.
A street alley. The thief goes through the contents of the purse.
Keon thinks: Why do I even bother with this shit? Sigh... Maybe I should rob a bank or something? Or compete in sports tournaments.
Keon thinks: But no, here I am chasing after some random purse snatcher because I’m too much of a pussy to be a criminal.
Keon, flying.
Keon says: Hey you, gimme back that woman’s purse.
Thief says: Umm... What purse, though?
He sees the guy and flies over to approach him.
Keon says: Sigh... My guy let’s not waste time, I’ve got places to be, texts to read, a part time job to get to, also...
Hands on face, like a facepalm.
Keon shouts: Shit, shit, shit, where’d he go? I mean he couldn’t have gotten far, he’s just some regular guy.
Keon thinks: I hate my life.
The thief is gone.
Keon says: Yo my guy, just gimme back the purse.
Thief says: Here here just take it man, just put me down.
Keon catches up with him, snatches him up and flies up with him.
Keon says: Ok thanks.
Keon shouts: What the f...
A flock of pigeons flies past his face.
Keon says: Ah shit.
Keon lets go. The thief falls and breaks his hip on the street.
Keon says: Ah damn it.
Random pedestrian shouts: Yo, what the fuck, my guy.
Oncoming traffic. Keon pushes him out of the way, but the bus slams into Keon.
Woman says: Thanks a lot, I guess.
He returns the purse, and runs off comically.
Person 1 says: This guy is an idiot.
Person 2 says: Stop trying to be a hero you suck bro.
Person 3 says: I mean he did get that woman back her purse.
Person 4 says: You’ll never be like the great Shujaa.
Random people in the background.
Keon thinks: Trying to be the good guy is not as rewarding as I expected. Is this what I’m meant to do?
Keon thinks: I need to be better. I need people to see me as the good guy.
Keon thinks: Maybe if he was here...
He flies off to the roof of a building, sits down, a serious look on his face.
To be continued
Keon’s story continues in Bacchanal City. Join the list for first looks at the art and the next chapters as they are drawn.
From the KEON comic script. Script © 2022 JERAM ART Ltd. Lettering and layout for this site; sound effects added for the storyboard. Backgrounds redrawn in screentone from photographs via Wikimedia Commons: Port of Spain and the Queen's Park Savannah by Christian Welsh, public domain; High Street, San Fernando by Kalamazadkhan, CC BY-SA 3.0; Mucurapo Street, San Fernando by Kalamazadkhan, CC BY-SA 3.0. The screentone versions of the CC BY-SA pictures are shared under the same licence.