Theory of the Grain of Sand Stephen D. Smith, Editor, Alaxis Press Karen Copeland, Editorial Assistant Ivanka Hahnenberger & Stephen D. Smith, Translators Justin Eisinger, Editor, IDW theobscurecities.com Packaged by Alaxis Press for IDW Publishing A division of Idea and Design Works, LLC. 2765 Truxtun Road San Diego, CA 92106 www.idwpublishing.com Distributed by Diamond Book Distributors 1-410-560-7100 ISBN: 978-1-63140-489-4 First Printing, November 2016 IDW Publishing Ted Adams, Chief Executive Officer/Publisher Greg Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer/President Robbie Robbins, EVP/Sr. Graphic Artist Chris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-Chief Matthew Ruzicka, CPA, Chief Financial Officer Laurie Windrow, SVP of Sales and Marketing Dirk Wood, VP of Marketing Lorelei Bunjes, VP of Digital Services THANKS TO: Greg Goldstein, Jeff Webber, Justin Eisinger, Nolwenn Lebret at Casterman, and of course, Benoît Peeters and François Schuiten for being the first to explore the Obscure Cities. The authors would like to thank Cécile Jodogne, Alain Goffin, Eric De Kuyper, Victor Starquit, and Claude Diouri who lent their faces to this story. They would also like to thank Pauline Kahn and Studio Goffin for the “special effects.”
©2013 Casterman - English Translation ©2016 by Stephen D. Smith All rights reserved for all countries. The IDW logo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All rights reserved. The Alaxis Press logo is a trademark of Alexis Press, LLC. All rights reserved. With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the comic strips in this publication may be reprinted without the permission of the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in Korea.
JULY 21ST 784
OH COME ON, NO WAY…
WHERE DID THEY GET ALL THIS SAND? IT’S LIKE THEY ARE DOING IT ON PURPOSE!
SERIOUSLY? NOT HERE TOO!
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{T’S EVERYWHERE… HOW DID THEY MANAGE TO GET IT UNDER HERE AS WELL? THOSE KIDS ARE REALLY GONNA GET IT!
GRRR, { CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE…
OH GREAT! THIS IS ALL { NEED! WELL, {’M PRETTY SURE THE GARBAGE MEN WILL NEVER TAKE THIS.
HELLO, MISS! IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
UH… YEAH, YEAH, FINE…
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HELLO MRS. ANTIPOVA. THAT LOOKS LIKE QUITE A LOAD!
LET ME HELP YOU! {’LL CARRY IT… {’M USED TO IT… BE CAREFUL! {T’S VERY HEAVY!
OH MY! {T REALLY IS! UH… {F WE DO IT TOGETHER, IT’LL BE EASIER…
{’M GUESSING YOU’VE GOT A SANDBOX AT HOME?
NO, IT’S… WELL…
SORRY, IT’S NONE OF MY BUSINESS!
OH HI, MR. ABEELS!
WE’LL EMPTY IT THERE BEHIND THOSE TREES…
UH… DO YOU THINK…
THANKS AGAIN MR. ABEELS! THAT WAS VERY NICE OF YOU!
YES, YES, IT’S FINE… {T WON’T HURT THEM… DON’T WORRY!
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NO WORRIES! THAT’S WHAT NEIGHBORS ARE FOR, AND BESIDES RIGHT NOW { HAVE NOTHING BUT TIME…
NOTHING BUT TIME… …on golden sands, and watches the ships…
Somewhere beyond the sea… Somewhere…
…waiting for me. My lover stands…
…beyond the sea. She’s there wa… …that go sa-a-ailing. Somewhere…
HUH !??
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NOW THAT’S STRANGE… REALLY STRANGE…
WHERE DID THIS ROCK COME FROM?
DOESN’T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING ELSE HAS BEEN MOVED…
THE DOOR WASN’T FORCED…
THE BALCONY DOORS ARE LOCKED… THEY COULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN IN HERE…
LOVELY, IT’S STOPPED RAINING!
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