Page 57 – The Kinchins
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“Kinchins” means children, Lewis’ gang of castoffs. This is what she really meant by her earlier comment, “If it were important to ‘em they would protect it better.” Don’t mess with Lewis’ kinchin.
Original Script
LEWIS Peering at the bird. You collect strays, too? JANE Wuh? LEWIS Looks around as she lifts aside a sheet of metal to reveal a dark opening. In there. Quickly. Inside is a dark, cozy makeshift hideout. It’s a cross between a kid’s fort and hobo shack. LEWIS Pushing past Jane and speaking into the empty room. It is me. I invited a guest for lunch. Three kids poke out of their hiding places. They’re all skinny, filthy and wearing baggy clothes. Ages 6-10. LEWIS Miss Monster, meet the kinchin. Nibs. Curly. And, the twins. (only 1 kid) Jane looks at Lewis, confused, about to speak. Lewis motions something like “Don’t ask” or “not now”.
Oh, my! A collection of little complications. I fear that this will prevent Jane from beating the information she requires out of Lewis.
That is an extremely creative scene in panel three. That crawlspace is what nearly every child’s room would look like if they were not forcibly prevented from making it so. ^^
Considering all the trouble that’s happened since they first met Lewis is putting a lot of trust in Jane, revealing her secret hideout and little family. 😉
Building their little hideout was fun. I ended up modeling it in 3D to help visualize different angles in such a small claustrophobic space.
that was unexpected. the kinchins all have the look of kids to whom people have not been kind. they seem to embody different standard strategies. nibs is clearly ready for trouble. my first impression incidentally was young ned land. ready to fight. curly’s strategy is clearly hide. the twins? ready to run.
🙂 I’m so happy their character shines through. It’s hard with only a few panels. And, I haven’t read or watched 20,000 Leagues in a long time. I’m going to put that one on the short list. Thanks!
And Robespierre! Don’t forget Robespierre!
Oops, I totally forgot to point him out in the author notes. Good eyes!
Aww…street urchins! Kinchins is a great term.
And I LOVE their hideout! That’s the kind of crawly hole we used to make when I was a kid. Though it was a bit cleaner.
And the kids look very…interesting. I want to know more about them. Like, does Curly have curly hair, or no hair (like Curly Howard). And are the twins twins, or is that the girl and the doll? Her (his? we never know with I, Mummy) scared but curious expression is great.
And what is that adorable li’l hexapod on the bed? He’s so cuuuuute!
Thanks, Charlie. Just for fun, try a search for “nibs curly twins” 🙂 hehe.
The kids were hiding because they’d heard voices outside their secret home. If you look closely in the 3rd panel you might spot them. Nibs was about to bash whoever came through the door with his poker. Curly does indeed have curly hair. How could he not? How unoriginal of me. And “The Twins” is just the little girl and her doll. She claims she has an identical sister, but that part didn’t make it into the story so I don’t mind sharing. 🙁
“I’m your fearles leader. You can trust me.” Sounds somehow familiar in the back of my head…
That does sound familiar. I’m sure it’s the famous last words of many ill fated adventures.
It makes me think of the flying squirrel, the dumb moose and the pseudorussian spy couple (doom vamp) and their boss, called “Fearless Leader”. Some of these cartoons are still found inside the U-Tube.
Ah, “Rocky & Bullwinkle” with Natasha and Boris!
Come, come, Andreas! I am your fearless leader, you can trust me!
I’m getting a really bad vibe from the Twins.
Why do you hate little children? 😛
I really like how their secret base is designed. What’s your secret for coming up with so many good backgrounds?
No secrets, just research and references.
For this setting I remembered an old news article about a couple who built a home in a hidden corner of a parking garage. I combined their space with some other elements. It’s the little daily life things that make a space feel real.
For outdoors, I love wondering around Google Street view in different parts of the world. Like this panorama in rio de janeiro. And, just look at the mess of wires on the electric poles! Those poor electricians.
makes me think of an animated movie i had a long time ago called oliver and the artful dodger. it was an unofficial sequel to oliver twist. after the events of the novel dodger had “seen the light” and took in street kids. though instead of making them pick pockets like Fagin, he worked as a Costermonger to support them, though he still had his old skills to use when he needed them