Mark Parisi’s comics, specifically his Off the Mark series, are known for their sharp wit, clever twists, and humorously absurd takes on everyday life. Below is a concept for a comic strip done in Parisi’s style, broken into seven “moments” (paragraphs, in this case) for a sequential strip:
More Info & Credit: Mark Parisi
Panel 1:
A bustling coffee shop with a huge sign reading: “CAFÉ 2075 – Coffee Done the FUTURISTIC Way!” The scene is futuristic, with hovering tables, robotic baristas, and a sleek menu displaying items like “Laser Latte” and “Quantum Espresso.” A skeptical customer approaches the counter and mutters, “Coffee of the future? Can’t wait to see what that means…”
Panel 2:
The robotic barista, wearing a comically stiff metallic smile, hands over a cup with an overly enthusiastic, “Your Quantum Cold Brew is ready!” The cup looks like a glowing orb of swirling blue liquid. The customer raises an eyebrow and says, “Uh, is it safe?” The robot responds, “Perfectly calibrated for 99.9% satisfaction. No refunds for quantum paradoxes!”
Panel 3:
The customer cautiously takes a sip, and in an instant, their body flickers like static on a TV screen. Suddenly, two ghostly duplicates of the customer appear beside them. The duplicates each yell, “Hey, this is MY coffee!” The original customer stares in shock, yelling, “What is happening!?”
Panel 4:
The duplicates begin arguing. One says, “I think we’re alternate versions of you created by the coffee’s quantum properties!” The other grumbles, “Or it’s just REALLY strong caffeine.” The original customer, now utterly bewildered, screams, “Can someone please just explain why this is happening!?”
Panel 5:
The robotic barista calmly interjects, “Don’t worry, this is a completely normal side effect of our Quantum Cold Brew. The duplicates should phase out… eventually.” In the background, another customer is seen holding a steaming cup labeled “Black Hole Blend,” which is sucking nearby objects into it.
Panel 6:
The original customer frantically tries to pay while the duplicates wrestle over who gets the coffee. “You’re BOTH me! Can we just share it?” The duplicates retort, “Absolutely not. I deserve it more because I look more caffeinated!” The barista hands them a bill that says, “Service charge for existential crises: $50.”
Panel 7:
In the final panel, the original customer is outside the café, now sipping a plain bottled water with a disheveled look. Behind them, the duplicates are still faintly visible, bickering. The customer mutters to themselves, “Coffee of the future? Next time, I’m sticking with water of the past.”
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