Panel 1:
The Hero Association's skyscraper towers over the city, its sleek, metallic design gleaming in the morning sun. Inside, No Plot Man sits in an intimidatingly large conference room, slouching in his chair, surrounded by sharply dressed officials. Agent Thorne stands at the head of the table, holding a clipboard.
Narration Box: "After defeating a giant kazoo, you'd think the world would take you seriously. Nope. First comes the paperwork."
Agent Thorne: "Alright, No Plot Man. Let's go over your… qualifications."
No Plot Man (grinning): "Qualifications? You've seen my work! I saved the bagel shop!"
Beartron 9000 (off-panel): "You didn't save the bagel shop!"
Panel 2:
Agent Thorne adjusts her glasses, her expression as cold as ever. She holds up a list of No Plot Man's recent "achievements," with most of them scribbled out or marked with question marks.
Agent Thorne: "Your record shows… mixed results. You've accidentally demolished two convenience stores, ruined a parade, and—"
No Plot Man (interrupting): "That parade was asking for it!"
Agent Thorne (ignoring him): "…and your reliance on a rubber chicken as your primary weapon is… unconventional, to say the least."
Panel 3:
Flashback panel: No Plot Man standing atop a crumbling building, wielding the glowing rubber chicken, surrounded by confetti from the defeated kazoo.
Narration Box: "Unconventional? Try revolutionary."
No Plot Man (smirking in flashback): "That's right, folks. Poultry saves the day again!"
Panel 4:
Back in the conference room, No Plot Man leans forward in his chair, holding up the rubber chicken like it's Excalibur.
No Plot Man: "This isn't just a chicken. It's a symbol. A beacon of hope. The squawk heard 'round the world!"
Agent Thorne (deadpan): "It's a squeaky toy."
Panel 5:
Neon Wraith, sitting nearby, tries to stifle a laugh. Titanica, arms crossed, rolls her eyes.
Titanica: "Thorne, are we really wasting time on this clown? He got lucky with the kazoo. That's all."
No Plot Man (mock offended): *"Clown? I prefer improvisational genius."
Panel 6:
Agent Thorne sets the clipboard down and looks at No Plot Man with a piercing gaze.
Agent Thorne: "Here's the deal. The Hero Association is giving you a probationary period. You'll be assigned small missions, and if you fail…"
No Plot Man: "What happens? Do I get demoted to sidekick?"
Agent Thorne: "No. We revoke your hero license."
Panel 7:
No Plot Man freezes for a moment, a rare flicker of seriousness crossing his face. The room is silent, the tension thick.
Narration Box: "For all his jokes, even No Plot Man knows what that means: no more hero work. No more rubber chicken glory. Just… normal life."
No Plot Man (softly): "…Okay. Deal."
Panel 8:
Agent Thorne hands him a folder labeled "Mission Briefing." No Plot Man flips it open, revealing an image of a rundown carnival.
Agent Thorne: "Your first mission: investigate strange activity at the old Marigold Carnival. Reports of laughter… and disappearances."
No Plot Man (grinning again): "Laughter and danger? Sounds like my kind of party."
Panel 9:
As the meeting ends, the heroes file out. Titanica gives No Plot Man a warning glare.
Titanica: "Don't mess this up."
Neon Wraith (patting No Plot Man on the shoulder): "Good luck, rubber chicken man."
No Plot Man: "It's The Chicken of Justice, thank you."
Panel 10:
No Plot Man stands outside the Hero Association, looking at the folder. The carnival looms in the distance, its faded colors visible on the horizon. He sighs and tosses the rubber chicken into the air, catching it with ease.
No Plot Man (to himself): "Alright, let's see what kind of chaos we're dealing with. Clowns? Killer rides? Evil cotton candy?"
Narration Box: "Whatever it is, it's definitely not going to be boring."
Panel 11 (final panel):
At the carnival, the lights flicker to life despite its abandoned state. Laughter echoes eerily through the empty grounds. In the shadows, a figure with a grotesque clown mask steps forward, holding a balloon that drips with black liquid.
Masked Figure (whispering): "Step right up… the show's about to begin."
Narration Box: "Next time: Will the rubber chicken survive the carnival of nightmares?"
End of Chapter 10