Tessera

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)

@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social

A comic produced by René (The-Z) Barr and updated weekly. home: http://www.ninja-monkey.com support: https://www.patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or http://www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ No portion of this comic may be edited or displayed without written permission.

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Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 5d ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue, Ch. 2, p. 8 Guan Yin's got brass balls -- This is a patron supported comic. Thank you! If you can support, tips, pledges, and shares are very appreciated. 💵 Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey 🫙 ko-fi.com/thedashz 🏠 ninja-monkey.com 🗣️ ninjamonkey.webcomic.studio #comic #webcomic

A digital comic featuring four panels. The first panel has a woman in a white dress and veil cradling the face of an anthropomorphic monkey who seems absolutely smitten. She is saying with an expression of empathy, "You struggle in part because heaven has opposed you."
The second panel has The Jade Emperor, a middle-aged appearing man in a yellow robe with a green mantle and a cap-like crown is turning with an expression of barely contained scorn on his face in light of the woman's words.
In the third panel, her expression has changed to one of stern determination. "It is the duty of heaven," she asserts, "To promote harmony and not to cause undue strife but to lead us all toward enlightenment..."
In the fourth panel, The Jade Emperor begins to pace away in a sort of scholarly lecturing pose, "Ahem. And so after some deliberation we have determined it is wise to seek the advice of The Great Buddha." He goes on, "You will be brought before them for an exclusive audience. You are expected to conduct yourself in a civilized manner." In the background of the panel, the aforementioned Buddha is pictured as a soft, sunny projection, lounging at ease in an open lotus amid some curling clouds. They appear to be an androgynous being with some features of a soft, old auntie and some of a fit old man wearing a sash over one shoulder, earrings in their age-softened ears, and hair fixed in tight, close curls on top of their head.

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 2w ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue, Ch. 2, p. 7 Sheesh, lady, let him wreck some shit. He's earned it! -- This comic updates weekly on Wednesday -- Support through donations or shares! 💵 Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey 🫙 ko-fi.com/thedashz 🏠 ninja-monkey.com 🗣️ ninjamonkey.webcomic.studio #comic #webcomic

A four panel digital comic featuring three characters; The Jade Emperor in a yellow robe and red crown, The Monkey King in a feathered crown over his topknot, and Guan Yin, an elegant woman in a white gown and veil with a pink floating ribbon.
Panel 1 depicts The Monkey King and the Jade Emperor in a dispute. The Monkey is tipping the Emperor's throne and taunts, "Oops! I don't want it afterall if it's this easy to break!" To which the Emperor responds, "Foolish Monkey! I'm warning you!"
Panel 2 is centered around The Monkey King as he turns on the Emperor ready to attack. "Warning me?! You've sent magicians after me; priests, dragons, demons, whole armies... You have chased me, trapped me, burned me for a century. What more could you possibly have in store for me? I am The Great Sage Equal to Heaven. You cannot kill me!"
Panel 3 is Guan Yin's outstretched hand lightly sparkling with magic, "There will be no killing..."
Panel 4 shows Guan Yin touching The Monkey King's shoulder and soothing, "Son of the Sacred Mountain, being truly the only one of your kind must be lonely. You tried to find a place among man, but you were rejected." To which Sun Wukong looks like he's got tears welling in his eyes.

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 3w ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue, Ch. 2, p. 6 They look like a real crowd of freaks (affectionate). -- This comic updates weekly on Wednesday -- Readers support this comic. If you can, please donate. 💵 Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey 🫙 ko-fi.com/thedashz 🏠 www.ninja-monkey.com 🗣️ ninjamonkey.webcomic.studio

A digital three panel comic. The top panel is populated by a dozen diverse characters armed and waiting to face an oncoming foe. The text of the panel reads: The Heroes of Heaven assembled at the gates to attempt to slow the Monkey King's Advance.
If they could spare the Jade Emperor from having to deal with Sun Wukong again, their reputation would soar!
The second panel shows these same characters blown away by a bubble of energy in their midst with the shadow of The Monkey King within. The text reads: Unfortunately for them, it seems that in one-hundred years they had forgotten the Monkey King's own reputation.
He batted them aside like mere annoyances and proceeded to the throne.
The third panel is one of action centering on The Jade Emperor on his throne. He is leaning forward in anticipation as The Monkey King with fire streaming from his mouth, dives at the rule of Heaven. The text balloons begin with the seated Emperor, "You again!" "Surprised?!" Sun Wukong responds. "Don't you have a new place to offer me? Maybe I should take your seat!"

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 4w ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue, Ch. 2, p. 5 He looks really cool until he puts on his people costume. 💵 Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey 🫙 ko-fi.com/thedashz 🏠 www.ninja-monkey.com 🗣️ ninjamonkey.webcomic.studio #comic #webcomic #ninjamonkey #monkeyking #sunwukong #sungoku #womenincomics

A digital comic page split into five panels. The center diamond panel shows a monkey screaming in rage, fire erupting from his yellow fur and his eyes ablaze in fury. The upper right panel has him leaping off a cloud, brown, and shedding ashes as he holds a staff in his right hand behind him. The upper right panel shows the monkey, now free of the ash, golden and fighting an armored guard with the staff. In the lower right panel, The Monkey King is viewed from behind donning the armor for which he just fought. He is currently placing his bun in a crown. The lower right panel shows a towering city illuminated by an ominous red gold glow.
Dialogue: "Ash rained to earth as The Monkey King Leapt into the sky and summoned his magic staff."
"With a mighty blow he reclaimed his enchanted armor."
"Finally, he donned his crown, capping his rage with a single-minded purpose... To bring down heaven and The Jade Emperor with it."
"The sky over The Heavenly Palace burned like a brilliant sunset at Sun Wukong's approach."

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · last mo.

Ninja Monkey Prologue, Ch. 2, p. 4 Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me thrice, burn. -- This comic updates weekly on Wednesday -- 💵 Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey 🫙 ko-fi.com/thedashz 🏠 ninja-monkey.com 🗣️ ninjamonkey.webcomic.studio #webcomic #womenincomics #monkeyking

A three panel digital comic page that begins with a bunch of guards blocking a pair of large double doors.
"The door!" an old man staggering through the guards yells, "Bar the door, you idiots!"
"Close the door!" shouts a guard in a gold helmet. "We'll get him to safety!"
The second panel has a monkey-shaped molten creature carrying a huge crucible full of molten material inside. He is muttering "burn" with increasing intensity, ending in, "Now you'll burn!"
The third panel is a low angle shot of a three tiered palace at the top of ivory stairs amid the clouds. The green and red structure is topped with a telescope and birds are taking flight from its conical rooftops while a giant CRASH blows out the wall of the bottom tier on the viewer's right. Small silhouettes of guards are seen flying.

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · last mo.

Ninja Monkey Prologue, Ch. 2, p. 3 I was born on the mountain, an untamed ape I learned your magic to change my shape I tried to bend when you wanted me to break Then, I drank all your wine and stole your cake You put me in the urn expecting me to burn but I lived, bitch, and now it's your turn.

A four panel digital comic page featuring a monkey of molten rock emerging from a burning crucible. An old, bald man with a long beard is running from him. The dialogue reads "I tried... to live as you expected me to." "I sowed sincerity and you LIED to me!" "I was peaceful and you used it to CONTROL me!" "You create rules you do not follow" "And yet I was the one who burned." "You called m a demon, but I see no difference." "Other than who gets to define civility." All this spoken by the monkey man and then the old man yells for his guards.

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue, Ch.2, p.2 Lao Zi's "solution" seems to have become a bigger problem. 💵 Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey 🫙 ko-fi.com/thedashz 🏠 ninja-monkey.com 🗣️ ninjamonkey.webcomic.studio #webcomic #comic #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #songoku

A four panel comic predominantly in black and gold showing a flaming crucible emptying its molten contents into a symbol on the floor. A black arm and hand cut through with flaming cracks like the crust on top of lava thrust out from the inferno inside the container. The stooped wise man watching all this removes his glasses, squinting at the event as a silhouette appears from inside. He exclaims in disbelief "Could it be?"

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue Chapter 2, new cover and page 1 It's Wednesday, my dudes! Let's get to it and resume posting for chapter two. The previous chapter is available on this account. patreon.com/NinjaMonkey for monthly support ko-fi.com/TheDashZ for tipping, monthly, or merch support #webcomic #art

Digital art depicting a slightly anthropomorphized golden monkey with a staff on his shoulder. He is squatting on a rocky peak while dressed in a blue bandanna, a red sash, and a leopard print loincloth. The words read "Ninja Monkey, Prologue: The Legend of the Monkey King"

Digital art of a comic book page depicting a smoking crucible tipped and spilling its firey, molten contents onto the floor below with the sound effects of "FSSSSSHHHHHHH". The text boxes read "Laozi's great crucible burned one-hundred long year sin hopes of recover the pills of immortality Sun Wukon swallowed in his vengeful rampage against heaven."
"Searing head washed over the world as the crucible tipped and emptied its contents into a mold."

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue p. 12 exploring some background on the Monkey King. The comic updates bi-weekly on ninja-monkey.com and you can find advanced pages on Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or support the comic on www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ #comics #monkey #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #monkeyking #womenincomics

A three panel comic page in predominantly purple contrasted with orange.
Panel 1: An wizened, bald old man strokes his long, white beard. Text: "Violence, destruction, theft, and general mischief were the crimes brought against Monkey. Particularly concerning were the Pills of Immortality the Monkey King downed by the handful. Laozi proposed they could be extracted by reducing Monkey to ashes in his giant crucible."
Panel 2: Between raging clouds, long dragons usher in a storm of wind and rain. The Jade Emperor has his hand raised in proclamation while Guan Yin huddles against the wind, back partially turned to the viewer. Text: "And so he was sentenced to purification by fire. Though a great storm raged with the holy decree, Guan Yin stood in placid contemplation."
Panel 3: Fires swirl in toward the center of the panel with a naked monkey huddled for cover, miserably protecting his head. Text: "Sun Wukong was thrust into the darkness of the Great Crucible where he tried to escape the licking flames by pressing himself against each wall in turn. His skin blistered. His lovely golden fur singed black. But suddenly, he sensed a breath of relief far back in a darkened corner. There he huddled in misery until hunger overwhelmed him. He found, even though it was painful, he could eat the glowing coals within the forge and they sustained him. For a century, his only companions were pain, regret, and resentment. His tears evaporated before they even touched his cheeks."
End prologue part 1

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue p. 9 exploring some background on the Monkey King. The comic updates bi-weekly on ninja-monkey.com and you can find advanced pages on Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or support the comic on www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ #comics #monkey #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #monkeyking #womenincomics

A four panel digital comic.
Panel 1: Shows a sunset background with silhouetted reeds. In the foreground, on a sandy bank, Monkey in frog shape gets pinned to the ground by a long bird's leg. Text: "But sometimes even the most clever among us are blind to our own shortcomings... With minimal effort, Shen tracked Monkey to the salt marshes where he located him by his boastful croaking."
Panel 2: Again, sunset sky, reeds, and sandy bank on which Erlang Shen in the shape of a red crowned crane carries the frog-shaped Monkey by one leg back to where he came from. Text: "Though he would never admit to it, embarrassment is what finally defeated Sun Wukong. In the form of a great, wise crane, Erlang Shen escorted his prisoner back to the Heavenly Court to answer for his crimes."
Panel 3: In the court with gray walls and a polished obsidian floor, Monkey is bound as a prisoner and forced to his knees. Behind him, Erlang Shen stands guard. Text: "Brought a third time before The Jade Emperor, this time Monkey objected that Heaven had deceived him and shamed him for only following his nature. How are they permitted to misrepresent their intentions and steal his time but face no consequences?:
Panel 4: In the heavenly court stands a veiled woman in white and red with a pink sash dancing about her shoulders. Next to her is the Jade Emperor in his yellow, orange, and green robes. Text: "This time Guan yin chose not to intervene. In light of everything The Jade Emperor did not look favorably on Monkey's crimes or his accusations."

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue p. 10 exploring some background on the Monkey King. The comic updates bi-weekly on ninja-monkey.com and you can find advanced pages on Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or support the comic on www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ #comics #monkey #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #monkeyking #womenincomics

A comic page in five panels.
Panel 1: Tentacles converge, closing in on a puff of smoke. Text: "With that realization... Monkey disappeared in a great puff of smoke!"
Panel 2: A lizard gleefully runs across the ocean waves. Text: "To reappear as a tiny lizard hooting in laughter amid his escape."
Panel 3: A long, narrow horizontal panel showing a series of small splashes of water that form the trail of the lizard running across the ocean. Text: "Speeding over the waves, the Monkey King soon left the ocean behind."
Panel 4: A small inset panel with a purple background. In the foreground the lizard transforms in a three part sequence into a leaping frog. Text: "With a great leap, he became a frog to hide among the thick marsh reeds."
Panel 5: A large bottom panel with a sunset and reeds in the background. On a sandy shore a frog rocks back on his rear smiling in a self-satisfied way. "Then he boasted it was inevitable Erlang Shen would be outsmarted. There was no shame in being beat by The Great Monkey King!"

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 9mo ago

A digital comic in four panels.
Panel 1 portrays a large fish, mouth wide open, in pursuit of a smaller fish who seems to be transforming into something distinctly unfish-like. The narration reads: "A chase ensued with such speed, that Monkey was nearly started out of fish form."
Panel 2 depicts an underwater scene in which there's a large cloud of bubbles moving away from the big fish in the background and arcing toward the ocean's surface. "Monkey sped away for the surface with the singular goal to assume a form too large to be captured."
Panel 3 A great sperm whale breeches against the sunset, upsetting birds from the water's surface. "Erupting from the surface, he tried to grasp his racing thoughts to choose his next form."
Panel 4 shows the whale being dragged back into the depths by several green squid tentacles. ""Impossible!" Monkey thought. "I am The Great Sage Equal to Heaven! No heavenly citizen can best me!"

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue p. 8 exploring some background on the Monkey King. The comic updates bi-weekly on ninja-monkey.com and you can find advanced pages on Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or support the comic on www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ #comics #monkey #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #monkeyking #womenincomics

A comic page of four panels all taking place underwater.
Panel 1 shows an octopus in an official-looking hat and spectacles with a scroll in one arm. The background is a coral reef. The narration reads: "In the cold, endless expanse of the eastern ocean, Monkey grew bored counting the hours while "playing" hide and seek with his opponent." "So he started teasing the fish, chasing, biting, and dive bombing them." "One unwitting playmate turned out to be the messenger for The Lord of the East Sea." "Harried and upset, he rushed back to the Dragon Lord to report the fish's disrespectful behavior."
panel 2 takes place inside an open-walled undersea palace. Erlang Shen in his human form and full armor bows his head respectfully in the presence of the Lord of the East Sea. "As it so happened, Erlang Shen had just about given up on ever finding that rascal monkey in the great ocean. So when he called on the Dragon Lord for help locating him, there was good reason to suspect Monkey's location."
panel 3: An arowana fish in Shen's colors with his headress seems to be searching while swimming.
panel 4: With the arowana hunting in the waters near the surface, a smaller fish resembling the one Monkey turned into is cowering in the cover of sea weeds and anemones. "Shen took the form of a great fish and swam swiftly to the location suggested by The Dragon Lord."

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue p. 7 exploring some background on the Monkey King. The comic updates bi-weekly on ninja-monkey.com and you can find advanced pages on Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or support the comic on www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ #comics #monkey #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #monkeyking #womenincomics

Digital art comic page depicting a falcon and a bird that transforms into a fish in a chase in which the fish manages to outmaneuver the falcon by transformation.
panel 1: With the sun at its back, the falcon swoops to catch the small bird in its claws, but the bird launches into a more accelerated dive. "Tiring of the game, monkey decided to try and lose Shen in the fastness of the ocean."
panel 2: The falcon has circled around, for another attempt while the bird continues to transform into a fish. "He dove for the water, focusing intently on a form that would fool even native sealife."
panel 3: The falcon skims the water's surface in the background in pursuit as a fish is about to triumphantly escape into the water. "Pleased with his own cleverness, he lost track of his opponent..."
panel 4: The fish is clipped just as it hits the water's surface, but the falcon's grasp is tenuous and it causes the fish to bounce along the surface of the water before successfully escaping into the depths. "Miraculously, the Monkey King, now in fish form, escaped the great warrior by a slipper fin and descended into the depths of the great ocean."

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue p. 5-6 exploring some background on the Monkey King. The comic updates bi-weekly on ninja-monkey.com and you can find advanced pages on Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or support the comic on www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ #comics #monkey #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #monkeyking #womenincomics

page 5 Ninja Monkey Prologue
panel 1: Against a sickly yellow sky, warriors descend from heaven on a churning purple cloud. On the ground, a mob of monkeys surrounds The Monkey King who stands ready to battle the army of heaven.
"Having had enough of Monkey's mischief, The Jade Emperor decided he would put an end to it for good!"
"A great war party descended from heaven to attack Monkey on the mountain he called his throne. The Monkey King rallied his many subjects to take up arms and defend their land."
"Heaven and Earth quaked in anticipation of disaster."
panel 2: A graceful woman in white drifts on a pink cloud between the two armies, hands raised in a gentle plead for both armies to hold and listen.
"Upon hearing the earth despair, The Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin was moved to intervene."
panel 3: A young warrior stands proudly with a white dog at his feet.
"She bade The Jade Emperor to send his nephew, the renown warrior Erlang Shen to confront Sun Wukong alone."

Ninja Monkey prologue page 6
panel 1: Erlang Shen levels a assessing gaze across the panel at Monkey.
"Not one to back down from a fight, Erlang Shen fixed The Monkey King with an intent gaze as they sized one another up."
panel 2: Monkey boastfully gives Shen a thumbs down.
"Meanwhile, Monkey, confident that he had bested every warrior in heaven... Boasted he would make short work of this young upstart."
panel 3: Gigantic versions of Erlang Shen and Monkey fight between heaven and earth with mountains in the foreground.
"Their epic battle dragged on for hours which turned into days! They fought on the ground, in the air, as blurs of light, and as giants... Monkey was matched blow for blow and could not read the stoic warrior to outwit him."
panel 3: Monkey in the form of a small red swallow-tailed bird (but still bearing Monkey's head) flaps quickly away from a diving gray falcon with a headdress similar to Shen's.
"Feeling he had no choice and to regroup, he resorted to other shapeshifting tricks. Again, Shen matched him each time, even gaining as his adversary decided which form to use next."

Ninja Monkey Comic (updates Wednesday)@ninjamonkeycomic.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Ninja Monkey Prologue p. 1-4 exploring some background on the Monkey King. The comic updates bi-weekly on ninja-monkey.com and you can find advanced pages on Patreon.com/NinjaMonkey or support the comic on www.ko-fi.com/TheDashZ #comics #monkey #ninjamonkey #sunwukong #monkeyking #womenincomics

Ninja Monkey Prologue, page 1
panel one: two beams shoot heavenward from a great mountain
"Long ago when the world was young and the gods has not finished assigning order to the world. A great mountain gave birth to a monkey."
panel two: A manic monkey swings through a forest
"This monkey grew as wild as the nature that surrounded him. And as strong as the rock that birthed him."
panel three: Monkey, now more mature points a staff at a looming, wizened figure who is raising its hands defensively.
"But as to be expected from a monkey, he made great mischief upon the earth... until the gods could ignore him no longer!"

Page 2 Ninja Monkey Prologue
panel 1: Shows Monkey in armor facing a man in gold robes standing atop a dias looking thoughtful.
"After consorting with powerful demons, extorting dragon lords, and defying death itself The jade Emperor, Lord of Heaven, decided to bring t his monkey to heel!"
panel 2: Monkey, now dressed in clothing more befitting a peasant proudly guides a gray horse down a long line of stables.
"Trickster though he was, Monkey was so susceptible to flattery that being offered an office in heaven won him over in an instant. Little did he realize this made up position was the lowest ranking office in the Empire."
Panel 3: Monkey proudly points to himself as four women in finery regard him.
"He only discovered this the night of a great fete. When he offered well-appointed maids his company they cruelly mocked him."
""Oh ho ho! This stable boy thinks he is one of us just because he is in heaven."" They tittered as they floated on."
Panel 4: A herd of gray horses literally thunders across the sky with lightning crackling around them. Many flies with Monkey's head chase and bite the horses, stirring them into a frenzy.
"Outraged at the betrayal, he used his magic and became a plague of biting flies which drove the cloud horses out of heaven causing great chaos!"

Page 4 Ninja Monkey Prologue:
panel 1: Monkey, in armor once again, stands gesturing grandly over a mob of common monkeys at his feet.
"When Monkey returned to earth he boasted that heaven finally recognized him as an equal and to avoid the pain of rejection said he returned ""Because he became bored there.""
Panel 2: The Jade Emperor in his golden robes and sitting in his throne consults an advisor in gray and white.
"When word reached The Jade Emperor of Monkey's betrayal, he became incensed! he was about to prepare for war when a wise advisor suggested he appeal once again to Monkey's ego. ""Give him a meaningless title and a position with more prestige. Surely he will be more compliant.""
Panel 3: Monkey stands indignant before The Jade Emperor with other members of court at his back.
"Monkey was indignant at being summoned before the Heavenly Court. But the wise emperor aimed for Monkey's one weakness. And thus, Sun Wukong "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven", was again snared by his own pride."
Panel 4: Monkey strides with a court servant through a peach grove looking very pleased.
"This time, he was appointed to position of ""Manager of the Empresses' Peach Orchard"" a position that gave him a title, staff and an office (a small shack) to call his own!"
"Impressed with himself, he visited several heavenly nobles to boast and under orders, they tolerated him. Alas, he quickly grew as bored with them as they were of him, which became evident as The Great Peach Festival grew near."

Page 4 Ninja Monkey Prologue
Panel 1: Monkey is lounging bored in the limbs of a peach tree.
"With enthusiasm, Monkey tackled his new job and frequently visited other denizens of heaven to make connections (which often involved boasting of his conquests). Soon, he came to realize how dull his job was. He felt bored and trapped. Who would really blame him for disappearing for days at a time or being found making innocent mischief in the various departments of heaven?"
"Those who were under his command in the royal grove complained how he shirked his duty and would make trouble for them. One day, when they were commanded to harvest peaches for a banquet, they found the trees picked clean of ripe fruit. Panicked workers located Monkey lounging in the limbs of the sacred trees. When they lamented their predicament Monkey saw a chance for entertainment and opportunity to finally attend a big party."
panel 2: Four official looking men stand around in the foreground regarding Monkey with a mixture of disdain and mockery.
"Surely he would be welcome as a hero, he reasoned, if he managed to secure a good harvest of peaches!"
"He announced his own arrival, dressed in his finest regalia and proclaimed he had found the fruit, despite a thief stripping the grove. And how they mocked him for not being able to do such a simple job! ""Foolish pest"" they called him, and "Glorified gardener".
panel 3-5: Monkey greedily devours peaches, guzzles wine, and marvels at handfuls of medicinal tablets.
"Realizing he had been tricked yet again, his revenge was swift."
"This time he gorged himself on the peaches he brought. He fled the party and stumbled on the Emperor's own stash of royal wine! He drained the entire stores in one sitting."
"Drunk and aggreived, finally he broke into Laozi's lab to purloin The Pills of Immortality!"