DONARUDO
WEEK 047 / 073 — The Field Stands Empty
 Chapter 4 — The Primaries · May 3 – May 9, 2016
Manga panel 1 of 5, Week 47 “The Field Stands Empty”: ultra-wide facing podiums compressed into the right two-thirds of the frame, speed lines converging; round-faced man with slick dark hair, hooded eyes, thin smile cracked, grips a splintering podium…
MAY 3, 2016. INDIANA — THE COURTIER-SCHEMER'S LAST WALL. UNDER SIEGE, IT BEGINS TO CRACK.
Wow, Lyin' Ted Cruz really went wacko today. Made all sorts of crazy charges. Can't function under pressure - not very presidential. Sad!
Lyin' Ted Cruz consistently said that he will, and must, win Indiana. If he doesn't he should drop out of the race-stop wasting time…
Manga panel 2 of 5, Week 47 “The Field Stands Empty”: shot from below, an imposing older man with a sweeping golden pompadour mane haloed in stage light, heavy brow, strong jowled jaw, very long red necktie flowing like a battle banner, both arms…
“Thank you Indiana, we were just projected to be the winner. We have won in every category. You are very special people-I will never forget!”
Manga panel 3 of 5, Week 47 “The Field Stands Empty”: a round-faced man with slick dark hair and hooded eyes walks alone into darkness away from a shattered podium across the lower half of the square frame, shoulders bowed, his long shadow stretching…
THAT NIGHT THE COURTIER-SCHEMER LOWERS HIS BANNER. SIXTEEN RIVALS HAVE FALLEN. THE FIELD STANDS EMPTY.
Manga panel 4 of 5, Week 47 “The Field Stands Empty”: vast marble party hall, rows of shadowed elder figures look down from high benches along the top of the square frame; alone at the center, imposing older man with a sweeping golden pompadour mane…
“Paul Ryan said that I inherited something very special, the Republican Party. Wrong, I didn't inherit it, I won it with millions of voters!”
Manga panel 5 of 5, Week 47 “The Field Stands Empty”: ultra-wide summit of a fortress-like tower: at the right half of the frame an imposing older man with a sweeping golden pompadour mane, heavy brow, small intense eyes, strong jowled jaw grins over a…
“Happy #CincoDeMayo! The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanics!”
THE CONQUEROR DINES ALONE ABOVE AN EMPTY BATTLEFIELD. THE CROWN IS WON — BUT THE PARTY HE BROKE MUST STILL BE MADE TO KNEEL.
TO BE CONTINUED →

This week in the saga

The chronicle records the fall of Indiana, the last wall: the courtier-schemer cracks under siege by daylight and lowers his banner by nightfall, leaving all sixteen rivals defeated and the field empty. Yet the war does not end cleanly — a party elder calls the conquered banner an inheritance and is corrected like a squire, and the victor marks his triumph with the strangest feast in the saga, dining alone over a single bowl at the summit of his tower.

Readers' Corner

Letters from the readership on Week 047. Pick a pen name — no account needed.

Opening the mailbag…