Hidden Colors by Sorin Sukumaran.
Transcript:
Panel 1: The comic opens with a profile view of a person peering through binoculars. They’re standing behind a fence, surrounded by yellow prairie grass. A small circular panel contains a close-up of a brown sparrow perched on a twig. Small rays of purple light crown the sparrow. The text narrates: “It’s understood by many that birds can see far more color than us humans, including hues of ultraviolet.”
Panel 2-3: The sparrow is looking through the brush towards a bright purple insect. It catches the insect – a long centipede – in its beak. The sparrow flies down the page, following a wispy purple line as it flaps its wings. It alights on a tree branch next to another sparrow of the same kind. The text reads: “This ability lends itself to hunting, navigation, and courtship.”
Panel 4-6: Several close-ups of this new sparrow showcase its head, feathers, and feet. The feathers on its face and wings are adorned in earthy brown, patterned with cream highlights. Its scaly feet are a pale pink. The text reads: “Perhaps birds that appear rather drab to us…”
Panel 7: A close-up of a sparrow’s eye in the middle of the page. Rainbow rays of light reflect out from the eye like a prism, overlapping the bird’s natural brown coloration. The text, intercepted by the image, continues: “… are actually prismatic…”
Panel 8: The two sparrows are perched next to one another, now sharing the purple insect between them. Their plain brown feathers are now accented by iridescent blue, pink, and purple patterns. Vibrant flowers bloom on the edges of the panel. The text finishes: “…and share amongst themselves the delight of their hidden colors.”
