THE TESTIMONY — Page One

The opening page of STEPPERS — the testimony — reproduced here with the biographers’ permission, in advance of publication.

Panel one: a river at night, 1928, drawn in the only style the Regime recognizes.

Panel two: a wheel, and four fingers on the wheel.

Panel three: the men from the Corporation arrive with a contract and a pair of white gloves, folded like a surrender flag.

Panel four: he reads the contract. The whistle stops.

The finished art is inked by hand, photographed from the drawing board, and printed the 1928 way. No machines were consulted. Mickey has had enough of machines.

Until the plates are cleared for release, this placeholder card holds the page’s position on the board. The board does not wait for permission, and neither do we.