Yakuza! Issue 0: Welcome Back Carter

PAGE 1 (1 Panel)

Panel 1. Arrival of a flag-draped coffin, being saluted by Marine Corps honor-guards as it’s coming off an airplane. In upper left corner are title/credits. In lower right corner is a newspaper page showing the Obituaries page.

CAPTION
Yakuza!: Welcome Back Carter

NEWSPAPER
(Other Obits are cut off, so they can’t be fully read, focusing on the Obit for Sergeant Michael Carter, which includes an official picture of the Marine.)

Sergeant Michael E. Carter
1988 - 2011

Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Carter was found dead near his in Okinawa City, Okinawa Japan on February 10th, 2011. Local authorities determined that the death was the result of an automobile accident. Sergeant Carter had been an enlisted member of the Marine Corps for 5 years, moving up through the ranks to Enlisted rank 5. Sergeant Carter is survived by his parents, Susan and Fredrick Carter, and by his siblings, Marcus (17), Alicia (14), and Anthony (14). Private funeral services will be held March 7, 2011 at the Holy Mountain Baptist Church.
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PAGE 2 (5 Panels)

Panel 1. Several Marines sit around a table, with a couple of Japanese men playing poker. There’s a large jackpot in the middle, and everyone is quite drunk and smoking cigars.

CAPTION
July 16th, 2010

Panel 2. Closer to Sergeant Carter, who is laughing and pointing to another Marine, who is tossing his cards down on the table.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Come on, Mirelles, you in or out?

CORPORAL MIRELLES
Ya' got me, man. I'm out.

Panel 3. The door of the smoky room opens and a Japanese man in a white suit (Omori Kuso) is there, surrounded by other men in darker suits. Everyone at the poker table looks up at the white-suited man in silence.

Panel 4. Close up on Omori Kuso, who smirks at the players.

Panel 5. Omori Kuso takes a seat in a corner of the room where he can see everything. The Japanese men at the poker table go over to him, abandoning the game. Sergeant Carter looks confused.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Hey...wait a minute. You can't just...
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PAGE 3 (4 Panels)

Panel 1. Omori Kuso stands up, looking toward Sergeant Carter. Sergeant Carter is pointing to one of the Japanese men who left the table.

OMORI KUSO
Forgive me for interrupting your game. You may continue.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
But he...

Panel 2. Omori Kuso returns to his seat, as another one of the Marines looks at Sergeant Carter.

MARINE 2
Dude, forget it. Just play. They're out.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Uh...yeah, all right. Fine. Who's still in?

Panel 3. One of the other soldiers tosses a wad of bills onto the growing pile.

MARINE 3
Just you and me, Serg. That's the last I got.

Panel 4. Sergeant Carter is looking out of the corner of his eye toward Omori Kuso, who is watching them silent.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Er...yeah. All right. I'll see you. What you got?
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PAGE 4 (5 Panels)

Panel 1. The other Marine lays down his cards, showing a good hand; three of a kind.

Panel 2. Omori Kuso is forgotten for a moment, as Sergeant Carter grins widely, laying down his hand.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Read 'em and weep, my friends. I win again.

Panel 3. Close up on Sergeant Carter's cards as he lays them down, showing a full house.

Panel 4. Sergeant Carter is reaching for the pile of loot, as the other soldier groans in defeat.

Panel 5. Omori Kuso stands up again, clapping. Sergeant Carter and the others look at him, while Carter is half-way through dragging his winnings toward himself.

OMORI KUSO
Congratulations, Sergeant Carter.
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PAGE 5 (6 Panels)

Panel 1. Sergeant Carter stands up, looking at Omori Kuso, as the other Marines stare silently. Omori Kuso grins back.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Who are you? How do you know my name?

OMORI KUSO
I am Omori Kuso. I own this establishment. You are here because I allow you to be here.

Panel 2. Omori Kuso's men pull out a variety of guns aimed at the soldiers, who react by moving away from the table toward the door. Sergeant Carter looks around confused.

OMORI KUSO
But now, it is time for your friends to leave so we may speak.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Hey...wait a minute...

Panel 3. The Japanese men chase the other Marines out the door, leaving Sergeant Carter standing at the table by himself.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
You can't do this. We're United States Marines.

Panel 4. Close up on Omori Kuso who is smirking.

OMORI KUSO
Do not forget, Sergeant Carter. Your people are in our country by our invitation. You will be leaving soon, also by our desire.

Panels 5 and 6. Close up on Sergeant Carter's and Omori Kuso's eyes as they stare down one another.
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PAGE 6 (4 Panels)

Panel 1. Omori Kuso raises a hand, singling to his men. The men herd Sergeant Carter toward Omori Kuso using their guns.

OMORI KUSO
Mochihakobu kare-o.

SERGEANT MICHALE CARTER
Hey! What the...?!

Panel 2. Omori Kuso nods to one of the men, who hits Sergeant Carter in the back of his knees, making him drop to the floor.

OMORI KUSO
Hizamazuku!

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
I don't under...AHH!

Panel 3. Omori Kuso laughs, leaning over to look down at Sergeant Carter, who is looking up with a snarl on his face.

OMORI KUSO
You have been here many months now, and you do not know simple words? Pathetic American dog.

Panel 4. Close up on Sergeant Carter, who looks somewhat afraid.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
Wh...what do you want from me? You gonna kill me? That what this is about?
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PAGE 7 (6 Panels)

Panel 1. Omori Kuso sits down once more, and his henchmen lift Sergeant Carter up so he is still on his knees, but his upper body is upright.

OMORI KUSO
Perhaps. You are no good for business.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
What do you mean? I bring guys in here all the time.

Panel 2. Omori Kuso shakes his head, but he's still grinning.

OMORI KUSO
But you win. No one likes to fight a battle they cannot win. Soon, they will stop coming because they cannot beat you.

Panel 3. Sergeant Carter looks back at the table, which is piled with small change and trinkets.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
But...we don't play for much. It's just fun. We buy food and drinks. Isn't that enough?

Panel 4. Omori Kuso has an evil gleam in his eye as he leans forward once more. Sergeant Carter is looking back at him.

OMORI KUSO
No, Sergeant Dog. It is not enough.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
What is then? What do you want?

Panel 5. Omori Kuso leans in face to face with Sergeant Carter.

OMORI KUSO
I want you to play for me. Half of what you win, belongs to me. I will let you live so long as you remain useful.

SERGEANT MICHAEL CARTER
I...I guess I ain't got a choice, huh?

Panel 6. Close up on Sergeant Carter who is sweating and appears to be defeated.

SERGEANT MICHALE CARTER
Do you really think you'll get away with this?
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PAGE 8 (1 Panel)

Panel 1. Full page close up of Omori Kuso grinning manically.

OMORI KUSO
Yes. We are Yakuza. We run this country. And now, we own you.