Is snow a good thing to fall on? – SEE SAW Comics, Webcomics from the Sequential Artists Workshop

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Is snow a good thing to fall on?

Panel 1:
At the top of the panel surrounded by drawings of snowflakes is the question, â€œIs snow a good thing to fall on?â€ Underneath, in a light, snow-like area are the words, â€œIf it is deep, yes.â€ The text continues, â€œAn 11th Airborne Paratrooper, Stanley Melczak, jumped as part of â€œOperation Snowbird in Alaska in January 1955.â€
Panel 2:
At the top of the panel on a gray background, a soldier jumps out of the back of a twin-tailed, twin-engine military aircraft. Below, the text reads, â€œMelczakâ€™s main parachute failed to open. He tried to activate his reserve, but it did not deploy in time.â€
Panel 3:
The text continues at the top of the panel, â€œHe fell around 1,000 feet and landed in a deep snowbank where he was found shortly thereafter.â€ Silhouetted on a white background below the text we see the outline of a skydiver spread-eagled on the snow with parachute lines above his head.
Panel 4:
On a gray background at the top of the panel is the text, â€œMelczak was hospitalized for months with three fractured vertebrae and internal injuries, but he was walking within two weeks and recovered to return to duty.â€ Below the text on a snowy background stands a snowman with a carrot nose. The snowman wears a black top hat. In the foreground we see a soldier, presumably Melczak, from the shoulders up. He has dark hair cut short and wears a military shirt and garrison cap with an insignia on it.
This cartoon is part of a series called Falling. It is written and drawn by Jim Hamilton who can be found on Instagram at Green Harbor Publications (all one word, greenharborpublications).

Tags: informational, Nonfiction

Published On: May 7, 2025

"Thinking in Panels: the cadence of comics, part of free Friday workshops with the Sequential Artists Workshop. When? Friday, May 23, 4pm PDT, 7pm EDT, streaming on Zoom, Youtube. RSVP here: bit.ly/SAW-ElleLimChan. with Elle Lim-Chan aka @phishr-price"

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