TITLE The Bastich By Hart
PANEL 1 (BASTICH, PAST-STICH and FUTURE-STICH all sit on the couch watching TV.) TV: "...and I would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddlin' kids!" PAST-STICH: Can you believe that? Farmer Smith was the LAST guy I would've suspected.
PANEL 2 (Suddenly, EL-KRAHN emerges from a time portal.) EL-KRAHN: Greetings, Bastich(es). It is I, El-Krahn, returning to your time to repair the temporal rifts your multiple presence has created.
PANEL 3 (PAST-STICH gets off the couch while BASTICH comments.) BASTICH: You mean, this dreadful sub-plot is finally coming to an end? PAST-STICH: 'bout fraggin' TIME!
PANEL 4 (PAST-STICH jumps through the time portal while EL-KRAHN addresses the other Bastiches.) PAST-STICH: I'm outta here! EL-KRAHN: You're next, Bastich...
PANEL 5 (BASTICH shoves FUTURE-STICH.) BASTICH: Well, so long. Don't forget to write! FUTURE-STICH: Hey, pal, I'm not going anywhere! BASTICH: Is that so?
PANEL 6 (BASTICH kicks FUTURE-STICH into the time portal.) FUTURE-STICH: No, wait! You don't understand-- BASTICH: No tire to argue. Catch ya later!
PANEL 7 (EL-KRAHN raises his hands to his face in terror.) EL-KRAHN: NOOO!! You stellar FOOL! That portal was meant for YOU! It goes back in time to the point where you first met your other selves!
PANEL 8 (EL-KRAHN raises his fists and yells at BASTICH.) EL-KRAHN: You were fated to live out the role of "Future Bastich" in order to bring this affair full circle. Now you've created a temporal paradox that could cause the very fabric of the universe to come crashing down on us!
PANEL 9 (BASTICH and EL-KRAHN silently face each other for a beat.)
PANEL 10 (BASTICH speaks as EL-KRAHN lowers his fists.) BASTICH: I won't tell anybody if you don't. EL-KRAHN: Works for me.
CREDITS Bastich (c) 1997 Joshua Adam Hart
Commentary
This web-only strip quickly sweeps the Multi-stich storyline under the rug. I didn't have any more plans for scenario, and I think this punchline was a decent payoff for the whole thing.