Stephanie Mannheim

Roxie screams as she runs into her hotel room and slams the door shut. She’s so angry, she’s not even smoking a cigarette. “RAAAGH!” she shrieks as she rips a pillow in two. Roxie then flushes the TV remote down the fancy toilet with a bidet. With a lamp overturned and the room in disarray, Roxie screams, “FUCK!” She furiously eats her alarm clock. “I am NOT fucking old!” shouts Roxie, shaking her fists in the air.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 21

Sleazo sits at the head of a conference table. Four record label execs join her. “Okay, we’re all here,” one of them says. “Wait,” says Sleazo. “My manager isn’t here yet. We can’t start without her. She should be on her way— lemme give her a call.” In the dressing room, Pamela’s phone buzzes. Her head is still stuck in the top she’s trying on. She can’t answer. “Everything okay in there?” a consignment shop worker calls out. “It’s been two hours…” “I’m fine!” shouts Pamela. Her phone continues to buzz. Back at the conference room, Sleazo looks at her phone as it goes to voicemail. “Hmm… no answer,” she says. “Well, let’s just get started. First things first— I’ll need 40 VOSS® waters per day”.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 20

At Warner Music Group’s offices, a Gen Z receptionist sits next to her colleague. The colleague was probably a bike messenger in his 20s, but those days are long gone. He gazes in awe at a mysterious visitor, who struts in platform loafers. So far, we only see her shoes. The platforms say “BUSINESS” on both sides of each shoe. Zooming out, we see it’s Sleazo, wearing a cropped blouse with a tie, shorts, and an oversized plaid blazer. The older receptionist points and excitedly shouts, “There’s Sleazo!” He then turns to his colleague. “Oops, sorry,” he says. “She’s a little ahead of your time.” The younger receptionist looks annoyed. “I know who Sleazo is,” she says. “I hear they’re offering her a crazy deal.” “They’re actually offering her one of the BEST record deals,” the older receptionist smugly explains. “I literally just said that,” says the younger receptionist. “No you didn’t,” says the older receptionist. “You said it was a CRAZY deal.”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 19

Roxie stands on the table as a crowd gathers around her. Angrily, she screams: “I’m playing a NOSTALGIA festival?”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 18

“… And that’s why I never did mushrooms at Claire’s again,” says Roxie. Still in the hotel lounge, she’s finished both Bloody Marys and smokes a cigarette. “Fascinating,” says Kim, as she continues the interview. “So, Roxie. What role does nostalgia play in your gigs? I mean, you were THE soundtrack to my high school years.” Roxie looks flattered. “Aw, what! Thanks—“ she stops. “…Wait. You’re saying I’m a NOSTALGIA act?” “Well… YEAH!” says Kim. “But don’t you know that? Anyone playing OLDFEST tomorrow is…” “Oldfest?” Roxie looks angry. “What’s OLDFEST?” “Uh… it’s the festival YOU’RE playing tomorrow?” “WHAT?” Roxie shrieks.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 17

“Let me know if you need anything,” says the thrift store worker as she leads Pamela into a dressing room. The worker hands her some outfits. She picked them out herself. “Thanks!” says Pamela. The thrift store worker rolls her eyes. “Ugh, whatever.” Pamela steps inside the dressing room. Looking at herself in the floor-length mirror, she holds up a sweater with several openings, more than the usual “neck, arms, torso” configuration. Pamela examines the sweater. “Hmm…” she says to herself. “Which one is the neck hole…” She pulls the sweater over her head me struggles to get it on. “Mmph!” She struggles some more. Her head is stuck. “Aw, fuck,” says Pamela.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 16

In Lorimer Vintage, a trendy Brooklyn consignment shop, Pamela contemplates her fading youth. “I used to think I’d be young and cool forever,” she says. “I took it for granted. All those long nights out… but do I have to get less cool the older I get? I mean, Blair seems to have it together.” The thrift store employee stares at Pamela, bored. “Who the fuck is Blair.” She turns around. “Whatever. Let me grab some things for you to try on.” Pamela eagerly follows her.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 15

Roxie, smoking a cigarette, waves to a young journalist. “Roxie? Hey!” the journalist says. “I’m Kim. From Vulture. So nice to meet you!” Roxie shakes Kim’s hand. “Same.” The two of them sit down. “So,” says Kim, “I’m interviewing a bunch of artists—“ “Hang on a sec.” Roxie sticks her finger in the air. “Oh waiter! Two Bloody Marys.” “I, uh, don’t drink,” says Kim. “Don’t worry,” says Roxie, “they’re both for me”. The waiter arrives with the cocktails. Roxie starts slobbering. “Alright!” she cries. “Let’s get this interview started.” “Great,” says Kim, “first question…”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 14

Back in Pamela’s hotel room, she looks at herself in the mirror. “No. NO.” She’s wearing a J Crew sweater and pleated midi skirt. “This is ALL WRONG,” she screams. Behind her, more preppy outfits are strewn haphazardly across the room. “I can’t be seen in this at Katie’s party (whoever she is). I can’t be seen in ANY of this!” Outside Pamela’s room, Roxie walks across the hotel hallway, smoking a cigarette. We hear Pamela’s shriek (“GODDAMMIT!”) echo through the hall. Roxie walks into the hotel lounge.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 13

Pamela pulls out her phone and scrolls. “Well, guess what? We dated for five whole years! See?” She shows her phone to Roxie. On the screen is a photo of Pamela and Blair from the late 2000s. They’re at a party, holding cigarettes. Pamela wears a crop top and drinks a 40. Blair wears an American Apparel body suit, 70s exercise shorts, and one of those thin headbands people used to wear across their swoopy bangs. It looks like one of those Cobrasnake photos. Roxie states at the photo. “Whoa. That’s YOU?” “Gotta say,” says Pamela, “I was PRETTY cool back then.” “Yeah. What happened?” “Well, we started growing apart and—“ “No, I mean how did you get so lame?” Pamela pouts. “I am NOT lame.” “You keep thinking that,” says Roxie, as she shrugs and walks away. Pamela looks haunted. She thinks to herself: “am I?”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 12

Hearing Pamela is in town, Blair asks, “Really? How long are you here for?” “Through Monday…” “So you can make it to Katie’s party?” Blair looks excited. Pamela thinks on her feet. She has no idea who Katie is. “Uhhh of course! Wouldn’t miss it!” “Yay! See you there!” Blair walks off, waving to Pamela. Pamela waves back, nervous. Suddenly, Roxie arrives, smoking a cigarette. “Who was THAT?” she asks. Pamela is annoyed. “What’re YOU doing here? You should be in your hotel—“ “Who was THAT, Pamela.” Pamela blushes. “Uhhh… my ex.” “NO WAY,” says Roxie. “She’s so hot and you’re so… uh… not… hot.”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 11

A voice behind Pamela calls out her name. She turns around to see a beautiful, effortlessly cool woman. “Heeey!” the woman calls out. “Long time no see!” “Blair?” asks Pamela. “Ha!” says Blair. “Didn’t know if you’d still recognize me. How long has it been? 15 years?” Pamela looks nervous. “Uhhh…” She’s lost in thought. “What do I say?” she thinks. “‘It took me years to get over you?’” Blair continues talking while Pamela ponders her situation. “Of course she sees me right after a six hour plane ride… aw shit, I’m not even listening to her.” Blair hasn’t noticed. “So, what have you been up to?” she asks. “Decided to move back?” “Nah,” says Pamela. “Still living in LA… I’m here for work.”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 10

“You’re not still managing Roxie, are you?” asks Sleazo. Pamela looks nervous. “W-why do you ask?” “No reason,” says Sleazo. She turns around to sit up. “Except if you are, I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!” Sleazo screams into the phone, her teeth fangs. Pamela stares at her phone, dumbfounded. “N-no…” she lies, “I’m not managing Roxie…” Now Pamela looks really nervous.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 9

Sleazo is on the other end of the line. “Hi, Pamela,” she says. She’s at a spa, getting a massage from a himbo. “So, you’re all set for your meeting with Warner tomorrow,” says Pamela. Sleazo smiles. “Excellent.” “But listen,” Pamela cautions. “You CANNOT start the meeting without me. This could be a very good deal for you—“ “Got it.” “—IF you let me do the talking.” “Yeah. Uh huh.” Sleazo isn’t really listening. “Oh yeah, Pamela?” “What?”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 8

“Look,” says Roxie. She points to CBGB Times Square: Lounge & Hotel. The awning looks like that of the original CBGB’s, but grander and more opulent. “We have to go.” Pamela covers her face. “No.” “C’mon!” says Roxie. “It looks sooooooo stupid!” “No!” Pamela scowls. “We’re almost at the hotel.” The car stops in front of the Central Park Ritz-Carlton. Roxie and Pamela enter the hotel’s lobby. “You can check in under my name— I need to step outside for a sec,” says Pamela. “Sure,” says Roxie, still smoking. Pamela walks outside and pulls out her phone. “…It’s me,” she says to the person on the other line. Who could it be?!?

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 7

Spotty: A Comics Anthology Spotty is a comics anthology about all things acne- the good, the bad, the ugly, and beautiful.

I have a comic in this anthology! 2 days in and we’ve almost hit our goal: kck.st/3CxKNCJ

Roxie and Pamela ride in a Lincoln Navigator through midtown Manhattan. They pass a theater announcing “Sleazo on Broadway”. Underneath that sign is a framed poster of Sleazo, Roxie’s former bandmate, wearing sunglasses. Roxie scowls and smokes a cigarette out the car window. “Sleazo’s such a sellout,” says Roxie. “Ex-CUSE me!” says Pamela. “You’ve sold like a zillion albums.” Roxie rolls her eyes. “Ohhhh blah blah blah.” “Listen to me, Roxie,” says Pamela. “Bands break up, you’re gonna get competitive with your old bandmates. But remember, Sleazo used to be your friend. And—“ “OH MY GOD.” Roxie eagerly looks our the window. She sees something exciting…

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 6

(that last 2-page spread was pages 4-5)

4 PM: Ken and I brainstorm the page I’m working on. I tell him “I can’t have it take place in Park Slope,” he responds “yeah, hmm…” 5 PM: Getting the hang of this page. I draw, Ken reads a book. We listen to a Boiler Room set while we do this. 6 PM: We eat dinner and I start drafting some stuff for a conference this summer. I just do it on my phone, not on my laptop. Summer feels far away but it’ll be here sooner than I realize.

2025 hourlies, part 3

1 PM: Running errands 2 PM: Drawing comics 3 PM: I’m in a frustrating spot in my comic. Yesterday, I decided to change where [the scene I’m working on] takes place. But that means I’ll need to redraw this panel.

2025 hourlies, part 2

9 AM: I’m awake… 10 AM: “Time to learn German…” says the Duolingo own. “Yes, Duolingo Owl,” I respond. 11 AM: Ken and I sit on the couch. “Let’s see what’s new on Criterion,” he says. 12 PM: Leftovers for lunch

2025 hourlies, part 1

Title page: a double-page spread of the Manhattan skyline

Pamela throws her arms up, exasperated. “I has a gig for you, but I give up!” She walks away from Roxie. “Enjoy being retired! Have a nice life! Enjoy not being relevant!” Roxie gasps. “Wh-aaa?” She runs up to Pamela. “I TOO am relevant!” she shouts. “What are you talking about?” says Pamela. “You said you were OLD!” Roxie clenches her fists, looking deranged. “I NEED THIS GIG”.

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 3

Pamela, Roxie’s manager, stands behind her and screams Roxie’s name. Roxie gasps, startled. “Wha— what are you doing here?” asks Roxie. Pamela moves closer to Roxie. “You left the gate unlocked, genius! Where have you been? You haven’t answered any of my calls, emails, texts…” Roxie rolls her eyes. “Ugh! I’m retired, leave me alone!” “No you’re not!” “I am! I’m old and washed up! Nobody wants to see me onstage! Besides,” Roxie ashes her cigarette, “I like being retired!” Pamela gasps. “No! Think of all the songs you’re dying to record.” “…None?” “Okay, fine.”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 2

These are the same pages I’ve been posting on Instagram, adding them here slowly so I don’t spam you all

Panel 1: Roxie lounges by a pool Panel 2: Zoom in Panel 3: Pamela is calling Panel 4: Roxie declines call Panel 5: Text from Pamela— “where are you?” Panel 6: Text from Pamela— “??”

Roxie’s Comeback, p. 1