One of the things that the story isn’t really good at delineating is the difference between the past and the present. For example: I’m not entirely certain when the main portion of the page is occurring. I do know that the inset panels are in the present – and I would like to infer that they are in reaction to the main portion of the page.

Also, “Bird Shit!” is a great reaction no matter what tense you are in.

(Heavy Metal issue #209, October 2003 – Page 107 Bamboo Memories #1 by Malnati)