Chuck Crown does not ask Drake Marshall whether he likes the song. He wants to know whether Drake will tell the truth about its power.
The cassette clicks into the deck of Chuck’s black Mercedes estate wagon. First Chuck accuses Drake of treating literature like property: read an old writer, acquire a piece of him. Drake almost agrees. Then Chuck lays down his rule for the music. The threat is ridiculous, but the rule matters to him.
Drake answers with another song and another idea of power. The car keeps moving. So does the argument, from books to heavy metal to the peculiar theater of being fifteen and absolutely certain that musical taste is a matter of honor.
Read the comic transcript
Panel 1
Chuck: “You act like literature is some kind of real estate you can buy, like since you read some author from the 19th century you own a piece of something.”
Drake: “Well, I guess it feels that way.”
Panel 2
Chuck: “All I know is, that if you betray this song I’ll kick you in the nuts.”
Drake: “How would I betray it?”
Panel 3
Chuck: “By lying about it. By pretending it doesn’t have power.”
Panel 4
Drake: “The question is, what’s more powerful, Neon Knights or Roadhouse Blues?”
Chuck: “I won’t kick you in the nuts for Roadhouse Blues.”
Drake: “Look man, why don’t we go find some Duran Duran fans and intimidate them?”