So as 654 goes in decending order, it inspires thoughts of countdowns, or counting backwards.  So that's the theme of CC 654. 

Make a comic where there is a countdown or someone is counting backwards.  That's it.  Simple enough. 

Bonus points if you set your comic in Europe.

Let the contest begin in 3... 2... 1... Go!

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"Humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer." ~ Chuck Palahniuk, Choke

I said there would be bonus points for setting your comic in Europe but I'll expand it to just mentioning Europe.  Also, I've been thinking of the many reasons for there to be a countdown or for counting backwards and I'm toying with the idea of awarding the contest to the first comic posted that uses the secret reason I'm thinking of.  Let's see how this plays out.

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"Humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer." ~ Chuck Palahniuk, Choke

Why Ancient Rome never developed a space program by kaufman 10-21-16

X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I, ... Oh shit. We have no number for zero. Guess we need to scrub the launch.

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ken.kaufman@gmail.com

CC:654 "Back-Off" by Makin_d_bacon 10-22-16

Dual in Arizona... Rex, we'll each take 10 paces backwards!..... Then we draw and fire! Let's do it! 10...9...8...7....6...5...4...3...2... 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2... ...at the Grand Canyon! ...1 hehehehe ...1...ayeeeeeeee,.....

Submitted for your viewing pleasure.

Counting Down 3... by Porternotes 10-24-16

OK. We're live in 4... 3... 2... This is a Channel 3 News special report. The world as we'd known it has come to an end at the hands of Trump Industries' new TOBOR 5000. Reporting live from the center of the distruction is reporter, Mitch Rodgers. I believe he's able to get in a few words with TOBOR 5000. Mitch? Thanks, Barbara. TOBOR 5000, what is the motivation behind your destruction of civilization? WELL MITCH, IT'S SIMPLE. I WANT TO MAKE THE WORLD GREAT AGAIN.

Counting Down 2... by Porternotes 10-24-16

TOBOR 5000, I have to ask, you don’t know anything about when the world was great. As far as you know, it’s greater now than it’s ever been? WRONG! I AM THE ULTIMATE JUDGE OF GREAT AND NOT GREAT. THE WORLD IS NOT GREAT. I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CHANGE IT BACK. I have to say, you’ve started with some fairly bold changes. I AM A ROBOT OF ACTION, MITCH. So, are we to assume the goal is to remove all humanity and bring Earth back to some kind of natural state? NOT EXACTLY. SOME HUMANS WILL BE SPARED BUT THERE WILL DEFINITELY BE A CULLING.

Counting Down 1... by Porternotes 10-24-16

So what you’re saying is; not all humans are doomed to utter annihilation? MITCH, I’M A FAIR ROBOT. I WILL SPARE SOME. IN FACT MOST. THEY JUST NEED TO MEET MY CRITERIA. Would you care to share this information with the viewers, so they may prepare for possible survival. ABSOLUTELY! IN FACT, I’M GOING TO DIFFER YOU TO MY MINISTER OF COMPLIANCE. JUST ONE LAST THING, HUMANS… PAY CLOSE ATTENTION. DETAILS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHETHER YOU LIVE OR DIE. Strong words from a strong robot. As the Minister of Compliance, I’m here to illustrate for your viewers the approved European Stretching Exercises.

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https://www.porternotes.com

Brexit in a nutshell #2 by TheGovernor 10-25-16

Five..............Four....... Three.......Two........One Thunderbirds are go? Nope just counting how many dollars I get for my pound sterling in real time

A Couple Decades Ago in the Brin Household by kaufman 10-25-16

10,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,003 10,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,002 10,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,001 For crying out loud, Sergei, it doesn't really matter. Just name the company after the next number you say.

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ken.kaufman@gmail.com

CC 654: Better get that checked out by brycekain 10-28-16

Quietly............ 3...2...1... OW! What was that for?? This is the knife I killed Hitler with in Florida. Didn't he shoot himself in Europe? Nope. By the way, you've got Aids.

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...and if you liked that one, here's a link to my other stupid shit.

CC 654: Don't blink by brycekain 10-28-16

Ready? 3...2...1... HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Is he supposed to be convulsing like that? Poor bastard has startle epilepsy. Guess he won't be needing that European vacation he had planned.

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...and if you liked that one, here's a link to my other stupid shit.

CC 654: Foreign Taste by brycekain 10-28-16

3... 2... 1... DING! Damn British pot pies.

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...and if you liked that one, here's a link to my other stupid shit.

RCL no. 5505 by RandomComicLayoutGuy 10-31-16

...five, four, three, two aaaaaand... ...BLAMMO!! That's it?? Yeah, you'd think that a sperm whale could spooge enough to cover Rosie O'Donnel's fat ass!

RCL no. 5506 by RandomComicLayoutGuy 10-31-16

5, 4, 3, 2, and 1! *ri-i-i-i-i-ing* Hello? *BUUUURRRRRP* WRONG NUMBER, BUTTFACE!!!!!!

RCL no. 5507 by RandomComicLayoutGuy 11-01-16

Ready? Hold on... Wait 'til brycekain comes back from taking a dump. Okay... Count it down. Three... Two... ONE!!! *GAAAAAAAAY*

RCL no. 5508 by RandomComicLayoutGuy 11-01-16

...38, 37, 36, 35, 34- Wait. What? Are Hillary and Trump still the two main choices for president? Yes. Fuck the countdown... Just shoot me already!

3...

You have all day today, tomorrow, and most of Friday to enter.

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"Humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer." ~ Chuck Palahniuk, Choke

If I were choosing the winner I'd HAVE to go with RCGL's comic #5508.

It just seems appropriate!

CC 654: Well he tried to rock the night by brycekain 11-02-16

Let's see............... 5... 4... 3... yup. That's all of 'em. IT'S THE FINAL MOOO COW! It was then that Farmer Dan learned that he was bleeding from the dick.  ew

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...and if you liked that one, here's a link to my other stupid shit.

Makin_d_bacon wrote:

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If I were choosing the winner I'd HAVE to go with RCGL's comic #5508.

It just seems appropriate!

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CC 645: Countdown to Burntown by umfumdisi 11-02-16

We'll be back with the weather in FIVE minutes. But, first, don't FORget to set your clocks back this weekend. You've already said that THREE times, Diane. That's because some people are TOO dumb to remember, Todd. And they end up coming into work late, Todd. Breaking news, Diane. I'm holding up ONE finger, just for you. Much like your wife, Todd, I have ZERO interest in taking you up on that. And now the weather...

Sorry, I got the CC number wrong. Numbers is confusin'.

Also, I no longer seem to be able to edit my comics.

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Chicken Feather Bed Bugs Bunny Hop Sing Out Side Street Walker Texas Ranger Cookie Dough Boy Wonder Years

2...

You have all day today and most of tomorrow.  You guys aren't making this an easy decision and I love you for that!

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"Humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer." ~ Chuck Palahniuk, Choke

RCL no. 5511 by RandomComicLayoutGuy 11-03-16

A LITTLE HELP, PLEASE!!! I'll be off my break in 5, 4, 3, 2- *GASP* Too late. Oops. *gurgle*

1...

Final few hours.  I'll judge this one in about 8 hours. If you got one you've been holding back, now is the time.

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"Humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer." ~ Chuck Palahniuk, Choke

0...

And we are closed.

No one made a comic with the secret situation which was a hypnotist counting backwards as he hypnotised someone. Like this:

Rags to Switches by four_legged_tripod 11-04-16

Just concentrate on my voice. As I count backwards, you'll feel yourself getting sleepier. 3... Sleepier. Your eyelids are geeting heavy. 2... You are fully relaxed. 1... And now you are asleep. Asleep. zzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzz. Did I just see a talking pig leave your office? Don't ask. It doesn't make sense to anyone else either.

So coming in 3rd was a tie between

Why Ancient Rome never developed a space program by kaufman 10-21-16

X, IX, VIII, VII, VI, V, IV, III, II, I, ... Oh shit. We have no number for zero. Guess we need to scrub the launch.

and

CC:654 "Back-Off" by Makin_d_bacon 10-22-16

Dual in Arizona... Rex, we'll each take 10 paces backwards!..... Then we draw and fire! Let's do it! 10...9...8...7....6...5...4...3...2... 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2... ...at the Grand Canyon! ...1 hehehehe ...1...ayeeeeeeee,.....

with kaufman getting bonus points for setting his in Europe.

2nd place goes to RCLG for this gem:

RCL no. 5508 by RandomComicLayoutGuy 11-01-16

...38, 37, 36, 35, 34- Wait. What? Are Hillary and Trump still the two main choices for president? Yes. Fuck the countdown... Just shoot me already!

but the one that got me for the originality of the countdown usage was:

CC 645: Countdown to Burntown by umfumdisi 11-02-16

We'll be back with the weather in FIVE minutes. But, first, don't FORget to set your clocks back this weekend. You've already said that THREE times, Diane. That's because some people are TOO dumb to remember, Todd. And they end up coming into work late, Todd. Breaking news, Diane. I'm holding up ONE finger, just for you. Much like your wife, Todd, I have ZERO interest in taking you up on that. And now the weather...

So umfum, the contest is yours.  Take it away in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

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"Humiliation is humiliation only when you choose to suffer." ~ Chuck Palahniuk, Choke