Comics can be tough, because they ask you to fill immense amounts of time face-to-face with a blank sheet of paper. This is nothing new to most forms of art though. Novelists need to think up compelling characters and illustrate their journeys. Artists need to find an intimate place of visual ground to call their own . All forms of art ask their user to tackle some sort of inner demons. But independent comic artists have to both write, draw, publish, and promote. And our reward is to know that unlike the former samples we most likely won't receive any recognition.

As a kid, when I began to realize comics were what I would devote my life to, this was a fun motivator. We were the underdogs. We we unique. We were our own private island of history and if you didn't have the secret knock, you didn't get in. But sometime last year this changed for me. I'd realized I hadn't read anything in some time that got me excited about the art form. Worse yet, the mainstream comic community could care less about anything that isn't the one genre that keeps the machine standing. What is the point of creating when there is no audience?

I'd never had to deal with that question before. Why create anything then?

And the journey took me back to the beginning. Why did I compulsively draw for twenty years despite my terrible skills? What at all did I find joyous about this process which seemed so filled with negativity and obligation? What stories were worth telling? I spent months away from creating trying to remember. (Creepy how right Scott McCloud is on this. Don't know what I'm referencing? Go read this.)

I found the answer in hard cover form at my local library. It was a book I'd read as a kid and enjoyed a great deal, but when finding it again I was stunned by its' genius. Every panel made me smile. Even more made me laugh out loud, and I don't laugh out loud. The book is the ever famous Sam & Max: Freelance Police.



It reminded me that comics should be as fun to make as to read and when they aren't you should stop. And the story could end there...

What a wonderful after-school special about returning to our youth, yes? Well it gets more complicated. You see I really loved Sam & Max. It was my new inspiration. I needed it as a reference, and more importantly I wanted it to be safe.

So, off to Ebay and Amazon I went - only to find Sam & Max was extremely rare. The rarest of the rare. $125- $1,000+ rare. I loved it but that is a good chunk of publishing a book. I needed another way.

I woke up a few times actually fearing for the book's safety. I kept imaging some sort of cruel Library purge where all books were a dollar. The ratty tabletops being perused by someone who wouldn't appreciate the ART that this book held. Or worse yet, that they'd trash it. (While I admit that I'm exceptionally lame for these thoughts they are based in fact. I have a 1940 copy of "Les Enfants Terrible" which I saved from being salvaged last year. The year before it was a copy of "It's a good life if you don't weaken" and two copies of "ACME Novelty Library". Comics are the first things to be jetisoned, followed by very old good books.)

Something needed to be done. I wore jeans, tried to act "cool" and borrowed the book from the library. Then I...ahem..."somehow lost the bag". Yes, I know, I'm terrible because I've robbed others of this dried wood pulp joy. My conscience said it was okay because they had another copy.

I've heard rumors of a reprint. If this is true I''d be happy to return it to it's rightful owner. For the time being I'm just trying to be a good guardian and student.



People always ask with a grin "How's the book coming?" like if somehow I stopped sleeping it might happen faster or better. The best part of making the book is the process, and how it changes you. I've been writing and drawing 3 new stories off and on for over the past 4 years. I love comics and all, but it is beginning to feel like a miracle they're still being worked on some sort everyday.

I have Sam & Max here by my desk so that sooner than later I can hand them a copy and they can see for themselves.


For those of you that have enjoyed Sam & Max, you know my point of view. Let's play Fizzball sometime.