Ray and I have both received email from members of the roller derby team (of whom we were unaware when we first created these characters). The beginning of the email gave us a sinking feeling as it sounded as though they were unhappy with us using the name, but then we were delighted to find that the team were actually excited for the book and gave us their official blessing.

Ray and I have both received email from members of the roller derby team (of whom we were unaware when we first created these characters). The beginning of the email gave us a sinking feeling as it sounded as though they were unhappy with us using the name, but then we were delighted to find that the team were actually excited for the book and gave us their official blessing.

Thanks for the compliment about my artwork, but I’m afraid that the rest of your post does kind of read as a shot against me. I’m at a stage in my career where I’m fortunate enough to get to choose my own direction, and so after spending more than a year immersed in the gore and bleakness of The Other Side, I wanted something light and enjoyable to cleanse my palate. One of my goals as an artist is to experiment and try a variety of different styles and subjects and not end up repeating myself, and that’s going to include doing “substantial” work like the Other Side balanced with things like The Apocalipstix, which I want to do just for the sheer pleasure of it. We’re also talking of two entirely different audiences – The Other Side, which you apparently enjoyed, is intended for adult readers. The Apocalipstix is aimed at young readers – I’ve gone on record as saying that teenage girls are whom I’d most like to see with a copy of this book. Not to say that adults can’t enjoy it as well, Ray and I of course hope that adults dig it as much as kids, but we have decidedly different intentions with this book than there were with The Other Side.

As for Seaguy, it’s the conclusion to a project that was left unfinished, and I get another opportunity to work with an enormously popular world-class writer whose work is usually regarded as quite “substantial.” How can I say no to that?

I’m sorry neither of these projects are to your tastes but I hope that in future I’ll produce something that you’re again interested in. If I may take a moment to plug myself shamelessly, you can check out my online comic at http://www.sintitulocomic.com, which hopefully you find interesting.

Thanks for your time and your feedback, it’s always appreciated.

Thanks for the compliment about my artwork, but I’m afraid that the rest of your post does kind of read as a shot against me. I’m at a stage in my career where I’m fortunate enough to get to choose my own direction, and so after spending more than a year immersed in the gore and bleakness of The Other Side, I wanted something light and enjoyable to cleanse my palate. One of my goals as an artist is to experiment and try a variety of different styles and subjects and not end up repeating myself, and that’s going to include doing “substantial” work like the Other Side balanced with things like The Apocalipstix, which I want to do just for the sheer pleasure of it. We’re also talking of two entirely different audiences – The Other Side, which you apparently enjoyed, is intended for adult readers. The Apocalipstix is aimed at young readers – I’ve gone on record as saying that teenage girls are whom I’d most like to see with a copy of this book. Not to say that adults can’t enjoy it as well, Ray and I of course hope that adults dig it as much as kids, but we have decidedly different intentions with this book than there were with The Other Side.

As for Seaguy, it’s the conclusion to a project that was left unfinished, and I get another opportunity to work with an enormously popular world-class writer whose work is usually regarded as quite “substantial.” How can I say no to that?

I’m sorry neither of these projects are to your tastes but I hope that in future I’ll produce something that you’re again interested in. If I may take a moment to plug myself shamelessly, you can check out my online comic at http://www.sintitulocomic.com, which hopefully you find interesting.

Thanks for your time and your feedback, it’s always appreciated.