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| The Cover to Issue Nine |
Welcome Back! If you're reading this, then you either enjoyed Part One, or you really are that bored.
Now, I hope you don't mind, but I would like to take a few seconds to go off topic...well, in a way, it's on topic, but off topic at the same time.
Confused?....you're not the only one!
I just wanted to take this moment to say that this post was scheduled to go up on April 15th 2013. But alas, there was the tragedy at the Boston Marathon where several innocent civilians were killed and injured.
Out of respect for them, and their families & friends, I decided to leave it until today. It was heart breaking seeing it all over the news, and my condolences are with those who have been effected by this tragedy.
I won't spend this whole post going on about it, but I did feel that it needed to be mentioned, especially as America is very close to my heart, and I have several friends over there who I care about dearly.
Now, on with the show!
Last time I was explaining how I came up with the idea of Jericho, and how it has stirred up a fair bit of controversy because some of the characters swear in the book. Even though a lot of time has passed since the first encounter of people complaining about the language used in the book, I cannot help but ask myself: 'Really?....Swearing?....The violence, bloodshed, and sexual abuse that the characters experience is okay, but swearing is punishable on death'?
Now, I understand that some people find swearing offensive. That's fine. Everyone has the right to be offended. But just remember: This is my book...Not yours...I call the shots, and there is this little thing called freedom of speech. And Freedom is a two way street. If you want the freedom to complain about swearing, then you have to also give people the freedom to swear, and to use swear words in their writing if they see it to be fit.
Besides, if you don't like the book, then it takes less energy to put it down, and stop reading it, than it does to go out and moan about it knowing full well that it will not change anything.
Sorry if that sounded like a negative little moaning session there, but it needed to be said. I do my best to be positive in all aspects of life, and it has got me very far in what I do. I try my best to be a decent and selfless human being. However, I will stand up for my right to self expression through my art, regardless of if my art is writing, music, painting, drawing etc etc.
Anyway, the language in the book wasn't the only thing to cause a bit of a stir. In fact, a certain cliffhanger in Issue three caused me to be flooded with a lot of messages. So, if you haven't read the series yet, then I shall warn you now...SPOILER ALERT!!!
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| The Limited Edition Cover To Issue Three |
But this was also an issue that struck home for me, and obviously for many others as well. I got to write a cliffhanger that I had originally intended for Issue one, but left it until Issue 3 otherwise it would have come along on in Issue one, but you wouldn't have known enough about the characters to care. So I saw the chance to use it exactly how I intended...I ended Issue 3 with Carl being diagnosed with an aggressive and inoperable brain tumor, and being given only three weeks left to live.
Writing that scene gave me goosebumps, and drawing it made me recall what it was like when I first heard that my Father had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and given 6 weeks left to live. In my eyes it was a touching and moving moment in the story. Once the work had finished on the issue I looked back at that cliffhanger and thought 'This is it, Fwah...This is the best cliffhanger you've done so far...This is going to make a few readers misty eyed'.
Well, I wasn't far off. From the messages I received it turned out that a few readers got to that moment in the story, and their hearts sank. To me this was a sign of writing an emotional scene, and doing it just right.
However, I was also flooded with messages that can only be described as the perfect mix of angry, and seeking reassurance.
One message I received opened with 'YOU BASTARD'!.....Oh, so I'm not allowed to put swearing in my comic book, but you're allowed to put it in your e-mail, huh?....anyway, it continued with:
'How dare you?! How can you kill off such an innocent character! Do you have no respect for life what so ever'?
Naturally I thought that someone had just forgotten the difference between reality and fiction, and that if I acted like the lesser spotted Ostrich, then maybe they would get over it, and find someone else to harass....Oh, boy, was I wrong!
Following that message I received several messages calling me plenty of different names that I had not been called since I was at school, and it was all because they honestly believed that I had killed Carl, or that I was going to.
I decided the fate of Carl long before I even put the pen to paper to write issue one. As I said before, I like to think about things as far in advance as possible with a story like this one. So there was nothing they could do or say to change my mind, and in my defense; Carl was diagnosed, and not killed in issue three. HE appears in the other issues that followed.
It's nice to see people being passionate about your work, and your stories, but it's scary to think that so many people out there do not understand the difference between fiction and reality (which I swear is normally one of the early signs of being a sociopath. But then again, I could be wrong).
But mixed in with some of these crude and rude messages were a lot of people who were not only asking if Jerry would save Carl, but they were actually pleading with me to let her save Carl....I shit you not!
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| Page 15 of Issue Four |
Now, I will admit, I have felt very passionate about characters before. So much so that with certain events in the story telling I have either been on the edge of my seat, or I have cheered as loudly as possible, or I have even cried with them. But the whole time I have understood and respected that the creator/writer will only do what he or she believes to be best.....Oh, and I still remember that it's fictional.
But even though it caused a bit of a commotion, and it made it very hard for to get on with issue four because I was replying to so many of these messages, I really appreciated the fact that so many people were so invested in my characters. It really is a heart warming feeling when you realize that so many people are standing up for them, and cheering them, and I will always be grateful for that.
I think it's a perfect example to show that if you love and adore your characters, then so will others.
In all honesty I really appreciate and respect all the people who have given Jericho a chance, and have shown nothing more than love and support for the character and the series. It's because of all of you that Jericho got nominated for awards, and looks to have a bright future.
There is so much going on for the book right now; Including but not limited to a second story arch being published, an animated feature film, and so much more that I cannot talk about right now. But if you keep your eyes on the Reload Comics Facebook page (www.facebook.com/reloadcomics), then you will soon see for yourself that Jericho's journey has only just begun, and that it will continue to get bigger and brighter as the days pass.
Thank you all for your support, and if you haven't read Jericho, but you have an interest in doing so, then please go to www.reloadcomics.tk and grab hold of a copy of 'Jericho: Downfall'. Or if you prefer your comics in a digital format, then visit https://payhip.com/b/Nk5c
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