Nov 8, 12:43 PM · Post-Interstate Blues
I drove my mother-in-law back from Colorado yesterday. She has been there for several months caring for her father, who passed away last week. I offered to drive her back the day after the funeral; she was so drained. I hope that she can rest easy now.
It was a quiet ride back, and I thought of many things to myself as we hurtled down the interstate. However, when we got home, I instantly started to get bogged down in everything I was thinking about before I left. I hated it. I hated all those thoughts.
Even though it was for a funeral, the trip was refreshing and cleansing, I was out of my environment. When I returned, I didn’t like what I called “home.”
I think I would despair if it wasn’t for this comic. It feels like the only thing I’ve done right sometimes. It has taken a few years of my life to do this thing. I look around, and most people I know could never do this. Hell, secretly, I didn’t think I could do this, but I have.
I just finished the cover to Issue 4. It’s an easy but fitting solution to the theme of the book (easy in the sense that I used an already finished illustration from the book). That’s it, though. I’m done with the creative execution of this book. I’ve written and illustrated 120 pages of a sequential story. Writing that last sentence… wow… I can’t believe it.
I’ve written and illustrated 120 pages of a sequential story.
It has by far been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It has taken more patience from me than I ever thought I could muster, and I’m happy to say that it has opened some doors. Most importantly, I finally feel like I’ve accomplished a dream. I finally feel like a comic creator.
And that is what I’m holding onto with a relentless grip; that is what made these last three days wonderful and what I’m using to get by now with these feelings of depression. When I introduced myself to people at the funeral and visitation, I could look them in the eye and tell them I was a comic book creator, and I could mean it.
I have to clean up now, and go see my family for some football. Tomorrow, I’ll prepare the issue for archiving and sending to Unbound Comics. This is by far the last post to this blog. While up until now it has been about the creative process, the next part will be about getting it out to you, the readers.