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April 29, 2024

My Comics DNA

Love at First Thorp

Before you start reading, please click this link and read today’s Gil Thorp. Every click helps Rod and myself get paid! Thank you!

When I was a kid I had a big Marvel coffee table book that included pivotal Amazing Spider-Man issues like #42. One of my favorite panels ever is the first appearance of Mary Jane Watson. I’m not going to beat the dead Spider-Horse regarding MJ and Peter’s love story, but I will say this:

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The iconic panel we parodied on Saturday is, to me, the definition of love at first sight.

We love Spider-Man because he suffers. He can’t pay his rent. He has allegries. He can’t hold a job. We are rooting for the man to snag a win. I grew up reading the daily Spider-Man strips, so getting the job to write a syndicated strip like Gil Thorp was a dream come true. But he needed a shake-up.

My original pitch was Ted Lasso but in high school.

There’s a underlining sadness with Ted.

He’s going through a divorce. Everyone thinks he’s stupid because he’s kind. The team is losing. But the moments that hit you between the eyes is the unwavering positivity under the impossible odds. That’s what I try to give this strip Monday through Friday.

I try to leave my “comics DNA” in everything I do. It’s like trying to figure out which Wally Wood panel that works, but using other panels that work (?).

Trust me, this all made sense in my head before I started typing it out.


RIP Trina Robbins

The lack of communication on my part has been a mixture of clearing my plate, depression, and knowing when to keep my mouth shut when incredible horrible stuff is happening in the comics industry and beyond.

I still haven’t found the words for Trina’s passing, but I will share them eventually. Some of you might remember that I helped Trina publish her last Planned Parenthood anthology that released this year.

Click here to read more about the project and here to get yourself a copy.


This year I’m trying to do things that require me to leave my house that is not for work. My client who just so happens to be in System of A Down gave me a wristband to attend the Sick New World festival. Obviously, SOAD blew the roof off the sky. But getting to see Primus live was a real treat.

BTW, Primus is raising money for St. Jude’s with the instruments the band had to buy to play in Vegas. I think that’s pretty, pretty cool.

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