"Definately NOT a Team Up"
During my long absence in the end of 2002, I had many strange experiences. Perhaps one of the most bizarre took place at a bar in a T.G.I. Friday's restaurant. How I got there, I can't say for sure. Perhaps forces beyond my comprehension drew me. Or I was asleep and fallen victim to a sinister Neil Gaiman plot. Or it was $2 beer night and I was suckered into being the designated driver. Whatever the reason, on that night I found myself sitting across a dimly lit table with the most insane group of comic book geeks I have ever met.
There were four of them; three men and a young lady. Their eyes were wide and bloodshot like addicts in the middle of a high. Only comics were their brand of drugs. They reeked of mylar.
"Draw for us!" they hissed wildly like relatives of Golem. "Draw so that we can see you at work!" they repeated, waving their arms around, almost as if trying to show off their cloisonne Green Lantern ring replicas.
I declined at first. "I'm sorry", I said; "I can't do it. I have a comic I have to work on and I promised I wasn't going to take any more projects."
"DRAW!" they screeched. "DRAW RACKOON FOR US!" Their request was chilling for I never showed that character to anyone in public before. It was as if they were staring into my soul and seeing all of my deepest secrets.
"I'm really sorry", I repeated, "but I simply don't have the time. But I promise when I do, I'll be sure to let you know."
But they wouldn't accept 'no' for an answer. "DRAW RACKOON FOR US AND JENNI WILL GIVE YOU A KISS!!"
"Shit", I said, "where's my pencil?"
So I went like a fury; drawing like a man reborn. I poured my heart into it, barely taking even the slightest of breaks. Rarely did I look up at my company. My focus, nay my ambition, was creating one of the best pin-ups I've ever done. And when it was done, I handed it over with pride. My soul was justified and I was now anxiously awaiting my reward.
"Jenni? She took off a half hour ago. But thanks for the pic. Excelsior!!" the three men said. And with that, they were gone.
I've heard rumor this picture led to many late night drool-fests over my gothic villainess. I can't say that for certain. All I know is this is the first time it's been colored and that I still await the kiss from an angel. - Jake