Do Not Siege Walled Cities - 305

In the Midst of Life We Are In Death etc

FRANK

I attended my father’s funeral today.

Monday, my father passed away after a brief period of declining health. It was good fortune that I happened to be in town and was able to be with him in his last moments. I leave for tour tomorrow, so if my father had to die, this was a very considerate time.

I loved my father very much. Perhaps not a great man, strictly speaking, but a great family man. And endlessly supportive of my interests, which he did not pretend to understand. We were very different, but that was no hurdle.

He was 82 and survived a litany of things that shoulda ended his life decades earlier. So while I am very sad he’s gone, I also think it was truly all gravy after 70. There’s some comfort in that.

I’m not a crier, but I confess my wife almost got me. She pointed out there’s something poetic to the fact my father held me on the day of my birth, and I caught him as he slumped and died.

I wore his shoes to his funeral. I don’t have any of my own here. The service was nice. Family has handled it well.

It’s become normal to post these announcements on social media, and I get it. It’s the new local newspaper. But there’s certain types of attention I don’t like. And I don’t think I would share this news with you at all if not for the fact that not mentioning it while I try to sell you comic books feels crass.

A thing that has struck me the past few days: If I was 24 and my father died in the room with me, I’d be in my own head about it. Maybe I’d have some narrative about the impact of it. Maybe I’d feel some minor trauma. I don’t know. Something self-involved, no doubt. But as a very grown man, all I can think about in this moment is feeding my family. Playing shows. Selling comic books. The things I’m fortunate enough to do for money. My father was big on feeding his family, so I don’t see it as any type of disrespect to him.

Rest in peace, Frank. A bad citizen. A great father. I will miss him for the rest of my life.

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BECAUSE LIFE DOESN’T STOP FOR DEATH

Now I must sell you something. The window on issue one is closing. Final order cutoff is Monday.

Call your local comic shop. Tell them you want GEHENNA: NAKED AGGRESSION issues one and two which are both up for order. I’d like to prove to myself and the market that readers crave a good time above all. Art-first action-adventure stories that feel COOL. Don’t make a fool outta me.

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SORRY FOR THE VIBE

I know you don’t come here for any type of heaviness in my personal life. I’m a bit of a hypocrite, as when I have something to say I believe the world should hear it and when it’s a type of attention I don’t like I go all Steve Ditko. Ignore me, read the work.

Back to the regular nonsense next week. Do for self.