Proudest of...

This weekend, I attended the Long Beach Comic Expo.  While there, I got to sit on an over stuffed Image Comics panel.  Towards the end we got asked a pretty typical question, that started at the opposite side of the table.  ”What are you proudest of in your career?” I sat there and thought about it.  I listened to each of my panel mates thoughtfully answer about the piece of work or story or accomplishments that made them truly proud, and then finally it got to me.

What I’m proudest of, what makes me the beam with joy most about my comics career is… that I’m working with my best friends.   The people I collaborate with, on each of the books I’m making right now, are some of my absolute favorite people on earth.  They’re my betters, my contemporaries, but, most importantly, they’re my friends.  

The relationships of honesty and trust that I have with Joe Infurnari, Gabo, Kody Chamberlain, Tony Fleecs, and Bernard Chang, each of whom are doing books that we co-own, makes me feel immensely proud to be their partner. 

But, it doesn’t actually stop there.  The more I’ve thought about my answer, I realized it’s true in my personal life, too.  My wife is my best friend. The reason our marriage thrives is that we don’t just say we’re best friends, we actually are.  We’re completely honest with each other, share everything, and hide nothing. 

My daughter, she’s my best friend, too.  I love her, and respect her little crazy child brain, and all the insanity that spews from her.  

Making friends was always hard for me as a kid.  Hell, even as an adult.  I’m head strong and have a big mouth, but the upside is that you never don’t know where you stand with me.  So, to stand here now, surrounded by people i love and cherish… 

I should add right before I gave my answer on that panel, I gave the quick warning that after watching and reading lots of My Little Pony (thanks to the wife and daughter), this might come off a bit… stilted, but, Friendship really IS Magic.  Look at the things you’ve done, the things you’ve accomplished, and just think how it would’ve been possible without the people who surround you, support you, and cheer for you. 

So, there’s your sentimental story for the day.