Jeremy Returns

Jeremy was born in 1966, when I was 16 years old.  It was 10 years before Saturday Night Live introduced Mr. Bill, and at least 4 years before I saw my first underground comic.  He just showed up in my head one day and insisted on coming out through the end of a pen.

I’m not sure where he came from…but one day he simply showed up.  Back then I drew his adventures on 3″ x 5″ index cards with a Magic Marker.  I’m an artist of sorts (more of a craftsman, really), but I could never draw very well at all.  As my Dad used to say, I couldn’t even draw flies.  Nothing’s changed much since then in that regard.  But it’s OK.

At the time, all I knew was that it was fun; and pretty much the only other purpose Jeremy served was to amuse my girlfriend (who at least pretended to enjoy his antics).  He was always getting into obscure existential predicaments, as well as documenting the normal angst-inducing experiences of the typical high school boy.  He was often threatened by an oversize bully, or falling into a mud puddle, or being bugged by his younger siblings or having dating troubles (mostly getting one).  But through it all, he never lost that stupid grin…and in the end he always came out fine.  He was philosophical, even-tempered, and was mostly able to maintain a happy persona even while undergoing taunting, bullying, and the pall of shame and guilt that’s unfortunately often the result of a Catholic education.  He was what I wanted to be.

Last night (this morning, actually), after more than 40 years, he came back.  Again, I have no idea where he came from.  I just know that he wants to live again.  But this time, he seems to be telling me something new.  He still wants me to have fun…but now, he wants to help me to express some deeper concepts, things that might be better understood in pictures (no matter how badly drawn) than in words alone.  He’s still 16, but he’s learned a lot in those 40 years – probably more than I have.  I don’t know where he’s been, but he’s definitely been having some awesomely educational experiences.  And he’s insisting that I share them with you.

So…while I feel compelled to apologize for my lack of artistic talent, I ask you to look past that and take away from Jeremy’s adventures whatever strikes you.  As in much “art”, the message is in the eye of the beholder.

You can click on the image to see a full-sized version.  The sidebar squishes him just a bit (which he’s complaining about), but we can live with that…