15 Years of Nix: Reflections and Gratitude #1

It's been turning in my head for a while, about how lucky I am that circumstances have allowed me to publish Nix Comics for 15 years. So many people, places, and events that had to fall into place to get to this point. I've decided that I need to take the days leading up to the sharing my thoughts on it and thanking everybody who helped me get here. (Opening Confession: I won't be able to fully reflect on the circumstances or give full gratitude to everybody who deserves it. Apologies to the folks who deserve a nod, but get this wink.)

A good place to start reflection is Kafe Kerouac. In addition to being the host for the coming 15th Anniversary Party, Kerouac was the host of the first three Nix Comics release parties. Things have come to a full circle I guess! (Images below from the first and third parties, swiped off of Facebook. Note how Young, Blurry and Skinny I once was in semi-tribute to the Dead Boys.)

It was the obvious choice at the time. My relationship with Kafe Kerouac, and its grand poobah, Mike Heslop, goes back to the first days of Columbus's coolest coffee house. My wife Kate and I walked into a sparsely decorated and furnished Kerouac one day. We met Mike and his then right hand Joe Snyder (a carpenter of seismic skill) as they were discussing how to finish the counter and how to top the tables. Luckily all of the coffee making gear was set up! I've said to people that we were among the first ten customers at the joint, which I can't back up as a hard fact but I'm pretty sure is true. I don't remember why we were cruising the OSU campus that day, but I'm glad we stopped in to check it out!

I was still running the Evil Empire Records mail order site at the time and it wasn't long before I was stocking the coffee shop with records for sale. My part in that didn't last all that long, but I did introduce Mike to my friend of four decades, Jack. Jack has been supplying the coffee shop with books, comics, and records ever since! (Four decades!!?? Shit, I'm old) Probably the most influential thing on Nix Comics that sprang from Kafe Kerouac, though, were the nerdiest. Somewhere along the line, we began holding weekly roleplaying game sessions. It started with AD&D and sometimes ventured into other systems. I was usually the gamemaster and the core group of players shifted over time but included Mike, Ian Hummel, Mitch Thompson (Another friend of over 30 years!), and Erik Cole. Other players came and went, but those were the main guys. I believe Mike, Erik, and Mitch still play regularly! It was the process of coming up with adventures that were fun and interesting for these guys that was a vital spark for Nix Comics.

I don't think would be an exaggeration to say no Kafe Kerouac = no D&D = no Nix Comics!

So thanks to the Kafe Kerouac Community! Thanks to Mike and Joe for being there that day. It seemed like a nice normal day and yet it was crazy in a way!

Thanks to Jack for continuing what I wasn't able to in terms of keeping arcane media alive in Columbus.

And thanks to Mike, Mitch, Erik, and Ian for providing that creative spark!

Hope you can come to the Nix Comics 15th Anniversary Party! You can let me know if you're gonna make it on the Facebook event!