15 Years of Nix: Reflections and Gratitude #2

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.)

This isn't a new reflection or moment of gratitude, I think I've shared it on every iteration of my blog/website since it happened! I also retold it in the first "Nix Single." Nonetheless, those sites have all vanished into the internet ether, the Nix Single is currently sold out, AND I think there's a new cool end-note to the story... So here we go again!

Not long after publishing my first comic (Nix Comics Quarterly #1), the Fleshtones played a show at tiny Cafe Bourbon Street here in Columbus. I'm not a "pick your favorite" kind of day, But I think there are metrics by which you could call them my favorite band. A quickie discogs search reveals that I have 44 records either by the Fleshtones or with Fleshtones tracks. That doesn't count the various side projects of band members like the Love Delegation and the Full Time Men. I'm pretty sure that they are the non-local band that I have seen the most times (New Bomb Turks taking the overall crown). I'm not a ticket stub hound, so I guess can't say that for sure. This story, metrics aside, is the am anecdotal reason why you could call the Fleshtones my favorite band.

ANYWAYS....

I had this big idea for Nix Comics where I'd send free comics to anybody who took a picture of a cool/notable garage punk type person reading a copy of a Nix Comic. Totally a swipe from Mad Magazine, though they offered a subscription I think and had a broader umbrella for "celebrities." I knew, though, that I would need to get the idea started on my own, maybe post a few fake ones where I solicited the musicians and posted the pics under a pseudonym. So I packed up copies of NCQ#1 and headed out to see my favorite band.

Luckily they were game and I got pictures of all four with the comic. I even stuck up a conversation with Ken Fox... Which is a testimonial both my luck and to how approachable Ken is. I'm weird about hero worship. Usually I'm pretty unphased, but there are a few that leave me tongue tied and flummoxed. Peter Zaremba is one of them. I've tried to chat with him at shows and always end up speaking gibberish. But again I got the pics despite my stuttering and actually had a great conversation.

Ken told me that there was a local cartoonist at the show that I should meet, and that he (the cartoonist) had designed a great tour poster for the band. It turned out to be Matt Wyatt, who I'm still amazed wasn't already in my orbit. Funny thing is, at first I thought he was talking about Brian Kraft, who I had just met at the same show. How crazy is it that at a rock show I'd meet two cartoonists that I would then put out multiple comics with each!

ANYWAYS (PT 2)....

Brian and I ended up creating Nix Comics for Kids Starring Boy Howdie. We liked it, but it didn't end up being a very successful title, so it only lasted three issues. They are out of print, but you can still get copies at the Mug and Brush Barbershop, which sponsored all three issues. A lot of the copies of each issue went to friends and family with kids... Including the young nephews of my wife's long time friend Jeff. (My friend too, but not for nearly as long!)

Those once-tykes are now high school students up in Delaware, Ohio and have just started a glam rock band: the Trasher Brothers.

Now, of course I can't take credit for keeping rock and roll alive, or at least shouldn't. In this case the boys themselves, their moms, their cool uncle, and what sounds like a pretty great music program at their school get the nod. But... I can't help but think Boy Howdie gave them a gentle nudge in the right direction, too! And, by virtue of dive-bar-osmosis, the Fleshtones get the nod for inspiring these kids. So thank you Matt, Brian and Jim from the Mug and Brush for being exciting partners in the whole Nix Comics thing. Thanks to the Fleshtones and Ken Fox in particular for being as cool as you are. Thanks to Cafe Bourbon Street for booking great shows.

Oh... and hey... thanks to the Thrasher Brothers for performing at the upcoming 15th anniversary show!!!