Tater and JJ (Patreon)

This is still in the baby brainstorming stage, but I wanted to share a couple pages from the sketchbook I started for a new story. I'm using a composition book to follow in the footsteps of my idol Lynda Barry.

Basically this next book will be using my own life as inspiration the way I used my Grandpa's life for Weight, with some true crime influence peppered in there. I can't decide if I want to name her Tater or Mickey! But I know the boy is JJ or EJ or something similar. Growing up in rural MA in the 90s I knew like 5 kids named EJ or JJ or Jay or DJ.

Right now all I know is they are best friends growing up in the 90s in rural New England. JJ's family might run a Christmas tree farm. And at some point he is going to try to become a professional wrestler, starting out doing backyard wrestling and then maybe some indie shows. Wrestling is a new obsession for me and I'm excited to have it as part of the story! It's also been fun going through old childhood photos (see picture of me and my mullet).

I really want to have a more cartoony style for this book, like more close to Freddy and Lou than The Weight. I've been looking at a lot of the strip Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson, I love his drawings so much. Inkwash can be a real slog so I'm excited to try something new!

Love you guys, thank you for reading my comics.

-Melissa

Also P.S. I'm mailing out copies of chapters 13 & 14 (finally lol) so keep an eye out!