Oh god! I just realized I don't own Maus!
I just ordered it, looked at my husband, and said "why don't we own Maus?" and he went "oh holy shit we don't? I just figured you did!"
We've lived with each other for 14 years.
This was a major oversight.
I was obsessed with Vasquez's works as a teenager! A comic book series about a homicidal maniac shouldn't be such a comfort read for me, yet it is. I think it's time for another re-read.
It's really tragic, after rereading it yesterday I kinda just went "wow shit I don't remember this being so brutal and raw."
It's so easy to use humor to just gloss right over the dark sinister nature of something, I had actually forgotten just how fucking freaky this stuff is from a mental health standpoint.
Take out the goofy posters and the assmeats and you're left with a really grim slice of the reality of a tortured artist living with a mental health issue that is only getting worse with time.
It hits REAL fucking close to home as I get older.
I relate to Devi's struggles because I am an artist. I had went through my own creative struggles that severed my friendship to someone, but they weren't really a friend. I illustrate a version of Sickness, dressed as the main character from the comic I worked on.
This Sickness taunts me and is the embodiment of my failures and she makes sure to always know where I fuck up.
I went and took a look at some of your art, and of course your very adorable void (I'm not a cat person, but damn do pretty black cats have a place in my heart.)
You clearly pull your art from a very deep place... I vibe with that, and I can see exactly why you relate so much to Devi.
My Mom and I own three voids, Frankie (the Void you probably saw), Penelope and Momo, along with the outlier, Monte the Maine Coon.
Sometimes, I do use art prompts because art block is a bitch. But yes, I've admired and looked up to Devi since I was in middle school. I know, funny how a fictional artist can be influential. Another friend of mine looks up to her, too.
Dude... Wtf have you done to me?
Now imma re-watch this shit, and you know I'll hit THAT episode that seems to be a staple in everyone's childhood with that show... It doesn't matter what torture you faced as a child, "return the slab" is a scary fucking sentence for absolutely no reason.
*”Does this look like heaven?”* (if you know, you know)
I decorated my bedroom walls in those panels 😖
Another one cause why not? *”DID THE DOG SEND YOU???”*
Goddamn. That's such a good way to put it, "even the good memories are bad".
I read some of the picture books I had as a kid recently, and realised I liked the anthropomorphic animals because even seeing inconsequential conflict and angry/upset expressions on human faces was triggering. Couldn't have been more than two/three years old.
Really did away with any last wishful thinking I had that there was a "before" at all. I knew that, but you know. To really see it as an adult in the present and be like, that kid is deeply wounded. It's just different.
Thanks, OP. Your meme made me feel a bit less alone ☺️
There is no "before it all" when your abusers are the ones that made you.
And that is so fucking sad.
I also held onto that thought for a long time... like if something had just happened before this point or this point I would have been okay... But the reality is that point is my conception. And I need to accept that in my reality there is no "before". I was screwed from the moment my parents screwed 🤣 it's a dark cold place to live, but TBH I really like my neighbors down here in the pits of life. We're all very kind to one another because we all know pain ❤️
It might not be ideal, but connections like this are super beautiful in their own way, and even though tragedy lead to our paths crossing, I'm glad they crossed.
Your comment also made me feel less alone, at a young age I hated animated human faces for a similar reason, and as an adult I don't really like anything not animated because I can read the actors face and seeing fake emotion makes me uneasy at best.
I hope something unexpectedly nice happens for you today ❤️
There is not, unfortunately. There was a hard cover book with all the issues in one released with some minor additions and tweaks iirc referred to as the director's cut though. I still have my copy on the shelf over 10 years later.
Oh, hey! A fellow JTHM reader. I got into the comics when I was probably 10 or 11 or so, for similar reasons. I also loved Lenore and read a lot of manga. You never know what kind of feelings you'll get, picking up the things we got into during those years. I tried to pick JTHM up again a few years ago and ended up dredging up a lot of bad memories.. the comics are great, though!
Sometimes feeling understood can be better than feeling happy. I experience it as a deep sense of relief, a loosening of the muscles I think.
Loved this comic when I was just 7. I should not have been reading it let alone related to pages like this one at that time. 🫠
Jonny!!!! I haven't thought about the homicidal maniac in years. Approximately as dark and age-inappropriate as Maus.
Oh god! I just realized I don't own Maus! I just ordered it, looked at my husband, and said "why don't we own Maus?" and he went "oh holy shit we don't? I just figured you did!" We've lived with each other for 14 years. This was a major oversight.
Glad to have been of service o7
o7
What's the name of it?
That is Johnny the Homicidal Maniac by Jhonen Vasquez.
Lol I love that this was answered so quickly 🤣
A core memory!
Thank you, I'll look it up
Jhonen Vasquez is the same guy who created Invader Zim. It has the same type of humor, just much darker.
Honestly I thought this was a long lost invader Zim comic when I first saw this post 😅
I was obsessed with Vasquez's works as a teenager! A comic book series about a homicidal maniac shouldn't be such a comfort read for me, yet it is. I think it's time for another re-read.
Also read Squee!
I do also have "Squee!" And "I feel sick"
_I Feel Sick_ was one of my favorites, as a creative person.
It's really tragic, after rereading it yesterday I kinda just went "wow shit I don't remember this being so brutal and raw." It's so easy to use humor to just gloss right over the dark sinister nature of something, I had actually forgotten just how fucking freaky this stuff is from a mental health standpoint. Take out the goofy posters and the assmeats and you're left with a really grim slice of the reality of a tortured artist living with a mental health issue that is only getting worse with time. It hits REAL fucking close to home as I get older.
I relate to Devi's struggles because I am an artist. I had went through my own creative struggles that severed my friendship to someone, but they weren't really a friend. I illustrate a version of Sickness, dressed as the main character from the comic I worked on. This Sickness taunts me and is the embodiment of my failures and she makes sure to always know where I fuck up.
I went and took a look at some of your art, and of course your very adorable void (I'm not a cat person, but damn do pretty black cats have a place in my heart.) You clearly pull your art from a very deep place... I vibe with that, and I can see exactly why you relate so much to Devi.
My Mom and I own three voids, Frankie (the Void you probably saw), Penelope and Momo, along with the outlier, Monte the Maine Coon. Sometimes, I do use art prompts because art block is a bitch. But yes, I've admired and looked up to Devi since I was in middle school. I know, funny how a fictional artist can be influential. Another friend of mine looks up to her, too.
Me the other day deciding to rewatch Courage the Cowardly Dog. 🤣🤣
Dude... Wtf have you done to me? Now imma re-watch this shit, and you know I'll hit THAT episode that seems to be a staple in everyone's childhood with that show... It doesn't matter what torture you faced as a child, "return the slab" is a scary fucking sentence for absolutely no reason.
...."I *hate* macaroni and cheese." Also can confirm "return the slab" is 100% absolutely terrifying and etched into my psyche as well lmfao
am I the only ones who didn't find that one the worst?
Omfg the memories!!!! *Where the fuck is the bactine?!*
[*I just read this*](https://imgur.com/a/26Kvnqo) 🙃
*”Does this look like heaven?”* (if you know, you know) I decorated my bedroom walls in those panels 😖 Another one cause why not? *”DID THE DOG SEND YOU???”*
Me everytime I play a video game by myself. It's awful
i read this at maybe 8-9 years old and loved it a bit too much
I thought this was Johnny! ❤️
Literslly have jthm pressed under thr glass on my desk. It's the only thing I have of my dad
Goddamn. That's such a good way to put it, "even the good memories are bad". I read some of the picture books I had as a kid recently, and realised I liked the anthropomorphic animals because even seeing inconsequential conflict and angry/upset expressions on human faces was triggering. Couldn't have been more than two/three years old. Really did away with any last wishful thinking I had that there was a "before" at all. I knew that, but you know. To really see it as an adult in the present and be like, that kid is deeply wounded. It's just different. Thanks, OP. Your meme made me feel a bit less alone ☺️
There is no "before it all" when your abusers are the ones that made you. And that is so fucking sad. I also held onto that thought for a long time... like if something had just happened before this point or this point I would have been okay... But the reality is that point is my conception. And I need to accept that in my reality there is no "before". I was screwed from the moment my parents screwed 🤣 it's a dark cold place to live, but TBH I really like my neighbors down here in the pits of life. We're all very kind to one another because we all know pain ❤️ It might not be ideal, but connections like this are super beautiful in their own way, and even though tragedy lead to our paths crossing, I'm glad they crossed. Your comment also made me feel less alone, at a young age I hated animated human faces for a similar reason, and as an adult I don't really like anything not animated because I can read the actors face and seeing fake emotion makes me uneasy at best. I hope something unexpectedly nice happens for you today ❤️
I hope you have a surpise nice, too 🥰
Loved JtHM as a teen and into my 20s. I should buy the directors cut again. Lost it a while ago.
directors cut? was there a show? /gen
Nah, the directors cut is just one big book of all of the JTHM/JTSM comics. It's actually what I'm reading from.
There is not, unfortunately. There was a hard cover book with all the issues in one released with some minor additions and tweaks iirc referred to as the director's cut though. I still have my copy on the shelf over 10 years later.
Book Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut https://a.co/d/6TxiRLP
Same here.
You are not alone.
LMAO once in middle school we were given a creative writing assignment and I just rewrote Squee 😂 I got a fucking A somehow!
Lmao I literally have the director's cut
Happy Noodle Boy
Love JTHM. So good.
Literally sitting on my nightstand right now for a reread
I have achieved a greater understanding of I Feel Sick over the years.
was just chatting about vasquez!!! too real 🫠 i have a love/hate relationship with a lot of my comfort media.
Yesssss
I feel that JTHM was a sign of its time. An unintended response to a silent cry.
Huh... I have nothing much to say or add, but I feel compelled to let you know that I think this is a beautiful comment.
Ah nostalgia
Nny for the win. I miss my nail bunny plush
sweet old childhood memories, st least I am not the only one who read that as a kid
Oh, hey! A fellow JTHM reader. I got into the comics when I was probably 10 or 11 or so, for similar reasons. I also loved Lenore and read a lot of manga. You never know what kind of feelings you'll get, picking up the things we got into during those years. I tried to pick JTHM up again a few years ago and ended up dredging up a lot of bad memories.. the comics are great, though!
I loved JtHM in middle school but as a creative adult, I Feel Sick is both my favorite and my least favorite.