Forsythe the Atrophied Scholar, with Pet Bunny Panama

Given that I am now in a graduate program (studying for a doctorate in analytic philosophy) one might imagine that Forsythe the atrophied scholar is based on a real person. This is not the case. In fact I drew this character long before I entered my graduate program. Indeed, when I drew this character, I had no interest at all in academic studies and was quite certain I would never set foot in a classroom again. A few years later I read a book called "The World As Will and Representation" by the great Arthur Schopenhauer and everything changed. Now I am deep in graduate study. In fact, I've never worked harder in my life. I am mostly interested in questions of free will and identity. I hope one day to write a dissertation comparing the relative merits of the views of David Hume and Immanuel Kant. I say "I hope one day" because, as I mentioned before, one just never knows. In any case, I have not met any "atrophied" scholars. Most of the scholars I have met are quite healthy and bunny-less.

voyeur

"The Voyeur"

I have always been fascinated by the psychological dynamics at play at "Burlesque" clubs--and have been especially struck by the faces of the men who stare on in what appears to be a fathomless stupor.

tracy

"One Legged Tracy, with pet bird, McGaffeney, anxiously waves good-by to parents before she hops off to college."

Of all the Misfits characters, One Legged Tracy appears to provoke the most controversy. Some find her delightful and inspiring, others disturbing and depressing. I am solidly in the former camp; indeed, I honestly don't understand why some people take offense at her.
As far as I can tell, Tracy appears very hopeful and happy; she is off to college--which must be very exciting--and she has a faithful companion. "Buy why does she have to have only one leg?" people ask, as though to suggest that I, her author, derive some sadistic satisfaction from "depriving" her of one leg. But this isn't the case at all.

Lego Thom

"Lego Thom walls out the world."

Lego Thom was no doubt inspired by my old master teacher Greg Lum. I worked with him over the course of a semester while acquiring my single subject teaching credential in San Francisco the '90s. He was a great teacher, much loved by his students. He introduced me to the writing of Elias Cannetti and the music of Arvo Part and Henryck Gorecki. We used to talk a lot about Kafka. There was something very playful about him (hence the Legos) and also something very private (hence the wall of Legos). He'd gotten hit by a car while crossing the street and so was in a good deal of pain and walked with a cane. His pain was not only physical--he'd also watched his best friend die of kidney failure, and had never gotten over it. Eventually it all got too much for him and he opted out.