"Art gets you in the door, story keeps you there."

"Art is visual, so it's easy to take in... ... Make people feel something, give them a reason to root for your characters, and they'll keep coming back. Story invests people. Story is the 'why you should read this'."

-MJ Massey

author of Black Ball.

"We were always told "don't judge a book by it's cover" growing up, but in comics, that's EXACTLY what everyone does... ... But, I do believe it's true that the books that we truly connect with, the ones we remember long after we've read them, [are] the ones that have a story worthy of the talented artists that work on it."

-Tyler James Vogel

author and co-founder of Comix Tribe.

I think I'm in agreement when I say that the story -whatever it is, comics, movies, cartoons, novels- is crucial to keeping its staying power to the reader, in retaining them for the long run.

A tale of two stories.

One day on a whim in a used book store I came across Daniel Clowes' Ghost World and bought it for the low low price of $5.99. I wasn't really into the characters or the image the cover portrayed but I knew the art would hold up. BUT, just flipping through a page here and there in the bookstore I found I couldn't stop reading the dialogue, the back-and-forth between (mainly Enid Coleslaw and her roommate friend Rebecca) kept me riveted to the page. I took it home and devoured the story in one sitting.

A year later I saw a vey similar looking book by a different author/artist, Adrian Tomine: Shortcomings, which I bought online for around $20. I wasn't as good. In fact, it left me feeling a bit cheated upon finishing it.

When I'm talking about story I mean the actual, moment-to-moment happenings and language that you're witnessing while reading/experiencing the thing.  You can tell the difference right away when comparing just a few panels from each book.

Get Mayfield Eight.

Mayfield Eight, a gritty, 1970s fueled motorcycle grind-house biker tale can be purchased on my new online site! Get it today!