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Jhonen Vasquez (born September 1, 1974) is a comic book artist and writer. He is the creator of several cult favorite comic-book series, including Johnny the Homicidal Maniac, Squee!, I Feel Sick, The Bad Art Collection (BAC), Filler Bunny, Happy Noodle Boy, and the Meanwhile... series, all published by Slave Labor Graphics. He was also the creator of the animated series Invader Zim.
Comic book series by Vasquez
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac
Johnny the Homicidal Maniac ran for seven issues. Popularly referred to as JtHM. Published as a trade paperback under the name Johnny the Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut, hardcover edition also available. Both paperback and harcover editions have "Z?" on the cover. This logo, which stands for "question sleep," appears frequently throughout Vasquez's work. The issues follow Johnny, sometimes called Nny (pronounced "knee"), as he searches for meaning in his life, a quest that rather frequently leads to the violent deaths of those around him. He believes that there is a demon being held behind a wall in his home, and that the wall constantly requires a coat of fresh blood in order to maintain its protective ward. This may be true. One human adult provides sufficient blood for a single fresh coat, but this is only one of his motives for mass murder. The issues tend to focus a lot on Nny's inability to fit in with society, and how stupid the general population really is, something that often catalyzes a violent rampage.
Squee!
Squee! ran for four issues. This follows the poor unwanted child Todd, more popularly known as "Squee," originating from a sound that he makes while frightened. Published as a trade paperback under the name SQUEE'S Wonderful Big Giant Book Of Unspeakable Horrors. It should be noted that all the filler comics developed by Jhonen, regardless of series, and excluding special Filler Bunny spots, are collected in this paperback.
I Feel Sick
I Feel Sick ran for two issues. Originally intended as a single issue, but was later broken in half due to its longer-than-anticipated length. This follows Devi D. as she contends with an unintended gift that Johnny unwittingly passed onto her.
Filler Bunny
Filler Bunny ran for two issues, and a third issue is set for March 2005. A spin-off of a bunny from a filler comic designed to replace a vacant page usually reserved for advertising space in the comics.
The Bad Art Collection
The Bad Art Collection was a 16-page one-shot issue of intentionally terrible strips supposedly created so that Vasquez's high school classmates would stop pestering him to draw for them.
Everything Can Be Beaten
Everything Can Be Beaten was a one-shot issue that tells the story of a strange person who beats kittens, only to discover that "everything can be beaten." Written under the pen-name of Chancre Scolex.
Happy Noodle Boy
Happy Noodle Boy is a short, recurring comic in JtHM of a stick figure doing random, disturbing, and/or obnoxious things. "Created" by Johnny.
Invader Zim
Invader Zim was an animated series produced for the children's cable network Nickelodeon. The show was cancelled after little more than a year; only 27 episodes were made. On May 11, 2004, Volume 1 of an official Invader Zim DVD collection was released, featuring the first nine episodes plus audio commentary by Vasquez and various cast/crew. Volume 2 was released on August 31, 2004, and the third and final volume was released October 12, 2004.
Trivia
He is good friends with Roman Dirge, whom he met at Slave Labor Graphics. Dirge became a writer on Jhonen's "Invader Zim".
Another of his friends, Miss Leah England, has her face in the middle of a portrait collection that served as the cover to Johnny the Homicidal Maniac issue 2. She also gave him the inspiration for a filler comic about a child who was dangerously afraid of losing sight of his mother.
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