Here I am at a busy public library, getting all teary-eyed in reading your strip.

Your last panel sent me over the edge...

An old Toyota beater drove past me blaring "Smooth Criminal" just minutes before I learnt of his death. I was initially elated to hear a teenage driver play/jam to an MJ classic probably older than him...until I understood why it was on the radio soon afterwards. =(

RIP, MJ.

and can't stop thinking about the parallels between Howard Hughes and MJ. Both brilliant, both creative, and both living as recluses toward the ends of their remarkable careers. Michael, of course, started out poor, while Howard had inherited money, but in the end their success worked against both of them. When you have enough money and power, people will cater to your eccentric whims instead of telling you to see a shrink when you need one. Both men could have had a lot more creative years ahead of them. As you say, sigh.

When I first saw THE AVIATOR, my reaction was, "Damm. All that money and talent--but he was born too early for the meds that could have helped him. How messed up is that?" When I heard about Michael's addiction, well...:( Success is bad news if you don't have the grounding to handle it--or use/need it to heal old wounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD2OsUcgb00

...that people still persist in giving the benefit of the doubt to successful people that the latter always have everything in their lives under control. It's that unspoken assumption that prevents people from giving successes the reality check they often need.

All of us out here are right glad you opted to become a comic/graphic-novel artist. Though I'm sure you were cute-as-paint as MJ...;)

I seem to be missing the years 1987 - 2007.

You know, the ones where MJ was constantly on TV for his child related activities.

Before I clicked on your cartoon today, I couldn't help but remember how big a fan you are of MJ. At least several times a year, it seems, you referenced him whether he was in the news or not.

I had no idea you were a PROFESSIONAL Michael Jackson impersonator. Holy cow, it reminds me of the time I heard the story from a good friend about running into a couple of Elvis impersonator understudies on the street in Vegas, after they had appreciated each others' facial hair from across the street...

Damn, Keef, I'm with you today. I always wished I could have met Michael and just sat and watched some Three Stooges, with or without some kids running around. Like him, I feel a lot like I might never get around to 'growing up'. Fuck that shit, man.

Even after having two kids, 10 and 23...