"Twenty six years ago, I stood in front of a comic book stand inside a flower shop in Loudon, Tennessee while my mother ordered flowers for Memorial day. The flowers were to commemorate my grandparents’ graves in a small graveyard. I, however, was much more focused on the “Tales from the Crypt” and whether or not the Red Skeleton guy would actually defeat Spiderman in this particular issue. These comics were packed three in a loose bag, perfect for the disdaining parent to placate their restless child.

Comics were, for me, a rare treat. My parents didn’t believe in such nonsense. I bought comics with my own money from time to time, but growing up in the country provided little access or opportunity to buy them.

Twelve years ago, I stood in a small comic book shop in Knoxville, Tennessee with my husband, perusing the odd Magic, The Gathering cards. Invariably, we found ourselves drawn toward the “Sandman” comics, “Hellboy”, “Monkeyman and O’Brian”, and other similar comics. My taste for comics grew, fed by a hunger for the artwork now. I grew to love certain magic cards merely because they were drawn by certain artists. I reveled in unique story lines and stunning artwork in one shot comic series. I collected art cards, and tried to get the crossover comics. I loved “The X-Files” comics. One of the greatest birthday presents my husband ever got me was the original 4 set comic of “The Crow”. Gone were the three comics per bag sets.. replaced by boards and bags, special tapes and the pricey hard clear plastic cases that the comics could be particularly protected in. I still have these, carefully hoarded in special chemically treated boxes.. to be gotten out and carefully read and re-read.

I stopped collecting when it seemed the publishers thought that collectors would buy anything; including twelve of the same comic just because they had different covers. The price was too much. I became a disillusioned comic collector.

Seven years ago, my husband showed me something that he thought I would enjoy. An ONLINE comic. Free to look at. Updated regularly. I was in awe. I was in shock. I started reading it regularly. The story was good. The art was unique. I was in love. The best part: It was FREE.

Here was a medium that was intimately connected to what comics could achieve. ANYONE could do it. That gave birth to hundreds of concepts and stories that were unique.. that were not formulaic or corner-holed into what a publisher felt it should be. ANYONE could read it. That gave rise to the possibilities of communication and trading culture. I could literally read a comic from the Ukraine about their vampires or a Japanese comic about feudal Japan… from their point of view.. With their artistic styles…

I began searching out other comics, finding ones I liked. Discarding the ones I didn’t like. My favorites file grew. Some of the comics I came across turned to pay sites. These I discarded. In a way, I felt guilty. I wanted to support these artists for doing what they were doing, but just didn’t have the funds to do so.

For the past seven years, I have regularly followed 20 or 30 comics online. Everyday. My junkie comic habit had been redefined.

Three years ago, my daughter purchased a book through her school on how to draw Manga. It’s a fairly simple book, written by a seventeen year old, and my daughter’s drawings drastically changed. I was so impressed, I began looking at it. I began incorporating it into my doodling. As a laugh, I drew myself and a friend of mine. We were both so impressed with it, I jokingly starting drawing little strips of conversations we had. An idea began to form.

Why couldn’t I do a comic? Here was a medium that I could utlize to produce anything any way I wanted. So for three years, I’ve been slowly working toward that. A month ago, it was realized. It’s a small piddley thing, but for me it’s an important small piddley thing. Here is something I have admired, been in awe of, and had massive amounts of respect for the artists who produce in this medium. It’s not a deep, politically motivating or emotional comic. It’s not even intricately drawn or tons of background. Not as artistic as I probably would have liked, but certainly functional.

As time goes on, I start stretching what I draw and how I can match the style I've already set here. Trying to fit the images I have in my head of almost vaudeville skits to a paneled medium is.. interesting. It's an interesting process, keeping a sketch book with me at all times. A learning experience I have come to love. This is not a mature comic, or even a memorable one. But it is a labor of love for me.. and hopefully will set the example to my daughter than you really can do anything you want to."

L. Hall currently resides in the Central Eastern United States with her husband of 13 years, her beautiful daughter and two fabulous cats. Her sense of humor is directly related to her discovery of Danny Kaye, Bob Hope, Abott and Costello at the age of 10, and Monty Python at the age of 14.