'Affliction' is very much inspired by a nightmare that I actually had about a week before the book's production. The nightmare was very vivid and real, and stayed fresh in my mind day after day.

About a week after the nightmare, I was assigned a rather vague assignment in my Computer Graphics class to create a book of any kind, using at least 4 digitally altered images from Photoshop. Almost immediately, the memory of the nightmare popped back into my head, and seemed to be the PERFECT solution to the project. It became a personal goal of mine to capture the very essence of the mood of the dream, as well as to see how close I could get the book to look like it had been professionally printed.

Spring break rolls around, and everyone begins to take it easy, enjoying their vacation. Everyone, but me. Since we had little under two weeks to finish these books, I had little time to fuck around. I worked 'round the clock, juggling RWWR comic-work, other school projects, work, some semblance of a social life, and of course, the comic book. To me, it looks like I've worked harder over spring break than any other time of the school semester.

In the end, the due date rolls around, and into class I stroll with a professional looking, 12-page full colored comic book. I surpassed the measly 4 required altered images, and submitted a work with about 20 full-color illustrations. Overall, it went over very well with the class, usually being the first one picked up and check out as it sat amongst the other projects created by my fellow students.

As you will see when reading the book, it may seem a bit off the wall and/or over the top at parts. That was part of my intention, as the actual dream was zanier than zany. I tried my best to recreate the feelings that the real dream instilled inside me, and hopefully I've done a good job of it.

So, come on, my friend, and step into the nightmare with me.