JB Theobald’s Outlook on Life and Comic-ing

Friday, February 6, 2026

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Tuesday, February 3, 2026

The Purple Pioneer - Pages 3 & 4

More pages!

Monday, February 2, 2026

Introducing The Purple Pioneer

I’ve decided to post the comic magazine that I’ve been working on for a couple years now, a page at a time (give or take). The book is called The Purple Pioneer: the story of a young man, learning to be a hero, throughout the turbulent times of twentieth century America.

Everything is written, drawn, and lettered by me. These are raw scans of the original art. Enjoy! Please, if you are so inclined to comment or reach out to me to talk, please do.

Monday, November 24, 2025

I'm a bit embarrassed

So, I'm a bit embarrassed. I remember reading a blog of a published comic artist recently who stated that many, many aspiring comic book creators tend to think of themselves as destined to become a creator and become successful because it is ordained in the stars. I was thinking that, "Holy crap, that's me".

I try very hard to be down-to-earth and realistic in my overall life expectations. Comic books and I have had an odd relationship over thirty years, and there was a time where that relationship was damaging my prospects and ability to get a good paying job. For years, I thought that's what I wanted: draw comics and become successful. Honestly, it's a very childish, immature outlook, at best, and the chances of it happening to my expectations are little to nil. Brutally honest.

That said, this recent episode of depression that resulted from just ONE person not acknowledging my creative pursuit has sent me to a literal artistic mental roadblock. I haven't drawn very much, at all, since that all went down. I've been stuck on the same page of art since then.

I think I have to accept the fact that this whole comic book endeavor will always be a hobby for me. From what I have read, being an artist of any kind is a real grind and can be long hours, and if you are not in love with the concept of drawing A LOT and the more than likely possibility of making very little to no money doing it is not for me. I've always been fantastic about keeping my personal and work lives separate. When I clock out, work for the day is done. I get my salary, pay my bills and move on to the next month. And the next. And the next. That simplicity and repetition is important to me and gives me peace.

I think I will always have the tendency to believe that to be happy is to be a comic book creator. I've thought that way for so long, that to not think that way disrupts my rhythm. Maybe I'm always meant to kind of feel unfulfilled in this regard, if it means that I will always have a roof over my head and a steady salary. Maybe it's my own personal tragedy that has become so much a part of my life, that letting it go just leaves me feeling emptier than I should feel. Like, the thought itself is enough. Otherwise, it just consumes my whole being and I feel stressed and anxious and short of time.

One day, I'll be an empty nester, retired, with looking for something to do to occupy my time in-between all the cruises, television show binging, and babysitting that I'll likely be living at that moment in my life. Maybe that is ultimately where my comic creator-ness will live. Or not.

And I think I just have to be okay with that, either way, otherwise that daily stress of doing it nowadays, with my "plate" so full as it is, that it is ruining my present through either anticipating a possible future, or regretting days past. There are only so many hours in a day; and I don't know if I am being fair to myself forcing something like creating a comic book, opposed to watching television with my family, or enjoying my comic book collection, or raising my children (not necessarily in that order haha).

Well, that's how I feel today; and I think that is okay. Organically, we'll see if I get back into it, but I just can't stress about it anymore. It's not fair to me.

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

That all said...

Another thought:

If you haven't read my last post from Nov 3, might I recommend that you read that over, as this post will make more sense if you do.

Even if this "love of comics" is nothing more than a grab at reliving my younger days, which, as a result, releases that much needed dopamine jolt I crave at times; even if I create comics for no one other than myself, in an effort to prove to myself that perhaps I just want to do it for me; even if I tell myself to just get over it and live my life, do it for fun, or don't.... no one cares. THAT SAID, why SHOULDN'T I publish it and just see what happens? Can't I do both? Can't I just override that sense of approval of others, and push this artwork out to the world and just let it be what it is?

When it's out in the world, it's out of my hands; but, I can say I did that. As a father, I can show my two boys that I did that. Even if the world, being full of naysayers and people trying to force you into a role, is telling you to just let "it" be and accept what "it" is, isn't it worth just publishing my comic book and giving it a shot?

This is the crossroad that baffles me: one road is full of "why bothers", "do your job as a provider so you can feed your family and keep a roof over their heads", do the husband and father thing, and a crowd of people too concerned about their own lives to really care or acknowledge what you're doing with yourself. The other road is the one leading to a better version of myself, fulfilling goals, taking care of my well-being, embracing my roll as a father and husband, but also remembering that I am an individual with his own wants and needs. That intersection is a jumble of excuses, dreams, demands, time, talent, and confusion; and my kids asking for more Robux haha.

Perhaps I am experiencing a fight or flight response and just doing the easy thing; keep on my path and don't rock the boat, so I can survive. Just give up, enjoy my hobby for what it is, and continue on my path for another 15ish years until I can finally retire from full-time employment. My wife would tell me it'll more likely be 20 years. I've always been overly optimistic.

Am I trying to force happiness? I am content (for the most part; being a middle-aged, Generation X man in American is great, but our economy, with AI taking over white-collar jobs, income inequality, and goods and services generally being too expensive, is a bit stressful), but is that all there is? Sit down, shut up, and do what you're supposed to do. Is that the most I can hope for? Isn't there something more that I can strive for? I am not delusional, even though my mind plays and thinks of the most best case thing in the world as it relates to being a comic book creator; more than likely, this will garner me no money, will not be a huge success, and, if I'm lucky, a few people will notice me.

... but, isn't it worth a shot? The process of making the comic book would be fun for me; and doesn't that, in and of itself, mean that it's a hobby that brings me joy? I think I just came around full circle haha

See you....