X-TRA West decided not to run this cartoon, deciding it might offend too many readers. I love that this happened. It sunk me deeper into my imaginary world - you know, the world where I’m an important voice in the arts community with an edgy, disturbing point of view that shakes things up. I’m happy in this world. Don’t touch it.

This cartoon was just meant as a l’il side-track from “The Brotherhood Goes to Hell” story-line - just a random encounter with the Grim Reaper. The point with the punch-line WASN’T that Bare-Backers are going to Hell, just that they were possibly making busy-work for Death. However, the fact that Mr.Bones happened to be hanging out in Hell at the time could lead some to think I was saying that’s where BBers were headed.
Oops. Not my intention folks - he’s just makin’ a list of those he plans to visit, not damn to the eternal flames. That’s Richard Simmon’s job.

I was out of the country when the editor’s debated whether or not to run this, even the folks out in Toronto got involved. God love ‘em, they hated to say no to the strip, and felt bad about it. Myself, I was excited and bemused by all the fuss - though disappointed I’d have to trash a comic I really liked. Henkl’s namesake saved it when he offered an alternate punch-line for Richard Simmon’s to say, though I knew I had to bring Death back to finish his joke, which he finally gets to do in “Ignorance & Bliss”.

Banned Brotherhood