something nice to say

Mitch Clem has created some of the finest art I've encountered after a decade of exploring the internet. In high school, the first time I felt inspired to create my own t-shirt it was to be a reproduction of a "Nothing Nice To Say" strip. Self-proclaimed as "the world's FIRST online punk comic", it seemed like the natural thing for an adolescent discovering the roots of his favorite music to be absorbed by. I proceeded to join a forum he had started for fans of the comic and sent him a message asking for permission to print and wear his work. At that time he was still an internet legend in my eyes and I was humbled when he responded that he had absolutely no problem with it. While I never followed through on printing the shirt, I attempted to insert myself into the community of elite punk rock music nerds. It was on that forum that I first discovered the concept of mix trades, where a group of forum members send a stack of CDs and some shipping money to a willing moderator who then mails everyone else's mix to each participant. Looking back, my contribution was an absolute disaster. An attempt to assert some musical snobbery with unknown local bands was foolishly supplemented with all-too-well-known and radically un-punk rock songs that were in my eyes "still worth listening to" (Bright Eyes, The Germs... Spineshank for crying out loud!) There was something wrong with me then that thankfully isn't wrong with me now. As an incredible silver lining, the mixes I received introduced me a lot of great music. Two particular songs are now among my favorites of all-time, The Bonaduce's "A Separate Lid Behind Closed Eyes" and Kiss Me Deadly's "Epicure". Check them out. They still give me goosebumps they're so good.

As I grew older I began to recognize Mitch as a regular human being. I followed as Nothing Nice To Say underwent style changes, and as he introduced other shorter-lived comics. His autobiographical strips were particularly enjoyable, and I dreamt of having a life so easily suited to hilarious storytelling. The completely random and completely adorable "Kittens!" is simply one of the best things ever to appear on the internet.

For a long time I remember rumblings about a Nothing Nice To Say book which was to be published. Mitch's LiveJournal feed would provide me with (besides humorous and enlightening rants) updates about the layout and distributor, and eventually that he would be going back and redrawing older strips to match the current black and white, four panel format. My nerdiness could barely be contained when the day came for placing preorders. Now, that book sits on the client desk of an edit suite at my work. I brought it in along with some magazines in an attempt mark my territory as a future editor. While other people have been occupying that room, one day I'll have my own. With my name on the door, my own artwork on the walls and a stereo setup with music playing all the time. And my Nothing Nice To Say book on the coffee table.