I don’t collect or read comic books. I don’t watch anime or read manga. I’ve never been to ComiCon.

I write a science fiction story without being part of that culture. I’m sure there are expected formulas that I do not follow because I am unaware of them. I don’t know the rules.

I have a friend who is an avid reader of graphic novels, and he is a walking encyclopedia of superhero trivia. He has also written two books and publishes a web comic.

He described my story as a subversion of the genre. He was quick to point out that he saw this as a good thing.

With all of the books he has read, he said he has never read anything like mine before.

My story inspired him to start writing an episodic story himself, and his comic inspired me to start working on a comic of my own.

This is what art does. It inspires.

By creating and sharing, we can allow others to do the same.

It will never be the same. It might even be subversive.