BEN SMASH, A Love Story

Here’s a fun little comic about the owner of Empires Comic Vault, which contrary to the name, does not feature a vault in any way, shape or form. But I made this in, 2012 for free comic book day at his shop. It was all made as a big joke because I showed him a video of East Side Dave, from the Ron & Fez show making Beard Porn movies and thought it was hilarious. But Ben wouldn’t let me make a video with him, or even touch his beard.

So I made this comic about our fun interactions and how Ben used to spit at me, punch me in the gut or kick me in the nards whenever I attempted to touch his face. It was a short lived romance that ultimately ended in police, tasers, and a restraining order.*

FUN FACT: The little Devil Ben I made in the word balloon in the first panel of this page, I made that into hundreds of tiny little stickers that I stuck in books for people to enjoy at their leisure. Months later Benjamin told me that he was still finding these “god damn stickers” everywhere.

Big shoutout to the homies Corey Bernhardt and Junior Bruce for drawing the last two panels and the pinup of Ben on the toilet.

*none of this paragraph is true. Ben is actually a sweetheart and a lovely store owner. He still won’t let me touch his beard though.