Years ago, I had a plan to work on a ROCKET RABBIT graphic novel. Having done comics before, I knew I’d need plenty of time to do the book I had in mind. Inspired by the fact that 2011 had just been the year of the RABBIT in the Chinese zodiac, I thought setting an end-date for my graphic novel project 12 years in the future (IE: now) would give me all the time I needed, and “YEAR OF THE RABBIT” thus became the working title for the book.
Unfortunately, in all the years since then I’ve had many other things to do instead. Like learning to talk & walk again, learning to draw again, rebuilding my career, and climbing out of a sinkhole of medical debt. However, all the while I’ve been chipping away at the project, crudely & slowly thumbnailing with my non-dominant hand. Although this particular YEAR OF THE RABBIT will see no book launch, sadly, it will instead be a year to begin the final art in earnest, polishing years of my lefty scrawls.
Each of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs is further subdivided into elements (wood, fire, earth, metal & water). January 22nd 2023 will be the start of a new YEAR OF THE RABBIT, more specifically a WATER rabbit. So I will try to be fluid this year:
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
― Bruce Lee
Hopefully, I’ll post a few ROCKET RABBIT short stories on this blog before year’s end. With any luck, I’ll get the entire project done in time for the next YEAR OF THE RABBIT: 2035. That will be the year of the WOOD rabbit. I’m a wood DRAGON, so hopefully that is a good omen.
恭喜发财! Happy 2023; The Year Of The Rabbit!
YES! Cannot wait!!!
Thanks John!
Is it too early to order a signed copy?
Not all all, as long as you don’t mind waiting!
James! I’ve been a fan of RR since he (she? it?) was naught but a sparkle in yer eye. I’m perfectly happy to wait a little more.
As a robot, I think Rocket is a they/it in terms of pronouns. But I’ve always thought Rocket embodies Professor’s rambunctious & earthy childhood spirit. So there should be some feminine side to Rocket.
I love my copies of Rocket Rabbit!
please do more, Jamie!
scott
We have our treasured 2006 Nerve Bomb Rocket Rabbit Issue #1 on our bookcase here at home … would love to see some more stories and the project fulfilled. JD
As a longtime supporter and friend, you are definitely on my mailing list whenever it gets completed JD!
This is such great news! I will wait as long as it takes.
thank you Michael!
If there was anybody capable of”being water” my friend, it’s you. I applaud your tenacity and look forward to the next phase.
Thanks Deane. I’ve missed so many personal creative deadlines in the last decade that I’m loathe to tempt another stroke with yet another prediction BUT I hope to have finished a few pages at by year’s end.