2025 In Memoriam Mundi
Typically, the long intermissions between posts here are the result of having nothing particularly newsworthy or interesting to write about. However, over the past year and a half that has definitely not been the situation for me.
The exact opposite has been the issue, in fact — so much is happening all of the time in my own life, the country, and the world, that this blog would quickly become a full-time job to write my thoughts about it all. My home — Saint Paul, the Twin Cities — is currently a war zone with no signs of when the madness will end.
Everyone is struggling, and the future feels more uncertain than ever.
Between the workload from my day job, my personal projects, and my duties for the MNCBA, I was hanging on by a thread for all of the summer. By mid-October, I broke down almost completely. It took all the energy I had to just keep up with my full-time day job. I was coming home from work and immediately falling asleep from exhaustion. I was sleeping 9 to 12 hours per day — for over a month.
Dan stepped up during this time and has been really taking care of me.
By mid-December I was finally able to see my doctor and address some health concerns. I have recovered from the worst of the fatigue, but my energy levels are still not great. The political situation here exploded at almost exactly the same moment I was starting to get back into the swing of things.
In the interest of preserving my sanity, I am going to summarize.
"Libertas" (2026) This piece was originally completed in 2020 under the title “Veritas.” Sections of the original linework were redrawn digitally and then the entire piece was recoloured.
The Rise of Generative-AI
The rapid rollout, proliferation, and adoption of generative-AI “tools” has me afflicted with an existential despair unlike anything else I have ever experienced in my life. The eagerness with which people seem ready to outsource their creativity, critical thinking, executive function, need for companionship, and everything else that makes us human beings to a chatbot is objectively terrifying.
Needless to say, under no circumstances do I use these “tools,” and you should not either if you value your independence and ability to think for yourself. I hope to write in more detail on this topic later. The heinous fact that these “tools” were built by billionaires using mostly stolen, copyrighted work pales in comparison to the long-term dangers I believe they pose. They do not serve your interests.
While I continue to maintain my accounts, I have reduced my social media use to almost nothing as it has become impossible to avoid gen-AI content. I recommend subscribing to either my Patreon or Substack to skip algorithms and be notified of my new work. Both have free options and will email my posts directly to you.
You can also do things “1990s style” and bookmark my pages.
Website Updates
In January 2025, I became a member of the National Cartoonist Society.
My personal website has gradually undergone a complete renovation. I updated code, simplified and streamlined layouts, and made it more vertical-screen-friendly. I have not hosted advertising for many years, but I also removed any scripts for monitoring web traffic. It’s a plain website — like in the good old days.
I have permanently closed my Etsy shop and will not be moving to any other eCommerce platform. I produce little non-digital artwork these days, but for future artwork sales I will be conducting business directly by email or via Patreon.
TeePublic remains the only online source for my limited merchandising. If you see my work for sale anywhere else online, it has been stolen. Please report it as a copyright infringement/violation and notify me as soon as possible.
If you happen to meet me in person, ask for a free sticker!
Minnesota Comic Book Association (MNCBA)
The MNCBA’s 2024 and 2025 events held steady despite the challenges of operating in ever-shifting economic and political landscapes. We are, of course, doing everything that we can to increase attendance and engagement while remaining true to our core mission as a 501(c)(3) organization.
No matter how much work you would think running an organization like the MNCBA is, I can assure you that is probably much, much more. Following MNCBA FallCon 2024, Steve and I switched roles, making me the MNCBA President and him the Vice-President. Then in 2025, Steve joined the Saint Paul Vulcans.
The Saint Paul Vulcans at MNCBA SpringCon 2025. Left to Right: Stephen Henninger, Stephen Borer, Dan Jurgens, Gordon Purcell, Jen Bateman
Due to the demands on Steve’s time from his Vulcan commitments, much of the work that would typically be on his plate fell to me. On top of my regular workload, finishing the MNCBA website, getting our book-keeping fully online, and preparing our taxes, it is amazing I lasted until mid-October 2025 before I collapsed.
Our newsletter team held a meeting this month for a round table discussion about publishing more regularly, and to brainstorm ways in which we can better serve the Twin Cities comic book community. I am happy to see that coming together.
Thankfully, most of the “big ticket” projects of organization building are knocked out, and Steve will be able to contribute more in the coming year. I will be getting the ball rolling for MNCBA SpringCon 2026 in the next week or two.
During my “downtime,” other than sleeping, I have been doing quite a bit of reading with the goal of enhancing and improving my leadership skills. Taking the time to step back and reflect on what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and what I can personally do better as a leader has been helpful, I think.
Behind the 8-Ball
Behind the 8-Ball began updating publicly on 12 August 2024. I am about 40 pages behind where I planned to be right now because of, well, everything. It was a 2024 NCS Divisional Reuben Award Nominee. I am doing my best to restructure my life so that I can produce pages more quickly, but there is not much to report otherwise. The work speaks for itself — as far as I am concerned.
Behind the 8-Ball can also be read on Webtoon and Tapas.
Remembering Friends
Pat Gruber
On 19 March 2025, my friend Pat Gruber passed away following multiple complications from a heart attack and stroke. Though I only knew Pat for a short time, he was a much-loved part of the Twin Cities comic book community and a long-time MNCBA volunteer. Pat was a fun-loving guy with a generous spirit.
28 October 2023, Left to Right: Jen Bateman, Brian Wilson, Pat Gruber
Mark Wise
On 24 October 2025, my friend Mark Wise passed away from complications of esophageal cancer. Long-time followers of my work may remember him from the COMIC BROS podcast we recorded intermittently through 2015 and 2016 along with another friend, Root Bradford. Mark was one of the kindest, gentlest men I have ever met, and the news of his death was absolutely devastating.
Mark was an asset to his local arts and comics community, a talented multi-disciplinary creative, and a devoted father. He will be greatly missed.
24 September 2016, Left to Right: Mark Wise, Jen Bateman, Root Bradford
A Few Words
Given that none of us know what the next few months and years will bring, or indeed, if we will even have a next few months and years, please allow me the following statements. In the event that something unfortunate happens to me, there should be no lingering doubt as to my feelings and intentions.
And so — in that spirit — my words go thus:
I have forgiven everyone who has ever harmed me, intentionally or otherwise, even those individuals I recognize it is not healthy or safe to allow back into my life. There is no hate or resentment in my heart. If you assume otherwise, that is on you. I have never turned away the apology of any person who I believed was remorseful, capable of change, and committed to the work of repair.
The love I have for my friends does not diminish with distance or time. To my friends who have passed; you will always be with me in memory. To my friends that I am only able to see or speak to a few times a year, if ever; I still think of you and our memories together. They will always hold a special place in my heart.
To those closest to me; I love you, dearly. You all know who you are.
I have only wanted to become a genuine and good human being; to experience acceptance for my authentic self; to live and work among others in a place where it feels like I belong. Admittedly, I have not been perfect. None of us are, and that is the beauty of life itself. We are here to learn, suffer, and grow together.
We are each given only one life to live. Use it wisely.
