Around the month of February, 2005, on the heals of The Comic Book Creator's Party website, I circulated an article on the comics web forums, For Truth, Justice and the American Way, calling on comics creators and fandom to begin organizing and promoting the notion of positioning ourselves as a viable alternative for political leadership, beginning in America. The article, which was well read on the forums (based on its page views), and amusingly discussed on various blogs, was also commented on by Brian Dougherty on Reason Magazine's Hit & Run column. Among the names of prolific comics creators mentioned in the article, was also reporter supreme of Lying in the Gutters, the comics' most read industry news column, Rich Johnston.

Several times during ensuing discussions, forum members wondered why Rich was included in that list. He wasn't then known for having created any comics, let alone prolific ones. Some even alluded to that it was due to his reporting on some of my web sites at LITG back then. My answer to them, repeatedly, was... wait and see.

Now that The Flying Friar has emerged onto the American and European comics scenes, that premonition of several years ago appears to be coming true. Rich Johnston's new series is receiving accolades from across the comics industry, which are also extending out of popular media jounrnalism. Below are a few examples, followed by an 8 page preview from the first issue.

"Saints don't ordinarily make good comic book heroes... the exception to all this is St Joseph of Copertino" - The Guardian

"well worth seeking out" - The Telegraph

"rather beautiful new graphic novel" - Popbitch

"One of the best reads of 2007" - Newsarama

"Exceptionally thought provoking... beautiful, beautiful stuff" - Ain't It Cool News

"Well paced, well scripted and beautifully drawn" - Variety

"one of the best and, given our current American culture’s fear of offending anyone when it comes to discussing religion, ballsiest Elseworlds stories that DC never published" - Newsarama

"Rich Johnston, Satan take his balls, has found one of Those Ideas... The Name Of The Rose via Smallville" - Warren Ellis

"a fabulous fabulous book" - Regie Rigby

(If your browser does not display the thumbnails below, click on the first image place holder to view gallery)

If only for the opening of this story in the eight pages above, and reactions from notable comics personalities, institutes and other media journalists, The Flying Friar promises to be a somewhat surprising event in the annals of comics history. It's not every day a journalist turns creator, after all, though the gap between them might be relatively small. It shouldn't be such a surprise, however. Rich Johnston is a man of class, wit and insight, whose talents have made Lying in the Gutters one of the most loved comics industry columns, and are apparently also driving this landmark new series.

So, while the premonition of nearly 3 years ago suffered from suspicious intent, The Flying Friar has been lying around the gutters of publication destiny, awaiting the moment to pounce onto the comics. Having now come full circle, its creator has also earned a well deserved mantle in our very own hall of fame, Portraits of the Creators sketchbook.

Rich Johnston.

Portraits of the Creators.