I know emotions have been running high for some of you, so to diffuse some of the controversy, I decided to offer a very humorous incentive sketch. I won’t spoil the surprise, so vote for Theater Hopper at buzzComix and have a cheap laugh on me.

So here it is. Part 2 of my little reaction piece to Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. I have to admit there wasn’t as much backlash to Wednesday’s comic as I thought there would be. I don’t know what that says about you the audience or me the creator, but there you have it.

Really the comics of the last two days don’t have anything to do with Moore’s movie. They weren’t a collaboration of his political or a statement against President Bush.

My issue is censorship. Whether it be artists censoring themselves in fear of reprisal or suffering the judgement of others in a society that professes free speech as its highest virtue.

Wednesday’s comic saw me stepping into my own imaginary universe as some kind of overlord, informing the audience that we wouldn’t touch the controversy with a 10 foot pole. The joke was that I was censoring myself.

Of course, this gets thrown out the window when I call President Bush a doodie head.

Today’s comic is about the reaction to commentary such as that. My free speech is countered by another’s free speech and my characters get caught in the crossfire. Attempting to express their frustration, I alter what Cami was going to say in panel three. Censorship again.

At the end of the day, it serves no purpose to try and prevent what one person wants to express. Whether it’s Moore, myself, or a fictional character. No one has ever adopted the concept of free speech and democracy by having it forced down their throats. No one will adopt another persons idea of what is appropriate and what is not if they aren’t already looking for that answer.

I understand that you guys primarily come to the site for a cheap laugh before going about your day and you probably don’t need my opinions cluttering things up. But every once in a while, I want to make you laugh AND make you think. If I can do that, then I know I’m not some hack out here trying to perform some slight of hand to make you think I have talent. It’s no different than my commentary about the MPAA a while ago. And for those of you who don’t think it’s my place to mix politics and art, where were your criticism when I was taking Jack Valenti down a few pegs?

Ultimately, there is a nexus where art, politics, commerce and opinion intersect. And every so often my work drifts into the middle of it. If you like it, great. If not, well… content decisions around here is like Iowa weather. You don’t like it? Wait 10 minutes. It’ll get better.

Stay tuned to the comic next week for a whole new story arc profiling the biggest summer blockbuster of the year – the upcoming Spider Man 2! I’m looking forward to it! I hope you are, too!