"After doing Johnny I wanted to just do something, I wouldn't say innocent, but to not have any care in the world. Lots of setups and horrible happenings but its funny"

Jhonen Vasquez, well-known for his darkly satirical comic "Johnny the Homicidal Maniac", reflects on his creative direction following such a heavy and violent project. He describes a yearning to pivot away from the immense psychological weight and grim themes that defined "Johnny". By stating that after creating Johnny he wanted “to just do something, I wouldn't say innocent, but to not have any care in the world,” Vasquez expresses his desire to explore a different type of storytelling, one less burdened by the bleakness and moral complexity of extreme violence and more aligned with spontaneous, unguarded creativity. The use of “innocent” is telling; he hesitates, suggesting that his new work isn’t exactly pure or naive. Rather, it’s an attempt to create without overthinking, without the constant undercurrent of darkness, perhaps aiming for a playful or unfiltered tone.

He mentions “lots of setups and horrible happenings but it's funny,” revealing the enduring presence of chaos and misfortune in his narrative world. Yet, the distinction is clear: these calamities, instead of invoking horror or dread, elicit laughter. Vasquez seems to recognize that comedy can arise from pain, misfortune, or absurdity, especially when the stakes are presented in a hyperbolic or surreal manner. His creative evolution involves retaining the energy and unpredictability of his earlier work, while recontextualizing these elements in a comedic frame rather than a torturous or disturbing one. This allows for a cathartic release; both creator and audience can find humor and absurdity where there might otherwise be only discomfort or sorrow.

Ultimately, Vasquez outlines a shift in perspective, transforming trauma and chaos into something more liberating and anarchic, casting aside the emotional burdens of his previous narrative to embrace mischief, humor, and wild spontaneity.