How did I not know that?
Today’s comic is inspired by a friend’s story: more than a year after leaving a job, she got a middle-of-the-night call asking for help. She said, you know I don’t work there anymore, right? Yes, was the reply, but I didn’t know who else to call. So my friend helped. Because she is a mensch.
Anyway, on an unrelated note: last week I was driving by my local independent bookstore, and on a whim I stopped in an bought one of Tim Barela’s “Leonard & Larry” books. And as I was reading it I had this thought: I owe Tim Barela a debt of gratitude.
Back when I was a confused teenager, I bought a book of assorted gay comics. It included some great old comics, like “Swishy Fish”, “Jayson“, and “Poppers”, plus a really good long-form story by Alison Bechdel — but I think the one that really stood out for me was the “Leonard & Larry” story. Settling down and getting married was something I’d always planned to do, but at that point I didn’t see how I could do that if I was gay. Barela showed me a way, though his stories. Comics can be powerful that way.
So thanks, Tim.
If you don’t find “Leonard & Larry” books at your local independent bookstore, you can always order them from Barela’s Web site. And they are good so you might want to go do that.
The true story you based it on is cool because it shows not only that someone is missed at the office but that they were valued. The comic version is based more on reality because corporate America has a funny way of making one feel like just another number and easily replaced. God bless America
Does anyone know what’s become of Tim Barela? I’m sorry L & L has stopped (though I hope it will return), but I’ve been a little worried that I can’t find an actual web presence for Tim himself at all.
When I posted this almost two years ago, leonardandlarry.com was Tim’s own site. I’m not sure what happened. I’ll see if I can find out. I know some people who might know him.
I will say, though, that not all cartoonists are very web savvy. The fact the Tim doesn’t own the site anymore isn’t necessarily a sign that we should worry. He may just not have sold much online, and so not felt he needed to keep the site.