About Island Blues
Island Blues was born out of the imagination of Josef Silvia one day in 2002. Having his own High School newspaper, he was regularly drawing comic strips on a weekly basis. These comics were called "Apartment House," based on the lives of people who lived in an apartment building. However, ideas were scarce and by the end of 2001, Josef was searching for new ideas. He drew kids that slightly resembled the Peanuts characters, calling the strip "Plodbank Kids." Fortunately, though, the strip lasted only one comic.
Then, one day while he sat in his study hall period, he penciled a picture of a bearded man deserted on an island, staring up at a flying saucer. The caption read: "I've been on an island too long! I'm starting to see things!" Enjoying what he had drawn, Josef had this comic finished for that week's edition of his newspaper. The date was November 20, 2001. The comic proved popular, and so on December 14, 2001 he released another island comic. This time a man was sitting on an island, a coconut fell on his head, and he began to see stars. Although these two island comics (which were unnamed) proved popular with his friends and fellow classmates, the first Island Blues comic did not see the light of day until April 12, 2002. This was because while he was writing the Island Blues comics by March, he still had a few comics of his old series to release first. Even though Island Blues wasn't official until April, Josef considers March 2002 as the anniversary of the comic as that was when he began drawing it.
Over the next 2 years in High School, Island Blues was a staple of Josef's newspaper. When he graduated, the characters were rescued. And this was the end of the comic.........for 8 years. The next 8 years, Josef was in Bible College and then Seminary, drawing now and then but forgetting all about Island Blues. One day in March 2010, Josef had been going through a great time of personal stress and needed to relax. So, he picked up his pencil and once again drew the story of Dan. By that summer, he was posting new Island Blues comics n Facebook at the request of his friends who enjoyed his work. By December 2010, he had drawn 50 comics, a complete series about Dan on an island, tortured by his cartoonist. And once again, Josef rescued Dan.
A lot of people, though, had enjoyed the comic and requested more to come. Even Josef's sister suggested that Dan have a girlfriend. Between January-September 2011, Josef began sketching new ideas for the comics. He created Meg, Dan's wife, and had them married on the island. Then, he went back and told the story of how Mr. Cartoonist decided to keep the comic going and "deleted" the rescue comic. All these new comics premiered in November 2011, along with a Facebook Group and website. To help kick things off, Josef also published a 2012 Wall Calendar and a book of the first 50 comics.
It has now been 14 years since the first Island Blues comic, and the story--we are happy to say--has never been so fresh. With new characters like Joe the Bad, TV Guy, I-Man, and the baby Tommy added to the mix over the last 6 years, Island Blues has sailed into a life of its own. How long will it last? Well, originally Josef planned 50. Then he planned 200. Now, he is simply drawing to tell the story of these characters without regard to numbers. We currently ended the series after 301 official comics, but you never know when a "new" Island Blues comic will appear!
Then, one day while he sat in his study hall period, he penciled a picture of a bearded man deserted on an island, staring up at a flying saucer. The caption read: "I've been on an island too long! I'm starting to see things!" Enjoying what he had drawn, Josef had this comic finished for that week's edition of his newspaper. The date was November 20, 2001. The comic proved popular, and so on December 14, 2001 he released another island comic. This time a man was sitting on an island, a coconut fell on his head, and he began to see stars. Although these two island comics (which were unnamed) proved popular with his friends and fellow classmates, the first Island Blues comic did not see the light of day until April 12, 2002. This was because while he was writing the Island Blues comics by March, he still had a few comics of his old series to release first. Even though Island Blues wasn't official until April, Josef considers March 2002 as the anniversary of the comic as that was when he began drawing it.
Over the next 2 years in High School, Island Blues was a staple of Josef's newspaper. When he graduated, the characters were rescued. And this was the end of the comic.........for 8 years. The next 8 years, Josef was in Bible College and then Seminary, drawing now and then but forgetting all about Island Blues. One day in March 2010, Josef had been going through a great time of personal stress and needed to relax. So, he picked up his pencil and once again drew the story of Dan. By that summer, he was posting new Island Blues comics n Facebook at the request of his friends who enjoyed his work. By December 2010, he had drawn 50 comics, a complete series about Dan on an island, tortured by his cartoonist. And once again, Josef rescued Dan.
A lot of people, though, had enjoyed the comic and requested more to come. Even Josef's sister suggested that Dan have a girlfriend. Between January-September 2011, Josef began sketching new ideas for the comics. He created Meg, Dan's wife, and had them married on the island. Then, he went back and told the story of how Mr. Cartoonist decided to keep the comic going and "deleted" the rescue comic. All these new comics premiered in November 2011, along with a Facebook Group and website. To help kick things off, Josef also published a 2012 Wall Calendar and a book of the first 50 comics.
It has now been 14 years since the first Island Blues comic, and the story--we are happy to say--has never been so fresh. With new characters like Joe the Bad, TV Guy, I-Man, and the baby Tommy added to the mix over the last 6 years, Island Blues has sailed into a life of its own. How long will it last? Well, originally Josef planned 50. Then he planned 200. Now, he is simply drawing to tell the story of these characters without regard to numbers. We currently ended the series after 301 official comics, but you never know when a "new" Island Blues comic will appear!