neondisease.net :: the roach chronicles

The Roach was created by Chad Hay during the mid-nineties, and made it's print debut during the spring at the 1997 Eugene Comic Show in Eugene, Oregon. The first issue was in an 'ashcan' mini-comic format with a bright pink cover, and was limited to only 100 copies.

That first issue introduced the Roach to a new world.. a world he would begin discovering through his forthcoming appearances. The Roach appeared next two years later when two issues debuted at the 1999 Eugene Comic Show.

The Roach #1 was the first issue of a planned ten part storyline entitled 'scary monsters', and introduced two supporting characters who were to appear weaved throughout the series: the cybernetic Virginia Plain, and the nefarious Halloween Jack. Both characters named after references in classic songs by Roxy Music and David Bowie from the early seventies. All ten chapters of this introductory tale was to be titled after a specific track on the 1980 David Bowie album "Scary Monsters"

Also debuting at the Eugene Comic Show that year, was the first issue of Guilded Edges, an anthology title produced by the Eugene Comics Guild. The first issue included a five page Roach tale, as well as a full color appearance on the cover. In this very short tale, the Roach encounters a pushy thug, and proceeds to teach him some manners. Due to an error on the creators part, this story went unlettered, and thus appears as a silent adventure. Most of the story was intended to be silent intentionally, except for the final panel.

The Roach appeared next later that same summer when The Roach #2 was printed up and featured the debut of Justine. Justine would later be resurrected for the Rhapsody project in 2001. This issue also featured a portrait of the the Roach by the very talented Michael Perez, and included a short sketchbook feature of the Roach and Jusine by the creator near the end of the issue. Unfortunately, due to personal issues, this would be the final issue of The Roach in this format.

The next issue of the Guilded Edges featured a short three page story of Justine daydreaming about the mysterious Roach she had just encountered, as well as a pin-up of Justine and the Roach located elsewhere in the book. The final appearance of the Roach saga would occur within the third issue of Guilded Edges in a special halloween tale. While only three of the six Roach tales which saw print were part of the ten chapters, all ten chapters were written and in various stages of completion visually. Unfortunately, these pages will probably never see print, and the story has died.

From the ashes of the The Roach, comes the Rhapsody project. While superficially there seems to be little in common between the two concepts, other than the shared character of Justine, the current project evolved directly from the previous. If the Roach character is ever to return, then it will surely be within the new world of Donna Rhapsody.

eugene comics guild

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							*The Roach* was created by Chad Hay during the mid-nineties, and made it's print debut during the spring at the 1997 Eugene Comic Show in Eugene, Oregon. The first issue was in an 'ashcan' mini-comic format with a bright pink cover, and was limited to only 100 copies. That first issue introduced the Roach to a new world.. a world he would begin discovering through his forthcoming appearances. The Roach appeared next two years later when two issues debuted at the 1999 Eugene Comic Show. *The Roach* #1 was the first issue of a planned ten part storyline entitled 'scary monsters', and introduced two supporting characters who were to appear weaved throughout the series: the cybernetic Virginia Plain, and the nefarious Halloween Jack. Both characters named after references in classic songs by Roxy Music and David Bowie from the early seventies. All ten chapters of this introductory tale was to be titled after a specific track on the 1980 David Bowie album "Scary Monsters" Also debuting at the Eugene Comic Show that year, was the first issue of *Guilded Edges, an anthology title produced by the Eugene Comics Guild. The first issue included a five page Roach tale, as well as a full color appearance on the cover. In this very short tale, the Roach encounters a pushy thug, and proceeds to teach him some manners. Due to an error on the creators part, this story went unlettered, and thus appears as a silent adventure. Most of the story was intended to be silent intentionally, except for the final panel. The Roach appeared next later that same summer when The Roach* #2 was printed up and featured the debut of Justine. Justine would later be resurrected for the Rhapsody project in 2001. This issue also featured a portrait of the the Roach by the very talented Michael Perez, and included a short sketchbook feature of the Roach and Jusine by the creator near the end of the issue. Unfortunately, due to personal issues, this would be the final issue of *The Roach* in this format. The next issue of the *Guilded Edges* featured a short three page story of Justine daydreaming about the mysterious Roach she had just encountered, as well as a pin-up of Justine and the Roach located elsewhere in the book. The final appearance of the Roach saga would occur within the third issue of *Guilded Edges* in a special halloween tale. While only three of the six Roach tales which saw print were part of the ten chapters, all ten chapters were written and in various stages of completion visually. Unfortunately, these pages will probably never see print, and the story has died. From the ashes of the The Roach, comes the *Rhapsody* project. While superficially there seems to be little in common between the two concepts, other than the shared character of Justine, the current project evolved directly from the previous. If the Roach character is ever to return, then it will surely be within the new world of Donna Rhapsody.








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