Recently, the small light bulb used in my lava lamp has burnt out. For months I've let it sit unused, feeling slightly guilty. The lava lamp became a symbol in m@b as a time for my character to contemplate the complexities of life. The fact that I haven't replaced the light bulb in my real-life lava lamp speaks volumes about my current headspace.

While I'm still happy with m@b, I've lost the energy to think about it. The spark of inspiration has dulled and rarely goes off these days.

I've decided that Thursday, March 29th, 2007 will be the last day my comic appears in Eye Weekly, thus ending a four-year run in the alt weekly (it will be four years exactly from the week m@b first appeared!). That was preceded by four and a half years of independent publishing that took me into every small bookstore and record shop in this city, numerous comic festivals across North America, and exciting book tours up and down both coast lines.

Part of the rush I got from publishing m@b was the control I had over the entire process. That excitement still happens, but the inspiration instead comes from Spacing, the magazine I help found in 2003. Working on Spacing is an unbelievable experience that has enormous potential for positive change to our urban landscape. It brings me a lot of joy and challenges me on every possible level.

Thanks for your support and encouragement over the years. I've had a lot of fun.

love (and ©), Matt Blackett