My Best Friend, Mike McSwiggin

Frank Cho with Mike McSwiggin. Click to view larger.

I loath this time of the year. From November to January 1, it’s the period of time I hate the most. I’m often at my deepest funk and blackest of mood. Multiple factors contribute to my negative state, but mostly the brutal end-of-the-year deadlines and family commitments. During these two months, my failings as a person come to the forefront of my mind and utterly destroy me emotionally. Growing up poor, Catholic and Asian, there are lot of personal demons and issues I’m plagued with and still working through. And every year, like a demented Korean Christmas Carol, my personal demons haunt me and force me to revisit them.

The bright spot this season was my best friend, Mike McSwiggin, and his family. I was pretty stressed out and frustrated when Thanksgiving rolled around. As much as I love my wife, Mara didn’t understand nor could keep my demons at bay. I was struggling with my updated workload and family commitments, and was not in the brightest of moods. Fortunately, Mike and his family came down from Cincinnati to have Thanksgiving with his parents, and invited me and Mara over. Being around Mike relaxed me and allowed me to let go of some of the anger and enjoy the holiday.

Mike and I first met in college, University of Maryland. He became more of a brother to me than my biological brothers. We grew up and started our adulthood together. He watched me grow as an artist and the blossoming of my art career. (Still thankful for Mike driving me to Fedex to deliver my Liberty Meadows strips to my Syndicate without complaints every week.) And I watched him become a top Pharmacist in his company. So being around him grounds me, let me know where I came from, and let me be myself for a short period of time.

So, big thanks to Mike McSwiggin and his family for the short respite from myself on Thanksgiving.

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FRANK CHO

Frank Cho: Mike McSwiggin’s cameo on Liberty Meadows daily. Click to view larger.

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