Christopher Michael Sahloff | Publisher

- long emotional post ahead.

Every issue of CRIT has come with its own challenges. When I started this journey, I had no background in writing or drawing comics. I was just a guy with a story to tell, surrounded by people who inspired me to keep getting better.

One of those people was my friend, Obie Dancy. Hewas a huge motivator for my art.

I remember showing him the very first issue #0, an issue I never released because I wasn't proud enough of the artwork. He told me it was a good start, that at least I didn't trace anything, and that I could actually draw feet. 😂

If you knew Obie, you knew how much he loved giving Rob Liefeld a hard time.

Every time a new issue of CRIT arrived at his house, Obie would call me. He'd give me his thoughts on the artwork. With every issue, he got more excited about how far I'd come. Of all my friends, his feedback was the one I looked forward to the most.

Then came this issue. I hadn't heard from Obie in a few months, and I was getting ready to draw Reach's big entrance page. I wanted to send him some screenshots and get his thoughts before finishing it.

Before I could, Brad called me with the news that Obie had passed away in January. I went back through our messages. We had spoken less than two weeks before he passed. Drawing that page became one of the hardest things I'd done on this book because It had to be perfect.

I drew it three times before I finally felt like I'd done it justice. Then @draweraserepeat brought it to life with his incredible colors.

Obie, this issue, and every issue moving forward, is for you, bro. You pushed me to be a better artist without probably ever realizing how much your words meant to me.

I'm so damn proud of this issue, and more than anything, I wish I could hear that phone ring one more time and listen to you tell me what you thought. Obie I hope you look down and smile at how Reach's story unfolds.

To everyone who has ever told me, "Your art gets better with every issue," I want you to know that part of that is because I had someone in my corner who held comic art to a high standard and made me want to reach it. Thank you, Obie.

We miss you, brother. I hope you've found peace