Jason Siebels’ comic "Anywhere But Here" (http://anywherebuthere.keenspace.com/ , occasional harsh language) is a comic about life in a rather smallish town in North Dakota. The comic is done with an obvious newspaper slant and the creator shamelessly admits that he would be open for any and all chances at syndication.

The main focus of the comic is the main character, known only as “Our Hero”. The name of the main character will not be revealed until toward the very end of the comic’s run. However, it is not the name of “Our Hero” that draws you to him, it is his personality and struggles that bring his appeal.

“Our Hero” is a jazz musician, deep thinker, and is apparently completely unfazed by things completely out of the norm for every day life. This becomes apparent when, in a depressed state, he goes and plays checkers with Death, eventually becoming his friend even to the point of getting Death a makeover from another friend

“Our Hero” does have his flaws like any good protagonist should. He loves jazz music, but anything by Kenny G annoys him to no end. He is fatally incapable of handling himself on most dates, a fact that does not escape the creator. Fifty comics are currently being created with cameos from other comics from around Keenspace simply to turn “Our Hero” down on dates. “Our Hero” also has a sharp hatred toward those that irritate us all… like those that are far too sappy with their love in public.

Some of the other cast and characters have been introduced, including a few devils from Hell that tried to convince “Our Hero” that evil did truly exist. Some other background characters, including members from the band, have been introduced as well but none of them have been expounded upon just yet to do more than hint at future plotlines.

However, all of these elements were not enough to convince me that it was anything beyond just a good comic that is still growing into its boots. What pushed me over the line from “this is pretty good” to “Ok, now I need to read this comic from here on out” was how “Our Hero” handled something as simple and complex as the opportunity for an actual relationship.

Quick background… the woman in question is, as she freely admits, easy, and the obvious love interest for “Our Hero”. She has been trying to get “Our Hero” into her bed for a long time and finally confronts him after a showing of Star Wars. When he refuses her advance for the umpteenth time, even considering that she is almost nude and literally throwing herself at him, she demands an explanation. How he reacts to her demand is, perhaps, one of the most tender and honest things I’ve ever read in a comic.

Simply put, that is the most honest and endearing thing I have read in any comic out there for a very long time. This is the comic that solidified Jason Siebels’ place on my “comics that I read” list, and what earned him his recognition of our Spotlight Comic of the Month.

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