FOND FAREWELL: The End of a Rant

Craig Kemper and Jim MacQuarrie recently sold their ownership of this site to Constellation Studios. In this candid interview, they explain their decision to sell and what direction their lives are heading in the future.

MONKEY'S PIT: This is a sad day for everyone here at the site, guys. Please tell us in your own words what has happened in the past few weeks, and how you came to sell the ownership of MONKEY SPIT to Constellation Studios.

JIM MACQUARRIE: The long and short of it, is I'm too busy. I coach archery; I'm an assistant Scoutmaster with my son's scout troop; we're restoring a hundred-year-old house; I lead the drama ministry at my church (and that's caused a few problems due to content at Monkey Spit, too); and I have a lot of other obligations I've been neglecting and a lot of projects I'd like to take on. Something's got to give. And then there's the fact that I'm just not ready to fight the legal department of the whole bloody AOL/Time-Warner/DC conglomerate. Their lawyers can beat up my lawyer.

CRAIG KEMPER: Honestly, I'm exhausted. While I enjoy writing The Fourth Wall, and creating the occasional mini-comic for the site, my family obligations simply don't allow me the free time to properly create the content I believe the site deserves. I've got two little kids, and a new baby coming in a few months. I have zero free time now, and I don't expect there to be more in the future. When AOL/Time-Warner/DC/Money Pitt From Hell came knocking, that was the final straw. It was time for me to relinquish control.

MONKEY'S PIT: How do you feel about essentially being shut down by the corporate? Another example of "legal" censorship in America? Did you contact the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and ask for aid in this? I mean, you're a cartoonist. You are allowed proper legal representation against censorship, and this issue boils down to DC saying you're not allowed to parody their characters or employees, correct? Or is it simply not worth the hassles in life that legally prusing this could cause?

JIM MACQUARRIE: No, I didn't contact CBLDF, because as you say, it's simply not worth the hassles. This issue really boils down, as so many other things do, to the personal. The way I understand it, Paul Levitz was insulted because he felt we were calling him a sell-out. Personal and corporate integrity is very important to him. This is a guy who has ordered whole print-runs of comics destroyed, at considerable expense to the company, simply because he felt they did not properly represent DC Comics the way he felt they should. Some call that censorship, but I consider it integrity. So for us to suggest that he would order Superman to be changed into a Vertigo book to boost sales is a deeply personal affront to him. We didn't intend it that way, but there it is. I see his point. That's why the gag worked, frankly. We couldn't have done it with Marvel, because Jemas and Quesada would have jumped at the chance to do that to one of their characters, as the Rawhide Kid illustrates. That's one of the reasons we've picked on DC more; it's hard to come up with something that's over-the-top for Marvel.

CRAIG KEMPER: It just isn't worth it. If I were loaded with cash, and had the time to pursue the matter, hell yes I'd fight those bastards to the end. But a long, expensive legal battle is not something I'm up for at the moment of my life. I'd rather spend time with my family, and work on my creator owned comic project. And quite frankly, the Levitz joke was funny. He could've just told us the joke wasn't funny. But no, he wants to sue our asses! Freaking AOL corporate nazi.

JIM MACQUARRIE: Come on, Craig. He's a suit, but he's not a nazi. Besides, if we had taken a personal shot at Jemas like that, he'd have killed us and eaten our livers.

MONKEY'S PIT: Where might you be headed in the future creatively? Do you still intend to function within the comics industry, either online or in print? How has this experience affected your interests and desire to continue as a cartoonist and / or comics creator?

JIM MACQUARRIE: Dunno. I'm sure I'll still draw silly cartoons, and I've had some offers, both online and in print. I also have some things coming up that might allow me to break into animation in some capacity, most likely through advertising, commercials, that kind of thing. Thing is, I draw because I can. I don't consider myself an "artist." I'm a craftsman. I have a skill, I make a buck at it, but I express myself verbally well enough that I don't really have a lot that I have to say through my art. It's a way to avoid working for a living.

CRAIG KEMPER: Now that my duties here at over, I can concentrate more on my personal comic book. When time allows, I plan to continue the writing on my multi-part graphic novel series all about my days working at my college newspaper. I may also con Jim into working on a little something here and there. The man draws a mean Aquaman!

MONKEY'S PIT: What kind of reaction do you think the fans of this site will have, knowing that you have stepped away from the scene? Do you think fans will be angry with you? With Constellation Studios for trying to continue the tradition?

JIM MACQUARRIE: We have fans? Can't tell that from the donations. We've got maybe 15 bucks so far that way, and we've only had a couple of people order t-shirts, so if we have fans, they aren't supporting us. That's another reason we decided to get out. I think some people will be angry, hurt, betrayed, crushed... some may find that they simply can't go on without their beloved Monkey Spit, but I really can't worry about them. We have families and obligations.

CRAIG KEMPER: Yeah, all twelve of them will want to kick your ass. They've probably already designed an elaborate revenge scheme against me involving travestites and the US Mail.

MONKEY'S PIT: If you had it all to do over again, what would you have done differently?

JIM MACQUARRIE: I would have spaced Rant-Man's Notebook and the Fourth Wall further apart in the week. Having them right up against each other on Thursday and Friday makes for a real crunch in the middle of the week.

CRAIG KEMPER: I would've written more mini-comics with a variety of artists. The comics I've done with Jeremy Drew have been fantastic, but his time constraints limited the number of comics I did. As far as the Fourth Wall goes, I wouldn't change a thing, except possibly move it to Tuesdays. That's a big traffic day, and I'm an attention whore.

MONKEY'S PIT: Craig, what was your initial reaction to Jim MacQuarrie's informing you of his decision to leave Monkey Spit and that he was planning on shutting it down?

CRAIG KEMPER:At first I had the slight urge to bitch slap the little monkey. But that quickly subsided, as the realization of the load being lifted from my shoulders emerged. I love Monkey Spit, but I can fully appreciate Jim's reason for leaving.

MONKEY'S PIT: Why did you agree that selling the site to Constellation was the best plan of action? Why not simply take over the site yourself?

CRAIG KEMPER: I considered taking over the site. But I'm a programmer by day, and the thought of maintaining the site in a language I don't know really didn't appeal to me. Programming for free isn't one of my life goals either. With Constellation taking the wheel, I can still see my little corner of the internet grow, without the stress and aggravation of maintaining it. Plus, I'm lazy.

MONKEY'S PIT: Why not simply continue THE FOURTH WALL as contributors and just let Constellation Studios deal with the DC Legal?

JIM MACQUARRIE: THE FOURTH WALL was one of the most time-intensive parts of the site. It would have been the first thing to go in any case, even without the little "howdy" from DC's Brute Squad.

CRAIG KEMPER:I wrote the thing. And Jim drew it. Ultimately, we're responsible. If I wanted to fight, I'd do it myself. As it stands now, Levitz is an ass, and I'm leaving it at that. I'm taking my toys and going home.

MONKEY'S PIT: Is there anything you'd like to say to the loyal fans of MONKEY SPIT?

CRAIG KEMPER: I'd like to thank you all for checking us out, your constant support, and your praise. I'd especially like to thank Jonah Weiland for the web space, and Gail Simone for her honest opinions and promotion. And last I'd like to thank Jim, since he's probably the biggest fan of our site. Without Jim, there would be no Monkey Spit.

JIM MACQUARRIE: Oh, fine, blame me. I'd echo what Craig said, especially as regards Gail. there is not a more supportive and encouraging person in the business, and she has promoted us in so many ways that she didn't have to take the time and trouble to do. I'd also like to thank the people who submitted weird websites for our links page, and especially hte people who thought our Featured Sites were real. God bless 'em.

MONKEY'S PIT: Any last words you care to impart to your loyal followers here at the site?

JIM MACQUARRIE:Last words? Squeeze! Gazebo! Encephaloplegia! Weasel!

CRAIG KEMPER: Go Marvel? F**k DC?

MONKEY'S PIT thanks Jim MacQuarrie and Craig Kemper for their time, their innovations, and their efforts in making this site and coming forth to speak about the situation. MONKEY'S PIT did attempt to contact DC Comics and Mr. Paul Levitz for further comment about the "cease and desist" order and consequent actions taken, but to date we have received no replies. We feel that the actions of DC in this case have been nothing short of foolish, and hope that someday this scenario will have played itself out and that Jim and Craig will return to the site as contributors, if not simply sold back to them as it was initially their baby.