a great man died today. his name is Ricky Gardun creator of Dumm Comics, and 1930 nightmare theatre. i'm not sure, but i just know he did himself in, there are things even death wouldn't do, and that was take him before his time. i never knew him personally, i can't say i met him in person without it being a lie, but...I felt like a part of me was stolen. I shouldn't feel sorry, i don't have the right to. i never knew the guy, i don't much other than what he did and his name, but i just can't shake the feeling of sorrow. I remember when i first heard of Ricky Garduno. i remember the exact date i found Dumm comics because it was the day "Earthward Ho." ended. the day was june 26th 2009. i knew a lot, but i wasn't as mature, nor did i know as much as i do today. Even still, back then and to this day i knew the constants and the questions. where although religion and the end will always be questioned, death is always the constant. i soon learned how it would always be in life, no matter what we do, how do it, or who we are, nothing will ever change that. Ricky's death wasn't surprising, he showed the signs, asked about the afterlife, and more, but even still it didn't cushion the blow, not in the slightest. it made me guilty still. not for thinking i could change it, or comfort him, or help him. no i felt bad because...i never knew him. I always looked up to Ricky, he was perverted, rebellious, drew, talked, and joked about the craziest things, and was just so unique, so left of center. he seemed like a guy i would love to have known, to be friends with. i feel like there was a purpose that he had not yet fulfilled, that there was more things that Ricky Garduno needed to do. in the end though it doesn't matter. he did the deed, and there's nothing i nor you can do about it. i felt especially sad when i heard about it, because it was HOW i found out. I hadn't been checking up on the 61 comics i read, because i've been busy on another forum so it kept me away. i decided to take the winter break to my advantage and catch up on all the updates i missed. i was going down the line slowly but surely when i finally reached Dumm. i was going through, and stopped at this specific page.
dummcomics.com/2011/12/14/rip-2/ at first, i didn't understand, i was trying to think of who it could be, and after reading a comment saying "Ricky was a good man." it thought about Ricky's grandfather passing, but that was awhile back. then re-read it, and realized the word "was." then it hit me like a ton of bricks. i didn't want to believe it, but i found everyone else saying their respects, and i found it to be undeniable. after reading Gabe Swarr's speech i did something i had never done in a long time, something i needed to do. cry. when my dog died i didn't cry, when my grandfather died i didn't cry, and for awhile i thought it impossible. i never knew ricky garduno personally, i can't say i met him in person without it being a lie. i can't say i feel sorry for him either, no this was something he wanted, and did. i feel sorry for myself. i feel sorry for not knowing him personally, for not meeting him. i can't say i never saw this coming, and i can't say it was a surprise. but it is a sad day when another brilliant person leaves Earth...i can't say that he left too early, because i'm not one to decide whether it is or not. so i'll just say this. Rest In Peace Ricky Garduno april 4th 1976 - december 7th 2011
see you in hell Ricky
