A: Originally, "Gayly Forward" was intended to be something of a comedic strip, in the tradition of Wackiness Ensues.  Joya and I based the title of our conceived comic on a particular inside joke of ours, one which we share with the majority of the gay community I imagine.  You can see an exaggerated illustrated version of what led to comic's conception here.

Q: If Gayly Forward was meant to be a comedic strip, why was it changed?

A: After the first few strips ran, Joya and I realized how limited our original vision was and decided to shift the comic towards a more serious, developed storyline as opposed to a bunch of one-liner gag strips that were really only funny to the two of us and those who know us.  The original plan was immediately scrapped, though some of the comics produced during its brief lifespan can be seen at the Version 1.0 page.  Once the original concept was ammended, a new comic, starring Shakti and an early version of Johan named "Michael" began its brief, experimental run.  Unfortunately, this version 2.0 did not meet my expectations and was taken down,  The story was rewritten, the characters redeveloped, and Gayly Forward in its current incarnation began.  

Q: What were your motives in producing Gayly Forward?

A:  Well, when Joya and I looked around at the web comics geared towards the gay community, we noticed the majority of them were romantic comedies, such as the wonderful Boy Meets Boy and the witty A Couple of Guys.  Few of them actually depicted the issues facing gay youth today, with the notable exception of Hindsight 21/17.  Joya and I wanted to create a strip that explored these issues, and not only from the conventional perspective but also from a multicultural view that is often neglected.

Q: Is Gayly Forward autobiographical?

A:  Yes and No.  Yes, some of the characters are based on real people, for example I feel there's a lot of me in Johan (when I was his age) and there's definitely a lot of Joya in Shakti (sassy and sexy!) and some of the experiences they face have their roots in actual events.  But the majority of the storyline is entirely fictional, and those events based in reality have been rewritten to enhance their effect.

Q: What is the future for Gayly Forward?

A: As it stands, Gayly Forward is scheduled to end sometime in 2006.  We hope to track the lives of Johan and Shakti  and the people they encounter through high school, college and beyond as long as we are able.  So stay tuned, there's a lot in store!

Q:  What's the deal with the split storyline?

A: As the story has two main protagonists, it was thought best to initially develop them in separate storylines.  Chapter 1 was dedicated to the introduction of the Johan character, as was Chapter 2 to Shakti.  Chapter 3 will begin with the two storylines running concurrently, on separate update days, and once the college years begun the two will be reunited as a single story.

Q: What's up with the two Johans?

A:  The story of Johan and Shakti as teenagers is presented from the point of view of a flashback on the part of Johan and later Shakti.  At the time of the flashback the two are 27 and recalling their youth while on a trip with friends to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Q: Why do the characters' appearances change so much in the early comics?

A:  In the early comics, I still wasn't sure exactly how I wanted Shakti and Johan to look, so I played around with them a bit hoping to find a style that suited my tastes.

If there's anything else you wish to know, e-mail Joya or myself and it shall be addressed...