Ming Chen Comic Book Men

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the first email Kevin Smith ever sent me to discuss the creation of his website - The View Askewniverse. Kevin had seen the ‘Clerks’ fan website that I had built and had the foresight NOT to ask “what the f*ck is the internet?” but rather to build one of the first and best online communities ever created. I can’t thank him enough for contacting me for this task and for hiring me full time a few years later. Through tv shows, movies, hockey tournaments, premieres, cruises, script readings, podcasts, online stores, Vulgarthons, poker tournaments, and much more - these last 30 years have been an amazing adventure for sure. I can’t thank you enough Kevin - for everything. As stated in the end credits of ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ - I’m the DeeJay, he’s the Rapper.

(Big thanks to Kimberly Loughran Gharbi for knowing how email worked in 1996 and tracking me down!)

Pictured here is the very first photo I ever took with Kevin. Pic 2 is from the first Smodcastle Cinemas film fest. Pic 3 is from the prom we threw for Kevin’s 37th birthday.