Jayson is a surprisingly long-running comic not many people know about. To be fair the 80s weren’t ready for homosexual protagonists… being normal people. But even today, it looks like this series doesn’t reach enough people despite how fun they get. So let’s change that.
Jayson: Inspiration and Real Life Collide
So anyway, this slice-of-life comedy stars its title character, inspired by the life of his creator Jeff Krell and Archie Comics. Krell had been making comics since his school days to help get through the day. So after leaving his childhood home to build a life for himself in Philadelphia, Jayson helped Krell make a small living. The initial stories had some stand-ins for people in Krell’s life like his roommate, his ex-boyfriend, and a drag queen neighbor. Two out of three of those characters are still around as regulars. The roommate/best friend Arena Stage even got a spin-off for mainstream strips… for as long as that lasted.
As for Jayson Callowhill, one of his main traits is his low self-esteem. While he’s easy to casually get along with, some of the problems he’s had since coming out persist. You might too if your dad sticks a pitchfork at you. So to make up for it, Jayson gives everyone else around even lower esteem. Thankfully it’s never to the point of being a jerk or being cynically monotone like Daria. Because he also sees in people what he lacks and has the the utmost respect for them. But that’s also why Jayson has trouble with more serious relationships, because he feels like an extra in their lives.
Life With Jayson
Sounds pretty interesting, so where was this series the whole time? Mostly in the underground comix scene and homosexual niche newspapers in the 80s. Again despite queer characters being around at this time, they were usually on the sidelines or weren’t made with much dignity. In fact that was something the strips had to deal with at different points as well, even by other homosexuals. Robyn Rickets, the flamboyant drag queen neighbor and friend of the cast fills the checklists of stereotypes. The only problem is that Robyn was based on a real person, complete with the arguments they have with Arena’s source. Further in, Miz Rickets shows that they have way more going for them than say DC’s Extraño. They are very self driven to freely express and build a life for themselves and others.
Like with Jayson’s mother, who was chased out of her home by her husband. All because she wanted to reconnect with their estranged son. Living with Jason and co. at their apartment building, she builds a new life for herself after a number of heart-to-hearts. The change in her design practically speaks to her development, from a farmer’s housewife to a freer woman. It’s what allows her to reconnect with her husband, as despite his behavior she still loves him. That in turn allow Jayson’s father to come to terms with what he lost and make peace with Jayson and his wife.
It Really Is Like The Best Kind of Sitcom
I think that’s the main appeal of Jayson, it has a heart amid all of the absurdities. Every character tries to get through their lives by making some kind of development. But some of them have to take two steps back before any meaningful breakthroughs. Take for example, Jayson’s aborted wedding to Arena. He tries his best to help his friend, especially since it could lead to some securities that Jayson lacks. See, in addition to Arena’s confidence, her family’s pretty well off in advertising. But Jayson couldn’t go through with it, not wanting to pretend to be something he’s not. Even if it did drive a wedge between him and Arena; things got better after Arena’s stint in New York.
Sure there are campy sci-fi scenarios like outer space and shrink rays but they’re just set dressing to more memorable moments. Like in Jayson Goes To Hollywood, he and Arena find themselves glimpsing an actor’s private life. He had to hide not just his love life and sexuality, but his figure and kinks. All of which give weight to why the actor turned an ex-boyfriend of Jayson and Arena away. He still loves his job and doesn’t want it taken by a prettier, younger one with a real body builder physique. Which is all the more frustrating that the actor feels that he can’t have both of those things.
All That You Need
That’s Jayson in a nutshell, characters trying to push their lives forward but run into things they have no control of. That’s life in general right? Yes, but that also means focusing on the things they can and celebrating the small breakthroughs. Which is why this series is popular with its audience, there’s something to celebrate and laugh with.
Jayson Has Fans In Places
This series has been in the audience’s closet for quite a while. I most people haven’t even heard that it had a musical adaptation on 45th street in the 90s. Sure it put Krell in some credit card debt but it is what got him to advance his original strip’s evolution into books. Even better, after bouncing back from that debt, Krell continued Jayson as graphic novels. Ergo, a newer, freer audience can enjoy this franchise with new releases on the horizon.
I certainly enjoyed the Hollywood collection and the Arena spin-off with its over-exaggerated reactions. In addition to giving empathy for people striving to live their best lives. Look forward to Krell’s upcoming Jayson Gets Married story, this time without fake outs.
Thanks for coming to the end and as always remember to look between the panels.