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The Epic Rivalry of Peter and John
In the halls of Highland High School in Blackwood, New Jersey, a legendary rivalry unfolded between two aspiring comic book illustrators, Peter and John Moriarty. Like characters in a grand saga, they were cut from the same cloth—driven, passionate, and fiercely talented. In another life, they might have been best friends, but in this timeline, their rivalry was bitter, intense, and brimming with the drama of a comic book epic. For Peter, John was his Michelangelo to Raphael, a nemesis who pushed him to the edge.
A Clash of Styles
John, with no hint of it in his professional work, was a disciple of Jim Lee. His devotion to Lee’s style was so evident it practically wafted off him as he stepped off the school bus. This was no crime—great illustrators often begin by emulating the artists they admire. But Peter saw it differently. To him, John’s approach was unoriginal, a shortcut that limited growth. Peter, enamored with the sweeping brushstrokes of Impressionist painters and the timeless mastery of the Italian Renaissance, believed in a broader, more eclectic path. This fundamental split in their philosophies fueled their rivalry.
John’s Bold Move
John’s talent shone in a way that sparked envy in Peter. He transformed the mundane brown paper book covers—mandatory in New Jersey schools—into vibrant showcases of his art. His original comic book characters, rendered with markers and colored pencils, looked so polished they could have been printed. When Peter first saw them, he mistook them for professional work. These characters, reminiscent of Cyberforce, leaped off the paper, earning John admiration from classmates and cementing his reputation at Highland. For Peter, it was a gut punch—a stark reminder of how far he lagged behind in craft and mastery. The sting of falling short gnawed at him.
A Glimmer of Connection
Peter found solace working at Rainbow Comics, Cards, and Collectibles, Highland’s local comic shop and his childhood haven. It was here that their rivalry softened, if only slightly. John and his mother were frequent customers, and one memorable interaction involved them purchasing the elusive Spawn Series Three action figure. These encounters fostered a tentative friendliness. After all, customers were customers, and shared passions could bridge even the fiercest divides.
Lessons from a Rival
Despite his studies of anatomy, landscapes, and art movements overlooked by Highland’s curriculum, Peter learned a profound lesson from John. Those paper bag book covers, bold and unapologetic, showed Peter the power of stepping into one’s role as an artist. They inspired a shift in his approach, one that still influences his work as AKAPAD today. John, like Moriarty lurking in Sherlock’s shadows, was a constant reminder: no matter how hard you work, there’s always someone pushing harder. In their rivalry, Peter found not just a foe, but a catalyst for growth.
