For longtime readers of Nicholas Gurewitch’s weekly, syndicated webcomic Perry Bible Fellowship, it didn’t come as much of a surprise when, late last year, the first print collection of the popular series became the fastest-selling graphic novel in the history of online bookseller Amazon.com.

What did come as a surprise, however, was the announcement that Gurewitch made a few months later.

"I feel I owe it to myself and the Perry Bible Fellowship not to turn a joyful diversion into a long career," wrote Gurewitch in a widely publicized mid-February message to the newspaper and magazine editors running his PBF strips.

Just a few months after The Trial of Colonel Sweeto and Other Stories, made big news in the publishing world by selling more than $300,000 copies in pre-orders alone, Gurewitch made headlines once again by announcing that he would be cutting back on production of the strip — moving from a weekly schedule to a more manageable routine.

"I’m making this decision for a variety of reasons," he explained, "but mainly because I want to do other things besides be a cartoonist."

According to Gurewitch, the decision was made after realizing that the success of PBF had placed him at a series of creative, personal and professional crossroads, and there was no better time to begin walking a different path.

I spoke with Gurewitch recently about the decision to move Perry Bible Fellowship into "semi-retirement," what he’s doing with his time these days and the frustrating divide between creator’s intent and audience’s interpretation.

COMICMIX: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, Nick. Now that you have a bit more free time, how are you spending it?

NICHOLAS GUREWITCH: I’m working on a few more books to come out through Dark Horse and I’m writing a feature-length movie script that I’ve wanted to write for years. That’s at the forefront of my mind right now. I’m really excited about it.

CMix:  The books you’re working on, are they related to PBF or are they different projects entirely?

NG: One is a sequel or replacement for the Colonel Sweeto book. It’s a more expensive book that has more comics in it. The other would be a spin-off, if you wanted to call it that — it’s a continuation of one of the stories.

CMix: What story?

NG: It’s the one with the French title that looks like a woodcut. It’s about the Grim Reaper trying to dispose of a baby. He fails, and it’s kind of a sad moment that makes you think, because it’s sad that he didn’t kill a baby. But I’m trying to play with that irony a little more in this small book that I’m doing.

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