---TOP TEN---
no.7: Psy-Crow - Earthworm Jim

An unfortunate law in this universe is that one should never meet their heroes. For me that hero was Doug TanNaple, creator of such things as BoomBots, The Neverhood and of course Earthworm Jim. To say that the works of Doug TenNaple shaped me at a very young age would be an understatement, an obsession would be a more accurate word to use. If I am to quote a certain ogre based green text I metaphorically 'owned all of the merchandise and movies'.

Truth be told my young obsession with the works of Doug TenNaple would stretch beyond that of mere entertainment to becoming my very muse! Yes well before my adoration with all things Tim Burton, my earliest artistic inspiration was that of Doug TenNaple, with many of my earlier creations bordering on plagiarism...so imagine my dismay upon learning how much of a colossal asshole Doug TenNaple was as a person.

I suppose it's something we all must come to terms with at one point or another and while I tend to favor appreciating the art over the artist that isn't always something I can do in good conscience. However I can't tell my brain to simply dislike what it likes and in my heart of hearts I still really love the worlds of Earthworm Jim and the Neverhood. (It helps that Doug's inherent bigotry never really plays a factor in his earlier works.)

And so, like a moth to a flame I find myself creeping back to it. Not too often but it's there, sitting in the back of my mind. A core memory that supersedes many others. You may say it's hypocritical, but I challenge you to find someone who doesn't do the same thing with at least one thing in their life...so yeah. Here's the big, dumb, fat space crow, because he's really funny!