Ex-local drawing Internet success

Before the development of online comic "Cosmic Tom-ix," Rich Reardin posted his cartoons on bathroom doors.\nReardin, a resident of Bloomington, attended University of New Mexico, and studied cinematography and film. He was inspired to write comics because of his love for art, cartoons on television and the newspaper.\n"I used my own comic drawings to poke fun at the world as I saw it," Reardin said. "Usually, it was centered around a work situation or a personal experience."\nReardin's Web site, www.cosmictom.com /page0002.html, receives 10,000 hits per month. According to the site, the cartoon evolved from Reardin's need to comment on the beauty, mystery and hope in human relationships. The comic series focuses on pursuing a path of enlightenment, even if the path seems mundane or benign.\nJonna Risher, a friend of Reardin's, finds "Cosmic Tom-ix" intriguing and interesting.\n"His cartoons are unique because of the spiritual topics and the constant ego battles we can all relate to," Risher said.\n"Cosmic Tom-ix" is strongly connected to Bloomington. The fictional name of the town in the comic strip is Bloomingapolis. Reardin also sites the local Yellow Cab company as a source of inspiration for writing the comic strips.\n"The town has an interesting cross section of society -- from the students, to the locals, educated to rednecks," Reardin said.\nZach Henry, a loyal reader of "Cosmic Tom-ix" for ten years, and was hooked from the very first cartoon. Henry enjoys the references to Bloomington.\n"It is easy for me to relate to the strip because it is based in Bloomington," Henry said. "This is where I live and there are so many things to joke about and to make fun of."\nReardin also sees the benefits of publishing his comics to the World Wide Web.\nFor now, the Internet serves as an excellent medium for budding cartoonists. Reardin is published in Taiwan, and his Web site is visited worldwide.\n"On-line comics are easily accessible and plentiful," Reardin said. "Artists make it fun."\nCreating five comics per week, Reardin hopes to keep his message clear.\n"You can strive for a compassionate, loving relationship with others even through mundane jobs or situations," he said. "I try to find the beauty in the inner depths of my main characters."\nEven though Reardin is a fan of "Peanuts" and "The Far Side," one wouldn't expect to find his comics in a newspaper.\n"I have not had any response to the papers I have submitted them to," Reardin said, "I hope that someday, someone will take notice of my creations"