The Secret Origin of Sinnamon

I first met M. Gerald Delaney sometime in 1993. Earlier that year, I replied to an ad posted in a comic shop. Someone wanted to start up a comic book company and was looking for writers and artists. I ran home and within a few days, I came up with an origin and plot outline for The Bruiser.

My pitch was accepted and the Bruiser would eventually become the first book published by Anthem Comics. Anthem was ambitious and wanted to publish three full color titles. The second book would be Fangs of the Cobra, written by Gary Timleck. And who would draw the book?

By this time, I was pretty friendly with the man behind Anthem (he's no longer involved with comics, so I'll grant him the anonymity he now craves). So he and I went to the Scarborough Town Center to meet the main contender for the job.

I don't know if anyone would be surprised when I say M. Gerald's portfolio contained a large percentage of nude women. Since these women were extremely well-drawn, he got the gig.

When Bruiser was published in early 1994, I got a good taste of the convention circuit as I helped to promote the book. Since Bruiser wasn't exactly flying off the Anthem table, I had time to wander about and check the wares of other publishers. I noticed that the market was receptive to books featuring spandex clad women. So I began thinking.

In spring 1994, M. Gerald and I were at a Toronto convention helping sell Bruiser. He and I were talking and I mentioned my thoughts on doing a book featuring a super powered female. While I hadn't given the concept a lot of thought, I did have a name. For some reason, "Cinnamon" had a hold on my imagination. M. Gerald suggested spelling it with an "S".

Based on our conversation that day, M. Gerald went ahead and drew the image above.

It was up to me to come up with some ideas for the character. At this late date, I don't remember too many details. However, I do know that I came up with the "Infama" character (in fact, I think I came up with most of the names). I saw her as being a physical match for Sinnamon, and it was M. Gerald who thought her powers should be more fantastic in origin. I don't know which one of us came up with the gem, but it sounds like one of M. Gerald's ideas.

My memory is dim when it comes to the exact details behind M. Gerald and I deciding to publish under our own banner. Yet I do recall how I came up with the Catfish moniker. I was pacing in my living room, idly pondering various names for a comic book company, when I glanced towards the aquarium. One of the fish seemed to be looking back at me. It was a Peppered Cory, which happens to be a kind of catfish. That was good enough for me!

That first meeting in Scarborough started a working relationship that lasts to this day. M. Gerald and I continue to come up with a lot of ideas, particularly where Sinnamon is concerned. As much as we enjoyed our initial run on the book, we think the best is truly yet to come.

For news on the upcoming new SINNAMON series, check back to this site! OR Visit the Official Catfish Comics Forum