Lunch Money

At first, Chunky Comics is Greg’s self-started publishing business that produces little 16-page comic booklets written, drawn, printed, and sold by Greg. They are his most ambitious effort to make money selling things to his fellow students. They are also a major project in which he throws all of his enthusiasm for business, writing, and drawing. Greg plans three series of comics, each centered on a hero from a different era: Cleon, a caveman; Eeon, from the future, and Leon, a “technodude” who travels through time to bring all three heroes together.

When he is cornered by Maura’s competing comic about a unicorn, he realizes that the best way to beat her is to join her, and they become partners in Chunky Comics. This collaboration leads quickly to new and better ways that they can sell the little booklets, and they have a lot more fun and satisfaction creating good artworks. They develop several story lines and find ways to sell them at schools. The lesson is that working together is more productive—and more fun—than doing it all by oneself, and that this is much more gratifying than undercutting each other with relentless competition.