I collect yearbooks because they are so much fun to draw from. Rows and rows of shiny faces and brief statements of accomplishment. Then I discovered the ultimate yearbook (though it’s hard to get the graduates to sign it): an annual publication that assembles the headshots of everyone who is mulling over their last meal order.
I was surprised by what I discovered in their stories. Instead of evil genius, I found stupidity, dreadful planning, and a childishness surrender to id and immediate gratification. While some of the condemned are brooding and long-term bad, most just lashed out in some asinine way that led straight to the gallows.
Should anyone be killed by the state? I think not. Can this level of poor judgment be reformed? I doubt it. What should be done with these folks? I dunno, so I drew them. Here’s the beginning of roll call for the current graduating class and a synopsis of their extracurriculars.
Gallery
Death Row Diaries
Read the essay![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/01.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/01a.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/02.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/02b.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/03.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/04.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/04b.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/05.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/06.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/07.gif)
![photo](/archives/galleries/death_row_diaries/images/08.gif)