Sam and Fuzzy - Archive

Archive

Sam has stated that he considers the archive of Sam and Fuzzy to comprise three different comics: "I generally think about each era of Sam and Fuzzy -- the taxi/bookstore years, the Noosehead saga, and now the N-M-S stuff -- as its own distinct comic."

The first "era" is referred to in the online archive as "volumes" zero through three of the comic. Volume Zero: The Early Years features comics dated from May 2002 to March 2003. These comics mostly stand on their own as one-shot gags and aren't necessary to understand the plot of later comics. Volume One: Taxi-Cab of Dreams features comics dated from March 2003 to December 2003. While still featuring one-shot gag comics, the volume introduces longer storylines revolving around Sam's romantic relationship with Alexa and how it affects his friendship with Fuzzy. Volume Two: Growing Pains features comics dated from January 2004 to November 2004. Increasing the emphasis on longer arcs, this volume introduces the Ninja Mafia, a Yakuza-like crime syndicate which varies from incompetent to deadly. Notable stories include Sam's change of employment from X-per-S to Bunton's Books and Fuzzy joining the Ninja Mafia.

By Volume Three: Love and War, featuring comics dated from November 2004 to January 2006, the comic had come to focus more emphatically on longer story arcs which tie together to form an ongoing plot, culminating in the epic Empire, the comic's longest story to date. In this story, Sam becomes involved in his ex-girlfriend Candice's plot to murder the Ninja Mafia Emperor, who is now possessed by a demon that once lived in Sam's refrigerator. After Candice kills the emperor, dying in the process, Sam goes on the run from the Ninja Mafia, accompanied by Fuzzy as well as Jackson and Ox, two ninjas from Fuzzy's squad.

The second "era" consists only of Volume Four: Noosehead, containing comics dated from January 2006 to December 2008. Leaving behind old settings and characters, this story follows the metal band Noosehead, and their roadies on tour. Although Fuzzy is present, Sam's whereabouts were unknown for the first year's worth of strips, leading some to speculate (correctly) that one of the roadies was Sam in disguise (another was Jackson, now known as "Aaron"). Sam is pursued by a high-ranking "Blankface" Ninja named Mr. Blank, but it eventually becomes clear that he wants not to kill Sam but to instate him as the "rightful" emperor and thus reconstitute the Ninja Mafia. Another Blankface, Mr. Black, wants to eliminate Sam and thus ensure the demise of the Ninja Mafia, preferring to work freelance instead.Mr. Black and his men are now employed by Mr. Sin, the record executive who owns Noosehead's record label.

The story involves many interweaving threads: Sam's assuming the identity "Crush" and befriending Noosehead's frontman Sidney, while dating the backup vocalist Nicole, Mr. Blank and Mr. Black's rivalry, the apparent murder of Sidney, for which Sam is framed, Sam's quest to return to Ninja Mafia HQ to stake his claim to the throne, Sidney's imprisonment on an island prison for musicians whose deaths were faked, and the sinister plans of Mr. Sin, who is not of this world. At the end of the volume, Mr. Sin is defeated but escapes, and Sam takes command of the Ninja Mafia in an attempt to use its resources for good.

The current "era" of Sam and Fuzzy comprises four volumes (so far): Sam and Fuzzy Fix Your Problem, Sam and Fuzzy are Very Famous, Sam and Fuzzy Under the Influence and the current volume Sam and Fuzzy Ruined Everything. The first of these has been published as a book with the number 1 on its spine, indicating its position as the beginning of a new storyline that will span multiple volumes. Thus far, each of these volumes has consisted of a series of linked story arcs depicting particular adventures of Ninja Mafia Services. "Fix Your Problem" involves the introduction of new character Devahi to the N-M-S team, interspersed with flashbacks depicting Fuzzy's adventures immediately prior to meeting Sam years ago.