My full name is Torsten Karl Scheihagen. That's German, though the only German I understand really is weinerschnitzel. My brothers' names are Eric, Dale, Kyle and Brent ... don't know why I got the weird one. Just keep in mind I was born in the early '70s when there was a lot of experimentin' if you know what I mean and I think you do. Seriously, I have a pretty cool family.

I'm a Texan who has voluntarily(!) transplanted himself to New York City--I live in Astoria (Queens, that is) with my two beautiful cats, Templeton and Tess. Also pictured is the late, wonderful Mischief, who will be always missed.

Tess likes to pretend she's dignified at the same time she's eating a bug. Templeton prefers running headfirst into stationary objects, when he's not developing radar systems technology for the U.S. government.

I really like my neighborhood. I moved here from Jersey after first living in Brooklyn, and this place feels the most like a home. It's filled with tons of good restaurants, the streets are always active with old people and kids, and there's just a general atmosphere of pleasantness and goodwill. This in New York--who'da thunk it?

I like to keep busy, which isn't hard to do in this city. I'm usually in the middle of reading some book or other (at the moment, The Secret Garden and The Zombie Survival Guide). Growing up I read comics pretty voraciously. Not so much anymore, though I still enjoy Cerebus (when it doesn't devolve into a misogynist rant), Uncle Scrooge, Little Lulu, Strangers in Paradise, Watchmen, Sandman, yadda yadda. I like to write and draw myself, though I don't really have anything ready for public consumption just yet. Other primary diversions include listening to Pink Floyd and other light favorites, watching good TV like The Simpsons (the non-crap years), Family Guy, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Seinfeld, Buffy and NewsRadio, and watching an assortment of movies; good, bad or just weird. I'm also a sun-worshipper, not in the Wicker Man-let's-sacrifice-a-virgin-or-two way, but in the staving-off-seasonal-affective-disorder way. Travelling is another favorite pasttime--I'm probably headed to Sweden soon for a wedding. Contemplating Australia.

Anyway, here's a picture of me that won't scare children. Well, brave children.