1982. While waiting in an airport for the arrival of his band's (Emergency Mouse) guitarist, Mark Ricketts noticed a group of gals in cowboy hats, shit kickers, and spangled Manuel suits returning from a Paris, France shopping spree. Ricketts turned to his keyboardist pal and remarked, "International cowgirls."

Inspired, Ricketts and the keyboardist wrote a song entitled "Real Cowboys".

In 1992, Caliber Comics published Ricketts' first issue of "International Cowgirl Magazine" which introduced rodeo sweetheart, Whiskey Dickel. The book boasted notable supporters like Neil Gaiman, Kate Worley and Michael Kaluta.

Later that year, the second issue of "International Cowgirl Magazine" featured Li'l Whiskey Dickel in "A Tale Pulled From The South." It also showcased an "Urban Cowgirl" illustration from then unknown "Art Babe" artist/writer Jessica Abel. In a glowing review entitled "Rodeo Round-Up," The Comics Journal (#156, 1993) referred to the series as "an entertaining blend of hillbilly institutions mixed with layers of militant feminism" and commented that " it shows as much heart as any Patsy Cline tune."

For the next five years, Whiskey and the other gals of the All-Pink Rodeo show were held on the back burner while Ricketts worked on a horror story (Book of Twilight) and a crime noir set in the 50s (Nowheresville).

In 1998, Wayne Alan Harold, director of such schlock horror/dark comedy features as "Killer Nerd" and "Townies" asked Ricketts to write a Whiskey Dickel screenplay. He did so. Harold even went so far as to cast comics luminaries, Jill Thompson and P. Craig Russell, in feature roles. There was even talk of a Brian Michael Bendis cameo. Unfortunately, they could not drum up sufficient funds to make the film -- so it was abandoned.

In 2000, Ricketts won the Klasky Csupo (Rugrats, Duckman) screenwriting contest with his entry, "Whiskey Dickel, International Cowgirl." For a year, Klasky Csupo held an option on Whiskey, but no animation was ever made.

It was time for Whiskey to return to comics. In 2001, Ricketts searched for the perfect artist to bring Whiskey back to life.

In 2002, Michael Avon Oeming helped Ricketts find that perfect artist -- Mike Hawthorne.

On August 6, 2003, Mark Ricketts, Mike Hawthorne and Image Comics will release "Whiskey Dickel, International Cowgirl." This 120 page, magazine sized (8.5x10.5) graphic novel contains an illustrated version of the award winning screenplay, a short comics story, various bits from the original "International Cowgirl Magazine", and pin-ups of cowgirls from all over the world illustrated and described by some of todays top comics artists (Thompson, Bradstreet, Hester, etc.) and writers (Bendis, Torres, Pfeifer, etc.).

Whiskey Dickel, Int'l Cowgirl GN (ISBN 1-58240-318-X)