People who read this story tend to realize that it does have a "message", but most only pick up on one of them. So here is a Comprehensive Guide to what I am trying to get across... The most obvious point in the story is "religion=bad", but my views on this subject are not black and white. I think religious faith has the potential to give individuals strength, hope, and joy. However, I also think it is a means of control, and an excuse for hatred. How better to rally a mob against someone than to claim they oppose God's will? No one doubts that racism is an excuse for violence in and of itself, but many weak willed boys have joined the KKK for the grace of God. Another example, obviously, is the infamous Salem Witch trials.
Hundreds of innocents dead because the townsfolk were scared shitless of a biblical fairy tale. Need more evidence? How did Hitler convince his legion to kill Jews? Told them about how they crucified our Lord and Savior. Can't let them get away with that, can we?
I also think religion is a way for people to get out of responsibility. Cheat on your wife? Beat up some bum? Killed your child? "I'm so sorry, I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, Hail Mary, full of grace. Boom, I'm back in the harp club." BULLSHIT. Of course, Field of Dreams is also a story about the preciousness of life, and I wanted to stress that a lot...Somebody was smart enough to see through the insanity, and save our race from extinction. I have a cynical outlook on humanity, but sometimes, we can go down deep and find something, and we are beautiful.
Another point in the story is the importance of dreams. "...whatever is created
must first be dreamt." I don't know if I made that up or heard it somewhere, but it's true. The use of it is very literal in this story, of course. I've always found the idea of The Sandman intriguing, and the idea of him creating us, giving us dreams,
and then setting us free appealed to me greatly... and I think that is really what Field is about. Notice The Sandman thinks of us as his greatest creation, but the
city as OUR greatest achievement. We did this...we created, we destroyed, we loved, hated, laughed, cried. Our lives are ours, we can take the credit, and we also must accept responsibility.

The illustrations are a mix of charcoal, Acrylic paint, colored pencils, and plain old markers. This intro can not be finished without mention of Darren, who runs this thing, and toyed with my art to make it shine, and deserves much thanks for making the pictures reflect the story all the more accurately.