As a kid, Naomi Jardine pored over her Dad's anthology of Walt Kelly's strip Pogo, and read Peanuts, B.C., The Far Side and Calivin and Hobbes 'til her eyes bled.  She grew up to be a biologist and science writer, but never lost her fascination with comics.  Flatland is inspired by the critters she met while working in Saskatchewan's prairie wilderness.  Of course, their names have been changed to protect their privacy.