 It was originally serialized as a comic strip in the German newspaper "Die Zeit" from 2002 until 2004, and was collected as an oversized board book in 2004 with early American comic strips as supplementary material.The book evolved from Spiegelman's experiences during the September 11 terrorist attacks.Spiegelman has said that the book was a way to reclaim himself from the post-traumatic stress disorder he suffered after the attacks.