Infinite Monkey University came about as a tangent from Daily Wisdom. One of the first comics I did (done in the first two weeks), involved a reference to an infinite monkeys being able to produce the works of William Shakespeare.

From this comic, came the character Web Comic Monkey. As an indirect result of that comic, I also came up with Shakespeare Monkey, the one monkey who was able to produce Shakespeare. Shakespeare Monkey has never actually appeared in a Daily Wisdom comic, but he has been featured in banners and logos, as well as on the shirt I'm wearing as I type this.

In March 2009, Web Comic Monkey started to appear in Daily Wisdom comics again, after a year and a half hiatus (though the comic was also largely on hiatus for 2008). This sparked a few discussions about monkeys, especially within my own head.

As I sat there contemplating monkeys, it occurred to me that they have to learn to use a typewriter somewhere. They must have attended a school for it. From that bizarre little train of thought came the IMU Alumni program.

Then these thoughts of monkeys fermented in my head for a few weeks.

Over the next few weeks, I kept having this nagging need to do something more with the monkeys. Their back stories, as well as additional monkeys, kept floating into my head of their own volition. I couldn't stop it.

I ended up doing several Monkeys For the Day for Daily Wisdom, but I wanted to do more. I also wanted to do a multi-panel strip for a change, something different than Daily Wisdom.

After careful thought combined with sleep deprivation, the Infinite Monkey University comic was born.

I still enjoy making Daily Wisdom, and it will continue to get more of my time, but at least once a week, I will update IMU as well.

Many of the jokes here, not to mention the premise of this metaphorical college, are based on the infinite monkey theorem. If you're confused, or just would like to know more, check it out.

And yes, when you boil it down to it's most basic components, you could say this whole comic is a protracted math joke.

Why do some of the monkeys run around naked?

Because IMU is clothing optional.

But seriously, it has more to do with each monkey's view of himself. Some monkeys have taken on more human characteristics, including wearing clothing. Other monkeys are more at one with their monkeyness.