In elementary school, he drew his first comic about a character named Super Bug, described by Jesse as a dust ball with legs and Garfield eyes.

[5] After Anal Sausage disbanded, Jesse and Justin moved into a house in South Philadelphia with their high school friend, Brandon Beaver, who later went on to play in the band mewithoutYou.

Past members of Make A Rising include Brandon Beaver, John Pettit, Andrew Ciccone, Nick Millevoi, and Travis Woodson.

[11] In 2005, Jesse, Justin, & MAR drummer John Heron moved into a warehouse in West Philadelphia which they coined The Avant Gentlemen's Lodge.

They turned the warehouse into a DIY venue space, which hosted "The Astral Projection Club"; plays by local playwrights; seasonal solstice and equinox parties, and musical performances from notable acts such as Dan Deacon, Kayo Dot, and The Flying Luttenbachers.

[16][17] Forming has received a fair share of critical attention; Rob Clough of The Comics Journal described it as "a success on so many different levels" and praised the series' storyline and "brightly colored and bizarre images".