No doubt this “sequential art” and “comic-like format” notion was at least partially inspired by Scott McCloud’s “Understanding Comics”[1]. By Bret’s own admission, the book is one of the works that had “an extraordinary effect on [his] life or way of thinking”[2].
I agree. That book is phenomenal.
[1]: http://scottmccloud.com/2-print/1-uc/
[2]: http://worrydream.com/#!/Links