(To catch up for today’s comic, click here.)
Amidst the chaos that has been my life of late, this particular comic was extremely hard to do. I had not less than three full versions of scripts for this one. It started off with the ladies being upset at the boys and having found out about their wild weekend, but that just didn’t seem right. So I set about re-writing it and coming up with the angle that launches Lily out of Bud’s life for the next decade or so (they get married in 1987 according to Old Bud). Then I drew that version of the script and absolutely hated the way it looked. There was a pencil sketch of the first draft in the Member’s area for a while. I even started to ink that version, but with every frame I inked, my hatred of the poses and drawing grew worse until I finally said fuck-it and completely re-organized the comic… AGAIN! I took the past week to slowly draw this comic; doing so in between visits to the hospital and getting the family organized for summer. As I did, I began to like what I was seeing.
This lead to inspiring me to finish the final page of this story. It is now scripted and sketched on paper. I rough each comic on paper since I do full page comics now. So, I really like the final page and will draw it this week and post it next Monday, barring any more emergencies (and I sure as hell hope they’re done for a while).
Then it will be Summer Vacation for the comic. It will come back Monday, August 1st. I will have a HUGE announcement concerning the future of the comic at that point… one I think you all will like.
In the meantime, enjoy your “Summer In The City” and keep good notes of your summer vacation so we can compare in August when we reassemble for the next leg of the 1977 saga! See you then and take care gang.
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So I have to wait 1 1/2 months to find out the big announcement? I hate waiting.
Nice – great perspective on the final shot too Byron! Can’t wait for the current day Bud, I mean you, I mean Bud!!!
I’m intrigued about the things to come and look forward to it Byron! Although, I have to admit, you’ve done such a good job capturing the essence of the 70’s that I’ll miss them. Granted I was but a wee lad in those days, however your comic brought back a flashback now and again that didn’t cause me to immediately re-repress!
So, the new comic with the new name, is it maybe “The New Adventures Of An Old Fart”?!? *grin*
They say write what you know. Sounds like you’re taking that to heart, Byron. This is an absolutely wonderful concept, I think it’s going to take us in whole new directions without you having to start all over again. Plus you’ve left it open to return to 1977 whenever you damn well please! Good luck with you new storyline. Like Boston says: “A new day is breakin’ and I don’t mind where I get taken, the road is callin’, today is the day!”
I hope the change goes well, but mostly I hope that you keep on keeping on…
awesome to see these guys back but WAIT! How’s your wife man?
As a man far wiser than me once said. “the only constant is change…”. It’s just the continuing evolution of the strip, and I’m sure that just as is happening in your personal life with lifestyle changes due to your wife’s “event”, only good changes will come to the strip as well. Besides, inevitably, we all had to grow up…, er…, get older, huh? Great to hear that things are going better for the missus!
Glad to see the comic back.
Love to see a little change, and like your concept 😀 Wild times present day + flashbacks; should be even better than the old ’77 comic.
Good luck with your new comic btw, and I hope you can win your struggle with the various distractions. Being under a constant shortage of time, can be very creepy in many ways.
Congrats on your new direction! I know you put a lot of thought into this. Sometimes it’s had to kill your babies, so to speak. Keep me updated on what’s going on.
This sounds great! I always loved this strip because my brother was in a band in the same era and we shared an apartment (among other things). Can’t wait to see the new comic. Great idea, Byron!!!