Well… I guess that’s enough time off from Croaker’s Gorge. The strip is back. Not sure I can do more than one post a week, but I suppose that’s better than zero strips over the past 3 months. UGH! Still, I’ll see what I can do.

For those of you wondering, I’m still cranking along on my graphic novel pitch. It was originally going to be a 5 page sample. I am now working on page 8 of a 9 page chapter, and the package will also include a sample cover and a brief pitch document. I really shouldn’t be updating Croaker’s at all until that graphic novel pitch is done, but I didn’t think it was fair to my readers, who have been very patient, to drag this out now that I’ve added so much more to the pitch I’m assembling.

Well, this is an historic day - Croaker’s was noticed by the folks over at Gigcast. Got a nice little mention in the TBBA spotlight there. And this is hot on the heels of a mention over at Belfry Comics. It seems my little under-the-radar comic attempt has its fans after all.

I’ve also recently gotten some fan mail of a type that, at the risk of seeming immodest, I thought I should address publicly:

I really hope you’ven’t given up on this - the artwork is excellent, the characters are amusing, the humor is good.
– Duke of URL

First of all, Duke, thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoy the strip, and I definitely enjoy drawing it. I’m glad it has an audience. Judging from my hate mail, the strip doesn’t always appeal to everyone, but then it wouldn’t, would it?

That said, I thought I should say publicly - I haven’t given up on Croaker’s. I know it was tremendously unfair of me to ask what you’d rather have - less comics per week in color, or more comics per week in black and white - only to suddenly and without explanation go on hiatus.

But go on hiatus is what I did. The deal is that I have an excellent opportunity to do an original graphic novel. Sorry, it’s not a Croaker’s graphic novel, but if you like Croaker’s, I do think you’d like this GN as well. I will tell you more about it as it moves toward publication, but meanwhile, understand that I am working very hard on the pitch for that, and that’s what has knocked Croaker’s Gorge temporarily to the back burner.

When the pitch is done, I will get back to Croaker’s Gorge, and that’s the good news. The bad news is that it will probably take me another 3 weeks to be able to get back to it, and even then, it will be down to one day a week for a bit.

I do thank you for your feedback and your support. If you’re coming here from Belfry or Gigcast, thanks for coming by, and I hope to have more comics for you soon.

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The fact that we are not makes you scratch your head. Seems like Someone just doesn’t want us to get off oil. Perhaps it’s time we give Someone a little push?

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As these things go, it’s nice to have a friend along (like having a work-out buddy at the gym - someone who will give you crap if you don’t show up). Tom “Major Tom” Dell’Aringa who is the creator behind the excellent strip Marooned, is pushing his strip from one day a week to two, as I push mine from 2 to 3, each of us gritting our teeth at the other saying, “This is YOUR fault!”

Ah, the joy of late nights. bleh. At least misery loves company. Or something.

Major Tom is actually quite the renaissance man, mind you. In addition to checking out Marooned and dropping him a note, I recommend you pop over and listen to his very well-done Rush-inspired music. Kid has talent.

I guess I have a question for you all: on the question of doing the strip in color or black and white -

Would you prefer 2 color strips a week, or 5 black and whites?

To help you decide, here are the styles:

Color:

Black and white: