October 2, 2021 - News Post

Well THAT was an unexpected gap in comics. I am still alive, for now. Just as shocked as you that I took this long to post a comic.

I have slew of valid reasons for my disappearance. Some good, some sad, some strange. Let's dwell on the good...

Today's comic is yet again trailing a few months behind my real-life timeline. Here's what is actually happening:

After a long time of furloughs, stress, and underpaying contract work, I am suddenly finding myself in a slightly better working situation. I enjoy what I do, and for the first time in my life, I'm (temporarily) getting that fabled software developer pay. It's the weirdest thing. There's enough funding to pay down some debt, eat healthy food, and actually pay bills before they're due. I need to take advantage of it while it lasts.

The tradeoff is that my online presence is a shadow of its former self. I am working all the time, exhausted, and swapping sleep for any semblance of personal time. It's not exactly healthy or recommended. Still, I'd like to keep up the completely unsustainable schedule as long as I can. Who knows when or if it'll happen again.

So yeah. That's me. Out of survival mode for a few brief months. Don't worry, I'll be back to complaining about lack of pay soon enough.

Hey, with all this crap going on, I skipped the big day. The 18th was Don't Hit Save's 6-year comicversary!!! (The year flies right by when you barely do any comics)

As is tradition, here is my review of this past year's bestest and worstest DHS comics:

Favorites

• The Big Announcement
  I love this comic, and waited a long time until it was safe to post. I did not wish to tip off upper management that our boss spilled the beans on a layoff. I know no one believes me, but this actually happened. It was a very important day in my life.
• Mocking It Up
  This felt like a return to form after far too many dark comics. It's been a difficult year for everyone, and it was nice that this one came to me quickly and naturally.

Least Favorite

• Why Comics Fall Behind
  You have to do mental gymnastics to get this one. Even when you do, it's still not funny. To be fair, I was tired when I wrote it. To be less fair, I still posted it for all the world to see, knowing that it wasn't ready for the world to see. I also purposely did a long-hair transition as I grew my hair out. This isn't the only comic with the medium length Jeff hair, but it's the one I hate the most.

Comic Milestones

• Back To The Office
  This comic introduced the first thought bubble, and I'm still not sold on the concept. I've had thought clouds before, but it feels weird to see inside the head of anyone but myself (that Jeff guy). That's probably why I haven't done it before or since.
• Why Comics Fall Behind (Again)
  In another first, the site crashed due to a bot attack in October. I've had plenty of attempted attacks in the past, but crashing the site was a first for this site. I'm glad I was able to celebrate the occasion in comic form.

Most Controversial

• When Was The Last Time?
  Oh ho ho my, did this one ever get a mixed reaction. I thought it was funny enough. Do you see anything offensive there? Because I don't. Yet a number of people were deeply and personally wounded that I would pick on a noble, satisfying career in software development. Aside from certain political comics, this one brought in the most hateful personal messages I've seen in a while. Plenty of "If you don't like it, get out!" type messages. And for what?!? Staring at the comic now, I am still baffled as to why anyone would take offense on any level to my opinion of my career. I'm equally baffled that it got as many views as it did. The internet is a mystery sometimes.

Thoughts On The Future

As we jump into year 6 of the comic, I don't know exactly what this year holds. With my day job schedule being what it is, I have a sneaking suspicion that my comic making will continue to fall behind in the next few months.

I need to do some catching up on life. It is my hopes to come through all this in a better situation to explore my creative projects, this comic included. I have worlds of ideas in my brain, and I'm working on ways to get those out of my head and into the many tubes of the internet.

I have no intention to let this comic disappear. I truly enjoy making them, especially when I have nothing worthwhile to say.

So let's play it by ear. I'll post comics when I can, and you read them when you can. I'll promote weird, tangential projects, and you can humor me by clicking on links while nagging me for more comics. I think that will work out well for everyone.

Well, it'll work out well for me... and isn't that what's truly important?

-Jeff