It’s all been leading to this for a while, now.

How long do you chase a dream and continue to take a beating? Sure, you pretend to be Rocky Balboa and convince yourself the beating will be worth it in the bloody end – This is America, Jack! Working hard to attain our dreams is what our houses are built upon.

But, what if the dream you’re splittin’ your lip over is taking a beating of it’s own? What if you get to that plateau of achievement only to find your cloud 9 is on life support and that your contribution is too little, too late?

I’ve been one of the last guys to believe that newspaper comics will survive and that they are still a dream worth trying. Call me a fool, if you want, but I have hated the idea of being my own boss in the webcomics world from the beginning. I dislike the concept, the community and their hubris/arrogance displayed over being right. Do you have any idea what it feels like to achieve your dream career, only to be told by snarky gaming geeks that you’re an idiot for following such a dream? I’m too old and tired to follow the “new direction” of comics. Makes me sick just thinking about it. Sorry. I can’t change how I feel.

Of course, you all know this. I’ve said it a million times before. However, this time I’m doing something about it. I’m jumping paths and I’m going to work towards a life less depressing. Preferably something that will make me a Goddamned living before I’m retirement age. And yes, it is very possible this latest direction could put me right back here in a year’s time – broke, tired and complainy, but we need to do what feels good, and this feels good right now.

So here’s what’s gonna happen:

… AND IT PAYS A REGULAR PAYCHECK.

• I’m happy to post reruns of Barkeater Lake as long as GoComics will have it. New strips may come in the form of ANGRY EYEBROWS, but I wouldn’t count on any sort of regular schedule.

• I’d like to return to TOBY five days a week for two reasons: I love the strip and he’s got the most potential to turn into other things like animation.

• ANGRY EYEBROWS Comic Concern will become more of a portfolio of what I’ve done in the past with comics, and where I’m going in the future with animated shorts, animated series pitches and ideas for comic iPhone apps and games. A comic strip staring Fake Rockstar and your favorite FRS characters will grace it’s pages from time to time.

• I’m going back to school. When I get to NYC in Feb, I plan on signing up for several continuing education classes in animation, storyboarding and comedy writing. I love sketch comedy, animation and film production. These things are slowly becoming the places where my interests lie. I want to attend as many shows as I can and focus my concentration on writing sketches and blogs for the pages of Drink at Work.com and Corey Pandolph.com

• I owe many of you books that still have yet to print. I will print and ship those collections as soon as I am financially able. I will do my best to keep you all updated on when and where they will print.

Some of you will bitch and moan at my choice, accusing me of having a poor work ethic, etc. Some will call me a loser an quitter. I don’t care. I don’t have to answer to any of you and the only the thing I owe “my public” is product paid for and a promise to improve my situation, in order to better serve your comedy needs.

And honestly, the later is a gift. I ain’t gotta make none of ya laugh, if’n I don’t wanna!

Thanks for reading my comics and my blogs. I hope to continue to entertain you all in some futuristic way, shape and form, not invented yet, brought here in a cool looking Delorean.

To the future of ridicularity™!

-FRS