I don't know how word got out that I was considering reviving BCK, and I wasn't going to say anything openly until I was sure, but well... That cat is out of the bag, the beans are spilt, and whatever other metaphor you care to use. IF it happens, it'll be, as I said, after the site reconstruction, and also as I said, only if I can commit to regular, high-quality updates.
If I decide against reviving it, I'll at least post the one comic from last year that I held off on (as soon as I find the file), and post a synopsis of the rest of the current storyline. And I have another project or two that I've been putting off, as well.
But to revive BCK, see, I need an artist with not only a similar style to Shan's and Amee's, but one with whom I have a similar chemistry. And it'd have to be someone willing to work for free until things got moving again-and even back in the days of 18,000 regulars and nearly a million page views per month, we only made about enough from the comic to pay for the server and a few groceries, so no one--including me--is going to do it for the money. Plus, both Amee and Shannon will tell you that I can be pretty demanding, so it would also have to be someone who could put up with me. You can see how that might be hard to find.
Yes, I've drawn the strip myself before, but I can't do it all the time--I thought I could, but I can't. Now, this isn't intended to sound like whining--I have friends who deal with much worse every day--but some people have asked why I don't just draw it myself. So, well... Here's why: Most of you know that I suffered a spine injury a few years back that left some of the muscles in my right arm paralyzed. Not all of them, but enough that either Shannon or our then-girlfriend Cat had to help me take showers for a while (and to think I used to bench nearly twice my body weight. Oh well...).
It's gotten a lot better since then (and thank whatever gods that be that I can still type), but even on a good day, I can only draw for a little bit at time before I have to take break to let the cramping subside, so it takes me pretty much all day to get one strip done, and then I'm in pain for the rest of the evening, and often into the next day. So yeah--drawing it myself every day is not an option. Not to mention that it often takes a lot longer than you'd think to write three panels of dialogue per day when you're trying to both be funny and move the storyline along, and still longer when your choices are to either a) be in a lot of pain, or b) be totally stoned on vicodin or oxy. (And the next person who asks me to share will get kicked in the groin. Repeatedly.)
Okay, end of whining.
I'm amazed and flattered that over 2,000 of you still check the site regularly, for around 40,000 to 50,000 pageviews per month, by the way--even after the move away from the old domain and going forever with no updates. And I appreciate the email that still comes my way once in a while either asking me to re-start things or chewing me out for not having done so. That's one of the things influencing my decision.
So in closing, yes, a BCK revival is a possibility, but it's not a forgone conclusion. When and if I decide to being it back, I'll announce it here.
Thanks again for your support.
Actually, my friend Joel, who owns and operates Astrokitty Comics and More (and who is a comic artist in his own right) here in Lawrence, helped me realize the real reason I've had trouble finding the "right" artist to fill Shan/Amee's shoes. Although he was initially interested in helping get this storyline done, after reading through the archives he told me (I don't remember his exact words) something along the lines of, "Man, this comic is intensely personal. It'd just feel weird and wrong for me to try to draw it."
And the light dawned. He was right; It's a very personal strip. We started the strip as romantically-involved individuals, and the characters are--however loosely--based on us. While of course we aren't superheroes or talking animals, much of the humor is based on our real lives together (albeit often exaggerated). There's a certain amount of emotional vulnerability involved in working with someone else on it, and no matter how good an artist is, or how much I like them personally, it's tough to find the right match. Not every project is like that, but this one is.
That said, a resurrection is still a possibility if Amee or Shan are willing to come back to the art helm, or someone with whom I can have that sort of "right" feeling. Maybe I'll be able to talk one or both of them into doing at least an occasional few panels, or at least some pencils. Maybe not. Only time will tell on that. Also, if we re-start things, nothing will be posted until I have a serious buffer of comics to post, so there aren't any more false starts.
Anyway, to those of you who are left, thanks for reading. If we end up re-starting things, I'll be counting on you to let the other 18,000 of you know about it.
I (still) love you more than cheese,
-Rob
I'd love to see what you guys have been up to since this post. Everyone fine? How's the arm?
I do rather miss the comic, but I miss you guys a bit more.