I’m just grateful I’ve never gotten a rejection letter this disheartening.
I’m really torn about this, but I’ve decided to end Hex Libris here. At least for a while. Though I’ve gotten lots of great response, the audience for this thing is not bigger now than when I started at the beginning of 1998. And though I’ve done it for the learning experience as much as anything, I did some disheartening math the other day: the time it takes me to create one of these is longer than the combined audience time spent reading each strip. By a fair amount. I’ve neglected work on portfolio pieces, and will be focussing on doing some of those now (just finished one I’m very proud of, but will wait until I’ve reviewed it one more time before unveiling it. Also, I’ve had some talks with different people about graphic novel work, so I’m working on presentations for that, as well.
It’s not definitely over forever. I love these characters. I honestly am heartbroken about stopping, but I think this format may just not be right for Hex Libris. Webcomics have a harder time gathering an audience for a story format. If I start a new Webcomic, it will be in the short-form newspaper style, where they may be short storylines but not some overarching and complicated backstory.
If you want to know if and when things start up again, please use the Get Hex Libris by Email function under the strip. You’ll receive any new work I post here in your email. And nothing else, I promise.
For some reason, I feel like I’m letting people down. But after some real agonizing and discussions with Maggie, this seems like the right time to do this. Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive.
Sorry to hear, but I can definitely understand. Sad that it just never got a bigger audience. Either way, I look forward to seeing more of your work in one form or the other. Any news on the graphic novel that you had mentioned a while back?
Hopefully the gang will be OK until we (hopefully) see them again some day.
Dave
The gang will be fine. I don’t think I’ll be able to give up on them completely, anyway. Of course, Kirby can’t win, but at least he has a roof over his head and friends. Connie has mysteries to solve. And Frankenstein’s creature has his XBox and is therefore happy as can be.
Thanks so much for your support, Dave. I owe you.
Sorry to see this go too. I was looking forward to the return of Connie. Having said that, I understand your reasons. Something with layers like this has might work well in a longer, more ‘literary’ form (though that may just be a reflection of my ignorance as this is the only ‘webcomic’ I’ve ever seen).
i’m sure it’s Au revoir to Kirby & co, not adieu.
Sounds like exactly the right thing for you to do Erik. I am REALLY looking forward to the portfolio pieces… which I need to get to work on for myself as well.
Cheers to the next step!
They will be missed! Go explore your other creative endeavors!
Good luck with pastures new. Jx
While I’ll be sad to see this go I completely understand. Portfolio work is actually a lot harder then it looks, I think. (But I’ve only ever made one so far….)
But what confuses is the fact that this is such an interesting story. And just as good as any other webcomics I’ve seen. So I wonder why this has such a small following. I still do look forward to seeing Kirby and the gang in the future.
Awww.. I will miss seeing this comic in my feed reader. *sad* Please keep us updated on your future projects!