Oh FFS

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FFS #18: Let 'Er R.I.P.

Valtiel

on Oct. 30, 2007

Sorry it's a little late, but I have been having consistent issues with the inking process, and you can really tell by looking at the comic. Anyway, here's the Halloween one, and…

Okay guys and gals, it's time for me to get a little serious, and maybe even a little beg-y on you. I've noticed popularity in the comic is going up quite a bit, actually, and I have to thank everyone that's been spreading the word, first and foremost. The comic has been going on a lot longer than I thought it would, and I couldn't be more please about that. I don't have a huge fan base right now, and if I do, you aren't vocal about it (comments could fix that assumption), but you guys are awesome.

So here's where I'm trying to go with this. Drunk Duck is great, and I love it, but very soon I would like to branch out, and create a stand-alone site for FFS. Now, that isn't usually cheap, so that's one thing I have to worry about. The second thing would be the cost of getting someone to help build a site that isn't bare bones, and that actually looks decent. The third thing I'm concerned about is supplies for drawing the comic.

Now, I don't know if you are as excited as I am that I can go back to drawing the comic by hand. Doing it in Flash meant awesome colouring, and backgrounds were super easy to make, but the comic lost a lot of detail when I made the transition. Now, the characters aren't as blocky as they once where, but here's the issue: there's still going to be flaws unless I can get some money put aside for the good shit; inking pens, and so on, and so forth. I am also trying to get some money aside for a workspace, because as it stands right now, I am using the only free corner of my computer desk, which will comfortably fit two thirds of a sheet of paper. Hardly ideal workspace, if you ask me.

But, even though that paragraph was the longest, it's not the most important. I want FFS to be able to stand on its own. I want it to have its own site, its own forums, its own everything. In order to do that, I'm going to need to get hosting, and although it isn't super expensive, getting someone to maintain the site can be, and the initial building is going to be lengthy, and costly. And although I can avoid getting it made by a professional, that will just mean it will take a whole lot longer for Graeme and I to code it, and it will probably not have the same impact. I am hoping to get it coded in something a little more in-depth than HTML, and that could take some expertise that I know I don't have.

Furthermore, the comic currently has no budget for marketing, because I simply cannot afford marketing, and rent at the same time. I want to get the word out, and I don't want to have to keep telling Colin to tell the local celebrities to talk about my comic. I want to be able to get ads out there. I want this thing to expand beyond this city, and I know that it has here and there. I hear it's a hit in England.

So, the point is, in the near future, I have placed a donation button on the site, for use with Paypal, and any credit cards. I am not expecting huge amounts. In fact, I'm not expecting donations, but if you want to help contribute a little here, and a little there, to help FFS ascend, then please. I will work on trying to get something put together for donators, to show you that I do care, and that I do really want to get to know people who are crazy enough to come back to read this comic that I am pouring all of my free time into.

While I'm talking about it, please be vocal. I want to hear from you guys. And if you're reading all of this, and didn't stop at the donations part, quietly muttering "Fuck that," then you must like the comic enough to consider it. I'm also going to be posting a contact link on the pages, so that you can e-mail me. On top of that, I strongly encourage you all to comment on the comics, and let me know that you're out there. There is a forum, too, so don't be afraid to jump in. It's not going to be an active environment unless people start posting.

So what did we learn? Howard's poor, and needs money to make the comic more awesome; Marketing costs lots; Howard's got a lot of anger; Colin smells like cheese.

'Nuff said.

H.