I think the Ash-can’t-remember-Flint’s-name gag got tired about a decade ago, but it’s one of the very few running gags this comic has and I’m going to keep it on life support even if I have to invent new words that start with “F-L”.
In lieu of a new comic this week, I’ve uploaded a new commentary video to YouTube. This one is for the previous chapter, “The Mother Trilogy.”
I say at the start of the video that this won’t contain any spoilers for future chapters, but at one point, I accidentally mention the premise for Chapter 13. It’s not a major spoiler, but if you really don’t want to have any idea what Chapter 13 is about (if you somehow don’t know already), you should make sure to read at least the first few pages of that before watching this.
Moving forward, I’ve come up with a way to give myself consistent, scheduled weeks off (as opposed to trying to put a page out every week and only delaying it when I crash). I’m going to try sticking to the once-per-Monday schedule, BUT for months that have 5 Mondays, the comic will skip the last one.
That starts now, which means there won’t be a comic the week of May 31.
There are four such months per year, so that rounds out to a week off each quarter.
That will allow me either a break if I need one, or I can try to get ahead on the comic. It’ll depend on how I feel at the time. Since it’s pre-planned, there’s no guilt attached. And the comic will still consistently update 4 times every month.
Plus, if I can stick to that schedule (barring unforeseen circumstances that would force another hiatus), Phase Three will be finished by late 2022! Going by page count, we just hit the halfway mark. “Double Date” closes out in June, and Chapter 14 will roll out over the second half of this year.
A couple weeks ago, a fan named Etienne sent me this drawing of Noah. It’s the first piece of unsolicited art I’ve received for UTC in a very long time, and suffice to say, I’m thrilled to bits!
This pic has been added to the Fanart section. Thank you, Etienne!
I’m going to take an extra day finishing up the next page. It will go live on Tuesday.
I realize delays have become a common occurrence. Between my day job getting more stressful and all of the ongoing, you know, things, I’ve been prioritizing giving myself downtime without then punishing myself by staying up half the night drawing. I feel as long as I can average four pages a month, the comic is in good shape.
Another week, another roadblock, it seems. My job has been very demanding the past two weeks. I haven’t so much as been able to pick up a pencil since Monday.
This situation is personally frustrating because it comes after two other weeks of comic delays. I WANT to draw. I have a script, I have the materials, I have the next page ready to go. But in the interests of my health, it would be much wiser to take the weekend and relax, rest my hand (11 hours a day of using a keyboard and mouse has done a number on it), and work on the comic during the next week…when, hopefully, the situation at work will calm down.
