thank you everyone for this support… it may sound funny, but i really and truly didn’t expect this unbelievable response…the strips that start running today were completed over a month ago… in order to maintain the continuity of the strip, my final decision will have to be made this week…as this week would be the week i would start work on the january 2, 2012 strip…
in other words, if there is no strip on january 2, you know what i have decided.
if i didn’t care what my readers thought, or i had a disdain for the comic strip genre, i would have just ended the run without any prior warning. but doing that would be a disservice to those of you who’ve invested so much into what i do. it would also be disrespectful to the artform that has been my voice for all of my adult life.
i feel the strips i’ve done for the month of december 2011 are some of my finest work. i approached them as though they would be my last. again, i have not decided one way or another if they will be…but better safe than sorry, right?
i’ve always prided myself on being brutally honest in my work. whatever wart i have, you see. whatever shortcoming i have as a human being, you see. that won’t change.
this is the hardest decision i’ve ever had to make. how can you say goodbye to your best friend?
Really not what I was expecting today. Good Luck with your decision. Either way I have enjoyed the trip. Jay
Regardless of your decision Frank, thank you for sharing Bob and your life with us. I’ve enjoyed Bob’s antics, your quests for answers, working through your decisions, and even when you share your heartaches.
You need to do what is right for you. And I will miss Bob if your decision is to move forward without the strip, but I appreciate the need for change and the need to explore.
Thanks!
-Bret
I know from firsthand experience that drawing (or in my case attempting to draw) a daily comic strip can be a very difficult and frustrating challenge, and even those who get paid, don’t recieve very much. For me Bob the Squirrel and be both entertaining as well as inspirational–an example of all a comic strip (ideally) should and can be. Like many, I’ll miss Bob if he goes but his memory will remain…
I want to join those wishing you the best. You & Bob are a bright spot in the daily routine of life and Bob’s attitude towards the world is a joy. Anyone that can make such an emotional connection with people they will never know is an amazing talent. Thank you for sharing yourself and your family with us.