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PHOENIX COMICON IS THIS WEEKEND!!! I will be there with Blind Ferret at booths 707/806. Other fine webcomicers in attendance will be Randy, Danielle, and Spike at booth (table #517), and David and Rob (Artist Alley at table 649). Little Vampires (booth 712) will be there too! WHEATON will also be there and I suspect we will get into shenanigans[TM].

Last year was my first year at PHXCC and it was an absolute blast. The fans were great, the sales were great and the show is just incredibly well run. Next to Emerald City in Seattle it was certainly one of my favorite shows of 2011.

I will have: books 1 and 2, most of my shirts from the HE Store (not from Sharksplode), sketches, stickers and unexpected, nonconsensual chest bumps, bro-hugs and that move where a bride and groom drink champagne with interlocked arms. YOU are bringing the champagne.

If you choose to participate in the ancient right of a reader offering tribute to an artist at a convention, I am partial to cookies, Starbucks Doubleshot cans, Iced Soy Lattes, and little bottles of booze that can be clandestinely added to other drinks. I’m just sayin’.

Here’s a map of the entire show floor, that shows where we’ll be in relation to everything else. Seems like we’re right up front, so we shouldn’t be hard to find. Click to embiggen.

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I didn’t realize until after I got home from Emerald City Comicon that I had forgotten to mention the 4 year anniversary of The Experiment. I have officially been professionally unemployed making comics for 4 years as of March 31, 2012. People used to ask me all the time, ” How is the experiment going?” To which I would reply, “It’s going. I’m still doing it. There are ups and downs, but I haven’t given up.” The more and more I gave that answer, which I thought to be a bit an over simplified response seeing as how I didn’t want to get into the details of nearly missed mortgage payments, mounting credit card debt due to travel expenses and rest of the struggles that come with self employment with every person that asked, the more I realized it was actually the most honest answer I could give. There wasn’t actually an end goal for The Experiment. I never said, “If I can do this for 5 years, I have won.” The goal was to just keep doing it. To keep making comics for a living. To sustain myself and my family through following my passion and doing what I love. The unspecified addendum to that ideal was that in order for it to be a success, I had to keep doing it forever. So the actual and honest response to, “How’s The Experiment going?” is “As long as this is my job, I am winning.”

That said, so far 2012 and has been far more difficult financially than 2011 was. My readership is actually way down from the end of the last year. This directly affects every way that I make an income. Ad sales are down, merch sales are down, and donations are WAY down while expenses due to conventions and travel just keep going up and up. It’s been a tough few months and I’ve been constantly thinking about what I can do to turn things around. All of the way in which I can make money come down to simple numbers. The more people looking at my comics every day the less I will have to struggle to make a living. With that in mind I started evaluating why someone might enjoy my comic initially then stop reading it, or read it irregularly and eventually forget about it. I listened to what readers said at conventions, I talked with some of my peers and I studied what it was about comics in general that made people come back day after day.

At first, I thought the answer was “story.” Readers get hooked by story and can’t miss an update or they won’t know what’s happening. Well, HE doesn’t have a story, and I really never had any intention of working one in. The purpose of HE is to provide commentary on geek pop culture through the eyes of its characters… DING DING DING! Characters. That was the answer. The most popular story comics on the internet aren’t breaking any new ground. They primarily deal with relationships, jobs, emotional issues – sitcom stuff. These scenarios are NOT hard to come up with, and writing them has never held any real interest for me. So if it isn’t the amazing originality of the situations, it must be the characters and how they deal with the situations they are put into that people gravitate to so much. Now look, I KNOW this is common knowledge and had you asked me in ANY OTHER context than that of my own creative output, I would have been able to rattle off the answer instantly. I’d just never seen my comics that way.

Now here’s the rub. HE used to have a very strong character element along with the humor. I started looking back at old comics and thinking back to the comments I used to get an conventions and the emails I would receive and the number one positive remark I would get is that the “characters are just like me and my friends,” or “I love Josh because he reminds me of my friend,” etc. Then all of a sudden these comments stopped. What changed? I reread my old comics again and realized that as I started traveling more and my daughter got older (requiring more and more time for her extracurricular activities), I started seeing the real life Josh and Eli less and less. In fact, I probably haven’t seen either of them more than once or twice in 2012. Our social realities just don’t align that well any more. It’s a fact of life and a byproduct of having children. I don’t love them any less, and I don’t believe we have grown apart as friends. The time to just fuck around and be silly with each other just isn’t there nearly as often as it used to be.

The result of this decreased exposure to the inspiration for my characters was that I lost my crutch. I had never been forced to create personalities for the characters since I would just observe the real people behind them and exaggerate their actions and reactions. Sometime around the middle to end of 2011 I really started writing in a singular voice. Every character was interchangeable and while I think the joke writing got MUCH tighter as time went by, the character development essentially vanished. This was never more evident than in the fact that NO ONE ever seemed to know the names of the characters. As one of my peers, who I respect greatly, told me, “Your characters are interchangeable. People love our characters and that’s why they love the comic.” I used to say, “The characters in HE are just there to service the joke,” as if it was one of the selling points of the comic. If that was the case, why would I keep drawing the same guys over and over? I didn’t realize I was admitting a shortcoming of the strip and disguising it as a feature.

So where does that leave me? Well, this Friday May 11th is the 5 year anniversary of HijiNKS ENSUE. I think that’s as good a milestone as any to re-evaluate what I’m doing, what I should be doing and what direction I am heading in. To that end, I would like to announce a new experiment of sorts. I am going to start devoting more time in HijiNKS ENSUE to getting to know the characters. Not necessarily their jobs, relationship or other sitcom type stuff (which still doesn’t interest me), but more their characteristics, quirks and view points. I want to teach myself (by doing) how to write in a voice that is not my own. I want to recapture that individuality the HE characters had in the early years before they became prisoners of my own head and parrots for my own point of view. The best part of this new direction is, if I do it correctly you shouldn’t even notice the change. You might just find yourself more interested in checking the site more often and getting your friends interested in the comic as well.

The first step down this terrifying new path involves location. I am going to experiment with having the characters fixed at one location, setting or event for more than one comic at a time. Their conversations might carry over for several days before shifting to another topic. I believe the ancient Greeks called this con… continuity? Yes, I think that’s right. Again, these will not be stories per se, but rather little chunks of continuing subject matter (like the “Under The Bridge Downtown” comics). For starters all of the comics for this week, starting with THIS ONE, will take place at The Avengers (before, during and after the film). Depending on the response to this change, I may do this for a week or so at a time, and intersperse it with one off gags to break things up. Beyond that, I don’t really have a plan other than to try new things and see what feels right.

What do I need from you? Just to keep an open mind. If you are of the opinion that HE is perfect as is and should not change, all I can say is A) Thank you, and B) You are wrong. My audience plateaued over a year ago and hasn’t seen any sustained growth in that time. In order for me to reach my goals of financial stability, toiling in obscurity cannot be a part of the equation. Luckily for this fictional guy that loves the comic and fears change, I have no plans to change the actual humor of the strip. Just the context in which that humor is presented. For each 3 panel HE comic I usually write a page worth of dialog, then trim the fat. With this new format I should be able to write 3-4 pages of dialog on a few related subjects then actually craft that into a 3-4 comic arc. I would also appreciate it if you, after reading the comics this week, shared some feedback with me. I would rather that you email comics (at) hijinks ensue (dot) com with your thoughts than post them publicly, and I don’t necessarily want to know what you think until you’ve read all of this week’s comics, though I will never discourage honest communication (and you are certainly encouraged to comment on this post if you have questions or words of support). Then, if you dig the way things are going, how about telling EVERY SINGLE PERSON YOU KNOW? Post about HE on your Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc like an insane person who is extremely fixated on one particular geek comic and REALLY wants everyone else to read it. I would consider that a kindness.

I am extremely scared and pretty damn excited about trying something new. I hope you (and I) will be pleased with the results. I hope I will be making a somewhat similar post about the continuing future of HE in another 5 years. I hope people are still allowed to make fun of stuff on the Internet in 5 years. I hope the A.I. Arachno-drones that police our homes and monitor our thoughts will take favor with my offerings and allow me to continue to make a living through putting silly pixels on your  computers.

Godspeed, You Fancy Bastards!

~Joel

Donation subscribers of any level will get access to an RSS feed with the full comic in it.
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Read more about the new direction I am taking the comic in and how you can help HERE if you haven’t already.

I am going to be at Calgary Expo this coming weekend with Blind Ferret at booths 925/1025!

The whole cast of Star Trek: TNG is going to be there as well. Maybe you wanna come get a Star Trek themed sketch from me and THEN have your cast member of choice sign it? I can’t even guarantee they will do it, but it seems like a reasonable request, right?

This is my first big show in Canada. Please don’t let me down Canadian Fancy Bastards. My fragile Texan constitution is not suited to your frosty wilderness. Though I do hear that Calgary is basically the Dallas of Canada, what with all the oil and cowboy hats and what not. Is there also a lot of racism? Who-boy if there is, I will certainly feel at home (or just as uncomfortable as I always feel at home).

As always, I will remind you that conventioning is thirsty and hungry and often cookieless, boozeless work. Your contributions of iced soy lattes, cookies and assorted boozes are ALWAYS appreciated and will be rewarded with a hearty “THANK YOU!” and perhaps an UNCOMFORTABLY LONG HANDSHAKE!

Here is a handy map to help you locate me! 

Click Map To Embiggen

Donation subscribers of any level will get access to an RSS feed with the full comic in it.
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Read more about the new direction I am taking the comic in and how you can help HERE if you haven’t already.

Give me two C’s! Give me two E’s! Now rearrange them! Not like that! CEEC isn’t a thing! OK, that’s better! Yes, C2E2 is what it spells! STOP YELLING!

C2E2 in Chicago is this weekend! I’ll be with Blind Ferret at Booth 432. I will have books 1 and 2, prints, shirts, sketch cards (new bigger sketch cards too!), stickers and firm handshakes coupled with sheepish glances. That last one is designed to confuse you concerning how I felt about our meeting.

Also our booth is directly next to Explosms!I predict no end to the shenanigans. Good times!

Click Map To Embiggen

Our panel last year was really the highlight of the show for me, and I’m hoping for a repeat performance.

Panel: Webcomics Roundtable With Blind Ferret and Explosm!
Date: 4/14/2012
Time: 4:00PM – 5:00PM
Location: N426c
Description: Join the professional Internet picture makers from Least I Could Do, Looking For Group, The Gutters, HijiNKS ENSUE and Cyanide and Happiness for an hour long Q and A as they reveal their deepest, darkest webcomicing secrets. Thrill at their unbridled shenanigans! Fear their brutal honesty! Recoil in terror as they don’t really answer any of the questions and just make fun of each other onstage for an hour! [official details here]

UPDATE: Looks like Cyanide & Happiness has ANOTHER panel (traitors) on Friday night at 6:15pm. So go see that one too I guess.

You Chicago FB’s saw how well Seattle did in the cookies, coffee, and booze gift  department right? Are you going to let them show you up? I’m not sayin’ but I’m just sayin’. [iced or hot soy latte, Starbucks Doubleshots, rum, vodka, tequila, pretty much any kind of chocolate, no nut allergies]

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Hey, Seattle Fancy Bastards! I will be in your wonderfully overcast hamlet this weekend!  Emerald City Comicon is without a doubt my favorite convention of the year and I am entirely too psyched to be exhibiting at it once again.

Even though the website and the program say I will be at booth 307, I will actually be at booth 306 (just around the corner) with Blind Ferret. You should still stop at booth 307 and spend all kinds of money, because my friends Gordon, Tom and Angela will be there. Angela will be debuting her new book (available for purchase now) and I highly recommend it. I won’t bother listing every other cartoonist or famous geeky person that will be there, because it’s essentially all of them. Seriously, this is THE BEST show.

I will have T-Shirts, books 1 and 2, prints, sketch cards, stickers. I will also sketch in or on anything you like for tips. This includes, but is not limited to sketch books, loose paper, motorcycle helmets (did one last year), faces, butts (dudes and ladies), boobs (dudes and ladies), and shovels.

I am doing 3 shows in the next 6 weeks or so and the cost of travel has hit me INCREDIBLY hard this year. If you are coming to one of the shows, please consider buying something or dropping a few bucks in the tip jar. If you would like to support my endeavors to get out there and see the Fancy Bastards in person you can make a donation. Your contribution will be GREATLY appreciated (cue Sarah McLaughlin song). In lieu of monitary support, I will say that conventions are hungry and thirsty and cookieless work. Feel entirely free to bring Starbucks Doubleshots, Iced Grande Soy Lattes, cookies or whatever to the booth. Those are the things that reall get a cartoonist through the day. Also booze. Just sayin’.

Last year at ECCC I had drinks with Jonathan Frakes. How are you going to top that Seattle? How?! Will I find a golden Batmobile with the keys in it? Seems like it would be too heavy to drive? How’s the mileage on this thing, anyway? Have you seen the price of gas lately? No thanks. I SAID NO THANKS!

Donation subscribers of any level will get access to an RSS feed with the full comic in it.
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Me, Randy Milholland, David Willis, Danielle Corsetto, Jeph Jaques, Rob Denbleyker and MORE will be at the Dragon’s Lair Webcomic Rampage panel/signing event on December 10th and 11th. It is always a good time. Austin Fancy Bastard should NOT miss it.

I will have “The Doctor Is In” shirts, “Winter Is Coming” Shirts, HijiNKS ENSUE books, prints, sketches, stickers and furtive glances!

Saturday 8-11 pm
Sunday 12-5 pm

**Q&A panels by reservation only!**
Sat: 6-8 pm
Sun: 10-12 before signings
8-11 pm after signings

Donation subscribers of any level will get access to an RSS feed with the full comic in it.
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Austin-style Fancy Bastards, I am going to be at Austin Comic Con this weekend (Nov 11-13)! I will have books 1 and 2, “The Doctor Is In” shirts, “Winter Is Coming” shirts and just a few sizes of “Edward“ and “Ewok Stare.“ I will also have prints, stickers and sketch cards upon which I will draw nearly anything for a monetary tip of some kind.

I will be accompanied by my old HE summer intern (HEntern), James. He will be taking your cash, fetching your shirt sizes, running your credit cards, acting as my personal foot stool and side table, and doing a little jig at random intervals for my amusement. If you must pelt someone with things, that it was he is there for.

Also appearing at the con will be Dennis of LAWLS, who recently nearly died updating and fixing the CSS on my website, and the illustrious be-DeLoreaned Ernie Cline, author of Ready Player One. Now it isn’t just going to be the three of us. There are about 100 comics and genre TV/ movie guests as well. Damn near half the cast of Buffy is going to be there, so will certainly be able to get your Scooby-squee on. It’s a fun show with plenty to see, but it’s not overwhelming. Come. You will have geeky fun.

Donation subscribers of any level will get access to an RSS feed with the full comic in it.
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Read more about the new direction I am taking the comic in and how you can help HERE if you haven’t already.

Corn Mo And .357 Lover need your help to finish their next album! They have a Kickstarter to raise $5ooo and they are over halfway there with a month to go. I have had a rough mix of this album for over a year and I have worn the mp3′s down smooth.

It is nearly impossible to explain their sound to someone that hasn’t seen them live, but imagine the power and melody of Queen, the gravitas of KISS meets Tenacious D and the musicianship of… well Queen again, mixed with the lyrical irreverence of They Might Be Giants. Also, throw in some Dio for good measure. I promise you that they are making some of my favorite music of all time and they deserve your help. Plus they have a traditional Jewish arena Metal song about “Hava Nagila Monster.” Also a song about “Event Horizon.” So there. [Corn Mo Twitter/Web/Band Site/Youtube]

Stepto’s Audiobook is out now! GET IT HERE! It features a foreword be ME (also Wil Wheaton, Paul And Storm, Mike Phirman and other interest famous people)! A portion of the profits are going to the Child’s Play Charity, PLUS MY FOREWORD IS HILARIOUS! Oh, also the book which collects stories about 15 years of working at Microsoft and banning penis revealers from Xbox Live is pretty entertaining as well. DID I MENTION THE FOREWORD! It alone is worth the price of admission. [Stepto Twitter/Web]

How do you know these things are great? I get a lot of requests from readers and random people alike to post links to things. Maybe they have a blog or a company or whatever and they want to leverage the Fancy Bastards to increase awareness of their thing. The problem with asking strangers with a large audience to link to your thing is that it circumvents the authenticity and trust that gave me an audience in the first place. As a rule I only recommend products, services and sites that I actually like and would or do use myself. I’d like to think you read this comic because I am honest about my opinions and you either agree with my point of view or you at least find my way of looking at things interesting. So believe me when I say, these things are great and you should support them.

Donation subscribers of any level will get access to an RSS feed with the full comic in it.
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Read more about the new direction I am taking the comic in and how you can help HERE if you haven’t already.

I am going to be at New York Comic-Con with Blind Ferret this weekend  (10-13 to 10-16, though I might be really late on Thursday due to my plane landing around when the show opens).

I will have books 1 and 2, T-Shirts (including the new “Winter Is Coming” shirt and maybe a debut of another new shirt), stickers, sketches and prints.

I am going to be staying in Brooklyn so I hope to hit up the Doctor Who themed bar, The Way Station. Maybe we can do a bit of an informal Fancy Bastard Meetup there.

While I am gone, I will be running a few guest comics created just for you by several of my webcomicing cohorts (Paul Southworth, Sam Logan, Randy Milholland and Alina Pete). Based on what I’ve seen so far, this will be the most epic HE guest week ever.

Donation subscribers of any level will get access to an RSS feed with the full comic in it.
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Read more about the new direction I am taking the comic in and how you can help HERE if you haven’t already.

“Winter Is Coming” shirts are now IN THE STORE!!! [based on this comic]

I worked SO HARD on this design, you guys. I had to take the full color/water color effect I used in the original comic and distill it down to three colors. Not as easy task, but I am VERY pleased with the result. This is definitely one of the best shirts I’ve ever made. Please show your support for HE by picking one up in the store, or forwarding a link to your friends that might be into Game Of Thrones, Calvin and Hobbes or, god forbid, both.

Tweet it in the Facebook with your G+ or whatever Internet type situation you have. Let’s get the word out!