9.44
Jun19
And so ends Issue 9. Endstone will be going on hiatus for a while so I can recharge my batteries.
I don’t know when I’ll be coming back so make sure to subscribe via RSS (Feedly is a good service now that Google Reader is defunct), email, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, or one of the webcomic services like InkOutbreak or Comic Rocket. That way you’ll be sure to know when Endstone returns.
Thanks for reading my friends.
Tony
So the banestone has a random identity generator, well played Tony. It makes sense that the users had to be manipulated into desiring the end of this world, easier than directly controlling them. This should be interesting.. Looking forward to the final chapter 🙂
Thanks for reading Apostolis. 🙂 I wouldn’t say that the identity the Spire generates for people is random. More likely, the program that Simon is running on the Wishing Machine is creating new lives based on the lifestyle and status of the original person.
I’m going to have to make this clearer because this will be key in the final chapter.
I wonder what world Colindra saw… I somehow doubt “couch potato” would draw her in.
She saw the same world as Kyri just did. Cole is going to become this person should Simon succeed. Jon embraced it. Cole tried to reject it.
And thanks for stoppin’ by A.B.
Good for her! And thanks for the reply! 😀
you may feel kinda different, but I feel fine
The title of this issue (“Life and How to Live It“) is also an R.E.M. song. 🙂
May I be the first to welcome our nerdy, sandwich-crafting challenged, mad, dark matter based overlord.
Who says you can’t sum up a person in a few words? 🙂
Given his track record, how can Gates be sure that this plan of his won’t blow up in his face? Again?
It’s certainly possible. 🙂
Told you guys: Hitting the Rest button. Okay, not quite as far as I thought. And the god/king part is new, but kinda expected. And not quite how I would define “atoning” for a sin.
Looks like Simon finally made his first true mistake : revealing his true nature. If there’s one thing certain, you never want to do that, even when you’re sure you’ll obliterate your audience afterwards, because future is uncertain, and so is the list of listenning ears.
Here, Jon may be under Simon’s insanity control, but he can still see and hear everything. With that truth revealed, he’ll realise he was lied to, and that will most likely give him the will to break free. Strangely enough, that’s something Simon anticipated while still controlling Cole, so why is he falling into that anyway ?
Small error: “weilder of the Banestone” – should be “wielder”.
Critical error: dramatic monologue about the evil plan in the presence of the hero. Never monologue in front of the hero.
Christopher – Yes you were on the right track, Christopher. 🙂 And yes 5000 years has made Simon a little wack-a-doo.
Darth Killer – You are right about Jon. Will he be able to resist Simon?
Nyerguds – Thanks! 🙂 I should really get glasses but I refuse. 🙁
SCAScot – Yes the revealing monologue is an oft used trope, but it’s hard to get around a good villainous rant.
“Benevolent ruler”, eh? Heh… they all say that, but the “benevolent” part rarely ever works out.
I’m reasonably sure that he’d end up being every bit as stifling as the stoners he complained about. Simon seems a little too determined not to let things go wrong this time….
Go figure! Typical absolute power abuse 😀 lol
🙂 Absolute power with good intentions…
Yup. The road to hell was paved with those 😀
Bravo young man, all thees cool twists have managed to lure a long time lurker out of hiding.
I like how you took the Ring-world approach with the beats-men. For some reason I thought they were just parallel evolutions from animals that became humanoid, and not the other way around.
Also you might wanna check your sever, for some reason every time I hit the next page button AVAST gives me a Trojan blocked pop up. It usually doesn’t do that.
Always good to hear from a long-time reader. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoy the story. And I haven’t read RingWorld since I was a kid, but YES! 🙂 It wasn’t conscious but I can see where I was influenced by having humans fill the ecological niches. I always liked that book because of the science and I like stories based in science, even fantasy stories (like Endstone).
As for the virus issue…. strange. I got an email alert several days ago from WordFence indicating my site was infected. I ran a scan just now and it says nothing is wrong. ??????
Anyone else having issues with virus alerts? I run a mac so I don’t have any virus scanners but obviously it’s possible that something is wrong.
I don’t. But then again i have Firefox equipped with AdBlock Plus. I suspect this is due to an ad somewhere. “Twilight Lady” has had the same problem repeatedly, to the point they got marked twice by Kaspersky as hazardous website despite it not being the case (and when it’s Kaspersky, it really means business…)
Man! Last week I didn’t notice (nor read) that this was end of issue 9, It’s gonna be a long wait, but I know that the wait always worth it.
Thanks 🙂 I’m glad you’re enjoying the comic. 🙂
Is the next issue going to be the last issue of Endstone, or do we have a ways to go yet?
Issue 10 will be the end of the “God at the Eternity Spire” story-line. It is safe to assume that at least some of the characters will survive ( 😉 ) and they will reach some sort of resolution in their lives.
Will there be more stories with these characters? I already have several future stories out-lined. The only problem is the production. I am seriously burnt out at this point and I need to recharge.
Also, honestly, Endstone has not been successful as a webcomic. There could be several reasons for this. Maybe there just isn’t a market for dramatic, episodic stories posted in truncated installments. Or maybe the comic just plain sucks and I’m a victim of the Dunning-Kruger Effect http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
However the truth of the matter is that the comic costs more to produce than it brings in and it takes a tremendous amount of time and effort to produce.
The questions I need to answer for myself are 1. Do I keep producing Endstone with the hope that it will eventually find enough readers to make it worthwhile? 2. Do I concede that it’s not working and reboot the comic? 3. Do I start another project? 4. Do I stop doing webcomics entirely?
I don’t know the answers to these questions yet. My goal is to finish Issue 10 and then reevaluate the project and webcomics in general. I appreciate everyone’s support and readership and this alone keeps me going. 🙂
Totally sympathise with the burnout, man. After working on the same thing intensely for such a long time, one does need a breath of fresh air. So don’t sweat it, take the time to recharge. 🙂
As for whether Endstone is successful… I can’t speak for anyone else, but to me, there’s tons of good material here. The art is good, and the story is very original and interesting. Maybe it just needs more publicity? I’m pretty sure there’s a market for dramatic, episodic stories… just look at The Dreamland Chronicles, for example, or Girl Genius, or Gunnerkrigg Court, and a whole bunch of others, just to name a few high-ranking webcomics on TWC that are similar in nature to Endstone.
Mind you, TWC rankings don’t necessarily reflect the true quality of a comic. Some of my favorite webcomics never ever make it past page 2 (i.e., never rank above 100), but I personally enjoy them much more than many of the top-ranking comics.
As for making ends meet, that’s a tough one. I know a lot of very high-ranking webcomics are done in their artists’ free time, so the financial pressure isn’t really there. But not everybody has that luxury, and artists need to eat, too. I know it seems hard to justify continuing to produce a work that isn’t giving the returns one is hoping for, even if it’s something dear to one’s heart. But that’s life… perhaps the current Endstone fans will continue to support your subsequent work, so the next time round, you’ll have a larger fanbase to start with. That may be a big factor to profitability. At the very least, it will make things a lot easier than starting from ground zero. 🙂
Thanks Lurker. Your comments keep me going 🙂 Update: I’m currently roughing in the first few pages of Issue 10. No return date yet.
Tony, I’m sorry that the Endstone project didn’t work out as you expected.
My ignorant evaluation is that you have/had a good update pace, a good story and great art. It certainly isn’t the Dunning-Kruger effect. If that’s how you feel, I assure you that I (and other readers, apparently) recognize your talent as worthy of the highest circles.
It’s more likely a lack of a public for the type of story/art you produce, or, as Lurker mentioned, a lack of visibility.
I’ll gladly spare some time to look at some of your numbers and try to come out with alternatives. For example, there are ways to optimize bandwidth consumption so it will cost you less, if that’s one of your costs.
Thanks Hrimhari! 🙂 I greatly appreciate the feedback. It’s difficult sometimes to gage exactly how the comic is coming across. I also appreciate the offer of looking at the site’s bandwidth consumption. As of right now, I can afford the hosting costs. I just wish the comic would pull it’s share, so to speak. When I’m ready, I will hopefully get the comic in print and maybe make some income that way.
Anyhow, thanks for taking the time to comment. 🙂
I would love to have an omnibus of EndStone.
I’m slowly working on it, Edian. 🙂 Thanks for the interest. 🙂
Truly, I have always considered EndStone one of the best webcomics on the internet. I keep a carefully culled list of quality webcomics, and this one has been there since I found it. Hope to see you back some day.
Thanks for letting me know, jeffsullins. 🙂 It’s greatly appreciated. And Endstone will be back very soon. 🙂
Hello Tony..Ill say it again..your comic is one of the best out there!!–your art is top notch ( Kirby/Perez/Kane/Sal/John Buscema would have you working for them in the Marvel bullpen circa early 1970’s ) if you were living in a different age..your style/quality is fantastic..Regarding a success or not..super successful imho..maybe more people just need to find Endstone? Please do keep producing/creating this fantastic world : )
I appreciate the comment, Matt. 🙂 I keeps me going.
As for the art style, I don’t know why it looks so old school. it’s not a conscious thing. I’m guess I’m just not much into manga like some other artists today. I admit I am into John Buscema, and do study his work on Savage Sword of Conan, but I think my main influence comes from Andrew Loomis and Jack Hamm. I also really love Bruce Timm but that doesn’t seem to show in my style.
Tony, your art style is not ‘ old shcool’ ..it’s quality!!..One of my favorite artists is Bruce timm as well -and his style is from many influences..but he’s an artist with great quality..as are you! I love those two books you referenced by the way, I own them as well /wink. Looking forward to more Endstone!
Aaaaand another one: “weilder of the Banestone.”
End of Line
That one was fixed for the print run (finally got one! :)). But thanks for helping!
Similar to the Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy, except
He might succeed in replacing earth