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Okay, I’m going to try to avoid getting too sappy or sentimental here. But I want to give a sincere thank you to all of you who have read OVER over the past fifteen months, whether you’ve been with it since the beginning or just discovered it recently. Although I’ve been posting comics on the web here and there for several years, OVER was my first successful attempt at building a significant online readership and delivering content on a consistent schedule. I learned so much from this process, and I consider the completion of this graphic novel an important milestone in my comics career.
But I honestly don’t know if I could have kept at it without the support and encouragement from you guys. Three pages a week was an ambitious schedule for me, representing a weekly grind of not less than 20 hours a week. Knowing that there were people out there counting on their M-W-F OVER fix kept me going. In truth, this was a story I HAD to tell, one that I was going to get out of me one way or another. But I’m certainly glad it was a story others were interested in reading.
So, sincerely, thank you.
I especially want to thank:
- Mom, Katie, and Jenny for listening to the story while it was still only in my head.
- Frank Dipps for being a friend (Golden Girls style), and for breaking the story down with me and helping me turn something rough into something readable.
- All the many strangers at TriggerStreet, whose critical feedback help push the story in a more satisfying direction. A wonderful community over there…writers, check it out, you’ll be glad you did.
- Editor Steven Forbes for helping dodge a major bullet.
- B.E. for being okay with it.
- RKB for giving OVER it’s very first positive blog review at Pigs of the Industry.
- My many podcasting friends for inviting me on their shows and letting me plug away, or for mentioning the comic. Thanks to Jamais Jochim (Webcomic Reviews & Interviews), Javier Hernandez (Javiland), Eric Ratcliffe (Why I Love Comics), Chris Flick and Matt Stout (The Lightbox), Kurt Sasso (TGT Webcomics), Chuck Moore (The Related Recap), and Todd Tieuli (Dangerous: Memories.)
- Curtis Lawson for the killer review at Webcomics You Should Be Reading.
- Special thanks to all of you who made up the 400+ comments this comic has received since its inception. Studies show only about 1% of readers actually take the time to comment. Well, thank God for you 1%! Thanks to: Andrew J., Doc Nasty, Dave K., Steve Forbes, Rei, B.Nice, Brian V., Vanessa L., Tony P., Uncle Chi Chi, Strass, D. Repps, Becca, Tarlonis, THF, Carl-E, Jules R., Dawn G., Katie S., Ken D., Geoffrey D.W., Anonymous Mouse, Michelle R., Uma, Jamie F., Christie, Jess D., Marie F., Ben P., Max, Wayne A., Ethel, Brian M, Jav, Kurt, Chris F., Mazoku, Thomas, Overlord David, Steven, Starina, Henry B., Ced, Lana, Raoul, Benny, Charles, Simon, Melissa, Ceci, Christopher W., Holly, Fae, Vincent J., Eccentric, WTF, Kori, Jen, Bert S., Samson, Puck, Anon, Ed, Manwich, Otomo, and Jande.
- And special thanks to Mistress Dizzy for the most frequent commenter award!
- Also, thanks to all of you frequent ReTweeters who helped spread the word about OVER on Twitter. @mattzolman, @julesrivera, @mestery, @EccentricOrbits, @dgriff13, @dangermaus, I’m looking at you and plenty of others.
- Special thanks to Kristen V. for not letting OVER or my creating comics habit/addiction/sickness scare you away.
- Everyone who purchased a print copy of the first issue in standard or artist edition, either in person or online, you guys are awesome.
- And the hugest of thanks to everyone who pre-ordered the print version of the graphic novel. Thanks to you, I’m only one book shy of hitting my pre-order target and I’ve still got 24 hours to go. I’m going to go ahead and count that as a success. So again, big thanks to: Dawn, Andrew, Frank Dipps, Strass, MJVN, Kurt, Vanessa and Leo, Chi Chi, BF Meal, Tuner, B.Nice, Robert G., Mark B., Chuck M., Tut, Adam M., Edwin, David H., Jav, James G., Evan W., Rob S., BPH, Kyle, Jamie G, Dan R., and PJ for helping me order a healthy first printing of the book.
- And finally, thanks to anyone who gave this comic a shot, whether it was your cup of tea or not. If not, hey, maybe I’ll get you with the next one.
Seriously, I have tremendous gratitude for all of you who have helped make doing what I’m doing feel worth it.
Now about next week…
As I mentioned in Wednesday’s post, I’ve got something cool cooking for next week. Starting on Monday, and going all week long (well, technically two weeks) will be…
The Great “OVER” Fire Sale Art Auction
Now, we all know Felix put his graphic novel behind him by way of hobo fire. Me, I’m not going to be quite so dramatic. However, what I will be doing is selecting just 10 pieces of original art from the OVER graphic novel, and putting them on sale auction style on EBAY, starting at whatever the lowest allowable starting price is over there. (Been a while since I rocked the EBAY.) So, it’ll be a chance for you to own a piece of this webcomic, and hopefully help me raise some extra funds for the print run. Win/Win!
Two new pages will go up for auction each day of the week, and each auction will run 7 days. While I have some of the pieces I’ll be auctioning already picked out, I’d LOVE your input. If there’s a particular page or piece of original art you’ve seen posted here over the past year and a half that you think would make a solid auction piece, please let me know!
All right, see you next week for the start of the FIRESALE!
Best,
Tyler James
*proudly displays her ‘most frequent commenter award’* I’d like to thank the Academy…
But seriously. I know how much creators love feedback, and your comic made me.. talkative. ^_^ You deserve it. It was an awesome ride.
It was a wonderful read!! Happy to have been along for the ride
Hope to see more of your work soon!
Wow, mentioned not once, but twice by the author. Awesome! Just so you know, Mr. James, ManwicH and James G. are one and the same.
Since you like these comments, you will like this one. About 13 months ago, I came home one night and my wife of 10 years, who I had been in a relationship with for 16, had moved all of her stuff out and filed for divorce. We had some problems and were trying to work it out but this was a complete blindside. Well, after depression, lost and gained jobs, lost and gained weight, divorce being final, bankruptcy, foreclosure and just downright loneliness… and after I had finally started clawing my way back to my feet… I caught the add for this comic while reading menageA3. Coincidentally, “Don’t let the last one keep you from the next one” is one of my strongest mottoes now. That was about 3 months ago.
I saw myself in Felix the whole time I read it. I spent an entire Sunday afternoon reading from page 1 up to where he messed it up with Gwen and sat down with the boys on the porch. I was hooked and found myself staying up at night to make sure I could see the next page as soon as it posted. I cheered when page 160 hit, which I coincidentally have as my computer desktop right now. It’s encouragement for me and helps me know that MY Gwen is still out there, somewhere. You don’t know how well this comic helped me put my own crap in perspective!
So bravo, brother! It was excellent and I’m looking forward to the graphic novel showing up. I’m looking even more forward to if we ever get to see the continuation of these characters lives!
Wow, James. Thanks for your comment.
When I first started the process of creating this book, I honestly did not know how it would be received. I felt I had something to say about heartbreak, obsession, creativity, and holding on to someone when you should be letting go. So I went for it. The fact that it truly mattered to someone out there who I’ve never met…well, that’s the magic of the internet. And again, it makes all the work worth it to me.
“Blessing in disguise…”, “All for the best…”, “Silver linings…”, “Everything happens for a reason…” – these are all platitudes, meaningless words to us when we’re in the muck of our own heartbreak.
But with the aid time, comfort of friends, and eventually the hope of loving again, they usually turn out to be the truth.
I sincerely hope that is your experience, James.
I’d bid on the 1011 First St. page! (I’d probably even give you $$ for a photocopy of it! I loved my Easter egg.) Also, any page where Jinx calls Felix Funny-Books. What a blast T.Y., thank you!
No bidding necessary, B.Nice. I’ll include that page along with your wedding gift. : )
Tyler,
Congratulations on finishing this up. And for sharing the whole process with us as well. OVER was a cool idea, a web-comic bromance with shades of CHASING AMY. I never thought I’d be a reader of a this type of webcomic, to be honest! It helped that the lead character was a comic creator himself.
I was always glad to have you on the podcast, not just to talk about your work but about the entire process of creating and marketing our comics. You bring your own unique sense of business savy to the conversation, and I think it’s an important voice to have in the mix. And I certainly hope you continue to come back on the podcast, as the invitation is always open.
Thanks for the entertaining value of your work, and for the inspiration it generates!
Javier
Aww, Tyler! What a great thank you to us readers. It’s nice to know the audience is just as appreciated as the creator. One big happy webcomics family! *hug*
OVER was always a highlight in my RSS feed… I knew those damn kids would eventually get together! ;0)
Great work Tyler
I’d love to see a followup to this maybe, or just leave it as is. Well drawn and written. Thanks for the thanks 
Looking forward to interviewing you in October!
amazing story and fantastic storytelling congratulations on this piece of art.
i started reading and couldn t stop until here.
great stuff loved to see more