Tuesday, June 23, 2020

The End.


Page from FF (2013 series) #14 (January 2014), story by Matt Fraction and Lee Allred, script by Lee Allred, pencils and inks by Michael Allred, colors by Laura Allred, letters by Clayton Cowles

But I don't want to say goodbye.

I am seven years old (which is still a very good age to be) and my blog is fifteen years old. How did that happen? I really don't know. But now it's time to pick up the toys and the tinsel and wipe off the greasepaint and sweep up the cookie crumbs and say, yes, this is the end of Comics Oughta Be Fun.

You've probably almost certainly noticed I've been perpetually inconsistent with this blog over the past four years (long gone are the glory days of 2012-2013 where I published over 1,200 posts per year). I've found it harder and harder to concentrate on writing pity pieces of precise practicality and playfulness, especially since 2016, and I've gotten further and further behind and have had to play catch-up in marathon sessions that never have captured the drive and — let's say it — fun that I felt I was bringing you at the best of times.

And I've been battling with the systems of blogging as well. Last month I discovered any new images I posted would no longer show up. I bypassed it manually for this post, but losing that process really stranded me out here without the tools I use and need. Probably the telling point was when I've tried to convert of transfer the blog over to my own domain rather than Blogger, but I was just baffled at every turn. I used to be a smart little bull, but the tech has caught up with me, and now I'm a Bull of Very Little Brain.

I'm sorry I won't finish 365 Days of Power and Responsibility, especially during these times. I'm really sorry I never finished the back half of A Wodehouse a Week, a non-comics project I have been really proud to do (half of). I'm sorry I never finished a year of KirbyTech, but emotional crashes kept even the Ultimate Nullifier from cheering me up then.


But hey! Let's not be sad here. I'm still around. I still love comics. And comics still are fun. And I love them as I love you and everyone who read this cow-town puppetblog and contributed help, comments, suggestions, and love. You are the folks who deserve a standing ovation, so give one to yourself! I'm applauding along with ya!

Whatever else, this is a happy ending. So in the words of the great Chrissie Hynde, stop your sobbing, and remember this:

EVERYTHING Oughta Be Fun.


And in the end
The love you take
Is equal to the love you make



36 comments:

Anna said...

Thank you for all the great blogging memories!!!

Mikester said...

NOOOOO! I hope you reconsider someday, but I'll always appreciate your blogging and most of al, your friendship!

Matter-Eater Lad said...

Be well, Bully! Run fast, laugh hard, be kind.

Matthew E said...

Well. I think you should do what you think you should do. But I'll miss you. The whole internet will. Are you still going to be on Twitter and stuff, or are you really putting yourself out to pasture*?

Anyway. Don't feel like you can't ever post here again. Be well.

--

*See what I did there?

Adam Farrar said...

Thanks for everything Bully!

Unknown said...

We'll miss all the Fun, Bully! Thank you for all these years of Quality Comics Blogging.

Unknown said...

(Daggonit. That's me, JIM. Don't know why the name isn't showing up.)

Scott said...

Love you, Bully. I will miss the blog, but the best part of it was alw2ays jsut "knowing" you. I am glad to follow you on Twitter.

P.S. Let your friend John know he's pretty awesome, too!

Scott said...

Good lord, my typing is terrible. Sorry about that!

Dave-El said...

I have my fingers in my ears and chanting "I'm not listening! I'm not listening!" But that's not changing anything, is it? It's been a great ride, Bully! Best of luck to you!

googum said...

It's been great, Bully, and I hope you know how important you are to us. Thank you!

BK said...

What a revoltin' development! Say it ain't so! Much love and thank you thank you thank you for all the years of joy!

Evan Waters said...

As someone who basically stopped blogging over 5 years ago but never formally closed up shop, I hear ya. It can get to be a grind after a while.

Still, you've done made the Internet a little brighter and cheerier overall, and I'm happy to still hear from you on Twitter. Have fun and thanks for everything.

Chris K said...

I found that small maybe-Kirby J Jonah Jameson image from Not Brand Ecch for your 365 Days of JJJ project, and I was extremely proud that I was able to contribute to this blog in even the smallest way. Thank you for all the years of fun and great memories!
-Chris

Scottobear said...

Thank you for all the great times and positive movement through this internet! You are loved by so many, and with good reason. I wish you and yours many years of joy and similar positivity ahead.

Thank you, good stuffed bull.

Mike Baehr said...

Thanks for all the FUN!

Dave said...

Ave atque vale, nobilus Taurus! See you on Twitter -- and wherever they sell green suits.

Phillip said...

I love you Bully! I'll miss you. I guess with the time I have I can go back and catch up on some back issues I've missed of BS:COTBG. There's time enough now. Time enough at last...

Phillip said...

Sorry, that should read BS:COBF.

Jonster said...

Very sad news in a very sad time. Can't say as I blame you, I have been having trouble finding the motivation to work on my blog as well. And I can totally relate to tech problems, stuff that claims to be simple is just not...

Walaka of Earth 2 said...

Thanks, Bully, for years and years of joy. Take care, li'l bovine.

Michael May said...

This is very sad news, but totally understandable. Boy, do I ever understand.

See you on Twitter, Bully! And thanks for the many years of fun blogging!

Green Luthor said...

A sad day, even though it's not entirely surprising. Gonna miss you, even despite the irregular updates. The world needs more little stuffed bulls in it.

Tom said...

Thank you for all the fun and good humor and great insights you have provided for the past fifteen years! Keep on rocking in the free world, Bully!

Vic Vega said...

Thanks for making us smile.

Mike Haseloff said...

Always one of the bright spots of the comics blogosphere - right from the start! Much love to you, Bully. Congratulations on a job well done and a well earned rest! Thanks for all the fun over those many years! Hope I'll still see you having some fun around Twitter.

Rex Roca said...

Thank you for the years of fun!

Miguel A. Romero said...

Hi! I think this may be my first time ever commenting on Blogger. I just wanted to say:
Thank you, Bully, for making the internet a better place all these years. I could always count on your posts to brighten my day. I wish you the greenest of pastures and the brightest of days.
Please be happy, my dear little stuffed bull.

Joseph said...

Goodbye little bull! Thank you for all your tireless work. Especially 365 Days of Ben Grimm and Love Actually. But every post grabbed my attention. Thank you and good luck.

Manqueman said...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Little bull, can you not do a monthly post to keep reminding us that comics ought to be good?
Please??

tomg said...

I really enjoyed reading your blog all these years. I will miss your posts

Unknown said...

While I discovered you quite late in the game you obviously had a great enthusiasm for comics and the joy and fun they can bring. Thank you for everything, and I hope your days get better!

kevrob said...

It wouldn't be a blog comment without a correction.

Ray Davies wrote "Stop Your Sobbing" for the Kinks. Ms Hynde covered it. (Then Ray covered Chrissie.)

Farewell, l'il Bully!

Sean Murphy said...

Well, I've put this off long enough. I had hoped there might be... something. A Rebirth, an All-New, even a Limited Series. But while comics will continue to be fun, our on-the-spot little bull commentator has left the stage.

Thank you so much for your many years of entertainment. I remember accidentally finding out that putting the cursor over the photo reveal yet another layer of humor and excitedly revisiting old posts to see what I had missed. Best to you, Bully, your stuffed, and your real life friends.

timber-munki said...

Thank you, stay safe and good luck in the future

Unknown said...

Thank you for all the years of fun! I've followed your blog for years and years, and have missed it in recent years. It may please you to know that I am currently rereading "Something New", just after rereading the great one-two punch that are "Summer Lightning" and "Heavy Weather." If one must be locked down, it might a well be at Blandings. Your "Wodehouse a Week" series made Plum's work into my go-to comfort reading. So for that, as well as the rest of the blog, I thank you.