Take a break (not the magazine)
From next week I’ll be taking a two-month sabbatical from work. The long and the short of it is that I’ve completely worn myself out. About a month ago I realised I was going to have to take a serious, actual break. Usually, I get a second wind, a wind which on this occasion was not forthcoming. A friend got me to write down everything I’d done in the last two-and-a-half years, and it was ludicrous. It looked like four years work, if not more. Their words: “this reads like a really great death warrant”.
For a one-man show run by someone who lives alone, this is a serious decision. “Never give your readers a jumping-off point,” as I like to tell people. But my health is starting to suffer, so it’s best not to let things get catastrophic.
The next Solver story is finished, completing Volume 2, and will run throughout my break. After that, I’m going to re-run Murder She Writes (with commentary i.e. “mirthful asides”), Monday-Thursday for eight weeks. Not ideal, but I believe it’s been off the website for more than a decade, and it’s been titivated for a 15th anniversary reprint. Re-running it on badmachinery.com probably removes the need for a reprint, we shall see.
Patreon updates will continue, I have plenty in the queue, including a process zine that reprints a whole A4 notebook full of story notes and drawings. It is hefty.
My webcomics career has had phases – Bobbins, Scary Go Round, Bad Machinery, the various nostalgic excursions during my time writing Giant Days every month, and the pandemic and post-pandemic stage of Steeple, Solver and various glossy minis, created full US-format comic style. Six years seems to be about the structural limit of any of these broader projects for me, and I’m ready to rethink my approach, which is near-impossible when I’m in full production mode (which for nearly six years has been all the time).
So, once I feel like myself again, I’ll start thinking about how to go forward. I don’t know if anything will change, a rest might be enough. But I’m too tired right now to think about what I want to do. I don't know what comes next, and in a way, that's liberating. I have a lot of unused story ideas on the board – years’ worth. I don’t want to throw them away. And I love making comics. I hope that still comes through.
Thank you, as ever, for supporting me here.
JA
Comments (78)
I don't comment here a whole lot (I get nervous!) but wanted to add my voice to the chorus of readers who've also been here since the beginning days and have no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. as fate would have it, while out for independent bookstore day yesterday, I found not one but BOTH great british bump-off books on a store shelf (shout out to challengers comics in chicago) so now I've got plenty of reading material to stay busy. hope your break is restful! remember: everyone likes you.
Enjoy your break!
I'm glad you're taking care of yourself! Despite what you like to tell people, I think you can trust that those of us who love your work will be here when you get back :)
I remember telling a friend about your Patreon and phrasing it in terms of, "The man never stops. I don't think he CAN stop." So congratulations on learning how to stop, Mr. Allison. No point in working yourself into the grave.
I think the absolute world of you and your work, and I'm delighted you're taking the time to recharge. I'm also trying to wrap my mind around it having been more than 16 years since Murder She Writes, which I am pretty sure came out sometime last week. Have a superb break.
Great news! It's time for a re-read if stuff and you have plenty in the pipeline. Go people watch, relax, get new ideas, have fun, remember why it's not good to drink like a 20 something at our age and come back feeling ready to slog on for another few decades!
After all that, 2 months sounds like the bare minimum if I'm honest, and if you're asking me (though you haven't, says the therapist who had spectacular burnout and cried in my supervisor's office and could barely open an email). All the best for it, and I hope it does the trick!
Thanks Charmaine.
I hope you feel better, enjoy the break!
Very happy to see this. Enjoy your time off. (BTW just ordered a used copy of The Case of The Team Spirit to read with my kid. 😀
John, you're a machine, endlessly outputting quality graphical entertainment for us hoi polloi. I'm glad you're taking time away, mentally and physically recharging, it's richly deserved and necessary for your health.
Hope you have an excellent and restorative sabbatical, John. I've been enjoying your work for decades now (!!), and I'll be waiting eagerly for whatever you do next.
good!!!!
Have a good break! We'll be here whenever the time is right for your return, and please don't doubt yourself for taking a break when you need one.
To me you are the Almodóvar of UK comics. You've delighted me consistently since I found out about your work about two decades ago now. Take a break, you have more than earned it.
Enjoy your time sitting on a deckchair on a pebble beach while wearing a string vest and a knotted handkerchief on your head. I am assured that this is how all Britons spend their holidays.
But of course
Take it easy, John, we'll be here when you get back.
Have a good time, sit back, relax, maybe even watch some swimming manatee videos. Whatever you decide to do, I'll be looking forward to it!
And thanks for a list of stuff I have missed reading...
Two Thumbs Up to your sabbatical.
Was that last roastie to blame? Have a restful break John, we all need it sometimes, as others have said we're not going anywhere!
It’s great to see everyone else thinking and saying what I’m thinking. Look after yourself (please).
Time to go all 2000s and rally the guest comic crew! I know I've got KC Green's hotmail around here somewhere... Seriously John, enjoy your sabbatical and I hope your health improves! We appreciate all you've given us. I'll be awaiting your triumphant return and I'm sure most everybody else will, too.
Take a break sir, you haven't let us down in over two decades. You deserve and have earned this. Maybe a nice trip abroad, somewhere in the sun to relax and unwind?
I've recently learned that a trip by ferry is surprisingly charming
Yes, good! Rest, for pity's sake. I keep saying that no-one joins Patreon because they want the artists they support to pump out continuous things to entertain us. It's about *support*. We want the artists we like to not worry about their bills as much, and to buy themselves the occasional fancy coffee.
It's good to know when you have to take a break. We all look forward to wherever this takes you. Unless it's jail. We don't look forward to you ever going to jail. We will bail you out however.
Well, look after yourself.
Have a wonderful break, I hope you have lots of fun and get lots of rest! Good on your friend for suggesting you write down that list, and good on you for taking care of yourself.
Rest! You are no good to us dead (Except, maybe to those who might have the rare original squirreled away.) I’m not one, so you must live to create again.
Take care of yourself, that's far more important than anything else.
Your health comes first! I’m glad that you’re taking a break to recover and recharge, it sets a good example for us all. Sending you good tidings of gratitude and support
As a fellow artist (performer), I wholeheartedly support you taking whatever time you need to rest. 💓💓💓 I’m just coming off 4 months (was going to be 2) where I told everyone, “I need to just be a worm in the garden for a while, buried in dirt” - I kept finding myself leaving lovely events I was in and just not wanting to see or talk to anyone ever again.) It felt impossible to take a break, but also like I had to. And now, I feel a slow gentle unfurling of creative energy again which is totally primordial & unclear, but it is giving me a sense of excitement I haven’t felt in a while. Anyway, sending much love, I’ll be here subscribed in the meantime for whenever you pop back in. 💛💛💛 and thanks for all the amazing art you’ve given us, I literally reference Giant Days jokes to friends almost daily. So much gratitude for the joy you’ve brought me. 🫶🌱
Thank you! Glad you are getting your mojo back.
Enjoy your time off. It is definitely deserved. Take care of yourself.
Take care of yourself!
Your comics have consistently been my favorites for two decades. I am thrilled you’re taking some time for yourself. In the words of Neil Young, “it’s better to find a healthy work/life balance than to fade away.” (Or something like that.)
I'm sorry it's gotten to this point, and I'm glad you are taking a break. I'm grateful for 20+ years of entertaining stories and characters and look forward to more if that is on the cards.
Enjoy your rest and relaxation.
Take all the time you need – you deserve it! Relax, refresh, recharge and come back when you’re ready.
Have a good one - we'll be here when you get back!
Good on you for taking some needed (and well-earned) time off. Rest, restore, and come back even more powerful, beautiful and terrible as the dawn!
Enjoy your break! Indulge yourself in gentle ways and take some long walks or bicycle rides—I find them enormously helpful, both creatively and emotionally.
I promise I will be taking good lungfuls of air!
I’d say you’ve more than earned the time to recover. A lot’s happened in the past few years, and the breathing space will be helpful. Ironic how that also seems to be the assumed thesis for the upcoming Christmas Special chapter, being a welcome reprieve after everything the Solvers went through.
Thanks Luke
Rest well!
It’ll be a joy to read whatever comes from a rested John Allison, whenever that may be.
I'll still be here, no matter what.
Have a lovely and restful break. We all look forward to when you come back
Take as long as you need. I've been here enjoying your work for 24 years. A mere break isn't going to get me to leave, even if it takes a year :)
Do what you need to do. You've already given us so much. I can't wait to see what the next stage looks like, if there is one.
Thank you Alaric
Man, I've been reading your comics for... 26 years? That can't be right, and yet it is. I found Bobbins through a Chris Crosby crossover, that's how long I've been reading you. I'm in your Patreon, you're in my RSS feed, and I'm not going anywhere during your well-earned and much-needed break.
We'll still be here! Take as long as you need.
I'm glad you're getting a break, and I'm glad you're conscious of your need for a break. You're self-employed and you deserve a good boss.
I have wondered at times how on earth you managed your output so I am not surprised you're a bit knackered. Enjoy a good break at the nicest time of the year. Visit a few garden centres, perhaps.
We'll be here! Enjoy.
Please enjoy your break, revitalize, and heal up! We are here to support you, not to drain you of all vital force like a flock of bat-like nocturnal creatures! We'll be here when you get back.
enjoy your break!!
Great seeing you take your health (mental and otherwise) seriously. We're not going anywhere, take your time.
If anyone deserves a restful break, it's you, John! Take all the time you need.
Bravo for this, John. All power to you.
Cheers Dave!
We shall patiently wait for you, John.
Take care. Enjoy the time away. We will all be here when you return.
Cheers, Johnny.
Sounds like a reasonable decision. It did seem pretty remarkable that last year you put out 6 full issues that you wrote, pencilled, inked, coloured, lettered, edited and promoted by yourself (in addition to any work that was left to do on GBBO 2!). It makes sense that you were just overworking to achieve this and you're not actually some kind of superhuman. You've more than earned this sabbatical, and hopefully you come out of it with some extra clarity about what you want to do next, or at least just feeling better in yourself overall. Me and my bookshelf may slightly disagree with you about the benefit of a MSW reprint, but a web re-run still sounds good. 👍 Oh, and will the Webtoon versions of Solver and Steeple continue for the period?
Those six issues were the tip of the iceberg. It's everything else I had to do. Webtoon, GoComics etc are all sorted well into the future. See above.
Rest up John, you've certainly earned it (not that you need to). Take all the time you need please
Thanks Mark!
Have a good rest. As someone currently on medical leave for a combination of things but definitely burnout, well done for not leaving it too late. Touch grass, as the kids say.
Sorry to hear that Pete, I wish you recovery in all directions.
Take the time you need John. Your fan base will be there once you return. Besides, one thing that the whole webtoon thing has shown le, it's that reruns are really delightful, especially when you forgot a lot of things !
Agreed, I am for real looking forward to the rerun.
We need a magazine called Gimme A Break
Take care John, have a good break and look after yourself.