It's not all rainclouds
Last week I posted that the next Steeple story would be the last, as Dark Horse didn't want any more. People were very nice, and posted the words I fear the most, "can't wait to see what you do next". Yeah, me too. I have no idea what that will be.
But while I feel on the one hand that I didn't make as many pages of Steeple as I could have (about 500 in total, including the Author Unknown and Steeple Lite), 500 is still a lot. I started tinkering with the series in 2018 as a potential new webcomic series, a full-time replacement for the old Scary Go Round apparatus, parking it until Dark Horse asked me if I "had any ideas" (another phrase that I am very afraid of) and then making it into the five-issue print mini-series that kicked things off.
Covid hit soon after the miniseries concluded, putting paid to any chance of the monthly series returning. This was a blessing, because I couldn't script, rough, pencil and ink a 22-page monthly series. I wanted to make something that was visually at least somewhere near the Dark Horse books I had loved - a tall order. By issue five I was on my knees.
So the afterlife of the series, which lest we forget, created this Patreon and brought me back full-time to webcomics at a time when I wondered if I wanted to make comics at all, at a time when the world was going mad, has been a blessing. The woodshedding that lockdown allowed created, in Steeple volume 3, the single collection of my work that I am most proud of. The crossover story with Charlotte and Shelley in Tredregyn is the best drawing I will probably ever do. I don't know when I will ever have that undistracted focus again.
I think there ARE more stories in this series, but at the rate of print publication that had proved possible, I was unable to lean hard enough into either the bagginess that I like in a webcomic, or the tough adherence to plot that print readers demand. This year I spent 14 weeks on a story where Reverend Penrose accidentally buys a car that is a Transformer and explores the delicacies of middle-aged male friend making. Even as I made it, enjoying myself tremendously, I asked myself: who is this for?
And the fact of the matter is, after five years, I have found myself inevitably ready to move on from whatever epoch of my little comics universe I've been exploring. Scary Go Round lasted seven years, and the last two were an increasingly desperate search for what would come next. Giant Days was about five years of comics including the self-published ones. Bad Machinery ran for nearly eight years but the last two stories were more to round things off for readers than for me. I couldn't top The Case Of The Modern Men, it did everything I wanted. And that was five years in, too.
The thing I find hard now, which was easier when I was younger, is jumping from one moving train to another on a parallel line. I'm not the same person who came up with Steeple in 2018, and he isn't the same one who came up with Giant Days in 2010, and he wasn't the same person who cooked up Scary Go Round in 2002, or Bobbins in 1998. A little more innocence is chipped away, a little more experience is lacquered on. The experienced guy won't let the series degenerate into experimental pilots for things that might replace it. He says that's not good storytelling! He's a bad guy!
The long and short of it: I'm not 100% sure what I want to say with my stories once Steeple is done in February. I have an idea to tide me over, but it's nothing new. What kind of comics do I want to make in 2024? The world feels like an ever darker place and it's impossible not to reflect that. But I still feel there is an essential decency to people that goes unreflected by "the conversation". I think my trying to get to the heart of that is what keeps people coming back to read. I suppose I will just have to wait and see.
As ever I am grateful for your support.
Comments (42)
I definitely appreciate your comics' rejection of the culture of contempt we live in.
John, you're wickedly clever and a superb storyteller. When I remember to, I try to be half as creative and funny in conversations as your throwaway dialogue. And with Pratchett gone, we're deeply in need of someone to tell stories about the profound decency that defines acts of everyday humanity. Keep that spark of madness well kindled, Mr. Allison.
John, I actually really like your approach of ending something, decompressing for a bit and then either coming up with something new or revisiting our old favorites in various points in time and space. Regardless of what or how long it takes, I'm in no doubt I'll enjoy it.
John you are a genius
Four decades running tabletop RPGs hit a wall almost exactly a year ago, after powering through the worst of the pandemic by little else than sheer cussedness. After a bit of pathetic moping I also said (perhaps in slightly different words), "I want to talk about essential decency in a darker place." I threw together an isekai/portal fantasy thing over a weekend, let the sad and the awful be as they are, then measured in nostalgia and humankindness like my grandma used to measure in vanilla. Holy bolts, it was like I'd brought the good dessert to dinner. Everyone wanted a spoonful. You'll figure it out.
Just wanted you to know...you're fantastic! Love your comics and wish you the best!
Anything you come up with always brings me joy. Whatever you come up with, I'm all in because you are one of my favorite comic writers and illustrators 😍
I don't think it's a coincidence or a fluke that all of these series have been immensely enjoyable. I cannot even imagine the stress that must come with knowing you need to come up with a new mini-universe but I do know that whatever you do come up with I will devour with delight, as always.
Can't believe it's been that long w/ Steeple! Covid-tax on all time. Anyway, onward and onward!
Whatever it is, whenever it is, I'm in.
When you're inspired it is absolute creative dynamite John, very few can hold a candle. I can't say I won't mourn the loss of Steeple, but I look forward to the next thing, whenever and whatever that is.
You are one of my favorite cartoonists ever, with a truly enviable body of work. You have made me smile when no one else could, and laugh when I didn't think it was possible. I'm on board with whatever you're cooking up, even if it's nothing.
For whatever my humble opinion is worth, you're in my Top 5 in webcomics. Whatever you decide to do will always get a long look from me, because you constantly entertain me. Take your time and take your time to enjoy your life.
Best insight into the mind of a comic author I've ever come across. Nice.
I love Steeple. It's been an amazing ride all the way through. I'll certainly miss it once it's done. On the other hand, I can't wait to see how it ends, and I'm excited to see what you'll do next. Thank you so much for everything you've given to us readers, and for allowing us to follow along on this incredible journey. As you say, "The world feels like an ever darker place and it's impossible not to reflect that. But I still feel there is an essential decency to people that goes unreflected by "the conversation"." That sounds a lot like Steeple. And Solver. And, really, all your work, in one way or another. And it's definitely something that needs to be said, in this world of ours.
I think your commitment to the messy complexity of people, even if they are a caricature, is one of the strongest elements of your storytelling. Whatever "the conversation" and how you choose to participate (or not), so long as you maintain this commitment, I suspect your audience will continue to find and enjoy your work. I have on many occasions declared that you are "best at comics", and you've yet to prove me wrong - whatever your artistic anxieties may whisper and shout to you.
I can't claim to have been there since the beginning, but I've been an avid follower of yours since before Bad Machinery, and you've never led me astray. I've been sad every time you've announced the end of a project, because I don't like saying goodbye to the lovable characters you create, but I've learned two things by now. Your endings are also beginnings for new, lovable characters, and the old characters never seem to disappear entirely. So I have a lot of faith that you'll make that leap to the next train, and I will be jumping right behind you.
The thing to remember is that as you've grown older, darker and more cynical, so have we. Your content has aged and matured like a good cheese, just as our palates have aged to appreciate it... er... what I'm trying to say is... we love you, man. Just keep doing what you're doing.
> This year I spent 14 weeks on a story where Reverend Penrose accidentally buys a car that is a Transformer and explores the delicacies of middle-aged male friend making. Even as I made it, enjoying myself tremendously, I asked myself: who is this for? I would gladly read more of such stories, because it's so obvious that you're enjoying yourself - it just oozes out. Do more stuff that you enjoy doing, whatever it's about. We'll be here, I'm sure.
I started reading back in the SGR days (not sure exactly when offhand). I won't pretend there weren't story decisions I didn't agree with, but, ultimately, the body of work as a whole has been more than worth it. Take your time, figure out what you want to do next. There may be things you think you wrote strictly for yourself, but I certainly got a kick out of them. (Without more Steeple, we'll likely not see Gareth again, but I certainly found the Gareth/Penrose team delightful.) (Sorry, I'm not always the best at expressing things, but I hope you understand what I mean.)
I shall read and undoubtedly enjoy anything your creative mind puts strangely together - as I have since 2003. Your works have been a consistent part of my life for... over half of it, now. To hell with Dark Horse, I shall be writing an angry email (as though I write any other sort these days... but they are no in green ink, at least!) chastising their decision. Steeple has been a thoroughlu enjoyable read. and whilst I am glad it went beyond its initial run, regret it has to end in this manner.
I literally just finished writing a series for Dark Horse, I'm not in their bad books. i just don't think the prior volumes sold well enough to justify a fourth. It's understandable.
Your work is so original and so compelling, and one thing I love about it is the one-offs and experiments and attempts to find the next epoch are some of the most thrilling things of yours to experience as a reader. I'm happy to wait for whatever you've got cooking even if at this stage you haven't even bought the ingredients.
"A little more innocence is chipped away, a little more experience is lacquered on." This may be the best poetry ever written. These are beautiful words.
Good luck, John, wishing you every happiness! And, like the others have said, I'm very happy to wait and see.
Hey, I've followed your stuff since somewhere in the scary go round days. Take your time and find what interests you. I'll be fascinated to see what you come up with next
Re: who is it for - I've loved every comic you've made since I started reading SGR I-don't-want-to-know-how-many-years-ago. It's all for me!
This may not be what you want to hear, as it still places the lift on you. But I read your stories for the view, the perspective on the world that they present. I wouldn't want you to write "what I want to read". I don't even know what that is. I just know that when I stumbled upon Giant Days a few years ago, it was delightful and refreshing. So I'd like to say "keep doing delightful and refreshing" - but of course that would be utterly mean and unhelpful, particularly in view of what you have just written. I'll settle happily for "write about what pops in John Allison's head when he looks at the world". That's bound to always be different from what interpret from my view of the world, and that's plenty good for me. I have never been disappointed by any of your comics. I also know what nobody can stay eternally creative on the same level. I'm thinking, for example, of the extraordinarily prolific Terry Pratchett. Most of his stories are good fun to read. But some are definitely much better than others, and doubtlessly if you are an avid Pratchett reader, you'll find that the earlier stories are fresher, more original than the later ones. But that never stopped him from writing, all the way to the end, and it never stopped readers from buying his stories. I say have fun writing whatever comes up. I'll be happy to keep reading!
Yeah, gotta watch out for that experienced guy - he's the type of person to kill off Robert Cop before it even gets started. 😉 That said, essential decency is definitely something that draws me to a story and holds my attention. Whatever their faults, the kids in Bad Machinery put themselves in terrible danger and fight long odds because they care about what happens to their community and the individuals in their lives. Billie counters Tom's manipulation and abuse to treat CoS members with consideration and support. Esther puts Ed's happiness above her own. Tim really wants to improve the world through technology. And on and on.
Have faith in your muse. Sure, sometimes she'll lead you astray, but that's better than doubting her.
Thanks for sharing this John! I've been with you since 200x and I'll keep floating on with you to whatever (and whenever) the next project is. Of course you could go FULL TIME Desmond...
I once went to see the poet and hip hop musician, Saul Williams, and during one of his talky bits where he mentioned a book he liked (he had a lot of talky bits) somebody shouted, "how can you read so much when you're always recording!?" and he looked nonplussed, leaned into the mic and said, "You can't shit if you don't eat." I'm confident some time spent rediscovering what blows your hair back will set you firmly back on the runway to something else wonderful. Enjoy your break.
He's _so good_ live; I remember seeing him do a poetry reading and for one poem he read the title and decided the crowd's reaction to the title fulfilled his aim for the poem and moved on, which is a level of confidence and grasp of the room I hadn't known existed. (And take your time John! We'll be here for whatever comes next.)
I also actually really wish somoene would consider making some of your old hits as films It would be quite good Most films just have such ridiculous galactic stakes any more Films that were supernatural but kind of silly with stakes no bigger than a few people in danger in tiny English towns would be just what the cinema needs
I would be delighted if this happened.
I really do think you could do several giant sized re-prints and tour them around the big shows all thru next year and you would be surprised both at the income you could pull in and the nostalgia dividends it would pay off
I think you're right. But I don't want to have to live in the past. I need to keep moving forward.
Ah yes, ever the eternal question; What do I wanna be when I grow up? (I'm 73 and I still haven't really decided.)
This year I spent 14 weeks on a story where Reverend Penrose accidentally buys a car that is a Transformer and explores the delicacies of middle-aged male friend making. Even as I made it, enjoying myself tremendously, I asked myself: who is this for? - this is 100% for me and I'm sure a lot of people here. But if it's not for you then it's not for us imo.
No no, it was DEFINITELY for me.
Take it easy and don't fret. I'm sure your many fans will follow you on whatever less-travelled road you wander down next.
You’re a good guy, John Allison, and for the record I CAN wait to see whatever you do next.