Comic for Monday 11/14 (Early High Res)
Are you ready for this? I am now in my twentieth year creating this comic strip.
I’ve been here for every second of it, and even I can hardly believe that statement. Twenty years. Four generations of consoles. Somewhere over four thousand pages of comics and art. Countless treasured memories.
It’s safe to say that I make this comic, but in a lot of ways, this comic has also made me. Where my life is now can be directly traced to moments that would not have happened without Ctrl+Alt+Del. I met my wife at the very first convention I ever attended as a comic creator. From there we would get to know each other, start dating, get married and begin a family together. Most of my friends now are people I’ve met through the course of my work over the years.
Ctrl+Alt+Del isn’t the same comic it was when it started twenty years ago, nor am I the same person. How could I be? When I started the comic I was just a kid with a lot to learn. Now I’m an adult, a husband, a father… still with a lot to learn. Twenty years, and I don’t feel the slightest bit of fatigue creating this comic strip, day in, day out, because there’s always something new to discover. New things to try with the art, the writing, new perspectives to explore and experiment with.
It’s impossible to really sum up two decades of my experience with Ctrl+Alt+Del. But if you’ve read the archives, I don’t really have to. You’ve already borne witness to my journey thus far; the entire trajectory of my growth as an author and artist, my corresponding successes and failures, are all laid bare in the archives. I’m often so busy, there’s very little work you don’t see, very few projects not subjected to the light of day. It’s basically all there, for better or worse.
And if you’re here, I’d like to believe it’s because on some level, in some way, I’ve managed to entertain you. Made you laugh, made you think, made you excited to see what happens next. Perhaps I can do it often, perhaps it only happens once in a while, and I am under no impression I am much more than a blip in your morning route. But while I find it healthiest to follow my own compass in regard to what content I put out, I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t important to me that I brighten at least someone’s day in the process.
I’m celebrating two decades of producing Ctrl+Alt+Del, and all of the work I’ve put into it, but I’m only able to do that because of you. I love creating these comics and stories so much, I’d like to imagine I’d do it even if you all disappeared; you’ve never made me put that to the test. You have had my back for twenty years now, this ever-changing-yet-ever-constant sea of faces I can’t see, who has supported me and my work both financially and emotionally.
You’ve allowed me to turn my passion into a career I love, and that I can support my family with. Your kind comments and emails have carried me through times of self-doubt and uncertainty, and given me such a sense of honor and pride in the work I am so fortunate to do.
I have tried to regularly voice my gratitude for your support, and though I cannot do it as often as I would like, for fear of the words losing their meaning, please trust me that for the past twenty years, I have endeavored to never take your support for granted. Thank you for all you’ve done to get us here.
And I'm nowhere close to being done. How far does the road go? Thirty years? Forty years? I have no idea. I just know I’m on board if you are, and I’ve got a head full of stories left to tell.
You are all (obviously) already Patrons (and a huge thank you for that), so I will spare you the gentle reminder that will appear in this part of the website post.
I will mention though that in celebration of our twentieth anniversary, I’ve also marked down our latest round of books, currently in stock and ready to ship to North America! Our books contain extra content and remastered versions of comics, making them the definitivecollection of the comics. https://ctrl-alt-del.myshopify.com/
Comments (21)
I found you in the first year, when another cartoonist told me your comic was about more than just cheap computer jokes, and that you had a lot of heart. He was right, and I've been enjoying the ride ever since. 20 years, though, wow how time flies.
Have I followed you for twenty years? Arfghh!!!! Argh!!!! Raaah!!! I remember… I was at the university. Soo young… Well. Congrats on surviving this long, I guess. And also congrats on the comic. I was on the fence, when you did the reboot. But you have only ever grown. Here’s to the next 20!!!!
Congratulations on the 20 years ..no, that cannot be ... that would imply that I am that older ...naaaaaaaaa :) I have been onboard since 2003 and have enjoyed every single page, strip, essay, story and everything in between. My man-cave has your posters hanging and everyone ever visited have liked them and I cannot count how many times I have showed my son something from the books. I am with you for the duration :) ....but I do miss your special pages around real life persons you drew in the early days of patronage :)
Congrats on 20 years! Also, ninjas!
Big congratulations, and even bigger thank you for an amazing comic. I will celebrate by re-re-reading the 1.0 books.
Congratulations on 20 years! I haven't been here the whole time, but when I came in I went and read every single strip! I can't wait to see what the future holds! :-)
Been reading the comic for years and today's essay got me to join Patreon. Wondering how many readers are ike me and love the comic despite not being gamers? I played Myst a little and something based off the Xanth books last millenium and that's it. Except for Console Wars I've enjoyed this comic immensely (and I still read evey Console War installment so I guess I'm more into itthan I thought when I wrote that).
Finally, after I realize how long you have also already been part of my life... I joined Patreon. Congratulation.
Thanks Tim, for all those years of awesome comics! You're the only comic guy I support financially because you absolutely deserve it. :) I'm up for at least another 20 years of your amazing comics!
Happy anniversary!!! I think, that I started with the comic around 2010 or so during my studying. All my best for the next 20 years!
Congratulations. CAD appeared the first time in 2004 on my linklist... Feels absurd. ;-)
A wonderful echo to the first strip. For a second I thought you start a remake of your 1.0 stuff. Happy anniversary Tim.
It's missing a melon, then. :)
Congratulations on 20 years. I have started reading your comics after a colleague introduced me to it during my software developer education, which started in 2010. So I've also been on board for over a decade... it's been a very good journey, and here's to many more years to come.
Big congrats on 20yrs. I think I must have started in the first few years, reading CAD is so ingrained in my life and I have most of the physical releases you've done over the years (any chance of the animated series coming back? :D Its been a real honour to get to follow this journey you've been on. Thanks for a long and often halerious ride :)
Congrats on 20 years, Tim, and thanks for being awesome!
Congrats on 20 years! It's hard to believe this comic has been a part of my own life for at least a decade now. Here's to the many more years to come!
Happy 20 years! I can't believe I've been around for... almost all of them! I think I learned about Ctrl+Alt+Del in ~2005? I've thanked you before for the laughs that you've given over the years, and I'm so happy that I'm in a stage of life (now... given that I was a teenager when I learned about your work, definitely not then!) that I can support your work directly! So glad this wasn't a "and phew, now I'm done" letter... Here's to the years to come!
HAPPY TWENTIETH TIM!!! 💗💗💗🎉🎉🎉🎉 I may have been many many years late to the party but I'm glad to have been here for any of it. You've improved in art so much in this time and you've done a fantastic job with it all. Ethan McManus is a very dear character to me, so I'm forever grateful for the creation of him. Here's to many more years! Cheers! 💗
If my office wasn't such a mess I put a picture up of the completed book collection and Console Wars poster collection. Man 20 years...
Happy anniversary Tim. Here's to another 20 years.