Endtown by Aaron Neathery for June 30, 2014

ENDTOWN (of the Stick), June 30, 2014

Bigoted Pride, by Jenner (Reprinted).Based on Ticket to Ride, by the Beatles (Lennon & Mc Cartney)From June 28, 2013I think I’m gonna be king, the king o’ this town, yeahI played that fool on a string, my puppet and clownHe’s got a bigoted prideHe’s got a bigoted prideHe’s got a bigoted prideThat id’jot bearHe went ‘round preaching for free. If only he’d known, yeahHe was working for me, and building my throneHe’s got a bigoted prideHe’s got a bigoted prideHe’s got a bigoted prideThat id’jot bearRidiculous, inflatable guySee, I’m a mutant, and he’s a mutant like meHe’d better look himself in the eyeForever mutants, a pair of mutants are weI think I’m gonna be king, the king o’ this town, yeahI played that fool on a string, my puppet and clownHe’s got a bigoted prideHe’s got a bigoted prideHe’s got a bigoted prideThat id’jot bearMy idiot bear…My idiot bear…My idiot bear…

Either this is a very special occasion, or wine isn’t so scarce there.

First, the good news. Endtown continues, and so do I. This past month has unfortunately been one long, painful scream involving two leg flare-ups (the OTHER leg now. The fun just don’t stop!) nearly back to back hospital stays, lots of paperwork, case workers, mounting medical debt, and confused doctors (not a good sign when a lab-coated authority figure turns to you and says “You don’t think it’s MRSA, do you?”.. Happily, the lab work says “no”). I’m dosed to the gills with a new antibiotic, eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and, as is typical when circumstance backs me into a corner, I’m stubbornly digging in my heels and getting back to my life’s work. The bastards haven’t buried me yet. The bad news is that, until I can fully recover, I have no choice but to cut Endtown back to a three-a-week schedule. Endtown, as has been pretty well established, can only be produced one way, and attempts at streamlining the process in order to allow me to free up more time to breathe have been less than successful. I hope you’ll continue to follow regardless, and hopefully one day I can return to a full five day schedule again. If this past month’s forced hiatus had any silver lining at all, it did at least allow me a chance to properly chart out Endtown’s future narrative trajectory and believe me, we haven’t even gotten to the really good parts yet. Thanks to everyone who wrote in with their kind wishes and donations. It means much to me to know that people really do care about the person behind this weird comic strip. Take care, all..

Welcome back!

-The last episode was May 22nd if you want to refresh your memory.

Welcome back Aaron! I was content to wait another day, but was pleasantly surprised to see Endtown return a day early.I’m sure everyone else will be as well.Don’t push yourself too hard, and take your time getting back on your feet.I’m not surprised you used the time to outline where the story arc is headed. I always work on my ideas (on a mental level) at my regular job. I only work 30 hours a week nowadays (union rules) but I am itching to work more, but my ankles and feet won’t allow it.I spend my weekends and nights during the week off my feet and working on my art.I want so badly to take second job, but my flesh lets me down and I have to sit it out as I cannot push myself like I was 45 again.Please take care of yourself and pace your creativity accordingly. This is a world that cannot do with one less storyteller.

3 days a week is a more reasonable schedule anyway.Welcome back, Aaron!

Welcome back, a day early, and good health and good luck!

Welcome Aaron! Glad you’re getting better! And welcome back, Endtown, you’ve been missed!

Aaron, take it easy, do what you can, and get better. I can wait. We will keep praying for you

Thanks so much for the update, Aaron!And if I were in Sarah’s shoes, I’d probably do the same ;-)

Glad to see you and your awesome strip back, Aaron. I say you do whatever you need to take care of yourself since your health is the most important thing. Don’t let the stress of deadlines add to your problems. The strips that ran during the hiatus were a great glimpse into your earlier works, and I was quite entertained by them – especially seeing that the mysterious Mr. Marx has such history in your repertoire.Take care and continue to get better! We’re all behind ya!

Welcome back, Aaron. As far as I’m concerned any compromise which allowed you improving health along with seeing Endtown continue at its usual high quality sounds fine. :-) I’m hoping maybe you’ll take longer weekends to unwind and regroup.

Piotr Pepper picked a peck of pickled grapes……Nah, bad tongue twister.

Speaking for me, I’d be okay with you cutting back to two a week so long as it helps your recovery.

three days a week is more than most webcpmics update (and definitely better than nothing) so you won’t hear me complaining

@ AaronYou do what toy need to do for yourself, first.I’ll be happy with what ever you give us.

What a nice surprise to see you back a day early, Aaron. I’m new to commenting, but needed to add my welcome-back and get-well wishes to those of your regulars. I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better and send my heartfelt wishes for a full recovery soon. Please take care of yourself!

Yay!! He’s back!! I also am fine with 3 x week (2xweek or even 1xweek). Your health is more important to us than a 5 x week comic strip – even one as great as this one. :o)

Oh, and big Kudos to TSOJ (and Jenner) for all the extra entertainment during the hiatus. :oD

so glad you are back….3 days a week is much better than no days a week! Go slow. We want you around for awhile. :)’

The wine, the woman……now if Piotr can do some music???Wine Women and Song.Sarah is a lush for sure.I like the label on the bottle. A bunch of grapes. So is she drinking wine or Welch’s Grape Juice? They have the same label. Shove a cork on top and its now wine.Of course you know once she goes lizard she can’t go back to raccoon.

It was such a nice surprise to see us back in Lizardville! Aaron, there is no Endtown without you so make sure and keep first things first! I know we have barely scratched the surface of your outstanding story, and so whatever measures are necessary to keep you well enough to continue leading us along the trail are fine with me. Three strips a week puts Endtown in sync with my other can’t do without flight of fancy “Girl Genius”. Here’s wishing you a run of equal or greater length for Wally & Co.!Now I just need to find something worth getting up for on Tuesdays and Thursdays… ;-)

Aaron, you already know where Brenda and I stand. If there is something more we can do, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do. We just want to see you get better.

Pitor: Forget about that shrimp Jim. Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too?

Sarah: (wipes mouth on her sleeve) Jim who? ;-)

Yay! Aaron’s back! Endtown’s awesome too, but priorities are priorities. Glad to have you back, mate!

3 days a week is better than none! I’m glad to have Aaron back, and I’m looking forward to following along.

Aaron – consider running the Monday Daycare strip again for those who missed it. I peaked in last night about midnight (MDT) before you posted the new Endtown strip and caught Daycare as TSOJ was posting. Marx was saying he would look for someone more imaginative …. great segue back to Endtown!

Three days a week is fine with me, too. But, hey FANS! Don’t forget to vote on Tuesdays & Thursdays! We’ve managed to keep Endtown at Number 32 while Aaron has been recuperating.

Welcome back, Aaron, three days a week is just great! The main thing is your health.

Dear Aaron! You’ve returned! How exciting!Today’s strip is indeed most inviting!Every other weekdayIs a small price to payTo ensure that you… Keep on writing!

welcome back! you and your talents were missed. don’t overdo, please.

Welcome back, Aaron. It’s good to see Endtown up and running again, and I don’t mind the three strips a week either. it’s enough to keep us abreast of the storyline as well as wanting more.

Great to have you back Aaron! 3 a week is plenty fine with me, but don’t push yourself. Do what you need to do to get well and THEN worry more about endtown. We’ll still be here and the group is growing. I just turned an old friend onto endtown. In about 1 week he is almost caught up to current!

It is too bad he doesn’t live in a more progressive state. Texas and Kansas are very close as when one gets sick, it is almost always a one-way trip into dire poverty. Now, at least in “blue” states,people who get sick can usually avoid that poverty.AARON,, you are a trooper, you are! As much as I want Endtown every day, I’m more than happy to get 3 times a week! Sometimes art can be hard to make, I’m a slow painter and sometimes keep changing it almost as much that it may end up totally different than what I thought.ALSO want to thank Selina, A good woman who loves you and has your back in down times is indeed a blessing!

Hey, did everyone notice Piotr referred to Sarah’s outfit as A TopSider Uniform? (ominous thunder). That mean’s the Reptilians are aware of the TopSiders, even if the Reptilians came from the Center of the Earth, or a different dimension, or just Zeta-Reticula B. Or they could be the Lucrainians or the other side of the war with the TopSiders. (ominous thunder, cat whinnies. Down Girl, good kitty). JusThinkinOutLoud

Welcome back Sir. Now do as The DOCTOR says and eat all your fruits and Veggies theres a good chap. ;)

If everyone wants to contact GoComics to find out about SurfStuff55’s suspension, I’m sure it is just a glitch, her account profile is here. The contact GoComics link is at the bottom right. Thanks, JusSayin

Making wine and beer isn’t very difficult. All it requires is fermentation and something which will ferment.

Making good wine or beer is another matter. ;)

Last one.ENDTOWN (of the Stick), June 30, 2014

Hello Aaron. I’m SO pleased to know you’re back on your feet again. I’lll talk with you privately, but for now, I’m just happy you’re not on your last legs. I am writing this from Pittsburgh.

Welcome back, Aaron!

I’ll take it whenever Aaron can do it!

I’m amused that the bottle has a picture of grapes on it. Pre-apocalypse vintage? False advertising? Or is there a vineyard tucked in the lizard community?

Happy Happy Happy, three days are surely better than none. Hoping your health continues to improve.

Take care of yourself, Aaron. We can always wait for updates…