I owe it to longtime readers to let you know that next week's cartoon will be the last Weltschmerz. After almost 15 years -- the first strip appeared in early 1994 -- I've decided it's time to end this comic.
I have other ideas, inklings of what I'd like to do. But, with Weltschmerz taking 12-15 hours per week, plus a full-time graphic design gig, I have no time for anything new. About two months ago, after trying to figure out how to make room for new projects, including considering taking a partial sabbatical from my design business, I realized that bringing Weltschmerz to an end was the answer.
Now, I should warn you in advance that I like ambiguous endings. However, I didn't want Raj to hover on death's door forever. And the Cindy has so many online "fans" is being revealed this week and next. But everything won't be tied up with a glittery ribbon. Weltschmerz may be many things, but "glittery" ain't one of them.
As I'm mentioned before, I partially wrote this sequence a number of years ago and wanted to be sure to include it, leaving closure of sorts. I've rewritten until the last minute, with a lot ending up on the cutting room floor. So little time, so much exposition. The danger is to get bogged down in exposition, as I almost did in the final cartoon, until last night I was able to add a more humorous twist. (Readers in Hamilton will want to pick up View next Thursday, which will have Horst et al gracing its cover.)
|