ITS OVER.

Well, after 13 years and more... the blood, sweat and tears... the promises, the growth... the learning, the yearning... the pain, the laughs... the time and the memories... what was meant to be has now come to pass...

PLEASANT LIFE is over.

Above here is a pic of the LAST PAGE on my desk. I worked hard this past week to get the final issue parts done and in the can. I left this page as last. I think it is a fitting end to the book, especially for the long term readers of my book. I think you'll really dig it. Its a scene I've had in my head since I first dreamed it up over three years ago, and now its finally finished.

My wife was assuming I'd cry when it was all over. When I emerged triumphant from the board, I'd just be a tear soaked mess. Not so really.

I got a sense of relief that the long Trek is over. I feel that I've done the best job I could do, and told the best story for these characters that have been with me for the past 12 years. I'm putting them out to pasture in the best way possible and I know in my heart of hearts that you all will absolutely fall in love with it.

Truthfully, I know I am going to miss these guys. I already do. My head is spinning with "man, I coulda had them do this, or told that story, etc." But by the same token, I ache to move on to the next stage in my career. I've told the story I need to tell with this and I have recognized when its time to walk away from the table before I overeat on it. But I am still a tad sentimental. I mean, after I inked this final page, I even wrote the boys a message:



I know, its a fuzzy picture. It says: "Thanks for a great life guys! --ADAM TALLEY. Completed on 6-2-08." I think this is the page I will put on my wall and never sell. Maybe you other creators out there don't get so attached to your work as I do, but my books and the characters therein are a major part of my life. They are like my children. So when I see them leave the next to let time and the world judge them and mold them into something more than I gave them, I cannot help but feel a bit of empty nest syndrome on it.

But in reality, I'll be in post production on this book for the rest of this year. I'm gonna sit on this till around September, when we can get a new computer. Then begins the ardous task of scanning/word balloons. Once I see it in PRINTED FORM around Christmas, maybe I'll squirt a few tears, as I did when I held the first Pleasant Hymns ashcan back in January of 2002. So the adventure isn't quite over yet. But for the most part, visually, its all done. And I'm damn proud of it. I cannot wait for you all to read it.

Sooo.... later (meaning TONIGHT) I am going to relax and take a minor break. I got the next two days off. Tomarrow, the wife and I are going for the BIG ultrasound... meaning we might get to find out what the sex of the baby will be. Then we're gonna go out to lunch together. then I am going to come home and start thumbnails on the next pages of THE OUTCAST. Yup, no big break for me. Just gonna keep right on trucking. And later tomarrow night, you can hear me speak like on THE AMATUER HOUR podcast on TALKSHOE.COM at 11pm. Listen to TIM, ANTHONY and I chat about the skills of making comics and talking shop. Join us, as I will be chatting about what it feels like to be at the end of the road for a longtime comic property. You won't want to miss it!

So, let me leave you guys with some new cat pics.....



Here's MILO, oblivious to the fact that his master just pencilled and inked the last Pleasant Life page. See how much he cares??

and here's the wife with our oldest cat, Jake. So happy together.

Alright me droogies. Thanks for reading and BE SURE TO LISTEN TO THE AMATUER HOUR PODCASTS every Tuesday Night at 11pm!!!!!!!!!

T