When I first started the strip I decided nobody should have last names in the core group (except for Sam, whose name is a parody, and I thought I told the Defenders about this but can't find it in the compendium! I'll at least mention it in the blog.). It's lead to some awkward moments in the strip where a last name would be appropriate, but hey, Rules is rules. No more. As of today, Zoë's last name is officially Bean. If my characters having last names isn't a sign of the apocalypse, I don't know what is. By the way, we don't know what Riff's last name is just yet.

A friend of mine recently said to me, "You know, Pete, when you start introducing world-creation-mythology, you're probably in the third act." I have to agree.

I'm not sure where acts 1 and 2 would break down. In fact, I'd probably need to break it down into more like 65 acts. But clearly we're on the way. So far in this chapter we've had the introduction of Riff's dad, possible origins of Bun-bun, and as Torg put it, "...the pyramid, the necklace, Mohkadun, The Book of E-Ville, Gwynn's powers and Kizke-the-Bug-Demon are all connected!"

But don't break out the farewell-tissues to blot your tears just yet! I'm heading down this 'Act 3' road as directly as possible. But I know with my pace and what's going to transpire, Sluggy Freelance still has years to go.

The downside is there is an unaccessiblility to new readers with such a large archive of required reading. I wouldn't have it any other way, yet the lack of new readership and the fact that the store is down is hurting me financially in a significant way. So please, if my strip is giving you a worthy amount of enjoyment, please consider being a Defender! Help me journey with you down the road of Act 3. And thanks for your support! I give back everything I can.

Side note (since I brought up the store) : Most of my week off (the 20th to the 27th) is going to be dedicated to working out the issues with the old store. Not saying I'll have a new store open when I get back but I need to do this groundwork first. It's definitely going to be a working vacation.

I hate that title of the current section: ‘A Father’s Tears.’
I fought over many possible titles as the deadline approached for last Monday’s comic. I settled on ‘A Father’s Tears’ because I thought that was one plotpoint that I’d reach before jumping point-of-view in the next section.

What I don’t like about ‘A Father’s Tears’ is it’s made me feel like this section is wanting to be sad and dramatic when it’s more ‘getting the gang together and sorting some things out’. And I have a few options where I might jump P-O-V before the ‘Father’s Tears’ plot point comes into play.

So what I’m saying is the title of this section of Chapter 65 (Mohkadun part III) WILL change, I’m just not 100% sure to what yet. When I am I’ll…. *sigh*… add this to the entries of errata below.

Ever since the events of the story bROKEN we've been kinda on one highway of Sluggy Feelance, one that's been running through it since the beginning. Starting with  March 11th, we've switched to the OTHER highway that's been running through Sluggy Freelance from the beginning. And I've got to be honest. Despite keeping so much of this stuff in my head, I had to spend a few days doing a lot of reminder-research on characters and events to make sure I don't get something wrong. Well I already did on March 15th! So since I'm anticipating more of these coming despite my best efforts I've decide for this entire chapter I'll keep a running list of them and see how that works out.

March 15th, 2013:

Original Panel: When writing this, I didn't have any reference to Riff and Zoë's funeral save for this comic and this comic. So the qustion was 'how would Crystal have been involved with Zoë and/or Riff's funeral.' I shrugged and kept it light and vague, suggesting she at least attended Riff's wake.

The Oopsie: Here on December 23rd, 2010 I indicated that Crystal had no idea Riff and Zoe were presumed dead. I then realized my original train of thought. The funerals were run by the family of Riff and Zoë. And Gwynn is barely a friend for Crystal's. It would have been Torg's place to notify people like Crystal of the events. And since he believed them to not be dead, he wouldn't have bothered her with a faux-funeral. He would just maintain that they were away.

So here's the corrected comic panel that is live now:

March 19th-21st, 2013:

Original panel (first of several instances): I had to rush the 'Symbols of the Acknowledgement' out the door to make deadline. This is what happens when you charge ahead before you are 100% ready! but the midnight deadline is a tough mistress.

The Retcon: I knew I wanted that leftmost symbol to belong to the God of Justice, Lord Symachus. I wanted to do scales as his symbol, and once I had time to do some legwork I found that the 'scales of justice' imagery goes back a pretty damn long way! (And yes, I know the scale side triangles are inverted, but it doesn't really bother me).

The Fix: So here's the corrected panel with the Acknowledgement bearing the proper symbol for Lord Symachus. I think I've corrected it everywhere else.

April 9th, 2013:

Let's hope that's it for the errata section of Chapter 65!

Become a Defender! Help Support the Strip
This page has all the details but I also wanted to mention “The Sampire” Defenders-Only Comic Book! 37 Pages of Sampire!

Being a Defender isn't only about bonus content, it’s also about saying thanks for the years of entertainment this strip has provided you. And it gives me the gift of continuing to provide it for at least a few more years to come, for everyone! Just fill out the registration form, and you’ll be taken to a page where you can pay via Credit Card (link on the bottom left) or via Paypal. Your account should be activated almost immediately!* Checks and Money Orders can be sent to: Sluggy Freelance, LLC PO Box 453, Denville, NJ 07834 Please include a valid contact email with the check, and please allow 3 weeks* for account activation! (I can’t get out to my PO Box every day and personal checks take time to clear.)

Donate! When I started my last “New Defenders Drive” I was surprised how many people simply wanted to donate completely separate from Defenders Membership so I set one up! If you do go this route please donate at least $5 otherwise I' won't see much of the money due to processing fees.

*IMPORTANT: Once you’ve paid, (and waited the three weeks if paying by check or money order) if you can’t access Defenders content or log in for any reason contact me at defendersfix@sluggy.com and we’ll take care of you! We’ve noticed sometimes the Paypal payments and automatic membership activation don’t synch up, and I don’t want anybody left out!