Let's Ask Violet

Many of you are probably wondering what is up with the little green doll thing sitting on the couch with Violet.

For those of you who do recognize it, yes, it is Fumbles from Goblins.

Why is there a Fumbles plushie sitting there with Violet?  Well I have to go back a couple years to explain.

When I was 16, I was trying really hard (and failing) to make a comic.  Like one that I would sell in stores and stuff.  This comic was based on my D&D characters, and they would go on fantastic stories (for those of you wondering, yes, I am STILL working on it, and I have plans to making this an actual webcomic sometime in the future).

My boyfriend at the time saw this, and ended up showing me one of the many things that would help inspire me to become a webcomic artist.

Goblins was the first webcomic I ever read.  I instantly fell in love with it because it was funny, the characters were likeable, and I genuinely enjoyed it.  You can probably tell who my favourite character is, just by looking back up at the comic.   Thunt, the author, pretty quickly became one of my heroes, and my gateway comic to other webcomics such as Least I Could Do, Girls With Slingshots, Something Positive, and many many more.

Fast forward a couple years to present day, and here I am, still reading Goblins, and so many other webcomics.  Then I notice something.  Goblins hadn’t updated in a while.   I thought, no biggie, sometimes life happens and people are late, I’ll just wait it out.

I check back every day to see if he updated, still nothing.  I check twitter, radio silence across the board.  Now I start to get worried.

Finally, word comes out briefly about what’s going on.  Thunt has been having some personal problems, and it has prevented him from being able to work.  I won’t go into more detail because 1. I have no idea what’s been going on really, and 2. It’s none of my business.

But the good news is that he’s been able to talk on Twitter now, and he’s slowly getting better.  So much so that he’s finally making jokes.  He kept thanking his followers, even asking if his followers weren’t following any other webcomic artists if they could go steady with him.

I made a joke asking if being a webcomic artist counted or would I have to stop in order to get a letterman jacket.

He responded with this tweet (click here).

And then immediately responded with this tweet (click here).

So now imagine me, sitting in my pjs, looking at my phone, and seeing this unfold.  Thunt, one of the reasons why I even considered making a webcomic, is telling me that I’m funny.  The author of the first webcomic I ever read, is telling me that he’s reading my webcomic.  He’s having his own problems right now, and he’s still took the time to look at my work.

You cannot imagine what state I was in.  I remember a couple of years ago when he came to Toronto for a convention, and I was so nervous about going up to meet him, that I threw money at my brother and told him to go buy one of his books.  I kick myself every time I remember that, saying that I should really have more courage to go see one of my heroes, but what’s done is done.  My brother said that Thunt was actually really funny, and asked him if he owed him any money when my brother approached him.

In short, I’m dedicating this comic to Thunt.  I know it’s message has really nothing to do with his comic, like at all, but I really don’t know how else to express the emotions that I’m feeling right now.

So thank you Thunt, for sharing your talent with the world, for taking me on an emotional roller coaster ride with Goblins for the past 8 years, and for the tweets that have made these last couple of years with Let’s Ask Violet all that more worthwhile.  Know that this ridiculous fan of yours hopes you feel better soon and will wait patiently and eagerly for your return.

To go support Thunt and his webcomic Goblins (and I highly recommend you do), please visit goblinscomic.org

 

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