Ellerbisms will be ending on the 250th strip.
Wow, that feels weird to say, but also such a relief. There are a lot of factors as to how I reached this decision and I want to tell you all why I’m stopping after 3 years.
Well, I’ve been drawing this for 3 years, I really want to draw something else for a while. Do you know my Chloe Noonan comic? It seems to be picking up steam at the moment and truth be told, I can’t get that ginger whinger out of my head. I can write and thumbnail a whole Chloe Noonan story in the time it takes me to muster up the enthusiasm of drawing yet another one page strip about my face. It feels like Ellerbisms has become a chore rather than an artistic endeavour and when I spotted a natural conclusion to the series, I decided to take it.
It’s time I had some time alone. From today’s strip it’s obvious that I’m not doing so great at the moment and whereas I could essentially choose not to show that aspect of my life to you, I feel that would be cheating you, my wonderful, brilliant, audience. When you’re not doing so great, do you really want to spend the majority of your free time drawing a comic about how you’re not doing so great? I want some escapism.
I would love to explore longer autobiographical stories in the future, and I do think the very nature of Ellerbisms – one moment of the day etc – does hinder creativity. When I feel that I have an awesome story to tell, then I’ll return to the genre and explore longer storytelling.
Adam’s ending his comic on #200 so I decided to copy him. OH I’M JUST JOKING YOU GUYS!
So, yeah, 15 to go. I’ve cleared my schedule and my main priority is to finish Ellerbisms and give it the send off it deserves. I’m hoping to add another update on a Thursday to keep the momentum up, so as opposed to waiting 4 months for the end, it’ll take 2. I’ll let you know how I get on with that, mind.
Marc
We all get to the burnout point on projects, where it just feels like a horrible work day, rather than creative fun. Yay for you for making a desicion.
Looking forward to more Chloe instead.
>It’s time I had some time alone.
ISWYDT.
Very sorry to hear you’re ending the strip, but fully understand the reasons behind it, and there’s no point doing an autobiographical comic that’s actively making you feel worse. And anything that means you have more time to spend on making more Eagle-Nominated Chloe Noonan comics has to be a good thing…
I am definitely going to miss Ellerbisms. It has ingrained itself into my daily morning schedule of checking up on webcomics I love, as well as been a huge influence on my own comics. At the end of it all, though, it is a welcome end if it means bigger and better things. I can’t wait for more Chloe Noonan and whatever else you have up your sleeve. I highly doubt you will ever disappoint.
For some reason I kind of felt this coming, despite not knowing much about the situations driving it.
I’ll be sad to see the strip go, but after seeing the first two Chloe Noonans, and seeing you play with longer Ellerbisms, I’m actually looking forward to the possibility of longer auto-bios in the future, and more fiction work from you.
Actually can’t wait, Marc. Roll on!
Perhaps it is selfishly that I post this comment, but I hope that you enjoy your break from autobiographical comics and one day can draw your life stories again
Hey Marc,
I’m sure I’m one of many who’ll be sad to see Ellerbisms finish, but I’m definitely glad that you’ll still be producing amazing things for us to all enjoy – Chloe Noonan all the way! Also definitely hoping you’ll be feeling better xxxx
Thank you for all the Ellerbisms.
Though I came late to the party, its been a great read and a nice connection to “home” (I used to live in Southend). I’m looking forward to finding some Chloe Noonan soon and hope that you keep blogging here as well as tweeting.
I wish you the best of health (especially considering the last strip) and continued success.
At the risk of sounding like rehashed pop-buddhist mumblings, I’ve just got to say: If you feel the signs pointing towards this decision, you’ll be better off following them. After all change is important for our growth. I’ve enjoyed your autobio comics immensely and I hope thing will start looking better soon. Cheers to you!
Oh no! 15 left to go! I wonder if you’ll do them before I finish my last 5?
Awww man! Ellerbisms is going to be sorely missed from my daily web-comic trawlings!
Fair play to you though, it sounds like you’ll be much happier once Ellerbisms is over. I look forward to seeing lots more Chloe Noonan in its place.
Hotness: Maybe. By tomorrow I’ll be three ahead of the schedule
It happens, I have been enjoying this comic for the past few months. What’s funny is I’m working on my own auto-bio inspired by you, Adam and some other people out in the wild internet though mine’ll be up sometime starting mid-September. The internet will never have a shortage of auti-bio comics… I still need to get around to reading Chloe, I want to…need to buy it. I’ve wanted to read it.
Good luck on all your future comics that are not your face!
Sounds like a fair move to make. I too must get on the Noonan bandwagon! And I’d love to see you make some long-narrative autobio stories, too.
Aw man, I’ll be sad to see this little ship sail away, along with the Cadwell yacht, but hey I’ll probably buy everything else that you draw! I totally get where you’re coming from though, you’ve been doing this for a long time and it had to end at some point. Chloe three is going to be awesomeeeee.
And yes, we fans are wonderful and brilliant. Destructothundersaur says hi!
Thanks for the past 3 years Marc, this has been some awesome work and it’s always explained life in a much better way, you always know how to word things. Also, are going to Los Campesinos! on the 15th? Cheers man. It’ll be sad to see Ellerbisms go.
Hi Marc.
I’m sorry to hear Ellerbisms will be ending but I understand your reasons why.
I tried once to do a daily diary like yours but struggled to keep myself interested or motivated enough by my own life to get beyond 6 months!
For the record, your life (as seen through Ellerbisms) has been fun and interesting and your commitment impressive.
All the best with Chloe Noonan. The two issues I’ve read have me looking forward to more.
I hope one day you might return to auto-biography.
I also think 250 Ellerbisms would make for a nice collection! *wink wink*
I really enjoy this comic, and I think the fact that you’ve decided to give it a finite end is a good thing. Looking forward to reading the next instalments, and all the best for your health.
Man, this brought a tear 2 the eye.
As a great man once said, ‘life moves pretty fast; if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you mihjt just miss it’.
Hey Marc, well, congratulations on reaching 235 and reaching for 250 strips, and commiserations on opting to end the strip and your reasons for doing so… a somewhat bitter-sweet achievement perhaps, but an achievement nonetheless.
Thanks for providing such an eye-opening, honest and charming comic for the past three years (okay, I admit I’ve only been reading for two of those… I plead ignorance).
This is a sad thing to hear, of course…but I love the way that you came around to the decision. When a project is getting you that down, it’s time to take back your life. And when you’ve got something as exciting as Chloe Noonan, why not put all you’ve got into it?
I’ll be happy to read the next 15 Ellerbisms and wait for your next great project!
Aww, thanks for all the comments guys. I’m glad it’s not over yet and we’ve got at least a couple more months together. I hope I do you guys proud with the final batch.
I hope a collection is forthcoming, after I get the last batch of strips out of the way that’s on my to do list. I do think about it every single blooming day.
I’m also really glad tht everyone’s “YAY CHLOE” she is a departure from Ellerbisms but I like to think if you like this comic then there’s no reason why you wouldn’t like that one. I’m sure to do a little blog about future plans when the strip ends.
BIG LOVE!
Does this mean ellerbism will not make it to TCAF (The characters in the strip, not your actual person)? I was really looked forward to that. There’s been some great auto-bio comic accounts of TCAF already – join great company!
Yes I’m actually doing the Toronto ones right now.
Make sure you keep the domain and throw out an RSS so we’ll know when you start another project
Wonderful – hopefully they provided a bright patch in the dark days.Though the ending is sad – it dashes my self-indulgent hopes of appearing as an random character in a 2011 TCAF comic (“I liked this so much I accidentally bought it twice!”)
How will I find out what you’re up to? grrrrr
You could phone me, mother!
Marc,
I wish you all the best with your future endeavors. Ellerbisms has been by turns funny, sad, and even enlightening, and it will definitely be missed.
Thanks for the memories,
Adam
Oh boy, I just discovered you for the sad goodbye! (via Solipsistic Pop > Luke Pearson > and an amazingly intrincate line of links). God, I read all the LRB strips in two days!
I’m gonna miss your Ellerbisms, but hey, will look for future works too.
Good luck with that health issue also. Genitourinary system is a delicate and scary thing, but most time symptoms are only stress-related. (at least that’s what my doctor said, which doesn’t prevented him to use his humiliating instruments of pain).
Regards from sunny Spain!
Ahhhh man.The Everyday and Ellerbisms are gone.Ah well.We will miss both of your autobio comic greatly.I need to see Chloe Noonan and Blood Blokes,but I live in Canada…..AAAGH!I wonder if there’s anyway to get Chloe Noonan in Vancouver……any comic shops that have your work here?
I will miss Ellerbisms. But, I admire the way you are ending it, this seems to make sense. Thank you for sharing such very personal insights into your life. I’m glad your moving on to something you enjoy doing more. Life’s too short. Ultimately, I’m sure it will prove more rewarding too. I look forward to more Noonan! Good Luck!
Will be sorry to see ellerbisms go as I have enjoyed seeing your life and seeing some of the same thoughts that cross my mind appear in your world. However Chloe Noonan is fun and so am glad that this will continue.
You have to do what makes you happy, not what feels like a drag.
can’t believe i’ve been reading this shit for 3 years. good luck with the noonan comics dude. X
I can’t believe I’ve been *doing* this shit for 3 years…
Thanks Spires!!!!!!