#180 - Okej då!
Saturday, July 19th, 2008I have a guest strip up for Questionable Content today. I’m easing the load of Jeph Jacques as he recovers from a fantastic nerdfest. I am so so SO jealous.
Also the site is running rather slow due to all the readers from QC. It is nice to have you, New Readers. I wish my site wasn’t running so shitty for your visit.
I’ve had to disable comments on this post Word Press can’t take the QC Pressure. If you want to say hi to me or something, I’ve got an email address you can access by clicking on “contacts” in the above menu. 
July 19th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
awww :3
lovely scenario!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
YEAH!!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Yay!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Ha!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Boom! 3rd post!
Great mini comic to put up tho, well timed!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Hahaha, I love it!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
HOORAY!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
aww, so ridiculously cute. You are made of 100$ awesome Rene!
July 19th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
this is pretty darn great
July 19th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Teehee!
Oh goodie!
July 19th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Thank goodness!
July 19th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
!!!!!!
AH!
*runs around the room and pumps fist a few times*
*also makes those finger guns*
July 19th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Hooray!
I hope she doesn’t change her mind by Monday.
July 19th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Yay!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
WOOOOOOO!!!!!
July 19th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
aww! i love how succinct this is!
July 19th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
This is like “High Fidelity” but with anal sex and pregnancies. Which don’t usually go together, but hey. (also in the movie Laura is Danish, not Swedish)
July 19th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Simple, sweet, and to the point. I like.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
YAYZ!
July 19th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
AAAHHHHH
*happy dance*
I knew it would happen all along, of course. Eheh.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
woooooooooo!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
nice!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
this was the best news i’ve seen all day. =D
July 19th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Only two panels, but so much within them. not visually, though.
*sigh* The fact that Maria is giving him another chance makes me envy Anders, as even though he’s done something worse than I, my girlfriend can’t say she loves me anymore.
I guess this comic’s just giving me a little futile hope before she calls, confirming that she in fact doesn’t love me, and thus sends everything crashing down… and would you believe that what i did was an attempt to make things better, while Anders’ was to make things worse?
But i digress. Amazing and beautiful comic.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
eeeeeeee!
i know complications will arise (rene, you’re a fantastic storyteller, afterall) but yay!!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I must’ve hit the refresh button like 8 times before I scrolled down and read that it was a mini-update.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
NOOOOOOOOO!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Didn’t feel like making us suffer through the weekend, I see! It is appreciated!
July 19th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Her expression in the first panel makes me think of Weegee: http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Weegee
July 19th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
well, and thank god it’s not a weekend of chew chew.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:34 am
YAY!!!
Despite everything, I’ll be really happy to see Anders and Maria back together.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:44 am
if everything is just happy ever after from now on I can die a happy girl
July 20th, 2008 at 1:13 am
That second panel.
:awesome:
July 20th, 2008 at 2:13 am
hurray!
July 20th, 2008 at 3:42 am
This has to be one of the best webcomic pages I’ve ever seen, even though it’s small, but that’s just part of the epic presentation. =D
July 20th, 2008 at 4:18 am
YES!!!!!!!!!!!! good morning everyone!!! haha
July 20th, 2008 at 4:20 am
I like it… but she could also very well be telling their server she would like another piece of cake. I expect nothing to be simple in this universe.
July 20th, 2008 at 4:23 am
OMG!!!!! yay!
July 20th, 2008 at 5:09 am
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
July 20th, 2008 at 5:47 am
huzzahhh!!!! there should be a mini celebration par-tay
=)
July 20th, 2008 at 6:05 am
My jaw just hit the ground.
This comic is awesome.
July 20th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Yay!
July 20th, 2008 at 7:18 am
YAAAAY!!!!!!
don’t ruin it renee
please =p
July 20th, 2008 at 7:21 am
squee!
July 20th, 2008 at 7:33 am
truly mini O.o
July 20th, 2008 at 7:36 am
i was so sure i left a comment on one of the recent comics after anders cut his hair that he looked more and more like bjorn, but i can’t find it, so i’m reposting! he looks a LOT like bjorn!
July 20th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Something in her expression makes me wonder if she is being sincere, or if the next panel will reveal her yelling at Anders.
July 20th, 2008 at 10:32 am
i know lots of people might not like them getting back together…
but:: Yay!!
July 20th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Wish real life worked out this way. >_>
July 20th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Hi, I haven’t gotten the chance to comment this awesome comic yet, so I picked the perfect time to! I knew this would happen (though I had my doubts, lol) but I love your comic sooo much! This is the best birthday present you could’ve ever given me!
July 20th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Oh my goodness! Horray!
July 20th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
As much as I want them to get back together, I don’t think she’s saying yes to that. The last thing Anders said to her was “I love you”, so it seems like that’s what she’s responding to. Saying “Alright then” when someone says “I love you” isn’t usually a good sign
It does seem like she wants to get back together with him though, but hasn’t forgiven him yet. Can’t wait to find out.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Aw.
The variety in your art style is so much fun to watch.
And boy do I love Maria.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I counted on some more effort from Anders. Not just lame “for the kids!”. Well Maria could always say “yes, but under conditions”
July 20th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Wohooo!! thank you Rene!!!!
July 20th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I’m waiting for her to follow this up with “NOT”!
July 21st, 2008 at 1:17 am
Ha ha! I thought the page hadn’t loaded right (with this wonky old compy, I’m used to all kinds of shenanigans), but then I realized I was seeing the world in a grain of sand. Awesome.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:38 am
How succinct.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:36 am
This is perfectly awesome.
Just like…the timing, as another poster said. Spectacular.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:48 am
i so knew they were getting back together
!
July 21st, 2008 at 6:46 am
rene, you are TOO cute!
July 21st, 2008 at 7:27 am
I love how some people keep regurgitating the same words over and over. End of thought. Succinct indeed…
July 21st, 2008 at 9:44 am
Best page of a comic ever.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:29 am
THIS CAN’T BE REAL. IT IS TOO SIMPLE.
It was all a dreeeeam!~
July 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
@Bex (Edmonton): “I like it… but she could also very well be telling their server she would like another piece of cake. I expect nothing to be simple in this universe.”
Haha, I was thinking the same. With the panels being placed in the middle of the page, it seems as if the previous ones with the cake action are missing.
She looks tiny, with Anders’ huge hands wrapped around her.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Yay!
July 21st, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Rene, will there be a new update today? And how is your thumb, does it ache less?
July 21st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Hey Dain!
There will be an update. I’m still working on it. It’ll just be late.
Everything is a lot slower with my hand aching as it does. The thumb is fine now, I think the problem is more related to repetive work. I have to stop a lot and exercise my wrists.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Be careful with your wrists! You can always have a holiday, so your wrists can rest. I will mis ALM but it’s better for you! Or look at Workpace com it worked for me.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Best update ever! Thanks ^_^!
July 21st, 2008 at 3:54 pm
FINALLY!!
July 21st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
that is so adorable.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
You guys sure seem confident that this isn’t like when Anders and Johan kissed on April Fools Day. Then again, it isn’t the day for that.
July 21st, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Heh, all right then!
July 21st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
you know, i’m always ‘once a cheater always a cheater’ but maria is so cute, and everything is so cute (really, excellent art) that i’m always pulling for these two crazy kids.
hope your hand is feeling better soon!
July 21st, 2008 at 6:51 pm
That was stylish.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:20 pm
A few years back I had problems with aching wrists and fingers, most likely from drawing. A colleague made me try this nice home remedy: use a heat rub, then rest hands in oven mitts. (I used tiger balm)
At the very least it feels really good, and the mitts make you keep your hands still.
A visit to a physiotherapist might also be a good idea.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Thanks Jenny! That’s good advice. It’s getting ridiculous.
Oh hey, I just re-read your mini comic again the other day. It was a good purchase! Thanks for that!
July 21st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Tack! ^^
July 21st, 2008 at 10:43 pm
:D
July 21st, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Rene, I have the same problem it sounds like as you do. Went to the doctor’s and their recommendation was to put a wrist brace on before i went to bed. Between how you lay on it at night, and doing what Jenny said was the doctor’s best cure. Hope that helps
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:07 am
There’s something about Maria’s expression in panel 1 that makes me think of Kate Beaton’s Younger Self.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:26 am
Hey Rene, I agree with Mark…I had the same problem and after wearing a wrist brace to bed for awhile it started to clear up….on the downside(or upside depending how you look at it) my wrist brace was black with silver latchings and all my friends thought I was suddenly into bondage, haha
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:12 am
It is becouse of strips like this one that people compare your work to Eisner. Truly, a work of art.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:14 am
yay!!
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I will kille “little shit” if she tries to come between Anders and Maria. I will do it!
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
heh…little shit poses no threat whatsoever. it’s more - women everywhere wanting anders. it’s kind of like brad pitt. you know, everywhere he goes women must be wetting their pants. only hottie angelina can tame him. does maria have what it takes? we’ll see. the fact that he loves her has already proven to be…not enough. and he does not seem appropriately broken down sorry - how could he with women everywhere throwing themselves at him? anders still needs to shape up!
still - i’m happy they’re back together - agree this comic is pure genius - and am curious to see if others’ ideas of how these two frames fit into a larger comic pan out - some of you commenters are pretty sharp!
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
btw, i think the brace and the tiger balm suggestions were brilliant for your wrists. combine those with targeted exercises (exercises which you occasionally repeat even when you are not in pain - as long as you continue to draw - your whole life - for prevention) and you should be good.
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/ctexercise.htm
http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/425_carpal-tunnel.htm
there are tons of these online. find the one that suits your symptoms and do these whenever you get the chance.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Geez rene, late much? I keed, I keed.
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:35 pm
neil: Be patient. Patience is a virtue!
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Aww, sorry you had a shitty day Rene. Hope you’re feeling better.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I’m really sorry to hear about your crummy day. Take care of yourself and feel better.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
i send you kisses from the holy land!
jerusalem was fucked up today - fuckity fuck fuck fucked. but! you are still rockin it baby.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
I send many hugs and kisses to Jerusalem. And the world’s largest band-aid.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Get well soon, Rene!
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Feel better, Rene.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I don’t think anyone would mind if you took the time off to recharge and heal up.
Or at least, anyone who has any common sense.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I’m addicted to you and your work. THIS ONE MADE ME SO HAPPY! you owe us nothing, take all the time you need
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Feel better! I hope everything gets better and you (and subsequently your hand) heals a-okay.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 pm
We hope you feel better and heart you all the same!
We’ll only be that much more voracious come Wednesday:)
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:34 am
It’s not April 1st, is it? *checks calendar* Yay!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:31 am
Please dont’ be sad =( I hope your days get better.
I’m really enjoying the current storyline. Your artwork is so interesting and beautiful.
-B
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 am
This makes me smile!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:44 am
Bork bork bork..
Get better miss arteest.
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:07 am
Just get better, Rene. We can all wait. Your health is what’s most important!!
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:04 am
Hope you feeling better today, Rene! Take all the time you need!
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:58 pm
*Huggles*
July 23rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
A support the common motion: Rene, you take that day off- hell, you take this week off- if it facilitates your recovery
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Hugs and best wishes from Arizona, USA. Just take care of yourself, and feel better, Rene.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
But….I just declared today to be Awesome Day - before I read your comic. Maybe you just had a slow start in the morning?
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:04 pm
Hehe, that was awesome!!
I hope you get to feeling better, but the comic looks great all the same, so don’t stress too much.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
I hope you feel better, Rene.
I sincerely love your comic.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Rene! Stop feeling shitty! I am sorry :[
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
It’s up and down Ashley. After a good talk with a friend last night I was feeling pretty awesome. I ordered pizza, drew my ass off and did a pretty awesome guest comic for Questionable Content.
This morning I started crying while I ate cold pizza for breakfast. It was a pathetic sight! In hindsight kind of hilarious too. I should have taken a picture and submitted it to the crying while eating thing.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Well rene, I am sorry (something) is making you so upset. Hopefully things start looking upward.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I hope you heal up and feel better soon. We are here if you need us!
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:59 pm
oh man, this strip made me so happy…but I wish I could give my happy to you Rene. (awwww)
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Greetings from Poland! I sure hope you get better soon, but no rush, just take your time and relax. I just wanted to say that your comic is really great and I’m totally addicted to it. Keep it up!
July 24th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Whatever’s wrong…. I hope you are okay soon.
July 24th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Yay! *tears of joy*
July 24th, 2008 at 2:34 am
I can’t wait for Friday! But before that, please feel better!
July 24th, 2008 at 2:36 am
Hope you feel better soon. I look forward to seeing your guest strip on QC. Haven’t read that comic in a while.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:59 am
I read QC everyday, along with yours.
And whenever I read that he’d be going away, and we’d be having quest comics… I was disappointed.
But now knowing that yours will be up there, I’m totally excited! You rock, Rene! You totally rock!!
July 24th, 2008 at 5:30 am
Oooo, a QC guest comic?!!? You’re something else Rene. I hope you’re feeling better soon.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I have had on and off problems with my wrist for almost a year now. It’s getting better, but I think the worst thing I did was that I didn’t take a complete break from everything when it started. I’ll probably never be all well again (I emphasize with crying in the morning. Felt like that a couple of times myself).
Take plenty of breaks! I found Workrave (http://www.workrave.org/) a good tool to remind me to take breaks, stretch, etc.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:09 am
kyaaaaaa!!!
July 25th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Rene,
Cute 2-panel.
Having had some hand problems (ulnar nerve related) myself I can empathize. Hope you’re 100% soon. Here’s to feeling great -and looking better, as my wife always used to say.
July 25th, 2008 at 5:34 am
1) You did a quest strip for QC! ! ! ! Awesome!
2) Crying while eating is funny as ever!
3) I heart you.
July 25th, 2008 at 7:04 am
D:
I go away for 3 weeks… AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS!!!
:3
July 25th, 2008 at 7:19 am
I am an avid fan. I’ve been reading since entry 1. I couldn’t help but notice that song Be Still My Heart by the Postal Service (on We Will Become Silhouettes EP) totally fits whats goin on with Anders and Maria right now.
Hope everythings ok btw.
July 25th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
God, I’m going through withdrawal! I need my A
July 25th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Hope you feel better soon! I miss the comic, but more importantly, feel better, dammit!
July 25th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Yes, yes, YES!
You know, I started reading this yesterday. And I couldn’t stop!
Your comic is amazing, I love it, and I love the characters too.
Keep going, and thanks for giving us such a beautiful story.
Take care!
Hugs from Punta Arenas, Chile! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punta_Arenas)
July 25th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Rest until you’re better, then rest a bit more.
Jill Thompson described her drawing injuries last fall on her blog:
http://jillthompson.blogspot.com/2007/11/dangerous-occupation-cartooning-is.html
I can tell you that got me a bit scared…
July 26th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Sometimes I can’t tell if I’m having a great idea or just being greedy. Given your willingness to experiment with different looks and media in the past, maybe you could play with doing a few strips in crayon with your off hand or something. It’s supposed to stimulate the other side of the brain or something too.
Or maybe just take old strips and recaption them (although I guess something like that might work better if you were doing non-sequential strips that didn’t already have a definite storyline mapped out.)
Ooh! Or maybe just describe the action/dialogue in kind of vague terms, and let the fans try their hand at interpreting the panels.
All this is slightly-funny-smelling pie-in-the-sky, of course, and perhaps it should be understood that any action in this interim is totally non-cannonical. Just throwing out some ideas in case ya get bored or something.
July 28th, 2008 at 6:06 am
great guest comic @ QC rene!
July 28th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Your QC strip killed me!
July 28th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Saw that you did an awesome guest comic at QC, decided to check yours out and LOVING IT!
Still working my way through the archives, but I love it :]
July 28th, 2008 at 7:53 am
I love your comic and I’m antitipating an update! I hope your hand/wrist feels better soon though.
July 28th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Another person linked from QC. I’m either going to be late for work or dead tired tomorrow because I’ve stayed up so late reading. It’s great!
(Also the parallel between what Maria says in this strip and what Bjorn says to her in the 15 year old flashback is very curious!)
July 28th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Loved your QC strip. It was like all the awesomeness of your comic condensed into a single strip. Only not quite, because a single strip couldn’t handle so much awesomeness.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Found your strip via QC. It’s the best webcomic… um… I’ve ever read. Ever. Read the whole thing straight through in one night. For serious. Never stop writing comics.
July 28th, 2008 at 10:38 am
finally, pizza girl returns
cute guest comic, keep up
July 28th, 2008 at 10:57 am
just found it randomly searching though other webcomic links (i read far too many, QC, XKCD, Dr Mcninja, Sam and Fuzzy, CAD, just to name the more popular ones), and found myself enjoying your comic too. Read it in one night, gonna regret that in the morning
Keep writing!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Just found this from QC. Read it from start to finish in one sitting(Thus why I am posting at 5:00 in the morning) Literaly the best comic I have ever read…ever. I hope you keep writing
Great job so far !!!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:43 am
yr guest appearance on qc more than makes up for the missing comics of last week…so, so good!
July 28th, 2008 at 11:46 am
oh, and i really hope yr feeling better…! my morning coffee isn’t nearly as fun without you.
July 28th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I found your comic through Questionable Content… great guest strip, btw! So, just finished reading the ENTIRE archive and it’s 4:45am here in Vancouver. Thanks for the great entertainment! Bookmarked and an instant favourite!
July 28th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Hey. I’m with VanCanGuy, I found you through QC, loved the guest strip, read the whole archives and have got you on live feed, right next to QC. I was almost going to leave an angry comment asking why things in the comic are still so screwed up, but with this one it seems that things are going back to the way they should be. I like how your comic has a style of it’s own, it has a good story and it’s not afraid to show some skin. Keep up the good work!
July 28th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
found your comic through QC…like thousands of others by the looks!
i absolutely love it, well done!
i loved your guest comic at QC very very funny.
July 28th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Hi there.
Actually i just gor here from questionablecontent. I loved your guest strip there btw. And then i cam here, saw those 2 panels and was like “ok what do those two panels with a fat kid mean?”. (no pun intended)
But then i got curious and started reading from #1 on. now i read ALL of them, got to “those two panels with the fat kid” again and must admit that i love “the fat kid” a lot.
July 28th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Found it through QC as well, just read all of it. The story, characters and the art amazing, you’re doing a great job Rene!
Also, it’s nice to see a comic with a Scandinavian touch about it
July 28th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Hi!
I also found your comic through QC (your guest strip was awesome). And I got to say that I love it. So awesome.
Beside, I always love seeing my hometown being properly depicted (I live in Vasastan).
July 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Hahaha, your guest strip at QC was AWESOME, Rene.
I hope we get to see further adventures of Hipster Batman!
July 28th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
hey
!
i got here from QC too…
and just read the whole comics from da first strip too this one !
it made me feel really good ….so thanx
i really like Johan , mm… maybe its more like a crush…
his really my kind of guy….
pls dont hook him up with that bitch tina
love your comics!
das
July 28th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Hey there! I followed you here off of Questionable Content and I would just like to say I’m so glad I did! I read your entire comic in one night and I absolutely loved it! Your style is so gorgeous and original and your storyline is an emotional rollercoaster that I wanna ride over and over again! I don’t think I’ve every enjoyed reading through a comic as much as I have yours ^_^