I’m turning comments off on this post. I will only approve comments from now on that discuss the comic and delete others that stray from that. Please respect this.
I am working on a big update of more than one page because I feel that this part of the story can’t be told in one-pagers that end with a punchline. 3 pages are done so far.
Sex and the Suburbs PDF Donate any amount to read a 6 page mini taking place when Anders and Maria went to Uni together and first started dating. (NSFW) You will be automatically redirected after donating. If not email me and I will hook you up. |
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November 17th, 2009 at 2:09 am
I’m enjoying Bjorn’s accent, it takes reading out loud to understand but it’s awesome.
Also- hope illness has departed. =D
ALSO ALSO- ambigious latter panels? =S
November 17th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Still no baby?
November 17th, 2009 at 2:27 am
Aw, little Maria. So cute!
Also, wtf, is Tina about to commit suicide?
November 17th, 2009 at 2:31 am
She does not look like a happy chappy.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:36 am
Wow, I’m really worried about Tina…
November 17th, 2009 at 2:36 am
I had the same thought as Dominique. Don’t do it Tina!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:42 am
Tina is so CRAZY!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 2:44 am
HOW is Maria going to react?! Bjorn needs to go away and let Maria and Anders be…garsh.
November 17th, 2009 at 2:50 am
Aaaaww, Tina. I’ll give you hugs dear. :]
November 17th, 2009 at 2:51 am
I’m thinking Tina is about to off herself.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:11 am
Can anyone please translate bjorn’s speech for me? I read it aloud and still don’t get it. :S
November 17th, 2009 at 3:11 am
I agree. It looks like Tina’s about to go and kill herself in the last panel, but I really hope that she doesn’t.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:15 am
She took her shoes off….to kill herself.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:19 am
@Nila:
(I know why they let you go.)
(They took one look in there and put two and two together. I certainly can’t believe you flored Anders! No matter how much of a pussy he is.)
(He’s twice your size!)
November 17th, 2009 at 3:21 am
Subtitles, please? I’ve been fine for all the other accented ones, but this I can’t seem to get just right.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:22 am
Oh, whoops. Thanks Jeff.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:22 am
AWWW! this one made me smile. so sweet.
plus, the art is brilliant.
and my heart really does go out to tina,
the poor thing.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:23 am
i love the colors in the last panel. Can’t wait for the next update!
November 17th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Tina is SO CRAZY!!
I haven’t decided if I feel bad for her or not. And I agree that Bjorn needs to butt out! Let them have their moment for goodness sake!!
Hope you’re feeling better Rene!!
November 17th, 2009 at 3:41 am
It’s incredible how much emotion you can express in such stylized faces.In panel 7 even the position of her head says she’s about to give up, and her head is a blob. Amazing.
Also I am very very happy for the update
November 17th, 2009 at 4:02 am
hey hey now everyone, we shouldn’t jump to conclusions about tina until it happens. on a lighter note…I love how maria looks in that panel
November 17th, 2009 at 4:05 am
I don’t think suicide requires the removal of shoes…. but she does look like a crazzaay bitch.
Tina really freaks me out.
but oh my gosh. maria. so so cute. its obviously unanimous that she could not even get any cuter than that. <3
November 17th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Tina’s eyes make her look so unhinged! You can almost see the angel/devil combo on her shoulders.
November 17th, 2009 at 4:13 am
Shoes and suicide:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/27/BAOK137E4N.DTL
November 17th, 2009 at 4:13 am
Doesn’t it look like Tina is standing between two tracks in the last panel?
November 17th, 2009 at 4:18 am
Oh poor tina… The last panel is so touching, the composition just adds a wonder sense of solitude.
Love the “harden criminals” line too
November 17th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I thought I was crazy for thinking Tina looks like she’s about to commit suicide, until I read the comments.
It’s not worth it Tina!!!
I love Anders and I love Maria in this one
November 17th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Oh I’m so glad that you’re feeling well enough to update again so quickly! I hope you have a different comic in mind once this one comes to a conclusion….I must say your art style and story telling are addicting.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:36 am
either kill herself or steal the baby
November 17th, 2009 at 5:37 am
What is that that she is walking in-between in the last panel?
railroad tracks?
Also glad you are getting better Rene, that illness hit my family HARD a few weeks ago, everyone was out for like 2 weeks, ad it sucked.
Love the comic, and my heart goes out to Tina, poor gal.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Bjorn was there for Maria while Anders was being a coke up slut monkey.
He may not have had sex with Little Shit, but remember him making out with her friend and groping all over LS? Way to go, Daddy to be!!! I know Bjorn’s not perfect, but seriously…at least he wasn’t throwing his other baby mama drama at 9 months pregnant Maria and screwing about town with jail bait.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:58 am
I’m hoping that Anders and Maria both learn their lesson.
And that Bjorn will get his fat head OUT OF THE SCENE and Johan too so that they can have some alone time.
And Tina, don’t do it. Things might seem rough now, but think about the good things – you have that attractive job at that gas station, right? And the warm, fuzzy memories of a false pregnancy.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:58 am
blah trying not to whine about the dialects but I spent 5 minutes trying to figure out what bjorn was saying but I still needed the subtitles (thanks Jeff!) to understand it
Horray for updating though!!
The last four panels are beautiful.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:18 am
I’m suddenly very worried about Tina.
November 17th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Maria looks really cute and vulnerable in this page.
Its a good look for her! XD
But yeah, Tina is looking really…Crazed. Crazed and suicidal. Something tells me shes going to commit suicide the minute Maria’s baby is born…
November 17th, 2009 at 6:39 am
Looking at the last panel, are those stylized railroad tracks Tina is walking next to? They could also be some sort of stylized public paths, I suppose. But railroad tracks seem a bit ominous…
November 17th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Maria! Why do you have to look so helpless and cute? Why!
November 17th, 2009 at 7:45 am
I love love love Maria in that panel! I would love to have it as a wallpaper.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:10 am
I’m pleasantly surprised to see a page up so soon after the lapses! I hope they keep coming like this.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:21 am
I don’t want her to go and kill herself, but man, I really can’t stand Tina. After all of the stupid things Anders and Maria have done, I still love both of them, and I hope they end up happy together… But Tina, just ugh. She’s the only character in the story I dislike at all.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:22 am
Well, I think Tina is going to find some sort of closure in the woods..maybe going to the spot where she and Johan used to fool around, do some thinking..I think she can still get it together.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Is she walking along train tracks?
November 17th, 2009 at 10:32 am
@Naoko I’ve seen people express contempt for just about every character here in the comments, but I find it impossible to hate any of them. It’s a testament to Renee’s incredible writing, really – they all feel just like real people. Everybody fucks up sometimes, but none of them are cartoonish “bad guys.”
Oh man, I seriously need this comic to have a happy ending.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am
…so finally Anders shows a bit of guts…and finally Anders and Johan sort of team up together: I think it is very meaningful that Anders uses the ”we” when he answers back to Bjorn and that Jonah looks like he is very fine with that…
November 17th, 2009 at 10:43 am
One life comes into the world, another leaves.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Bjorn is kind of getting on my nerves. Yes, he’s always ‘there’ for Maria, but it’s not like he’s just doingit because he’s a good person- he wants her for himself too. And, call me shallow, he’s just so unattractive.
BTW- I realise you’re super busy Rene, but I still haven’t heard back about not receving the pdf? Did you get my email?
November 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I agree with Sadie…Bjorn is starting to show who he is…but what a victory for Anders a Jhan the relieved welcome Maria tributes to them (You made it…). That will get on his nerves!
November 17th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I seriously can’t understand what bjorn is saying, even when I read out loud…
=[
November 17th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
after reading the comments i JUST realized that Tina is walking in between railroad tracks. Oh god I hope she doesn’t do what we’re all thinking
I too enjoyed the “hardened criminals” bit. It shows how Anders and Johan are finally learning to get along/ how Anders isn’t so quick to get pissed anymore.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
aw, Maria gets to have everyone important with her for support! yay!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
and Tina gets to be cut in half by a train, the meddling tramp! yay!
her last thoughts will probably be that she is all alone in the world! yay!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Awwwwww. Poor little Maria looks so overwhelmed!
November 17th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
I wonder what tina is thinking about… perhaps what groceries she may buy, or her favorite movie perhaps? I look like that when I think about Turner & Hooch
November 17th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
this is going to be made into a book, yes? i can just imagine flipping through all the artwork and re-reading the whole story. i’m sad the story will end, but sometimes that is for the best. after it’s over, i will anxiously anticipate its publication.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
I’m really proud of how your art has matured since the first comic, especially
the characters’ faces.
I love the worry lines under Ander’s and Tina’s eyes in panels 5 and 7. Her face made me scrunch mine up subconsciously in worry as well.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
I mean the accent is fun and all, but I think you should tone it down just a little bit. Just for readability’s sake. I’m sure it’ll still come across as an accent.
November 17th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I would buy the SH!T out of this book.
Bjorn’s probably full of all kinds of emotions at this point, too. Maria almost had his baby once, remember. This is probably incredibly painful for him. I think he’s doing the I’m-really-nervous-so-I’m-babbling thing. It would be nice for Anders and Maria to have some alone time together… but they’ve kind of screwed (pun?) themselves out of that one, don’t you think? It’s nice for her that she gets to have all of the important men in her life with her at this point.
Rene, you’re my HERO, and I preemptively hope you get better!
November 17th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
I’m no good at Mad Gab. =[
November 18th, 2009 at 2:28 am
I am another person who really does not like Tina. But I hope she doesn’t kill herself. She’s a big ball of crazy but… I don’t want her to die or anything. =( Don’t look so sad Tina, it’ll all be okay.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:50 am
Perhaps I missed it, but what happened to Maria’s last pregnancy … with Bjorn?
November 18th, 2009 at 3:02 am
@Betterforsome, I didn’t say I actually hate her, but I can’t stand her – and that’s probably because she is so realistic. I can sympathize with all the characters in some way, but I can’t feel bad for Tina at all. If she was a cartoonish “bad guy,” she might be entertaining, even likeable – but no, she just seems to me like the jerk who’s so confused about her own life that she has to go and mess with other peoples’ lives. I think she’s nice sometimes, maybe even cute, but generally, I think she’s just an insecure jerk.
On the other hand, I love Bjorn, Anders, and especially Maria, but I don’t know who I’d hope for her to end up with. Obviously, considering the way the story began and what our title is, we should be cheering for Anders… But Bjorn is such a great guy, too. They’re both great, as long as they can keep it in their pants from now on.
November 18th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Tina is F**King nuts!
November 18th, 2009 at 5:27 am
@Naoko fair enough. I feel like a lot of her fuck-ups come from her extreme vulnerability, but I know a lot of people don’t like her.
I’d like to see a happy ending for everybody, really, but given how things have gone so far I’d be surprised if we get one.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:28 am
No, how can you hate Tina?? She is just so desperate. The way I see it, her family took Maria and Johan in, treated them as their own kids, and in return got a pregnant teenager, a lifelong hate by Maria, and a steady supply of graffiti on their house. And Tina has just been desperate for love all along. I feel so sorry for her, the way other stronger characters just push her around… And that sad sad false pregnancy thing. I’d probably be annoyed with her in real life but she’s just so sad.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:50 am
That accent is waaaay too strong. I have to say, as a fellow comic artist and illustrator and avid comic reader, it really becomes a pain to have to read the same speech bubble six times just to get an idea of what is being said.
I really like the idea of them having an accent, but I do not dig how it is inconsistent with the rest of the story. I also do not like how strong they are. Just try to die it down a bit.
Also, I hate to be the odd one out but I am glad the story is coming to an end. I mean, most webcomics go on for thousands of issues (if they are successful) but become more of a routine rather than what feels like an actual story. The fact that this is concluding makes it feel like an actual precious series, rather than one that is still trucking on for ten years. That being said, please don’t rush it 90% of your readers are impatient. Please don’t rush it because you are sick of the hassle. Take your time, and I am sure you won’t disappoint us with a lackluster ending. Im excited to see how everything folds out in the last bit of this story.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Rene, if you catch what your kids have, you may want to see an immunologist. You should not be able to get so sick, so often.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Do a flip!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
The accent is perfect, I know a lot of people in my hometown who speak exactly like that
November 18th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
I got the accent in one go. If anything the bit that threw me about it was that “I certainly can’t believe you floored anders” It just seems out of place when the rest of the accent is so thick.
Also I am another one a bit worried about tina… She’s walking barefoot between two tracks, presumably following Anders’ train, and looking mighty unhinged…
November 19th, 2009 at 3:00 am
I’m constantly astounded by how much emotion you pack into a few lines, Rene, both in the extreme closeup of Anders and the headshot of Tina. At first I thought she was simply chilling, feeling the grass under her toes, but now I notice tracks on either side of her. Always something more to discover in your pages.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:55 am
Ditto what AJ said. It would terrify me if I was sick as often as you are.
Also, ditto about the accent. I had to wait for a translation in the comments to get it.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Its kind of weird how many people think Tina deserves to die. These are people who have obviously never felt loss, desperation, or failure to the point of giving up. Yes, Tina is fictional(remember?). Her pain is very true to life and it makes me sick to think that people like her that need help are looked down upon and wished death upon in our society. Sometimes people do fucked up things on purpose but you have to think about why they did it and what may have happened to them to cause them to act that way. Maybe people like that are annoying or pathetic, but try living a life of constant disappointment and see how you come out of it.
Renee, lovely writing.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:06 am
I have to say I don’t really like the accents, especially because they happen so suddenly in the series. I wouldn’t like them even if you go back and change the archives to include them. To me, it makes it more difficult to relate to the character.
When most characters speak with their words properly spelled, and others have speech full of missing letters and unusual vowels, it seems like the author is making fun of some of the characters, designating them as “not normal”. I dislike it in any literature.
Of course, i can see that a lot of people LOVE the accents, too
November 19th, 2009 at 10:20 am
…is it just me or ”Anders love Maria” plot would make such an amazing TV serial? I have few names in mind of actors who could perfectly be the charachters…
November 19th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
what is bjorn saying? anyone?
November 19th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Rhadreco, see Jeff’s translation in the 13th comment.
November 19th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
My translation of Bjorn in the second frame;
*They took a look at you and put two and two together. I certainly can’t believe you floored Anders, never mind how much of a pussy he is, he’s twice your size.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
@AJ. Actually, most single moms I know are, and catch whatever their kids catch, too. It’s a cycle, because you can’t just lie down and get better, but have to stay up and take care of them despite being sick yourself. Add two jobs -kid care and making money- and a typical lack of quality sleep, and you don’t need an expert to tell you what’s wrong.
Classically, it gets better when the youngest is in school and they have smaller, steadier peer groups.
November 19th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I have been following this comic for about a year and I love the way it has progressed. Rene I am deeply impressed with your characters, and support your use of the accent. It adds a personality.
I suppose its a compliment that some people cannot stand some of the characters. It shows how real you have made them. I relate closely to Anders, having many of the same character flaws that he has. I have loved a like Maria, and a woman like Tina. I have friends like Bjorn and Johan.
This comic is like life. It has tragic elements, but is full of hope. The reader wants the characters to be happy. People may have their own hopes as to who ends up together, but they want to see people find love and companionship. Anders + Maria, Maria + Bjorn, Anders + Tina, Tina + Johan, Maria + Tina (why not?) If you are rooting for Anders + Maria, its easy to hate Tina. Yet, if the story started half way in, and the reader was introduced to Tina first, it is easy to see how she could be the sane stable one who was trying to support and understand Anders.
If people hate any your characters, I suspect it is because they do not understand them. Or because they are reminded of someone they knew that hurt them.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I’m rooting for Anders and Maria, but i want Tina to be ok.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I hope you’re doing well, keep up the good work.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
@Michael: I hate on Tina because I identify with Maria. I’ve never been cheated on, and I wouldn’t go and graffiti a girl’s house… But from the way I understand it, Tina made Maria’s life a living hell, and then turned around and screwed both her brother and her boyfriend. Not many people give much respect to “the other woman,” regardless of her mental problems, tough live, etc.
November 19th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Tough life* typo.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:30 am
Even though the updates are sporadic, I love it and it’s even more of the charm for me. I know you’ll be done soon Rene, but I honestly don’t know what I will do when you’ve finished this up! The art is beautiful, I especially love the last frame, but the one with Maria (panel 6) is amazing, too. Hope you’re feeling much better soon.
November 20th, 2009 at 4:58 am
You know what I find neat about this? Even though the comic has been up a while, and Maria’s been pregnant for a loooong time, she’s finally having her baby and in real life my friend is about to have her baby. I dunno if this sound stupid or not but I thought it was neat so I figured I’d share.
November 20th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I’m getting worried Rene has some immune deficiency or something. The Jewish mother in me is concerned.
November 20th, 2009 at 9:37 am
So last night I had a dream that when Tina’s phone was ringing, it was a text from Anders telling her to go jump off a bridge because he was done with her.
What a weird dream.
November 20th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Be positive guys! Maybe she is just walking along the tracks because she decided to walk! (She WAS on a train after all
)
November 20th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
@meag It’s that she’s walking BETWEEN the tracks and not so much along them that causes concern. It’d be pretty hard to dodge a train from there, after all.
November 20th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Tina’s gunna off herself, callin it right now.
November 21st, 2009 at 5:15 pm
ahhhh! the suspense is killing me D:
November 21st, 2009 at 8:23 pm
@Snow I dunno actually. I mean, walking between the tracks is far less suicidal than walking ON the tracks.
November 21st, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I had to go back and read the whole thing again just to find out half the shit that has happened because for some reason it was not refreshing every time there was a new installment. I didn’t know he had gotten naked with Little Shit! Or that he had been in jail.
I feel sorry for Tina and think she is better for Anders than that psychopath, Maria, any day of the week. And she’s way (in a cartoony way) hotter than Maria anyway.
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
While we’re speculating about illnesses… I will say that I used to get sick at least once a month, and then I switched jobs and didn’t get sick again for a whole year! I don’t know if it was the stress that was causing me to get ill all the time, or the exposure to other people (the older job was retail, and although I was in the back office I was counting germ-ridden money every day), or the workplace itself (mold?). I also moved in March and that seems to have made improvements on my health too (but then again– no roommate now = less stress, etc).
In any case, there’s no harm in visiting a doctor about it in the small chance that there is an underlying medical cause.
Otherwise, I would say stress is the main culprit–single mum, trying to make ends meet, long-distance relationship, unsteady sources of income, pain-in-the-ass ex husband (i’m guessing), and other various points of stress mentioned or alluded to in Rene’s personal blog indicate she’s got a lot on her plate. Not to mention all the pain-in-the-ass fans whining about slow updates (ok ok, myself included sometimes, but it’s SO GOOD!).
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I so agree with So-cal. I vote for Bjorn.
We all like Anders, because he’s one of the main characters here, but he also acted like a total jerk so many times! Bjorn just seems to be a better man.
November 22nd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I am due to have my twins any day now.. Wouldn’t that be fabulous?
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:13 am
o man.. this is really coming a long.. i just did the entire thing in a day
its like that best novel i cant put down.. but in a comic stip! i fucking love it! i dont think Tina is suicidal.. she looks like she’s just like.. lost and .. without hope for what she wants. i’ve had that feeling 
poor tina.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Oh, and Maria looks like a Berenstein Bear in that panel.
November 24th, 2009 at 5:27 am
Tina is walking between two sets of train tracks, not two tracks. She’s in the area between where trains would run. That’s not necessarily more comforting given what looks like her state of mind, but at least she’s not just waiting for a train to run her down.
November 24th, 2009 at 6:52 am
@ Ashley In a way it is, it’s easier to dodge one coming from one direction. It’s highly unlikely that two trains from opposite directions would pass each other there, while she’s there. Possible, but unlikely (as I keep telling myself).
November 24th, 2009 at 7:33 am
oh man. totally totally dying of suspense here. i am so worried for tina. I know shes a needy little so and so, but i relate to her so much. poor girl.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:04 am
I guess I’m the only one who thinks Tina is doing the walk of shame. Anders had called her earlier, right?
November 24th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I hope we get a comic soon. I’ll be out of town for a while, and may not have a connection.
November 24th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I love the little community that’s sprung up on the comments as we speculate here instead of the forums.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:01 am
@Snow: as an engineer (you know, on trains) I can tell you that it is highly likely for two trains to pass each other, and when they do, you really do not want to be between them. I would feel a lot more comfortable if Tina would walk somewhere like on the sidewalk.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:22 am
I can’t believe how many people hate on Tina without hating Anders! Call me crazy, but is it not typical for people to blame the woman and not the man in a pair of cheaters? They both did something wrong. Oh, and then Anders slutted it up all around town. With his friend’s underage daughter and co. wtf.
hahaha I hate Anders. Go Bjorn for actually BEING there.
November 25th, 2009 at 4:16 am
@smallhound,
I completely agree. It always astounds me how the two women will go after each other instead of the man who did them wrong.
I don’t really care if Anders and Maria get back together romantically, as long as Anders makes sure to be a part of his child’s life.
As for Tina, the fact that she was already so desperate to be loved when she met Anders makes me feel sorry for her and I hope that nothing bad happens to her.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:03 am
I hate Anders more than Tina….. its a weird love hate. everyone is weak, imperfect, human.
November 25th, 2009 at 7:05 am
@Smallhound, Anders is a jerk, but he’s also got a likeable personality in some way or another, and he (sometimes) feels remorse for what he did. On the other hand, Tina is using cheating as a crutch, and is trying to pull Anders back while he tries to move on and become a better person. Instead of moving on or trying to fix her own life, she tried to blackmail Anders with a baby she knew wasn’t there. Ander’s a total jerk, and he cheated more than anyone else, but at least he’s likeable.
And I’m pretty sure he didn’t actually do it with Lena’s daughter. They just cuddled. Still really bad, but they supposedly didn’t actually do it.
I think I like Bjorn more than Anders, but I can’t help but want Anders to become a better (non-cheating) person and stay with Maria.
November 26th, 2009 at 12:43 am
I think what make’s it so easy to hate Tina is the fact that she IS so relatable; we all know those codependent girls with daddy issues who have gotten screwed over in the past and then make everyone else lives miserable. Obviously she is a product of her environment, therefore she is not completely to blame for her craziness, and of course most readers will empathize with her struggles, but that does not make it all that much easier to really forgive her. I imagine most readers understand her actions, how she reacted in a way based primarily on past negative experiences, how she related her relationship, pregnancy, and abandonment with Anders to Johan.
But the fact that she has done nothing to break from her enabling, codependent, and inappropriately clingy behavior gives us little hope for her development. Should she take steps to set boundaries, form healthy relationships, and create goals for herself apart from potential love interests that she convinces herself will make everything better, then she has a fighting chance. Otherwise, perhaps it is better that she offs herself. I believe everyone has the opportunities to change their situation, but unless she believes that what hope does she really have?
Same goes for Anders. Babies don’t make everything better, they complicate things. As a parent the world would no longer simply be about Anders, and he would have a lot more responsibility weighing on him. It’s not a matter of deserving each other, it’s a matter of what makes most sense, and to me that is looking more and more like Bjorn; while Anders initially wanted the child, he has done little to show that he can adequately put its let alone anyone else’s needs above his own desires, whereas the headstrong bachelor Bjorn has shown much deeper and less wavering devotion and commitment to Maria and the baby.
But then, I’m all for communal child rearing if that’s what Maria decides is best.
November 26th, 2009 at 9:26 am
it makes me sad that nobody read my comment and keeps assuming she’s going to kill herself. just because she’s walking along the tracks doesn’t mean she’s going to kill herself.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I doubt she’s committing suicide. Several comics ago, Anders presumably called her while on the train. She didn’t answer, and gave away her phone. Now, she’s shown walking away, moving on, getting over Anders and getting on with her life.
November 26th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Go Bjorn!
November 26th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I agree, I’d rather think that she’d steal Maria’s baby to make up for the baby that she never had, as well as have a piece of Anders
November 26th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I dont know guys, personally, that second last frame there? the look in her eyes is the most scary bit for me, more so by far than the train tracks, simply because its an unfocused, vacant kind of despair. this is not a girl with a long term plan, this is not a girl with inner resources. she looks like a rabbit in the headlights of a huge truck.
November 26th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Jeez, great job capturing that vacant lost look in Tina’s face. I’m actually worried about her character atm!
November 27th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Kinda looks like Tina’s gonna off herself.. but she did see Anders on the train going the other way, and she does look a bit mental, soooo possible she’s gotten off her train and is following his?
Although if a train were to pass, even though she’s not walking on the tracks, where she’s standing she’d still probably get sucked under cause of the pressure… according to my physics teacher 3 years ago
November 27th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
@Julie: Maybe not so much actively killing herself, but not resisting letting an accident happen.
November 28th, 2009 at 1:36 am
i don’t think those are train tracks, its just a regular trail in a park, right?
November 28th, 2009 at 8:06 am
@Greensis I think I agree with you. She just doesn’t look like she is really thinking/caring about anything right about now. Not going looking for it, but certainly not acting 100% normal.
I still don’t think her look is entirely depressed though. I think it’s more a complete lack of emotion, the kind of neutrality you only get when you hit rock bottom. Only so many tears to cry, right? I’ve been there. It’s not like you’re suicidal or depressed, because both of those would take emotion and effort. It’s more like being a zombie?
Could be just me though
November 28th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
tina definitely needs a hobby
November 28th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
@meag I totally agree. There is something in Tina’s look that I interpret as a plea for help, except she has no expectation of anyone in the world caring about her in any positive way and it can seem like the only voices are negative ones that just reinforce the internal voices that she lives with 24/7. Oh Tina, there are more than a few people here who care and are worried and want you to be safe – including me. So, since I don’t know what to *do* in this situation I’ll just offer to walk beside you and listen if there’s anything you’d like to talk about.
@Michael… yep, Rene often offers challenges to me in this comic, in the ways that I’m like Anders, or Tina, or Maria, or Little Shit. These characters really hit home. That’s one of the reasons I love it. In addition to the amazing art perspectives and the evolution.
Rene, I celebrate your contribution to life, the universe and everything. I wish for you to receive your heart’s desire.
November 28th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
She is not going to kill herself. She is just following the tracks that Anders was on to find him to try and win him back in some kind of weird twisted way. Shes a stalker not suicidal.
November 30th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Oh well, no comic this week. I’ll still keep checking back though.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Thinking about how many comics are left in this series (10? 15?), I’m betting this is the last we’ll see of Tina. I don’t see anything left to resolve for her character in the main story, so Tina is walking into the sunset and Renee will leave her fate ambiguous. Works for me.
November 30th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I wonder if we’ll ever find out what happened to Maria and Bjorn’s baby…
December 1st, 2009 at 4:06 pm
@ Emma Kate … I am starting to wonder if we will ever find out about Maria and Anders’ baby… updates are almost nonexistent.
Rene is running out of excuses. finish the comic already and put us all out of our collective waiting misery
December 1st, 2009 at 7:24 pm
fuck u zac
December 1st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
@zac
It only takes 2 seconds to check to see if there is an update. Some days I check, some days I don’t.
December 1st, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Johan is my favorite character. I want to hang out with him and listen to Opeth.
@Zac Rene seems pretty into this comic, I am sure only the most serious of situations keep her from updating it. If there aren’t a lot of updates that probably means something is indeed wrong. I think, if you are fan, you would be better to wish her well rather than complaining.
@Rene I hope all is well with you. I never posted before but rest assured I think you have created some of the best characters on the internet. I hope you get well soon so we can see how it all ends.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:44 am
Rene, regardless of what people like Zac say, all I can do is beg you to please don’t rush the comics just because some people are impatient. I’d rather wait a year for 20 comics than a month for 10 rushed ones.
Screw impatient jerks, I’ll be happy if you just focus on keeping your family healthy and giving us the full story you’ve planned out. I read a ton of webcomics, and this is certainly my favourite – it’s so real.
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:46 am
@Julie
That won’t happen, by personal experience you won’t be sucked under the train, you’re going to be pushed away from it
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:17 am
I can’t believe it’s this close to The Grand Finale! I agree with the others, don’t rush, let us savor this moment because when the story is over, we will have seen everything.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:17 am
Really people, shes a single mom and has a life. She’s doing a fine job with updates, especially with TWITTER
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:36 pm
ugh, here we go again.. I am a LOYAL reader and I happen to follow her on twitter, too along with some other webcomic artists that sometimes stay up all night to get their comic out on time … without 8 million excuses. This has been going on for way too long… she is lucky to have loyal fans like you and she takes advantage of it. That’s all. I wouldn’t say anything if I didn’t care.
December 2nd, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I think we should try and remember that Rene doesn’t HAVE to do this comic. I mean, she has enough going on in her life (taking care of her kids, trying to cope with everything) without juggling a webcomic and fans too. She never HAD to start Anders Loves Maria, you know? I think we should just be grateful that she chose to share such a beautiful story with us.
Don’t worry about it, Rene. We know you’re doing your best, and that’s all we can ask.
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:38 pm
OH MY GOD! when will the baby get here!
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
@Julie:
The Mythbusters busted the “getting sucked under the train thing”.
I thought it was plausable, but you are actually more likely to be sent flying from the wind (if you are really, really light!) than get sucked under.
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 pm
@Zac:
Go read what her summer was like in her livejournal and stfu.
December 3rd, 2009 at 4:55 am
@zac
For being a loyal fan, you’re quite a disappointment partner.
I still check everyday a few times a day, and I just hope she gets better and ready to go with the story again, no need to rush her.
We all love Rene?
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 am
Several things: @AJ – I am intrigued by your idea of the walk of shame. @Renee – I hope so much that you publish ALM as a book!! I would be thrilled to buy such a lovely product. Get well soon! @everybody else (except zac) – I’m so glad that there are so many awesome people wishing Renee well
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 am
Oops, *Rene. My phone auto corrected to my friend’s spelling, sorry Rene!!
December 4th, 2009 at 12:47 am
I think everyone should leave Zac alone. Why is he not entitled to his own opinion? Because it doesn’t follow all of yours? Cheers to Zac for standing up and saying how he felt, when I am sure he knew he was going to be bombarded with remarks about him being a jerk (or worse) for daring to say how he really feels about it all.
I think Zac has every right to vent out a frustration of lack of updates, if he is feeling that way.
As far as Renee and her/her family’s health issues: it gets down to this (holy crow, in my own opinion!): they aren’t really any of our business. Renee did declare a while back that she will essentially update whenever she is capable, which right now, appears to be rarely/not at all. We can choose to come back on occasion and check, subscribe to the RSS Feed, or not come back at all, whatever we want. We are also free (as Renee sees fit) to write how we feel about it all in the comments page, or in the forum area. Don’t forget that Renee reads all of these ahead of time and greenlights the comments. If she felt Zac’s comment had no validity, she would not have approved it.
Renee, you did have a very rough summer and I can empathize on many levels, my heart truly goes out to you and I hope you come out of whatever you are going through (if indeed you are going through tough times, maybe you truly just need a A<3M break) tougher than ever. I wish nothing for the best for you and yours.