Mr. Wilkins has NOT left the building, thank you very much!
I know I have been very quiet and for that I am sorry. In no particular order, here’s what has been keeping me away from the comic and life in general.
- On June 2nd, we lost Bailey, our adopted elderly dog. She struggled with pancreatitis and it took a final toll on her. That was very hard and didn’t help with my depression.
- I started babysitting a toddler. My eldest son has a work friend who is a single mother. Long story short, I spent two months watching a baby from 2:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. every work day. To quote Detective Roger Murtaugh, “I’m too old for this shit.”
- We started demolition on our walk-out basement to finish the area for our youngest son to live. We literally just finished the bathroom which took nearly four months to complete thanks to southern contractors being so slow to actually do the work.
- I have had several health issues during all of the above. Mostly dizziness caused by life-long problems with my inner ears which caused a couple of falls. My depression also got worse (wonder why?). There are also concerns with my heart (I had a minor stroke back in 2017).
I have come to realize that as I approach 69 years of age, that my drawing days are essentially over. I am retiring both from comics and work in general. Life is too short to stress myself. So the work that I once loved to do has to take a backseat due to my age and health. I’m not happy about it, but it is the reality of things.
This website will go away very soon. All the content here will be moved over to the original website which will be around for as long as I’m breathing. I thank you all for your support over these past 18 years. An artist could not ask for better readers than those of you who have stuck with me all these years.
With that, I bid you all a fond farewell. Peace and love to you all.
Sorry to hear that, I’m not going to beg but I do enjoy both the comic and the chance to reminisce about things long past.
It was fun while it lasted, thank you. I’ll still drop by now and again just to see if any random things show up, because you never really know.
I truly believe in never-day-never, so if the motivation hits me, I will draw it and post it on the old website.
Thanks for reminiscing with us all.
I was going to think long and hard about a meaningful and appropriate closing CanCon Classic but looked back at the last page featuring The Kings and there was only one that popped into my head 😉
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV-5iNu6Sd8
and of course, the mandatory lyrics quote just sort of fits too…thanks again.
When they turn the pages of history
When these days have passed long ago
Will they read of us with sadness
For the seeds that we let grow?
Nice song to go along with the theme of the post!
Over the nearly past 20 years of doing the comic, I have reintroduced one of the greatest times in music history. The ’60s through the ’80s brought us a ton of great music, but the late ’70s always ranks as some of the best in my life.
Sorry to hear it. Didn’t mean to poke you in the soft spot with that letter. people i know have been dying a lot lately and i was just worried.
You do what you need to do.
I needed the poke, so do not apologize. I am in the midst of a bunch of heart-related tests that need to be done. I am sure I’m fine, but it’s good to get ahead of any issues that may be on the horizon for me.
As some who just got a loop monitor in my chest I understand completely.
I”ll miss you you were a friend comfort when beloved pop and rock icons like Ozzy Osborn died could help me remember them. At least one of the women in my building let mind her cat Phantom she is a sweet heart loves the treats, toys and belly rubs. During summer heat wave I let in her sleep on my bed and give her ice water. I’ll miss you hope the todder plays with you and gives you love my nieces were fun as children they are complex as adults.
I will miss your entertaining comments. They always inspired an idea or two. Thanks for being there for me all of these years.
Good luck with the future. Do what you can. Heartfelt thanks for what you have put out here, too.
Thanks, man! You’ve been along for the ride for quite a while and always enjoyed our interactions.
Sorry to hear that, always looked forward to your posts, but I can totally understand and wish you the best in life and in Health ! time to relax and enjoy life and Family.
Yeah, as I’m pushing 70 years old, I realized what Captain Picard said in the “Generations” movie that “there are fewer days ahead then behind” is very true and that it’s time to sit back and enjoy the view while I can. Thanks for joining me on this ride all these years.
I’m sorry to hear about your health issues, but I understand. Thank you so much for the years of enjoyment I’ve gotten from your posts!
Thanks you! I’m glad I’ve touched so many people with my silly drawings and love of the music of the late ’70s.
Sorry to hear about all you have been through in the past months. I am 69 as well and went heart surgery 7 years ago and just yesterday had my gall bladder removed after a sudden attack.
I just want to say that if drawing makes you happy, don’t give it up, whether we see it or not.
All best wishes to you.
Ouch! Heart surgery must have been hard. My wife had her gall bladder out when she had our third son and it was not fun either.
I am doing what makes me happy for sure. At the moment it’s not drawing, but I’ll never give up drawing and I’m sure I’ll be drawing Bud and the gang again at some point in time. Hopefully it’ll be good enough to share here. Thanks for being on the ride with me!+
Good luck, I had mine out over ten years ago and have had a half dozen more surgeries trying to fix the mess the first one left behind…even now I have a rather large abdominal hernia that I keep pushing back in, but i’m seriously leery of giving them another try.
Good to see you back. Your art has improved so much we’d hate to lose you.
Thanks, Mike. Retriing is a double-edged sword. Your body just can’t do what it used to do, but the brain still pushes you to do it. I’ve finally figured out I just don’t have the energy anymore. But, I’m hoping all of these medical tests I’m going through will help with my energy levels as I’m not ready to just sit on the front porch and yell at kids.
Byron, I will definitely miss the group and their adventures. I was hoping to see the promised NY adventure which you had prepared.
I am 69 as well and this has been a nostalgia trip. Hopefully, you will continue to draw for yourself, whether we see them or not.
Best wishes.
The “Taking On New York” story has been a huge regret of mine that I never finished it. It had a rather big ending involving a chase scene through the streets of New York. If I do ever return to the comic, that is the story I want to finish.
Byron,
Not going to lie, I am going to really miss seeing new comics from you, but I don’t want you to feel obligated to keep doing them, I really appreciate you keeping the website up and active, one thing I would suggest if you can with the software for the site, set it so it will cycle through the content on a schedule much like user friendly did up until the day the site went dark a number of years after the comic book series finished up.
Keep fighting the good fight, depression sucks, I deal with it myself. Low testosterone, Type 2 Diabetes, and a genetic blood disorder that causes me to be very prone to getting Deep Vein Thrombosis blood clots unless I stay on blood thinners for the rest of my life don’t help any either.
Getting old sucks, but it beats the alternative.
If you feel the urge now and again to draw up a comic or doodle and want to share, I will keep checking the website so I can enjoy the new content.
Thank you
Van
Thank you, Van! We all have our battles and I’ve often shared my battles so that others don’t feel alone. I’m sorry for what you’re going through, but yes, it does beat the alternative. I’m not ready to hang up my tennis shoes just yet.
Actually, that’s a great idea to set up the older comics to repost again. Perhaps I could do that here as this domain name is registered until 2028. I’ll take that suggestion to heart. Thanks!
I guess my previous comment got lost in cyberspace somewhere. In any case, deepest sympathies and good luck with the future.
Nope, your comment finally made it’s way to the website. I posted a reply above.
“So long, and thanks for all the fish” as Douglas Adams once published, you’ve had a good run and I am grateful for all of the work you have published to date. Thank you for the last update, and I wish you well to a nice quiet retirement. Your work has been greatly appreciated over the years, and you have entertained all of us far more than any disappointment. Maybe you might post some text of where you were going with your illustrated stories if you wish, but I thank you personally for all of what you have made. Take care!