Alright, the last page of this arc is up. I’m done for a while…I can’t believe it took two months to do it. Thank you all so much for your support, your hits, and your links. I’m already contemplating the ways that I can come back. Schemes and ideas. So keep half an eye on the site, and follow me on Twitter and Deviant Art for my triumphant return.

I’m not putting a date on it, but wander in during the Summer and I’ll at least have some kind of update for you. Until then: Peace, love and everything else.

-Paoken’s Keeper

End update.

I guess I should just stop pussy-footing around it…I’ve been trying to deny it to myself for way too long.

But I’m done, for a while at least. I’ve got no time in my life right now for the comic, and as much as it pains me to say it, I need to hang up it up.

It’s been building for a while now. Since I started Book Two, I think. But I just don’t have the heart for it anymore. I love The PKF, but it needs to be put aside for a while so I can decide my next move.

See, I thought I’d be able to hire someone to work on the art for me, but the more I look into it the more I realize that for what I’d be offering, I’d be lucky to get a decent penciler. Which would leave me with inks/colors/post work (lettering, bubbles, etc.).

And I don’t think that I could even keep up with that. So I’d be doing a disservice to the artist, myself, and all of you.

Back when I started this comic I was a bored senior in high school who’s more strenuous activity was marathon gaming sessions with his friends.

Then it was college…and let’s all be honest here, the first two years of college are a joke. I mean, I barely had to work for anything other than an odd project here or there.

But the last two years it’s been work, studying, preparing for a career, finding a job that starts said career, and now trying to maintain that career and excel at it.

And now my living situation has changed (I’ve never been one to whine to you, so I won’t go into it), and I need to concentrate on saving every penny so that I can move out as soon as I can.

So the comic is getting taken off the burner officially.

I hardly have time to sit and relax, let alone force myself to do something that I no longer have a passion for.

And that’s just it, really. I’m sick of keeping a schedule, the only times I’ve really enjoyed drawing lately were when I was doing for giggles.

And that means I procrastinate working on the comic.

Worse, it means I put off doing things I WANT to do, like write.

See, I wasn’t lying about that. I still love to write. But I’m sick of drawing. I’m sick of watching my stories stagnate with a weekly (if I’m lucky) update.

So my illustrious twelve month plan is dead.

But I’ve got a new idea. Something vaguely crazy, but I think it will work out better for everyone.

I’m going to start work on a new story, a new comic. I’m going to prepare, and work, and write it. Then I’m going to find an artist, and pay them decently. And I’m going to publish it online.

It’s not The PKF, it’s something else. Something that I came up with five years ago, but ignored, but now I’ve got the angle.

I’ve got the idea right.

And I’m going to go for it.

I’ll tell you a little secret, when I started the PKF in 2005, I had no idea what I was doing. I had twenty or thirty stories written over a ten year period that I decided I was going to make into a comic.

Since then it’s expanded as I learned more and more about what I wanted my stories to be. But I’ve always been left with those early comics that I hadn’t planned out well enough, and they make my life hell.

But not this time. I’m going to have this new story totally planned out. And ready. So when it hits the intertubes I’ll know exactly where it’s going.

Sadly, this does mean I’m hanging up my PKF hat for the time being.

But, and here’s the honest to god truth, I’ve never stayed away from it for too long. The PKF has been around since I was seven years old, and this was the biggest, longest, period of my life that I consistently work on it.

It’s always been there, and will always be there.

And when I’m ready, The PKF will continue. Maybe with a time skip. Maybe from right here, right now.

But it will continue. You have my word.

Just…later.

As it stands, I’ll finish this arc (I’ve always hated with web-comics end midarc), but then I’m going on extended hiatus.

I won’t ask the few of you to keep checking in, that wouldn’t be fair, I don’t know when I’ll relaunch. But if you keep an eye on My Deviant Art, or My Twitter, I’ll keep you appraised and you won’t even have to check the site.

But if you do stick around, I’ll keep the blog updated from time to time, and maybe I’ll even post a picture or two.

I don’t know.

But for now, it’s goodbye.

Thanks for an amazing six years.

And all the fish.

Peace, love, and all the other good things,
Paoken’s Keeper
(Keith Thomsen)