Sawbones began 5 years ago as Sawyer and Bones appeared as background players of a bunnified version of Poe’s the Raven.

Recently I realised that that story wasn’t on the site and went looking for it. Turns out i don’t actually have a copy on any of my computers. Technology moves so fast i’ve been through 4 of them in that time. So I used my moderate google-fu skills and found it online. Apparently nothing dies on the interwebs.

Anyway reading through the story I was struck by two things.

1. Jen’s storytelling was just as delightful 5 years ago. Reading the story with so much water under the bridge was like reading it for the first time and I loved the turns of phrase and way she balanced the horror tone with the comedic twist.

2. There was no way I could bear putting that art up online now. I don’t know a single artist who doesn’t cringe at old work and i’m no different. So over the last few weeks I’ve redrawn the comic. Tightening it up a little and adding a little more mood. I’m sure in another 5 years I’ll hate this too but it’s a start.

I do however want to aknowledge how this started so as this story progesses there’ll be a link at the bottom of the comic where you can look at the original version.

I hope you enjoy this.

Well that’s it. Our adventure draws to a close. Five years and 289 pages of fun with a cast of lovable characters. I’ve been soo lucky to have even one person join me on this trip but it’s been a lot more than one or two people who have walked the road with us.

You don’t do this for five years with out having some people to thank. Probably more than I’ll ever remember, but i’ll try. It’s the least I can do.

Firstly, as always, thank you to our partners. Your support allows us to fly on these flights of fancy. Laundry is done, dishes are washed while we run around with Sawyer and Bones at the circus or the opera.

Thanks to Anthony Earl. He’s been offering words of encouragement, editing advice and business savvy since day one.

Thanks to all the artists who have contributed throughout the years. Aaran McKenna, Andrew Fulton, Chris Wahl, Hayden Fryer, Rhys McDonald, Dave Cunning, Jacen Carpenter (whose Monstar comic contains more puns per cubic inch than any comic i’ve ever read and I love it), Tom Bonin, Henry Pop and Bobby N. and every artist who has provided suggestions, inspiration or criticism.

To the readers who have come back week after week. Nick, Jake, young Sarah who keeps coming up to say hi at conventions.

Thanks to our families who encourage, who try and get it even when it’s not their cup of tea, thanks to all of you.

I’m excited about moving forward. I’ll be doing some work for several anthologies, doing some fun illustrations and then onto the next big project. A reimagining of the Snow White legend. You can keep up-to-date on my projects at my facebook page www.facebook.com/trevorwoodart

Jen’s got a plethora of projects on the go. Her ability to tell heart warming, engaging story after story amazes me. To keep up-to-date visit her site www.jenbreach.com

Thanks again folks.

HUZZAH!

-Trev

Ladies and gentlemen, this will be the final Sawbones adventure for the forseeable future. The first Sawbones arc began in May 2007 so we’ve been going for over 5 years now and I’ve had an absolute ball drawing these characters. In fact I think in ideal circumstances I’d be doing Sawbones until someone pulled the pen out of my lifeless hand.

However in the five years we’ve been doing this we’ve failed to really take off in the way I think this strip deserves and it’s gotten harder and harder putting so much of my heart and soul into the pages knowing how few are reading.

I know that quiting because I’m not getting enough love sounds like sour grapes but it’s not. Sawbones as well as being fun began for me with one overarching goal. To get better as an artist. And you can’t improve in a vacuum. I feel I’m at the point where my art has improved to the point where I want to reach a bigger audience so that more people can let me know what I can improve upon.

This has been an incredibly hard decision to make and i’m truely sad to be ending the comic. In fact I’ve known for a few months it was time to sign off but couldn’t bring myself to announce it until now because I love this cast so much and had so many more stories I wanted to tell (including the origins of Sawyer and Bones).

Sawbones isn’t the end of Jen and myself being creative. In fact Jen’s got more irons in the fire than ever before and I can’t wait to see what’s next for her. As for me I’ll soon be doing a few contributions to some local books before beginning my next major project with a talented new collaborator. When I work out the best way to let you guys how to keep up to date with what I’m doing I’ll be sure to let you know.

In the meantime enjoy the story and thank you so very very much for joining us on this journey. It’s been such a pleasure doing it and I hope you’ve had even a fraction of the fun I’ve had.

Much love.

Trev.

This arc is drawn by the talented Andrew Fulton who is currently travelling with Jen across the grand old United States (actually about now he’ll be in Toronto for TCAF). Andrew’s comic Mumblier is sometimes NSFW, sometimes strange but always beautiful and delightful. Jen and I are huge fans of both his comic and his resplendant beard. Sadly he’s not such a great mario cart player but we still love him.