Thus endeth The Last Arcade storyline! Hard to believe this arc has gone on for over six months, nearly fifty strips, included an appearance by Wil Wheaton and the return of the aliens. This has been the longest continuing storyline I’ve attempted so far and I gotta say: I had a ton of fun doing it. In fact, I had so much fun that I’d love to jump right into the next storyline, but I’m going to do a run of standalone strips first, just to cleanse the palate a bit.
Thank you all for being so supportive and vocal with all your feedback since this storyline started – all of it really helped to keep my enthusiasm up and the events on track. And those of you who want to know more about the aliens, cel’s connection to them and Musashi’s whereabouts will be happy to know that the events of this storyline will have large ramifications on the future of this strip, and will eventually lead to the answers to those very questions. As always – stay tuned! (Same BOT time, same BOT channel, etc.)
And if you’re new here or want to take a trip down memory lane from the beginning of this story arc, here’s the link:
• The Last Arcade
*snerk* Kareoke…love Cornfather’s comment!
Poor ‘bot…now he’s going to be all worried and stuff. Just hope his foot doesn’t get infected…
what!? can it be!? did you really just get three Firstings in a row, Tiana!? unbelievable. i’m not even sure i can bestow the Shades of Firsting on you at this point – you practically own them. nevertheless, wear them well!:
😎
and yes, although we’ll be transitioning to the standalone strips, bot will still be missing cel and worrying about her, which will be a subject that will still come up every so often.
Cool, I’ve loved this storyline, but it’ll be fun to get back to the standalone strips for a while. This seems to be a pattern that works for you: lots of standalones, then a long storyline, then back to the standalones.
*whispers* Shhhhh…trying not to jinx the streak.
thanks, T! yeah, that whole standalones/storyline/standalones/storyline pattern has seemed to evolve and as long as you guys are diggin’ it, i’ll keep doing it. 🙂
no jinxing… but *whispers* good luck!
Rats, looks like I just missed a first. 😛
I LOVE the pigeon staring at him. That gave me total morning happies. And I hope that Jefbot has a closet full of those shirts since this one has a big gaping hole in the elbow. Poor Bot having to deal with such a self-centered Cornfather when I’m sure all he can think about is whether cel is ok!
The drawing and colors on this strip are fabulous. I love the bright morning light. And Bot is a MESS!
So today is Taranchila’s birthday. I’ve already been out to get donuts so he can have a special breakfast. 🙂
yay for “morning happies,” shanna! thanks! and i do believe jefbot has a limitless supply of those shirts (at least until i decide to redesign it. heheh.) so he won’t need to wear that elbowless one for long. 🙂
and yeah – the Cornfather’s night can’t possibly compare to jefbot and cel’s night (unless Corn got shot at by aliens, too, which is doubtful.) jefbot’s definitely going to be worried about cel for quite some time.
and BIG BIRTHDAY WISHES AND CELEBRATIONS for Taranchila’s birthday! WOOOOOO! i might have to go get a donut later this morning so i can celebrate with you both from afar. 😀
So, why the stylized 6, anyway? Why can’t Jefbit occasionally wear something else?
although i subscribe to the comic strip trope of the characters always wearing the same clothes, i have changed their look on occasion. Lor got a new symbol, as did jefbot at one point, so it’s possible that it’ll happen again, Chaucer. 🙂
I hope Taranchila had a great birthday! *belated birthday hugs & kisses from a strange British girl who lives in the internet*
ha!
Best.Self.Description.EVER!
Totes WIN!
Finally got caught back up on the comic, I sorta lost track for a few weeks there. I’ve been way to caught up in preparations for the local anime convention (despite not being a huge anime fan :P)
Anyway, AWESOME end to the arc! I can’t wait to see more of the alien story unfold, but I too am welcoming the return of standalone strips! 😀
I hate you so much right now… I want to go to a Con so bad. >.<
It’s a pretty decent con too! Kawaii Kon out here in Hawaii. Really the only one I can go to seeing as flying is expensive 😛
You’re making it hard to resist the urge to kill you telepathically right now. 😛
Kawaii as in the island or Kawaii as in the Japanese “cute” movement? I’d be all for the Cuteness Con, myself, but I’m guessing it is the island Kawaii. For anyone not familiar with Kawaii (cute version), this will give you a good idea: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=kawaii&qpvt=kawaii&FORM=IGRE
As far as I know, there isn’t and island with the name Kawaii
OK, so my spelling isn’t great. After googling the names of the Hawaiian islands, I guess that would be Kaua’i. I pronounce them the same in my head. 😛
On the upside, cool! A Cute Con! I wanna go!
i wanna go too, Shanna! hmmm… if i attended the event as an exhibitor, i could write the whole trip off! 😉
Kawaii as in cute I guess, but I think it’s meant to be a play on words with the island of Kau’i. Anyway, it’s on Oahu in downtown Waikiki :] It’s my second year going, if you came as an exhibitor that’d be freakin’ amazing! It’s mostly anime, but there’s plenty of “western” material.
doesn’t look like i’m gonna be able to make it to the con in April, Zyconis, but it does look like i’ll be on Oahu visiting relatives in July! 😀
glad you’re all caught up, Zyconis! so when’s Kawaii Kon? (i’m interested cause i might be visiting relatives in Hawaii sometime in the next few months.)
and thanks for the kudos! looking forward to returning to standalones (and giving the DoubleDecker strips a rest for a while, too. heheh.)
It’s actually at the end of April, so you’d probably miss it for this year, but it really is a pretty great con (considering there aren’t exactly other options out here :P).
That’s one way to wake up in the morning. XD Though if I was CF and I seen the way Bot looks I think the first words out of my mouth would have been “Who’s stomach did you crawl out of?”
my mind instantly went to Sarlacc Pit, Red. 😀
OMG So cute! The Drool, the bird the proping of the foot. The whole comic just works. You never cease to rock my world Exhaulted One!
The FML evening never ends! He couldn’t even go back in to get his shoes? Bendito JefBot.
And CF! Too funny. The one upsmanship is amusing.
Love everything about this strip!
That being said, I also am excited about the stand alone strips. These are best for my sleep deprived lil brain. I’m either tossing and turning all night or not sleeping at all. This is AWESOME! Where is my sarcasm font?
I’m sorry you still aren’t sleeping. You need to get Mr. Pixie to hit you over the head with a sledge hammer after you get in bed. Either that or drink a few of those drinks you were making at Christmas time! 😉
Hells YEAH! Tonight there will be BOOZE!
I’m not an alcoholic…Alcoholics go to meetings. I meet my friends in a bar!
I would have suggested the less drastic frying pan method instead of a sledgehammer, but I suppose that booze would work too. Not that I’ve ever touched the stuff.(yet, still under 21)
D’aww! I was 21 when I gave up drinking. Not ’cause I was an alcoholic, just ’cause I failed to see the point. I don’t actually like the experience of getting drunk – I only enjoy a loss of control when… well… *winks*
When July rolls round, I’ll be having the most boring 23rd birthday – no drinking, no smoking, no drugs, no cake (unless my mother insists)… I’m not exactly a party girl… more of a “private party” girl *winks*
Awwwww Snookums…you have to come play with me. We have a blast!
The day they find a way to communicate sarcasm over the internet is the day the internet is changed forever into something that none will recognize as the internet we know today.
ah. so true, Fijiman. so true.
YOU rock MY world, Pixie! and i’m happy you dug all those things in the strip. funny, i always seem to drool on the rare occasions when i take a nap, but not as much when i’m just sleeping at night. not sure why.
and yeah – poor bot. no doubt the front of the arcade’s all locked up. [sadface]
also – yay for standalone strips! lots of geeky stuff to catch up on that was happening while the arcade storyline was going on. first up: iPad 2! 😀
and as far as your sleep deprived brain goes – i am still majorly sympathetic! i’ve also barely gotten any sleep this week and am completely running on fumes at this point. the weekend can’t get here soon enough!!!
Am not going to bash jb. Poor thing. Feet all bloodied with trash all over him. Sigh….
heheh. thanks for taking pity on him, Jf#300.
Wlak of shame? There is no such thing! In Ireland we call it the ‘Walk of Fair Play t’ya!’ 😛
Wow you can really notice the difference in the colouring from the srat of the arc to now 😀 Keep it up Jeff ^^
Would the Cornfathers Karaoke night be based on the one his real life counterpart just had lately 😛
ha! no walks of shame in Ireland, KazeSGFX!? good to know – i gotta catch a plane there pronto! 😉
and thanks for noticing the colors. this epilogue has actually been a lot of fun to draw, color and experiment with a bit.
and the karaoke night in the strip isn’t based on any particular karaoke night per se, just one of many wild karaoke nights the Cornfather’s counterpart has had in general. heheh.
So instead of “Walk of Shame” you have “Walk of Right on you got some”?
Thats pretty cool! But what is you look over and think…”OMG what was I thinking?!?!?!?!” What do you call that?
Nice.
I loved the arcade storyline ( and I still love, since it is not over yet : D)
I look forward to know more about the questions I posted last time!
PS: Thanks for the reply shootzee!
(I still think Bot is going to have an alien blaster -> it rocks!)
big thanks, nr2! you’re right – the storyline isn’t exactly over yet until we get to the bottom of all this alien craziness! as for whether bot will get an alien blaster or not – my fingers are crossed! 😉
Mine too : )
Let´s just hope that Cel remembers to bring it 😀
You’re welcome.
And do you know the only thing I get out of this comic? OMG HE NEEDS TO SCRUB OUT THOSE BOOBOO FEET RIGHT NOW!! I’m all concerned with infection. Especially with him falling into a yucky yucky garbage can!! OH MAN!
I love the…uh…3rd panel, with the pigeon…love how you did the layers…background, foreground….heh….
And wow, from paying attention to CF’s tweets…that totally sounds like something he’d say hahahahaha
Ha ha. You saw the booboo foot and I saw the torn shirt. We are such moms. 😛
I saw the cut up feet first when I looked at this…but I’m an EMT, so my eye is drawn naturally to blood. Not a mom; not ready for that responsibility yet. 😉
Bendito! He needs a scrub down. I was wiggy over the trash can thing but had to stop myself cause OMG it was Pixie Germ Anxiety attack. Had to remind myself it was just a comic.
First thing I notice? He’s drooling. Why? *raises hand* Another thing we have in common.
Me too!! I’m a horrible drooler! FYI, I’ve been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea and I get the second half of my sleep study test done this Friday night. So, hopefully I get a CPAP which will help the apnea and possibly help the drooling (in my case)
And I’m a step-mom…and my philosophy is “Unless you have a fever, are vomiting, or are bleeding, you’re ok” Heh. The kids always knew to go to their father (especially his only girl, the youngest) when they just got alittle bump or something. (Ugh, today is my over share day, eh?) Sooooo, yes I saw the bleeding feet and thought of infection…
the four of you are hilarious: between ESQ’s indifference to casual sickness, Pixie’s germaphobia, Tiana’s EMT training and Shanna’s concern with bot’s ragged appearance, i think you gals have all the bases covered. (and if i ever get a “boo boo” i’m gonna put you all on my “emergency” email contact list.) 😀
that’ll be the first thing jefbot does, ESQ – get himself in the shower! and then soak his feet in a bucket of Bactine.
thanks for the compliments on that 3rd panel, and be careful when reading CF’s tweets. 😉
Awwwwww poor ‘bot. And I don’t know how happy I am that this epic storyline ends on my birthday….
Happy Birthday! As you might have seen above, it is also my son Taranchila’s b-day today! Did you get to have donuts for breakfast too? Wishing you cake, happiness, and lots of fun today. 😀
Happy Happy Birthday, From all of us to you !
Happy Happy Birthday, We hope you like our Boobs! ….
Now…Imagine that song, being sung in the costume I’m wearing in my Gravatar. That was a HIT when I did the ren fest. LOL
Have an amazing Natal Escape Day!
No, no donuts… yet… and yes… I like boobies… a lot… mmmmm… boobies… how much do I have to pay to have you do that for me, Pixie?
ROFLMMFAO! We did it for tips at the pub at the ren faire. It was AWESOME!
Did you say “did it for tits”?? Sorry… boobies on the brain… what?? I like birds with blue feet! DON’T FUCKING JUDGE ME!!!
GAH!!! PG 13!!!! Please remember to keep it PG 13!!!!!!
*hops down off the box*
I don’t get the birds with blue feet thing…I’m pretty and I don’t do numbers…Oh look shoes!
And we never ever judge!
woo! belated birthday well-wishes, Psynapse! hope you had an awesome one!!! 😀
and, uh, Pixie – y’know, my birthday’s coming around in about a week, so is it too early to ask for a “Pixie singlaong” in person for my gift? ;D
Funny you should mention that…. *gets the costume ready*
Oh when?? I wants to do fanarts for the jefbot on his birthday!
and the birds with blue feet thing is a reference to the bird called the “Blue Footed Booby” It’s a real bird. It says so on wikipedia.
did sum said boobS?..dibs
LOL Unfortunately, Mr. Pixie has DIBS jf#300.
Gotta be quick around here.
Sorry I was late to the party. I hope you had a really great birthday. did you celebrate in spectacular style?
*belated birthday hugs & kisses & cuddles & smooches*
well thats just cruel 😀
I noticed Jefs tore up sleeve and I immediately thought of those cartoon scenes where he goes to his closet to change clothes, opens it and its full of the same shirt and jeans 😀
no doubt jefbot has a closet full of those shirts and jeans, Eddie! it’s possible we’ll see it someday soon. 🙂
Poor Bot. I feel for the guy. 🙁
yeah, he’s been through a lot lately, TCG. glad you’re feeling sympathy for him.
I speculate she’s like Ripley in the Aliens series.
Ripley’s badass, Stan, so i like your speculation!
Bot be cool and let Cornfather live in his delusions if he cant see in what state you came home.
Cel will be back. She might return as evil alien infiltrator or govenment robot replacement but those versions will not last long. Heed my words: SHE WIll BE BACK.
Pidgeon was a nice touch. Droll? I had a laugh. THX.
yeah, jefbot’s too exhausted – mentally, physically and emotionally – to even come up with a retort, Maryz. no doubt he’ll just walk silently past the Cornfather, take a shower and then sleep for the next 15 hours. 🙂
and your words about cel are most definitely heeded!
also: glad your sense of humor includes “droll.” heheh.
and this is why best friends get beat. Not cause we hate them. Because they do crap like that.
tell me you don’t beat up your best friends, Will B! tell me!!!
Who me??? I the sweet innocence type. Wouldn’t hurt a fly. Pixie stop laughing it hard enough to tell that one with a straight face.
Brilliant! It’s so “F”ing funny! I LOVED the build up and reveal of The Cornfather!
big thanks, Funnyshaffer! glad you liked this one so much! 😀
i expected him to pass a building with little eyes watching him. MAYBE THIS IS VENGHENCE FOR KILLING THAT ALIEN LIFE FORM WITH A SCARF!!
…speaking of which – we’re not entirely done with the Angry Scarf yet, Anime fan! 🙂
karaoke….. what a jack ass…
well that would be the first time accidentally commenting too soon.
on a side note, that would be one painful walk of shame. currently nursing a busted foot myself, actually. I feel your pain bot!
HA….Premature Commentation?
*dies*
I hate when my comments just go off…*tsk tsk*
ooh, with a busted foot it’s like you’re experiencing the strip in some sort of Super-Sense-O-Rama, steve! that said, hope you feel better soon. 🙂
and Pixie: you’re naughty. (and i love it.) heheh.
Poor bot 🙁
Good strip though 🙂
if a strip makes you feel 🙁 and :), i think it’s a pretty successful strip! thanks, Ky!
At least he’s not wearing last night’s dress. that’s a little better. <3 the cute pigeon. Pidove no?
i almost – almost – drew pidove in there, dj, but thought it just might be too much. i knew you’d get it, tho. heheh.
Ah dumpsters. You’ve got to be careful around those things, especially if you’re standing on them because you might get hurt or fall in.*raises hand for the get hurt part* I’m almost surprised that Cornfather didn’t say “What happened to you?”, almost. Nice work Jeff. 😉
Interesting but not really important fact: half of my mouth is currently numb which, while not making it hard to talk, makes eating a pain. Especially when half your tongue is also numb. BP
What happened Fijimancub?
I went to the dentist to get so work on my teeth done. Now all I feel in my left cheek is pain, which sucks even more.
your comment would make a good “knowing is half the battle” GI Joe PSA, Fijiman! heheh. i’m almost afraid to ask about how you got hurt around one.
and since i had a bunch of dental work done recently – i totally feel your pain. (or actually, i guess the opposite of that would be more appropriate.)
We were unloading scrap wood into a dumpster and were trying to get a large piece of plywood into it and when it went in it hit me in the knee. Good thing I was wearing jeans and didn’t have my knee about an inch farther forward than I did, that would have REALLY hurt.
I’m excited to see what other crazy shenanigans jefbot can possibly get into next time. It’s hard to top Wil Wheaton, Action cel and alien hamsters. (But I’m sure you have that all planned out in that diabolical mind of yours, Jef.)
thanks, Angela! like you said, this one will be hard to top, so i’ll be going with a smaller, more whimsical storyline after the standalones. should be fun, and it’s a tale i’ve been waiting to tell for some time now!
I just read through the whole comic. I laughed. I cried. I shouted “NOOOOOOOOOO” upon reaching the end.
HI And welcome to the comment area. Have some of Kypreseses numirrific cookies, and a mug of hot cocoa…Wait, It’s getting to hot for cocoa huh? *switches cocoa for chocolate milk) and a hug!
Aww, thanks! : D
It still gets pretty nippy here, but it’s too hot inside.
I can’t seem to turn the heat off, either. I’ll blame everyone on the lower floors.
They suck and they ruin everything!
mMMmmm. chocolate milk. haven’t had that in a while. yumyumyum.
and where might you be located, Aelyrin?
Aww, now I’m craving chocolate milk. D:
I’m in Eastern Ontario. :3
I know EXACTLY how you feel. I hate it when I’m reading a great web comic and I find out that I’ve caught up.(excluding web comics which haven’t been updated in months and weren’t that great. Although it’s sad to see a good web comic come to an long halt because of life.)
I -could- just go back and reread it, but how many pages is it?
According to the address, 320. I’m sure it wouldn’t take any longer the second time around.
There were a couple good webcomics that took me a week or so to catch up, but it’s a pretty rare phenomenon.
I also have some experience in stories that are abandoned.
And by that, I mean that I’ve created them. siiiiigh
yeah, there’ve been a bunch of webcomics that i’ve been shocked when they’ve closed up shop or been abandoned. most recently from Achewood closing its doors.
Considering that I read about 40 different web comics (including like 13+ that I plan to read), I don’t really have to worry about not having anything to read. And have you tried reading PVP? Took me like two months or more(probably more) to get through that one.
I don’t follow -quite- that many, but I’m all caught up in the ones I do.
What exactly is PVP?
Never mind, found it in the side bar, so may as well check it out myself. : P
I had actually completely forgotten about it for the last few weeks(happens from time to time with various web comics), and actually just caught up with it today.
woo! thanks for going through all the strips and introducing yourself, Aelyrin! hope to see more of you here in the comments now that you’re all caught up. 😀
I’m not really one for talking much, but people here seem fun. : D
Just wait until Sonitan gets back. THAT will be a fun day.
Clearly, this was ‘bot’s finest hour(!)
Poor thing’s all roughed up & The Cornfather’s totally oblivious… ‘though it is early & he looks pretty bleary-eyed, possibly hung-over; I guess he can be forgiven.
yeah, like you said, AdM, the Cornfather’s probably at least somewhat hungover (one of the Powers of Chub being that hangovers aren’t as severe as those experienced by their Scrawn counterparts), hasn’t put in his contacts yet and is reveling in the drama of his night. heheh.
as for this being bot’s finest hour – after all that he experienced in the past 24 hours, i’m inclined to agree with you! 😀
hate to say it but… it sucks to be bot sometimes. Don’t worry bot I’m sure cel’s ok
very true, Jiro. although a lot of cool stuff happens to jefbot, at least an equal amount of crappy stuff happens to him as well.
Bravo. Your work on Jefbot is the Gold Standard.
wow. heartfelt thanks, Tim.
As the creator of the JBU knows, I tend to be a compulsive proofreader at times (i.e. most of them), but am I really the first to notice that this strip (Epilogue.07: Walk of Shame) and the last one (Epilogue.06: Lame Goodbye) are both numbered as “JEFBOT.320” ???
fixed.
On a less obsessive-compulsive note, this is one of your most impressive efforts yet, especially the dumpster dive in panel 6! Terrific dust effect. Jeff, I think you’re ready for prime time. 😀
And who else would even bother with the yellow label on the front of the dumpster? I’ll bet you actually went outside and took a picture of a real trash bin, just to make sure the “lettering” would look authentic!
thanks, Kim! i had a lot of fun drawing these “epilogue” strips but the backgrounds took me forever, which is why i haven’t been getting much sleep lately. happy you appreciated the authenticity! (yes, i did go find a real dumpster to use as reference. heheh.)
Reference; one of an artist’s best friends.
Absolutely amazing, bot! I love it. What a great ending. And the karaoke crack is pretty fantastic. Great work, man.
CF does karaoke and I’ve never seen him or met him at New Years? We need to change that.