A hard reset (100% CUDDLES CONCLUDES)
Solver volume one concludes here. I’ve put together a print collection of all the Lottie, Glenn and Claire stories from 2022/23/24 – just a short run – that should become available from Topatoco and a few UK retail stockists in the next couple of months.
Will Solver return? It will if you ask for it. That’s basically how it works.
I had to take a burnout break for a month after drawing this story, which unfortunately now filters through to a pause in new strips. But there will be a new eight-week story here on August 26th. In the intervening three weeks, I will be putting some of my old comic archives back up at their new home on scarygoround.com, so there will be plenty to read while you wait.
AUGUST 5TH: Giant Days (self-published)
AUGUST 12TH: Bobbins (dot horse)
AUGUST 19TH: Steeple and Destroy History
Woo-hoo!
Important note: turning it off/turning it back on is still the most successful method of remediating computer woes, so it should be no surprise that it can work with the squishy computer that sits in our cranium.
Heartwarming end. Lottie and Claire’s hug is a great way to conclude this first part. Have a good summer break, John. Also, of course I want to read more.”Solver”! I’s a great story and I want to know Glenn’s mysterious past.
You may consider this my formally asking for more “Solver”. š
Yes please more Solver.
Also Japanese Knotweed, fie on it.
I have a garden full of Japanese Stilt Grass. When eradicated and seemingly destroyed by days of labor, within hours new shoots appear. It all jumps up even more hellbent on Conquering The Known World. I’m sure there is an important life lesson in there somewhere, but I don’t know what it is.
Sounds like it too has a rhizome structure under ground. Qhich are wondwrful in my native plants and horrible in the invasives.
I’m in for more Solver. And I hope Lottie keeps the panda eyes.
Agreed! She looks adorable.
I *would* say that she looks odd as well, but this *is* the Bobbinsverse, after all.
Is that Shelley near Lottie’s right hand? And maybe Shauna under her?
Another vote for more Solver! I love the interplay between Claire, Lottie, and Glenn. I also look forward to the printed book.
And yeah, knotweed is quite unkillable, though we did manage to keep it under control at our previous house – just had to pluck the shoots once or twice a week – for eternity…
Seeing Lottie swaddled in the sleeping bag reminds me of her rolled up in a blanket by her sis-tor. https://www.gocomics.com/bad-machinery/2022/09/26?ct=v&cti=84027
Well done Sean, good spot, this was a tale of constant throwbacks delivered by what was back then a destroyed mind.
Right after that Lottie found Linton and Jack wondering what to do with themselves, “Two sleuths lookin’ for mystery on the insides of their EYELIDS” as she put it. From there, we found out about Mr. Gravy and the Night Creeper. What a story that was!.
She’s all puffed out.
Quicker ending than I expected, but Lottie and Claire being wholesome together is plenty satisfying! More so, it looks like Lottie is out of her ongoing fugue state and Glenn/Glym/Glorm is reconciled with the team, I couldnāt ask for a better conclusion. Thanks as always John! Iāll be eager for any future work of yours, Solver included!
I ran out of pages Ross, but was comfortable knowing that in the future there would be more.
You might ask how a webcomic can run out of pages, in all honesty, I also ran out of ME
You underrate yourself sir! Although I entirely appreciate the feeling of when the well seems to begin to run dry…
Yes! More Solver, when you feel up to it.
Please.
Moaaar Solver ! But don’t burn out either !
Great finale! Take care of yourself John!
If you’re having fun with Solver, you know we will, too! I love these and please more, please! š
Yes! We would love more Solver! There are still many things to be solved!
Awww. I feel like my heart grew three sizes today. This was a perfect salve after I spent enough time with unhelpful customer service phone reps today that I wound up yelling. I NEVER yell at CSRs, so you know it was bad.
Please sir, more “Solver” (typed after recovering from clicking “like” on every post that asked for more “Solver”…
Did they have to return the burgers?
No one said they had to win.
Adding my request: more Solver, please.
And while Iām at it, is spite of the futility and being well warned that it wonāt happenā¦ moreā¦ Steepleā¦ puleezeee?
More Solver, please!
Iām also gonna go ahead and throw my own āmore solverā into consideration. As long as Iām asking for things, a little more of Shauna wouldnāt hurt either
RSS issues again. Didn’t get this or the previous on either feed at inoreader.com. In Thunderbird, manual feed hasn’t worked since July 6 but the auto feed is fully up to date. Weird.
I request you write/draw something. I will read it.
I can’t get enough of Lottie and Claire, but maybe you can, so, do something else if need be.
Thank you and please more Solver.
Hey John, longtime fan, recent knot weed hater. It’s comforting to know you’ve battled my greatest enemy
Yes, yes, begging for more solver and very much less japanese knot weed, also less burnout. Way less <3
Yeah, more Solver, definitely!
All good, mate. Take good care of yourself and deliver more SOLVER as the heavens align.
John, no matter what doubts I’ve ever had about your projects — the X-men, the Batman crossover, the late, lamented Conan tale — you always manage to produce something wonderful that makes me smile. That being the case: Yes, I would love more Solver, or anything else you feel like doing, for that matter. You have my full and complete trust.
I apologize for not commenting as often for the past several days, I’m visiting friends in another state, which changes my daily routine. Just wanted to say, this was a wonderful story, and I’m glad to see the Solver trio back together again.
Yes, more Solver, please. Also resolve the plot threads from Steeple, bring back The Mystery Boys, do a 70’s-styled romance graphic novel with Shelly & The Rev, a Howard the Duck treasury edition, a six-volume adaptation of The Forsythe Saga, and a thinly-disguised sequel to Ulysses. Burnout? – what do you think those little white pills are for, anyway? Why I’ve been on them for weeks now and I’ve trained barnyard animals to do a passable imitation of Oasis – when they don’t suddenly start floating off the stage. I hate it when pigs do that.
I love Lottie so much, and I miss the old gang, and would love to see any of them again. Glemn is a delightful addition, I’m always pleased to see Mildred again, Shauna was fun on her own, I miss the boys? I am so grateful you keep doing these.
I’m adding my very seldom seen or heard voice to the ‘YES Please more solver’ choir. In truth I will read anything you care to produce.
This is basically exactly what I want to say, so please consider me to be saying it also.
A thumbs up for more Solver (and anything else that you’re inspired to do).
“My life laid out beneath me…” is the most disturbing image. Is that Bosch or Brueghel, or Rodin’s Gates of Hell, or that statue from Devil’s Advocate (definitely not Ex Nihilo)?
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Solver! La Grote, Claire, and Grem (I mean Garm) make a great trio and I can’t wait to see more of them.
I would of course read more Solver. Or, perhaps, a sequel…. PROBLEMR??
I leave it in your capable hands.
Take as much time as you need to re-set. You are my favorite web cartoonist, and I regularly read about 100 of ’em.
This ending seemed abrupt.
Did we ever find out what ASA stood for?
Yes – All Star Animaleague!
I could have done with two more pages but when I drew that story I was not up to drawing two more pages. I took the next month off! And the next Solver story will be 66 more pages. It never ends!