Punches to the head shouldn’t tickle and people shouldn’t expect them to. The juxtaposition is too jarring.

Today’s Web Comics List incentive sketch is actually a “two-fer” – as in, “two fer the price of one.” I drew one sketch and wasn’t really communicating what I wanted it to, so I drew a second one. Still, I thought the first one was a good drawing and thought it would be a treat to share both. So I did.

At any rate, so ends this weeks Shopgirl extravaganza. I hope you enjoyed it.

Can I be candid with you a minute? Right now I’m working on an archive application that will make using the site much easier for you in the future, but it requires me to go back and touch every page and look over every comic I have. It has put me in a very reflective mood.

Sometimes I think about how far I’ve come with the comic and I’m really amazed. Three years. MORE than three years of my life I’ve wrapped up into this. I can’t imagine a day where I don’t do it.

But sometimes after taking stock and looking back at these old comics, I think “Man, even though the art wasn’t any good, some of these jokes are much better than what I’m doing right now.”

I don’t know guys. I think I’m in a slump.

It’s been a long one, too. A few months at least. Used to be, I’d enter into a slump and rebound after a month or so. In my mind, at least. These days, I can’t seem to snap out of it.

I can make excuses for myself. Tell myself that it’s been a rough year. It has. Moving to a new house, losing a grandparent, general job and life stresses. It gets to you.

Sometimes I look at the competition and I’m really envious of the guys who gave something up to do this full time. The five days a week guys. That’s something to aspire to. I’m sure it’s hard work – and although their comics are supporting them – I’m sure it’s not much money for the effort. But I imagine them to be very happy people. They get to do this all the time. What an honor.

I’ve expressed this before, but I often wonder what would have become of Theater Hopper had I started it during college and not 3 years after graduation. Would I have gone for it? Hard to say.

I want to make this the best comic for you that I can. I want to make it so as many people as possible can see the work I’m doing and hopefully get a kick out of it and become fans.

Sometimes it seems no matter how much hustling you do, no matter how many connections you make – at some point, things have to level off. I’m worried that right now is one of those times.

I think I know the answer to this problem and most of it to keep your nose to the grindstone and keep putting out work. I think the other half of the problem is to do something new or stretch artistic muscles I haven’t used in a while.

I don’t want this interpreted the wrong way. Theater Hopper is a hobby for me. A successful one at that. I see the traffic that comes through my site and I’m stunned that so many people make this web site part of their daily routine. I think about all the cool people I’ve met and talked to. These are wonderful rewards. But I want to keep growing.

Things will be different after we celebrate our 500^th strip on November 25. Maybe a larger storyline is in order. Maybe a crossover. But I’m on the hunt. I want that spark back. I want to light it up for you guys.

Sincere thanks for all your support. I appreciate it. Everyone have a great weekend.