Ah, our friend the Anxiety Duck has made a reappearance.

It’s been, jeez, three and a half years since I last did one of these recap comics. And over nine years since I started The System. If you don’t know what I’m talking about when I say “recap comics”, every 100 comics (like numbers 700, 600, 500, 400, 300, 200 and 100) we take a step back and review what we’ve learned. To say that three and a half years ago feels like an eternity feels like an understatement. Here’s some updates from the world here at System HQ:

• 5 years ago I started a design firm. 3.5 years ago there were three of us. Now there’s seven.
• A relationship didn’t work out. You may have picked up on some subtext about that.
• There was a bout with anxiety and depression.
• I moved! Twice. From that one-bedroom to a studio, and that studio to a house.
• Oh yeah! I live in a house now! And that house also has an amazing girlfriend in it.
• That house has a very nice bike commute to work.
• And of course, it has felt oftentimes like the world is going to hell.

I have debated calling the comic quits here at comic number 800. As it is, I can take every 200 comics and catch up on publishing books, and it will make for a nice four-book set. They can each be color-coded as C-M-Y-K (the first was yellow, the second is going to be cyan, we’re going a little out of order but we can get there). Truthfully though, I don’t want to put a giant period at the end of this project. As much as it sucks to have it lingering, when I do find the time to put one of these comics together it still means a great deal to me, and I’ve heard from some of you it means a great deal to you as well.

So for now, consider the project moving at a colossally slow rate for the time being. Book 2 is actually all designed and ready to go, and as soon as I find some time I’ll be putting together a Kickstarter for it so y’all can order your own copies. Hopefully the last two books will follow, and with them more comics.

Also, if you are a convention-going type, I still am hitting up the convention circuit with shirts, books, prints, and touring with the Super Art Fight gang.

Meanwhile, I’ll keep posting comics until morale improves.

—Rosscott

Our third and final installment in DUCK WEEK. I hope you guys enjoyed our little duck friend.

Why all the ducks this week? At Connecticon a few weeks ago, I promised people in attendance more ducks on my website. I’m happy with the duck I designed (that’s a custom duck, dammit) and I’m sure he’ll pop up again when the time is right. I’ll try and tell the story in a video soon, but there’s not much more to it than that.

Why the sad duck? Someone in my family is going through a lot of mental health issues. So you all get Kenneth, the Overly Anxious Duck. He’s no Jimmy the Murderdog, but he gets by. Oh, Ken. I hope you get better soon.

By the way, anyone else think of The Long Kiss Goodnight when they hear about ducks? It’s a great movie. You should watch it.

Yep. Duck week.

Oh, and there’s a new post on Medium.com!

The duck’s struggle is real.

Thanks to Clay (who does the amazing webcomic Hamlet’s Danish) for helping me decide on a punchline for this one. Read his comic.

UPDATE: My mom (yes, Rossmom from the comments) sent me this photo with a note “maybe they make it for ducks”.

This should be a term.

Sorry for the delays in posts, guys! I want to give you a little insight into what’s going on behind the scenes, and the truth is I don’t know if it’s that interesting, but here you go:

So for the last few months I’ve been “funemployed” or “freelancing” (depending on your attitude) and figuring out what to do next. Don’t feel bad for me, I’ve actually turned down a few jobs. I’m trying to be very careful and figure out something that’s really great and fitting. Meanwhile, I’ve been freelancing full-time and working out of a coworking space here in DC, and paying rent and then some (not much more, but some) in the process. I’m working on some design projects I’m pretty proud of, and hopefully I’ll be able to refurbish my portfolio and shoot for something much better soon. Along the way, I started combining some freelance work with my friend Geoff, and the two of us have been talking about the idea of starting our own little firm.

This, along with a girlfriend that I’m trying to keep, as well as Super Art Fight, has kept me more than busy. Having a webcomic could fill all my time. Starting a business and freelancing could as well. All that and trying not to go crazy has left the comics a little on the back burner, but it’s always in my mind. So for now, updates will be intended M/W/F, but I might miss more than a few. If it starts to get gratuitous, I’ll try to work something out or let you know. In the meantime, I’m inviting others to help. Ask Rossmom will be updating again (today most likely) and some more news posts will hopefully fill the space a bit. I’m always on the lookout for guest comics as well, but I’ll be honest, I’m picky and won’t guarantee I’ll post them all.