From Josh:
“I have now dedicated over 4,000 words failing to articulate how I feel about Unlife turning 300.
My first attempt was the story of how I came to be involved in this project. Working with Zack as first a colorist, then full on artist, of my dream comic. How we started talking about the project that would become Unlife, and how it felt starting out. In truth, I wasn’t sure where Unlife would take me, and I could never have guessed it would become something so special… but I don’t want to dwell in the past.
My second attempt was an experimental hurtle into the far future, with the publication of Unlife’s 600th strip. I won’t go into too much detail, but there were Seeing iDogs and corn costumes. It was incredibly messed up, and I think it’s telling of the crazy meltdown that will eventually befall me… but I don’t want to dwell on the future.
I want to focus on the now. And right now, Unlife feels like a superpower.
Unlife has allowed me to accomplish things that most people never achieve. It’s taught me a lot about life, responsibility and writing. It’s fun and challenging, and it serves as a constant supply of both new goals to reach for and benchmarks to see how far I’ve come. It gives me structure, it gives me energy, it motivates and recharges me, but mostly, it’s like getting a gift twice a week.
It probably won’t surprise you to know that Unlife feels like a gift to me from Zack. He’s the best partner I could have asked for. Hard working, determined, and talented – an all-around great person and friend. What I could have never predicted was how much it’s also come to feel like a gift from our readers. It’s been amazing how much our relationship with Unlife’s fans has grown. Their support – your support – motivates us to keep going and be better every week. It’s even influenced the direction of the series at times.
Unlife is the longest ongoing series I’ve ever written. I’ve always wanted to write a serial, and now that I’ve found myself in these uncharted waters, I find myself not thinking about what’s ahead or what’s behind, but rather what it is now. And right now…
Right now, Unlife has reached 300 strips. And we’re not done yet. We’re not even close to it. Unlife endures. Unlife looks death in the face and says “What else you got?” So really, 300 is just a number. One that will keep rising every week.
Zack and I plan to keep going, and I hope you’ll shuffle along for the ride.
Thank YOU for being in our lives. Happy 300.”