Mmmmaybe, I left it kind of ambiguous. However, I did think it'd be funny if the actual Garland was down on his luck and could only get a job working in a theme restaurant based partially on himself. So it might actually be him after all!

It's all in how you wanna see it :)

I couldn't think of a more fitting end to the series.

Thanks for the laughs Brian.

And congrats on using this to really shine (Atomic Robo, writing for Marvel).

Well done indeed.

You're the best around.

It almost seems like it will someday continue at some point when Brian gets the feeling he should restart 8-bit (I mean when he gets the feeling while he's sober).

Economy musta been bad as everyone had to sell their noses.

That was awesome seeing the squid-face cult dude.

Was the guy with the "Doin' fine" sign Garland without his armor?

For some reason, I feel ashamed as a geek for not getting who Jeff was talking to until multiple readings and for not getting the Twelve Dragons joke* at first (I stared at my screen for a minute when I first read until the 9 part got to me)...Yet I got the shovel reference upon first sight.

*And that's easily one of the funniest/most memorable strips ever fer cryin' out loud!

Mob Boss and his lackey. (From when the Light Warriors took over that nameless town as the "City Guard".)

EDIT: For Matt: Am I correct in assuming that King Steve/Matoya/Bikke/Garland were people in costumes, whereas Sulk, Mrs. Von Vampire, Gary, and Sara are the real dealz?

"Doin' Fine" was one of my favorite moments in 8-bit history. I'm so glad that you brought that back. Great epilogue. It really worked.

Well, he could be the OWNER of the place too...

I don't even know how long it's been since I started reading 8-bit. All I know is it was in the very early parts and I was WAY too young to get 90% of it.

Having, read the whole series (and remembering when Brian and Black Mage were dancing together) the only way I can describe it is that this is truly the end of an Era. He always has been, and always will be brilliant (and a million times funnier than I could ever hope to be).

"Everything after that sounds like a waste of time"
The thing that makes me cry is how true that is.

Good luck with anything and everything you do Brian. I'll be sure to buy all the Atomic Robo I can find(as soon as I recover from the condition of being broke).

/standing ovation

Seriously. I know you have fuckawesome powers of comic-bookery to wield now, but Brian, I am glad that you, Matt, and Jeff put this together. It may not tie up every loose end, but then the best stories are the ones you make long pages of Wild Mass Guessing for anyway, right?

Speaking of fuckawesome powers of comic-bookery, I'm looking forward to seeing some of your work for Marvel! Congratulations on becoming an Ascended Fan!

Yeah, with the possible exception of Garland depending on how you choose to see it.

I tried to make the cosplayers look as UNlike the person they're cosplaying as possible. That's why King Steve is a black guy/girl (I'm not sure), Matoya is a young, gawky looking girl, and Bikke is a scrawny blond guy with an obvious fake beard. Garland on the other hand? It's hard to tell.

Actually I assumed it was a costumed guy until i noticed the surprised lines. I could definitely see Garland making the effort to PERSONALLY see to it all his customers got excellent service. I bet my water would never dip below 75% with Garland on the case. He always goes the extra mile, that guy.

AAAH I JUST GOT IT LOOOOOOOOL

The only one I can't figure out is the fat and skinny guys. I think that's it though, on the 3rd readthrough I noticed the ogre and the Buster Sword/Gunblade among the not useless tools.