[The Manic Magician]

I'm sure this is becoming a bit of a broken record, but here I am, another member who never got around registering until the end of a good thing. The end of a great thing if you want to get technical about it. For every beginning there is an end, for what has once begun must come to its conclusion. I knew this day was coming, I both looked forward to it and dreaded it all at the same time. The end meant closure, knowledge of where the story was meant to wrap its final words. It's like reading an absolutely fantastic book; you rush through it, eating up every word and every detail, completely transfixed with the story, the characters and the writing. Your need for more cannot be gratified quick enough, no reading speed fast enough to sate the desire to know what lies on that next page.

But then, before you know the story has no more pages to give, you are forced to look down on the final page in the entire story, words closing the story forever more and with this bittersweet knowledge you look back on the path you have come and wish that it could have been longer. Could have been more. Now that the end is clear, you feel as though you have tread recklessly fast to the final paragraph in this beautiful story. I have had the absolute pleasure of reading dozens of books like this in my lifetime, but this is the first time I have ever read a webcomic and had that same feeling dwelling within my gut. I knew this day would come, the ending an inevitable of a wonderful story. Now that the end is undeniably come, I feel both content and saddened; fulfilled but panged.

I guess you can say I am in mourning, for a friend that used to be and now, shall be nothing more than memory.

I can go back and read it all again; undoubtedly I will. The jokes will make me laugh, the irony that is hidden beneath every plot will make me smile. I will find myself rooting for the light heroes, no matter how terrible their deeds. I will cheer for the triumphs, laugh at their follies, smile knowingly when their deeds' earnings come back down on them again and boo when they are truly put through unjust conflict. I will continue to pass the story along to others and speak of this webcomic like any book I cherish. Much of the story has become a part of me, just like other epic tales that I have so loyally followed. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays held meaning for me, and now once more they simply be what they were before- days of the week, that come and go unnoticed but for other rare few events worth noting.

I was not an original follower, I am sad to say. The story was over five years in when I first stumbled upon it, catching word of it from the Dead Ale Wives 8bit reenactment on Newgrounds and a couple other references following. However, once exposed, I found myself reading hundreds of pages daily, around school and work, enjoying the story that unfolded and epic tale that will be forever remembered.

Someone mentioned that Black mage showed no change, I respectfully disagree, his interactions with fighter show a great deal of change. Much the same as the beginning, fighter goes on and on about adventure, and Black mage grumbles and argues. The scenario is the same, but is mannerisms have changed. The implied tone is less than evil, simply annoyed. No threats, no inner dialogues about destruction and death, just simple pessimism. The whole of his person cannot shift, but at the core, he seems to have come to terms with a lot about himself. The only character left completely unchanged appeared to be fighter, albeit his Sword chucks.

Thank you for all the years, Brian. Your effort never went unnoticed or unappreciated by myself or others I have turned into followers.

Sorry for the long post, but I guess I have some years to make up for.


PS: Should all the pages be redrawn, would an 8bit book collection be more feasible? I know I would purchase one, no matter the cost, if one were ever to become available.