This is the last episode of The Thrill-Seekers and the end is a little bittersweet. Due to personal family issues that I have to attend to, I decided to wrap the storyline one strip short of what I had intended. Therefore, I didn’t get to explore some of the characters stuff I wanted between Pastor and his attorney, Vonetta Foster. Vonetta’s first name was originally supposed to be “Gloria,” but I renamed her “Vonetta” in honor of the the actress Vonetta McGee (Blacula, Hammer, The Eiger Sanction), who passed away last week. With Vonetta Foster, I wanted a female character who could verbally spar with Pastor as an equal and, for the purposes of this story, represented the unfulfilled promise of Alicia Patterson. Additionally, by returning Alicia’s class ring to her mother, I hoped to bring The Thrill-Seekers full circle to the first clue that started the story.
I want to thank everyone for your support for these past sixteen months. It has been invaluable.
What happens next, you might ask?
Well, Pastor will return in four weeks in WORLD OF HURT: The Black Fist. I need a little time to recharge my batteries. However, while you wait for The Black Fist to begin, there WILL be new content on Wednesdays, and the Friday blog will still be in effect. For the next month, I’ll be running a completely new short story called Western Sun Rising. Western Sun Rising is the story of a samurai in the Old West. It will conclude at the end of the four weeks, so you can consider it a brief intermission between the WORLD OF HURT stories.
Stay tuned, folks, because it’s been a long run, but we’re just getting started!
- JEP
Well done.
Bittersweet on this end too, man.
So happy to have been down with Pastor since Day 1 [Literally, I think.]
Can’t wait to see what comes next — for you as an artist and for Pastor as a BMF.
Fantastic job Jay. If you’re going to print this definitely apply for the Xeric. Hit me up if you have any questions about it. I’m looking forward to the next story.
BRAVO JAY! Thank you so very much for my weekly dose of “Hurt”. Can’t wait for “The Black Fist”.
Hope yor family issues work out OK, I’ ve had a great time following this story.
As it happens I’ve been looking for a good Samurai webcomic, and a good Western for a while now, so it looks like I’m going to enjoy the next month too
I think this is a great conclusion to this story. And it leaves me excited about what might happen in “The Black Fist”. And Ms. Foster is GORGEOUS. And… A Samurai in the Old West? Heck yeah!
An excellent ending. You did a wonderful job with this initial installment. I can’t, but will, wait for the next story. Enjoy your break; you deserve it and all that your success is bringing you, Jay. Take care.
Foster huh? Nice to pay tribute to two legendary ladies in one shot.
Hope the family stuff all comes out good.
Thank you, Jay. Very much looking forward to “The Black Fist.”
Aw man, that got me all teary-eyed.
I’m new to “World of Hurt” and just read this entire run in one sitting. Great job, Jay. Bring on “The Black Fist”.
P.S. I’m also a fan of the late greats Al Williamson and Alex Raymond.
Guess Who-
Thank you, baby! I couldn’t have done it without you.
- JEP
Doug G.-
You were down from the beginning, dude, and I appreciate that. You were also instrumental in helping the site get its biggest traffic ever. I’ll always appreciate that.
More, and hopefully, better stuff is still to come.
- JEP
Joshua-
They don’t call you “Josh The Great” for nothing! I’m looking to get in on the next wave of Xeric submissions, so I’ll definitely take you up on that.
- JEP
Parker-
Thanks, man! I had to do a LOT of waiting around for the past two days, so among other things, I took the opportunity to get cracking on “Shaft Among The Jews” which you sent me. Very strong outing by Tidyman, particularly the humor he injected with the blonde having the normally always-in-charge John Shaft wrapped around her finger.
- JEP
Dan P.-
Thanks for the ind thoughts. Hopefully it turns out to be a good Samurai webcomic…;)
- JEP
Vincent S. Moore-
Many, many thanks, Mr. Moore. I still love your summation of Pastor as a guy whose influence is felt in the strip, even when he’s not in any given episode. I really dug that and it remains one of my favorite descriptions.
- JEP
“dollar” Bill-
Thank you, sir. I plan on doing a Friday post about Friday Foster one day soon.
- JEP
mike-
I wish I could give you the elevator pitch for The Black Fist, but unfortunately that would give away a major plot point. I’ll try to give you guys more information in the days leading up to the new storyline.
- JEP
aseariel-
Thank you. I was worried that it would come across as TOO sentimental.
- JEP
theycallmemistertibbs-
Love your handle. I’m glad you enjoyed what you found. I have to do a read through of the entire series myself. As the ever self-critical artist, I remember being pleasantly surprised that I didnt’ cringe too much the last time I did.
- JEP
P.S. Williamson and Raymond rocked! I try to look at their work every day.
Turn this into a movie, already!!! This is a great story. Loved the way it ended. BTW, I sincerely hope you collect all your strips into a trade paperback one day. This is very good stuff!! Loved the new love interest too. Very Nice..
THE BLACK FIST!
Glad you like my handle, Jay. My last name happens to really be Tibbs. Believe me, I had to endure a few Sidney Poitier jokes in school as a kid.
..gimme a tissue dammit…!
Fine job, well done.
WOH has inspired me into taking the plunge back into publishing again…..Thank you for the incentive and inspiration, Jay.
Looking forward to the “spaghetti western/eastern” you got cooking up next.
Who’s your inspiration this time? Mifune? Chiba? or Sanada? Maybe with a lil Shintaro Katsu on the side?
This is gonna be a fun ride……..
Jay,
Great job. Didn’t miss a panel. I always looked forward to Wednesdays with Pastor.
Aaron
Fantastic Jay…so it’s “MS FOSTER” not the otherwise unattainable for Pastor, “MRS Foster” nice. Here comes the love interest…more smekking to come perhaps!?
I’m looking forward to the ‘The Black Fist’!!!