I know a lot of you are no longer reading this.
As a matter of fact, I'm sure NONE of you are. : P But, on the off chance that I'm wrong (hey, it can happen ;P), I figured I'd give an update to the progress of the upcoming first issue.
A while back I posted here saying it was going to be taken to print. Originally, this was with the thought that it was going to happen by September. This obviously didn't happen. As it turned out, the folks at FurNation Multimedia had an awful lot on their plate for the beginning of this last quarter, but not much of anything for the last half. So, the release date was held back until late December/early January. This turned out to be a real godsend for me. It allowed me to flesh out the story quite a bit more, adding a full 8 pages to the comic and thus, in my opinion, making it a better story.
Secondly, it allowed me more time to make sure the quality of not only the writing but the artwork was top notch.
Third, and most importantly at this stage of the game, it gave me time to recooperate from a little medical problem that was discovered back in early August. I need to stress again that the comic WILL still be available to everyone. It will NOT be a monthly comic, nor will it be a monthly online comic. I'm not asking everyone to start shovelling out their life savings so they can read it, either. It will be $5 per issue. But, because it will, at best, be a bi-monthly comic, that's not a lot to ask in my opinion. At least a bi-monthly will be somewhat regular, and it will still give me time to work out the story pacing.
Some pages are easier to draw than others. That was my major trip-up with the webcomic. I could update regularly as long as I kept the pages fairly simple. But, as with any comic artist, I'd like to stretch my artistic wings once in a while (no pun intended). I want to make some pages jump out at the reader, and doing a new page once a week, on top of working full-time and singing in a band sometimes as often as 3 and sometimes 4 times a week made that schedule nearly impossible to keep up with. That's what started throwing me off, and I just never got back into the rhythm again.
But, with a regularly formated bi-monthly comic, I can keep better track of the story and where it's going, as well as make it a lot more interesting to look at (as long as you don't put too much stock in color). True, it will be available at comic cons. But, it will also be available at the FurNation online store. Hell, I'll even have copies of my own that I can send out if you don't wanna go throught he whole ordering online process. PayPal works just as well for me, y'know. 
Now, on to the story: The first issue will start off a bit differently, taking place immediately after the accident that occurs in the examination room. You'll all recognize the scenery and even some of the characters that made short appearances (the two guards, for instance). This would be the sequence that was originally drawn by my uber-talented wife, Gaby. 
It was actually by her suggestion that we start here. So, that's what I did. The comic takes that part of the story and extends the 12 pages to a full 32 pages, giving Karen a bit more of a realistic passage through the corridors that led her to Eric. It also extends her first meeting with him to something a bit more realistic. Let's face it, a talking horse dude on an examination table is not someone you're automatically going to be inclined to help, y'know?
Don't get me wrong, I do like how that part of the story was written. But, I like how it was written this way better. Gaby's help in this department was crucial. I'm even providing links so you can all get a rough idea of how the comic will look. Mind you, these are just examples of the pencil work. But, it helps to set the stage for what to expect.
Take a look:
Page 1 - The "horizon" that shows up on this scan was purely by accident. It won't be visible on the final product, just so you know.
Page 2 - As I said before, I'm sure this sequence will look familiar. But, I chose to go with more mainstream style viewer angles to make the scene more visually interesting.
Page 3 - There WILL eventually be dialogue on these pages. I've opted against including it, as I don't want to give any part of the story away. I'd rather it be a new thing for everyone upon opening the book for the first time.
Page 4 - I'm sure some of that will look familiar, too. But, to see what happens between there and the next link, I'm afraid you will have to contact me if you're not going to Further Confusion this January. Don't worry. I'll hook ya up. Honestly!
Pages 16 & 17 - This is the first appearance of Eric (aka - Pegasus). Originally, I was going to go with the same deal. Him strapped down to some kind of examination table. But, the more I thought of it, firstly, they removed his wings. If they did that, he'd have had to have been lying on his stomach. Granted, he could have been turned over afterward. But, McGuire has NEVER really thought of him as much more than a beast anyway. So, he's going to treat him as such. So, I had him chained down. If you look closely, you'll notice smears along the walls, and an ugly looking scar on his chest. (Note: I am painfully aware of Eric's placement on this page, and the fact that he will most likely get a staple in the eye if he stays there. 
I'll be making arrangements for him to "scooch" over a few inches to make sure he's more visible before this goes to print.)
So, there ya go, folks. I know I'm asking a lot by telling you all, "Hey, you've been great! I'm glad you like it! Now, though, you're gonna have to pay." But, I PROMISE you, you will not be disappointed if you choose to stick around.
I'll make it the best damn $5 you've ever paid.
Seeya!