T Campbell's Blog

I dunno. Seems right to me, really. Rikk and Ally've always had a... non-traditional relationship. I have to agree with your assesment, they're better as three than as two. Maybe not the healthiest of three at the moment of the current comic, but I'm hoping to see some nice things in the party.
 

This whole Rikk-Rumy-Ally business surprised the heck out of me-- but then, that's why I've always enjoyed FANS. The characters act in ways I'd never expect, and sometimes in ways I'd never want them to, but in the end it always makes sense.

Although the whole notion of our shy, nerdy hero ending up with not one but two hot girls of his dreams does smack juuuuust a bit of wish-fulfillment. (=

It's been a great ride, T. I'll be truly sorry to see FANS go.
 

I've been holding my tongue with "bobthespirit" on the forums because almost every post he makes pisses me off and I don't want to start a flame war.

He says EVERYTHING with the romance angle of Fans is fan-pandering. That IMHO is utter bullshit. The only time I have seen you pander to the fans is by tweaking the layout of "Bound." I don't know if he's behind this latest complaint series or not but I will say something now.

Don't change a thing.
 

I don't get the problem people are having with this. Besides a group marraige is different than just some casual 'threesome'

It's more difficult in a lot of ways, I have enough trouble getting along with just one person over the long haul.
 

They all deserve to be happy together. I think what you're doing is wonderful and I'll be very sad to see Fans go.
 

Hey, ever since 'the end' started approaching I've been wondering about which way this whole issue would be resolved.
I have to say I didn't expect this one to be what you chose, but it works, and personally I'm glad you did it this way. :)
 

T, I never got a forum account, but I've been reading up all quiet-like for ages, and I have to say:
I trust you, and I think a lot more of us trust you than you've heard from yet. Fans! has brought me a great deal of joy over the years, and your writing has never, ever failed to impress me; it was reading Fans! that brought me, a Shanna-style closet fan, back into the fold of proud fandom, which I can only call a life-changing experience even if one of only modest size. No matter where you took us, you took us there right, and while you've consistently surprised me, they have all been glad surprises.
This was an unexpected twist, not least because, despite my trust, I wasn't sure you'd let the characters go to this place if this was where they wanted to go--unconventional relationships like the one proposed in this comic are not uncommon, but as the forums have proven, they're still difficult for many people to accept.
Pandering would have been giving everyone an easy, conventional solution. You were brave enough as a writer to go somewhere unexpected and controversial in the very last week. As a reader who identifies strongly with both Rikk and Ally, I've gotten very attached to their fictional lives, and I just want to say thank you for working so hard to let them be true to themselves, even if it's difficult or unpopular with some readers. Thank you for these characters and for these stories. I'll miss them, and look forward to whatever you come up with next.
 

Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do, and darn the world.

Maritza
CRFH.net
 

I have to agree with what's been said. Anyone who thinks this is in any way an "easy" out is mistaken--and seriously underestimates what Ally (and Rikk, via her) would have been exposed to. The leather and cuffs weren't just a fashion statement, you know?

It's an unconventional possibility in the literal sense, but where else but in a science fiction series can you even raise it?

Damn, I'll miss this. Thank you, T. If our revels must end, going out on a high is how to do it. Bravo.
 

I was more suprised/pleased with the Mitts resolution.
(ooooh sounds like a political thriller) That scenario couldn't have been easy to write, but it feels right.

Now I need to go back to the archives and re-read "War Between States" and other Mitts precursors.

Thank you for writing "Fans!"
 

I aggre, T. I may have stated that I don't like this recent development at all, but it's impossible to please everyone. You're a good writer and I admire the fact that you stick with your guns. Not everyone can do that.

I've been a fan of Fans for years and I'm sad to see it end.

Later!
-Red Viking
 

I didn't like the Rikk-Alisin-Rumy resolution at first. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it's true to the characters. I can totally believe that they would decide to go that way.

Besides, this is not just simple wish-fulfilment. It's a marriage, which means that the challenges are just beginning.

So stick to your guns, man. I've been a fan of Fans for a long time (it was actually that first CRFH crossover that hooked me in, ironically enough) but never bothered with the forums. I just want to say a huge THANK YOU for one of the best-written comics out there. I'll be sorry to see it go.

----Ron
 

I do kinda think it's a cop-out, in that it's a quick and easy way to get this complicated situation on the path to resolution, but mostly I just think it feels forced. I really haven't seen anything thus far to suggest that any of these characters are in a place where they could do this kind of thing. I mean heck, Even Rumy's kind of admitted that she's being selfish with her lashing out at Rikk and Allisin, I can't see how this would strike her as anything but a consolation prize. "Kana is dead, The alien abandoned you, and Rikk and I are back together, but I'll tell you what, I'll share him if you want."

To me, it would have seemed much more natural for Rumy to show up at Shana and Will's Party-in-the-generic-future having gotten to the point where she realized how unfair she was, had made peace with Rikk and Ally and had made her own happy life as a manga artist. Would have felt more natural, I think.

But hell, We haven't seen the whole thing until friday, and it's not my comic anyway. Don't feel you have to change anything for us bastards, T. I'm just voicing my own small opinion.

-K. Ivan Ruppert
 

Besides, this is not just simple wish-fulfilment. It's a marriage, which means that the challenges are just beginning.

As someone once said, "Anyone who thinks that this is wish fulfilment obviously hasn't tried it themselves."

Rikk has just let himself in for even more relationship work than he is used to; and as for Alisin — goodness, until Rikk she never worked even the least bit on any relationship at all. I'm immensely proud of her.

As for Rumy, here's her opportunity to put her money where her mouth is, relationship-wise. It's one thing to pine and faunch; it's another, much harder, thing to actually have to do the work involved in being a part of a relationship you've pined for.

Plus, she may have had to get herself drunk to do it, but she did make a pass at Alisin at that infamous frat party.
 

It strikes me as an--elegant solution to the problem. And everything we've seen so far seems *very* much in character.
I bet it was Alisin's idea, though. I think, even if it did *occur* to Rikk, he--wouldn't bring the subject up. Ally, on the other hand...
 

I have to agree with Ruppert above, it feels forced, and it certainly seems like it came out of nowhere.

Given the last week or so of strips, I can't see how Rumy would be in a frame of mind to say yes and actually not re-consider it later. Right now, she seems emotionally wounded.
 

My only complaint is that it's comes somewhat out of the blue, not the resolution in itself.

Oh, and the fact that we likely won't see a double-panty-shot with Ali and Rumy.

But it seems that Rikk gets to reap his rewards for being the guy he is, that Ali will get the chance to heal her soul, and that Rumy will finally find love and satisfaction. And since an artist needs a certain conflict in her life (imo), I think a three-way marriage will give her enough to fuel several comic series.
 

Hey, hey now. I only said a simple, 'Alisin steps aside for Rumy and it's clean and perfect' ending seemed like pandering. I said the Rikk-Alisin-Rumy ending was 'safe'. And it is.

But now that I think about it, the simple Rikk-Rumy thing wouldn't be pandering so much as 'Boring'.

I'm starting to really wish fans of a webcomic could disagree with somebody without ganging up on him...
 

I'm sort of a lurker fan of Faans another one who came in from the first CRFH cross over (which I -liked-)and I have to say, I actually do like this ending.

It's far from "boring" or "safe" as the controversy and loud dissent it's caused shows. It's actually rather interesting, and sort of sweet. Besides, I tend to hate love triangles because someone always winds up the loser, but in this ending, no one is. Rikk isn't a consolation prize. He's Rikk, and both girls love him, and both their loves are equally valid, and they both get what they deserve.

Then again, that WAS one thing I liked about Heinlein's writing. See? There's even a sci-fi prescendent.
 

T,

As a fellow writer, an academic and a Texan, I have to call you on the carpet on this one. The story behind Faans had great potential to have a wonderful literary ending, and to give constructive criticism, I have to say that you fell short.

Endings do not have to be happy. Actually some of the greatest works in literature and film do not have happy endings. They have good endings which are powerful and moving, which tell us something about the human spirit, but they are not always happy.

For example, the ending of "Chinatown" is powerful, as the villain drags off his daughter through incest from the still warm body of her mother, who is also his daughter. The final line "That’s Chinatown." Stays with you long after you watch the film.

Another example is the end of 1984. When the lead falls in love with big brother and accepts all of the lies as truth, you know his despair and you can't help but to feel the horror of the situation.

I could go on and on, with references to "A Doll House," "The Mort de Author," "Many Waters" the original Grimm’s Fairytales, ect,ect...

With Fans, the better ending would have been an ending where one person either Ricky, Ally or Ru didn't get what they wanted. Such an ending would have forced you as a writer to illustrate some of the pain and hardship that comes with life. To help those who read the work to know that not everything works out for the best, and that it’s OK because life goes on.

The ending feels forced, because the story two weeks ago was headed in the above direction. You changed the direction with the multi-member marriage solution. It’s not the solution itself which is wrong, but rather the neat little bow that you use to wrap up the loose ends. Stories can have loose ends; I just wish you would have left the ones you had set up...

TL Long
 

T,
Comments from a lurker:
Nice going. I'm, well, still in shock. Not complaining, just trying to take things in. It does seem like an elegant resolution to the problem (and for those who tell Mr. Campbell that not all loose ends get tied up, I'm sure HE knows this, but Rikk Oberf isn't buying it). I would have liked to see a little more of the discussion that he and Ally had, and his internal monologue, that led to this decision that would otherwise seem to contradict the "I sold my soul to God for Divine Protection" aspect of him, but it's fun.
Of course,the relationship doesn't have to WORK, and that might make for som interesting stories if Fans had more than two days left to it (it will be missed).
As for those who say "But he's getting everyone set up and all their issues resolved" -- I don't see Guth having a husband or even boyfriend at that party in the future. Meighan's still dating airheads years after Harry Scott told her to look for girls with brains (or Shanna's a harsh judge), and Jackie's still an attention seeker, albeit much better now. People are funny creatures.
And thank you, T, for years of pleasure with this strip.
 

I think the fact that it's instinctively *wrong* is what makes it structurally *right*.

Recent storylines have shown major growth spurts for Jackie, Tim and Ally. Other Fans members also matured and changed over time.

RIkk's always been the leader, always been the believer. He's had crises of faith and moments of doubt, but he's fought them off.

How do you indicate a change in Rikk without damaging what makes him effective? Given that Rikk has damn few flaws, you can't make a satisfactory ending by adding flaws or removing the few he has. Put him in an FIB uniform, as a new, improved Mr. Jones? It's already been hinted.

The one 'free element' was Rikk's personal style, which has always been conventional -- not conservative, conventional. It's that clean-shaven persona of his that makes it so surprising that he entered a group marriage. But the fact that he's willing to entertain it -- T., you might have made it clear whether Ally suggested it! -- shows a character shift comparable in magnitude to what the others have gone through.

I'll go back to lurking now.

mmaltenATcomcast.net
 

First I'd like to say that to me the ending works for one obvious reason, it makes you think. To me that's been one thing about the whole FANS experience that it was entertaining but made you think or at least it did for me.
Second thanks to FANS for introducing me to my second favorite comic in CRFH. Just a little back history even though I never subscribed I started reading FANS before it moved to graphic smash, I was so hooked I spent 3 full days non stop starting at the beginning to catch up to current strip, then jumped over to CRFH because of the tie in and was hooked there as well. I will truly miss FANS
 

Does it seem forced? I dunno. It was certainly out of left field, but I think the purpose was to make the readers as shocked and surprised as Rumy, something which would be unlikely to happen if the proposal was foreshadowed.

Also, there are still two days left, so we might get at least a peek at how well this rather optimistic dream will fare in the face of harsh reality.

I do agree, though, with the person who wished to see how Rikk and Ally planned this. Obviously it couldn't be shown within the story or the readers wouldn't be able to share the shock and surprise with Rumy, but now that it's been revealed, perhaps T could revisit Fans! at some point - not to do another series, but maybe an occasional side story covering how Rikk and Ally came up with their proposal to Rumy, or how Tim and Julia fell in love.

E. Bernhard Warg
Posting anonymously because I don't want to start my own blog, seeing as how I can't even update my webcomic regularly...
 

FWIW, last night I almost chimed in here with the observation that one way to get people talking would be to get us to Tuesday's comic and then not post Wednesday's. :-)

(You do realize I stayed up the entire night hitting "F5" to refresh that damned page, right?)
 

Does it seem forced? I dunno. It was certainly out of left field, but I think the purpose was to make the readers as shocked and surprised as Rumy, something which would be unlikely to happen if the proposal was foreshadowed.

During my hours of free time last night, I found myself wandering bck through the archives, and I actually found a decent amount of foreshadowing — and not all of it as obscure as the fact that Alisin appeared to transform herself into Wonder Woman at her moment of epiphany, either. :-)

Of course, the best little bit of foreshadowing came far too late to do any of us any good: On the very day the proposal was first broached, Rumy's T-shirt matched Alisin's ear rings and Rikk's wedding ring.

I mean, c'mon! How much clearer a hint could there be than that? :-)
 

Perhaps "foreshadowing" was a bad choice of words (choice of word? choice of compound word?). My point was that the proposal had to be a surprise so the readers could share Rumy's shock.

You're right about the foreshadowing, though, it's definitely there (of course it didn't seem so obvious then...).

Whatever the next two updates bring, it seems rather clear that T is following Stan Lee's tenet "Never give the readers what they think they want."

Oh yeah, I also stayed up far too late last night waiting for the page to update. I'd best not repeat that tonight...

E. Bernhard Warg
Posting anonymously because I don't want to start my own blog, seeing as how I can't even update my webcomic regularly...
 

OK, yet one (overlong) more piece of mixed feedback....

I don't find the idea of science fiction fans being willing to consider a group marriage that suprising; I've known three such relationships before I mostly GAFIAted. Heinlein has a number of classics with the theme still widely read, despite their flaws.

Ally being willing to give it a go isn't at all shocking, given her past being rather checkered.(Plaid, even!)

Rikk's proposal was a little out of character for him-- no ring to accompany it. (Although the bottom frame of 1397you.gif could be edited to change that....) Aside from that not-so-minor detail I can easily see his time with Ally having broadened his worldview on such matters. Not to mention his unconventional interaction with at least two deities gives him more room than most to feel very little residual pressure from his religious upbringing.

Rumy... is more problematic. That she has a deep and longstanding attraction to Rikk has been a longstanding theme. The oft alluded to frat party (52: New Faces 2, for those peeking the archives) is ambiguous; she may have considered something on these lines either consciously or subconciously, but her personal norms/values rejected much of it vocally (and earsplittingly) on serious conscious consideration.

While she's come to a greater degree of self acceptance, and self expression in forms other than her drawing, it's still an awfully vast leap to overcoming cultural conditioning to embrace a group marriage. Even saying she "would do anything for another chance" makes it a serious stretch. The closest sign is her picking up Ally's collar at the yard sale-- perhaps signalling she might be entering a truly wild and rebellious phase in her life.

As an extra matter, the percieved emotional blackmail of Ally threatening to step aside isn't helpful; pressure of any form, however well meant, is not the best way to begin a relationship. Later resentment would be a risk when inevitable eventual difficulties arise. And larger groups are apparently less stable, even on the best foundations-- all three of the trios I know partially or fully split. Even ordinary couples, without the extra burden of a threesome, and with the best of intentions and sincere will to try and make a relationship work, often find the underlying personalities won't permit it.

All three are good people, and willing to try. But the road ahead at that point is likely to have a lot of bumps. That the relationship lasts... well, it's a comic strip, and not our real world. It's a stretch, if a happy one.

Anyway... as others have noted, it's your strip, so you can end it as you please. After all, this strip will probably lose most of it's readers soon enough anyway. =)
 

Oh yeah, I also stayed up far too late last night waiting for the page to update. I'd best not repeat that tonight...

Fortunately, it looks like you won't have to. :-)
 

It's not conventional.

Art provokes.

It wasn't a cheap shot.

Consider that a hat trick as far as creativity goes..! So it wasn't the perfect ending. At least you ruined lots of bets regarding who "wins", and caused a number of arguments over said bets.