Okay, look, I feel like I need to preface this by saying: let’s not all freak out. Mega Robo Bros is very far from over. If you read it in the Phoenix, you’ve got months and months of THRILLING, EXCITING story still to come. If you read it in book form, you’ve got YEARS. If you haven’t ever read it - and I hope and believe this covers the majority of people who will experience this story - you have the whole entire thing ahead of you. There is so much Alex and Freddy still to come.
But not for me. Because, as of yesterday: I FINISHED DRAWING THE DAMN THING.
Seriously. The whole thing! Look:
It says it right there!
As I say, I’m aware that I’m the only one who’s at this point, so I don’t want to wax lyrical too much here, reflect too much on The Ending of Things. People are - hopefully - still enjoying and excited about the story, and I would not want to distract from that. But here in the Personal Fiefdom of Self-Indulgence that is my own newsletter, I wanted to mark the occasion a bit. Because, basically:
I feel GREAT.
It’s that high you always get from Finishing A Thing, but the biggest, most epic, most technicolour version of that feeling I’ve ever experienced. It’s going to take a little while to properly sink in, but for right now I’m just riding this high all the way through into my own personal happy ending, by which I mean the WEEK OFF I have marked out in my schedule next week.
As you may have noticed from a close reading of these newsletters over the last year or so, this last book has been at times a really tough emotional ride for me. It’s felt incredibly intense. There are a lot of big feelings happening both on and behind the page, and I’ve felt a huge pressure to do justice to the story and these characters and, essentially, to not mess up the landing.
And I’m here. It’s done. Ten years of my life. A 1,600 page graphic novel. I made it. And I did not, in my own humble and highly biased opinion, mess up the landing.
Other readers are of course allowed to form their own opinions. But in my own reckoning, and insofar as I’m ever happy with anything I do: I did it. I’m incredibly proud of this story, and this ending, and what it makes the whole thing.
A few people have asked me over the last year: but why does it have to end? And, look. Once you’ve got there, you tell me. I think once people read the end of this story, the answer to that question will be abundantly clear.
But, basically: because *that was the ending*.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves! As I say, for YOU THE READER all this is still to come. Subscribe to the Phoenix to enjoy every moment remaining on this ride - and an absolute golden-age-of-kids-comics treasure trove of brillliant comics besides - and don’t forget to pre-order MEGA ROBO BROS: NEMESIS! I really cannot stress that enough. Pre-order MEGA ROBO BROS: NEMESIS! Do it! Do it now!
MEANWHILE, ON TOUR:
Next month I will be at Stratford Literary Festival, and you can book tickets for it now! Also, Reading and Dublin! And, ANNOUNCEMENT, I am doing a couple of events with Sevenoaks Bookshop in Kent, Saturday 12 May. I gather the first workshop sold out in a MATTER OF HOURS - I don’t know what to tell you, I am very successful and popular* - so we’ve added a second session. Book early to avoid disappointment!
* it’s in a Methodist church hall Neill, you’re not playing Wembley Stadium, let’s not lose our heads here.
And speaking of things you may wish to book early to avoid disappointment…
PHOENIX FEST IS BACK! Oxford, 20th July! A whole ton of brilliant artists and basically the most fun you can even imagine being squeezed into a single day. Tickets go on sale 10am, 22 April, and look. These things tend to sell out FAST, so be warned. BUT, the good news is, this year it will be possible to join in online, even if you can’t make it to Oxford on the day. Check out the official Phoenix Fest page for all the details!
Okay I’m going to go spend a week sitting in jacuzzis and reading Robin Hood comics - possibly not simultaneously - so I will just thank you for your attention and remind you to pre-order MEGA ROBO BROS: NEMESIS!
Okay thanks bye
As we both know, endings are important… Congratulations!!
Huge congratulations, Neill! It's already an amazing achievement in children's literature, IMO. Can't wait to see how it ends.
Also, the conclusion to this week's episode in the Phoenix caused much consternation in this house.
When's the Netflix animated adaptation coming, anyway?