“Hard Target” — Page Twenty-Eight
Hey look! Weapons!
And if you think you’re glad to see a new page up…
Eighteen months. Eighteen months of dread and feeling helpless and having to stay home and wash our hands constantly because we were terrified of getting sick while Kiki was neutropenic. Wearing gloves and masks all the time and sanitizing surfaces. Living isolated from the rest of the world and stocking up on supplies when we did venture out. Eighteen months of self-enforced quarantine. But now, at last, finally, we can —
AW! WHAT THE HECK???
So, yeah. We hope you are doing well in these trying times.
Kiki, right at the moment, has been declared cancer-free. She is growing her hair back. She’ll be having scans every three months, so we are always going to worry, but for right now they are clear. She had to go back to the hospital for a month because of some intestinal blockage caused by scar tissue, but she is out again. Just in time for Covid 19.
So we still don’t have any idea what our schedule might be. Same as basically the rest of the world. But we’ll push onward.
At least we have toilet paper.
And all of us here at #teamkiki would like to thank you, and everyone, for your donations, prayers, positive vibes, and well-wishes.
Now let’s do it. Let’s get through this Coronavirus thing like heroes.
With or without rocket boots.
— Bob out
In the meantime, because Max-the-Artist is working long hours at his Day Job maintaining (among other things) the necessary health insurance, we’re going to simply declare ourselves “on hiatus” and just update when we can. Which, from the look of things, will be every few months. Apparently one side effect of the virus is that commercial ad work actually becomes busier, since companies are desperate to get consumers back out there spending money!
Vote Incentive! One of the shows I got hooked on during Kiki’s hospitalization was “Cells At Work.” A surprisingly accurate (given that it uses anthropomorphized cells) but entertaining (and extremely violent) look at our bodies’ bloodstream and defense system. Episode 7 (“Cancer”) especially hit home. And who couldn’t love the Platelets? But a perpetual favorite was hard-working if often flummoxed Red Blood Cell AE3803. Who just happens to be a redhead! So check out Marissa’s latest cosplay!
Glad to see you back in the world, just in time to re-quarantine from it. 😉
Stay safe and healthy!
Here’s hoping the end of the world as we know it means you’ll have more time for putting up more of your awesome comics we all love so much. Nothing quite like an pandemic/zombie apocalypse to give you some extra time at the computer.
Way to go Kiki!
And welcome back!
Welcome back, whatever this world is becoming.
I don’t think the fear ever goes completely away. In my case, it’s sunlight. A brush with melanoma will do that to you. Seven years now since a fellow with a knife caught it before it spread, which if you know melanoma is not often.
Best wishes to you all.
Glad you are back, happier that Kiki is better. I’ve checked this page every MWF in the hopes of information and an update.
Thank you, everyone!
Max has a more detailed update of his own life (and how it changed) at digitalstoryboards.com for anyone interested.
Is that URL correct? I keep getting a spam/scam/popup/autoforward page.
The Vote Incentive link is correct – just tested it – though there’s no telling what issues Top Web Comics may be having. You do have to click through a couple of things (and vote) to get to the actual image.
They definitely don’t have images loading, so voting is a matter of guessing which of the three options is the hidden picture. A fun minigame to earn a picture of Marissa, as it were.
We’re back?
We’re back.
We’re back!
And I can hear his spine whimpering from here. Hope Sophie put a lot of work into reinforcing his bones.
YAHOO KIKI! CONGRATULATIONS!
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(new page! woohoo!)
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YAAAAY for KIKI! YeeeeABBA DABBA DOO! YOU GO GIRL!
The important thing is that Kiki is doing better.
I’m glad that you all are doing alright. You, of all people at least, have probably not been exposed to this COVID thing. Here’s hoping that continues for you. Keep up those good sanitation practices!
Really glad to see the comic back too, but that’s all secondary to health.
I can’t tell you how happy I am to know that Kiki is better!!! Please keep everyone safe! God bless!
Awesome news about Kiki!
And, oh look! The comic is back.
Congratulations !
Awesome news! Congratulations Kiki! I am a cancer patient with two stem cell transplants, still under treatment I fact. Going through that as an adult with decent comprehension and knowledge is tough enough. But as a toddler? She’s amazing ! Love the new page, steady as she goes getting more out! Love and Respect for all of you, especially Kiki!
Oh my. Thank you for the well-wishes, and back atcha! We know how rough it must be if you are neutropenic during this virus. Hope your treatment is successful and that you stay safe and uninfected during your cancer battle. Our very best wishes! – Bob & Max & Kiki
Hooray for Kiki and Hooray you’re back! So happy Little Kiki is Cancer free. I always remember her in my prayers and will continue to do so. Good to see the strip up again. Best of luck to all of you on #teamkiki and don’t be bugged by the WuBug.
Hoo-RAY! Now wash your dang hands.
So glad I never deleted the browser bookmark! Kiki’s recovery is great news and dare I say, timely. Even if not 100%, at least her immune system is functioning. My weekly anime gathering had only gotten a few episodes into Cells At Work, up to the one with the pink parasite-killer, Eosinophil, before getting put on hold by Stay-At-Home orders statewide.
I’ve been checking back every so often, hoping for good news. Got the best.
And I’m glad to see another page, too!
Thank you for this. I’m happy to hear that your wee one is ok, and it’s so awesome to see a new comic up besides. Is Max ready to field-test the new gear?
Glad to hear Kiki is doing well. Glad for all of you. =)
Keep up the good work.
Welcome home.
And I’m sure I speak for others when I say that, to us, your work is “essential”.
OMG Yes yes yes! And Kiki is well and home!
Welcome back at last.
I still say Marissa would make a wonderful Jessica Rabbit. Stereotypical, I know – but still…
Nice to hear good news about the little one! I hope she stays cancer free. 🙂
Wonderful to see an update again too, of course. I’ve missed you guys and the Bobservations. The one about SBLs (Scary Bank Ladies/Small Bossy Ladies? Was that one or two?) is still my favorite. 😉
Two. Scary Bank Ladies was right at the beginning at the bank. The other was later at some point when Marissa was getting bossy.
Congratulations, Kiki! So very glad to hear good news for her.
You’re back? . . .
YOU’RE BACK!!! . . .
Kiki is doing well, and you’re back!!!
Welcome back.
Wonderful news. I wish you all the best.
So what is the update schedule going to look like going forward?
So happy to hear the Kiki is clear! A little sad that it’s just in time for Covid, but hey. I’m sure you all are overjoyed regardless. So happy to see you’re back with good news!
AWESOME!
I hadn’t checked your site in a while… you know, just every few months when I think of it… and then this! So happy for you!
In terms of disease… we’ve had worse than this, even since WWII. We’ll get through it just fine. I mean, some people will die (that’s what always happens, sadly), but not enough to have any real impact on society.
But the massive overreaction freakout stupidity? That may have lasting impacts on society, in strange ways, some predictable and some not. That’s what happens when you try something truly unprecedented in all of human history.
Here’s hoping the “bounce back/V-shaped recovery” people have guessed correctly (and anything on that topic is a guess – nothing to compare to), if only for the sake of the people who will starve to death from economic downturn, globally speaking.