It got pushed back by a few years because people in the comments kept theorizing that the most inane things were about “Sanzen’s Revenge” (i.e. a customer returning a lamp), but we’re finally here!
I asked Norm about that. I figured he loved seeing people who know the whole story talk about it. Here’s what he said:
“I was always happy when fans discuss the comic. So it certainly didn’t bother me that people kept speculating about Sanzen returning, but I honestly didn’t have any plans for the character long term. Whenever I introduced “fantastic” elements to the comic like this, I tried to keep it to a minimum. It was supposed to be a fun, short-term story, but when I saw people consistently (and understandably) speculating about his return, I felt a responsibility to wrap it up in some way.
“Also, the real Keith Sanzen is a friend of mine, and while he was fine with being portrayed as a villain in the story for fun, I didn’t want to push it by bringing him back over and over again. The real life “Sanzen” is nothing like the character.”
So there it is. Norm never “pushed it back” because of fan theories, and in fact it was the speculation that drew him to finishing the story.
It got pushed back by a few years because people in the comments kept theorizing that the most inane things were about “Sanzen’s Revenge” (i.e. a customer returning a lamp), but we’re finally here!
I asked Norm about that. I figured he loved seeing people who know the whole story talk about it. Here’s what he said:
“I was always happy when fans discuss the comic. So it certainly didn’t bother me that people kept speculating about Sanzen returning, but I honestly didn’t have any plans for the character long term. Whenever I introduced “fantastic” elements to the comic like this, I tried to keep it to a minimum. It was supposed to be a fun, short-term story, but when I saw people consistently (and understandably) speculating about his return, I felt a responsibility to wrap it up in some way.
“Also, the real Keith Sanzen is a friend of mine, and while he was fine with being portrayed as a villain in the story for fun, I didn’t want to push it by bringing him back over and over again. The real life “Sanzen” is nothing like the character.”
So there it is. Norm never “pushed it back” because of fan theories, and in fact it was the speculation that drew him to finishing the story.
Wow. That’s pretty cool.
You, sir, are awesome for asking Norm. Thank you for sharing his response!
I’m still gonna joke about it always being pushed a month back though, xD. Part of me saying that was it was fun to think that.
Thanks Adam!👍