I’m delighted to announce that I’ve received an offer from my publisher to draw two more Mal and Chad graphic novels! We’re hoping to develop Mal and Chad as a children’s comic book series. In light of this I’ve decided that the comic strip will come to an end in about a month.
Many of you have just discovered Mal and Chad—in fact I would say that most of you have just discovered Mal and Chad—so this news will probably feel abrupt.
In the last couple of weeks, Mal and Chad blew past their 200th strip. This website began only five months ago, and there are already over a thousand people who regularly stop by to read the comic. Especially recently, with the Neatorama partnership and the Max vs Max guest strip, traffic to this site has been trending upward, and I feel like the swell of people has just begun.
I’m proud of the Mal and Chad comic strip. It is my best published work to date, so it’s not lightly that I’ve decided to end it. If you’re saddened by this announcement, let me break down my reasoning to make things clearer and hopefully easier to handle. I believe that this will, in the end, be a happy, healthy shift in my career and focus.
I debated continuing to update the strip indefinitely on a once or twice a week schedule, but I decided I’d rather end strong with all engines roaring than try to dilute the reader experience and squeeze out more time on the clock. The consequences of ending sooner than later are that I’m giving up any new traffic to the site an updating feature would bring in. But that is the only advantage, and I’d rather my motivation for drawing the feature be more than site traffic.
From the beginning I’ve always drawn the Mal and Chad strip with a strict continuity and coherency. The fourth wall is never broken; if an acme anvil fell on Chad’s paw, he would not show up in the next strip without injury. These are real, living, breathing characters.
I’ve been so obsessive about continuity that all the Mal and Chad strips unfold in a real-time, chronological sequence. You might not notice it reading the strip from day to day, but if you read through the archives you’ll see that the strips go in cycles. Mal and Chad wake up. They eat breakfast. Mal goes to school and Chad stays home. Mal comes home and plays with Chad all afternoon. Then they eat dinner. Then they take a bath. Then they go to bed.
Then they wake up again.
Each cycle is one day of Mal and Chad time, and if you count up the all the cycles that have happened to date, you’ll find that about two weeks have elapsed in Mal and Chad’s world. And the current cycle is a Friday, the day of the fall play.
I don’t expect any of you to have studied the strip to the detail where you might notice this ridiculous continuity. All this is to say that the comic strip is not a random, open ended feature; it is my attempt to carefully document every major event that happened in just two weeks of Mal and Chad’s lives. Each strip can be read by itself, but I have always had an eye for the collection of strips as a whole. This aspect of the comic has been another factor in informing my decision to tie things up. Ending the strip on this cycle will have a nice symmetry, and since most of the strips have been leading up to the fall play, it will be a nice climax to conclude the story.
Well, overly complicated explanations aside, I just wanted to say that you’ve been a wonderful audience and I love you all. Thanks to those people who faithfully comment on nearly every strip I post. Thanks to that one person who sends me emails every time I spell something wrong. Thanks to all the people who are reading this right now on you RSS reader, or Ipad or smart phone. Thank you to the silent majority who flickers in and out of the site to read the strip, and yet always comes back for more.
If you’ve enjoyed the strip at all, there are a couple things you can do for me that will help out a lot, and they’re all located on the sidebar to your right.
First, you can get connected by following my twitter feed or liking the Mal and Chad facebook page. These will become really useful to get updates about what I’m up to with Mal and Chad, especially as the strip comes to an end and the website updates less frequently. If you’re already on the facebook page, please send out an invite to everyone you think will enjoy Mal and Chad. I haven’t spent a penny on advertising for this website yet. Hearsay is the only way people find out about the strip. So let’s makes some noise!
Secondly, preorder the first Mal and Chad graphic novel. Think of the 10 dollars the book costs as a donation for the work I’ve put in to update this strip these last five months… except with this donation comes 200 pages of never-before-seen Mal and Chad fun! How awesome is that?
I got to tell you guys, I am super excited to get started on the next Mal and Chad graphic novels. The real joy of this is that although the comic strip might be ending, Mal and Chad are going to go on to much bigger adventures than can be handled in four panels. Prepare to see Mal and Chad running over double page spreads and through panels of all shapes and sizes. I’m really excited to grow in my storytelling abilities, and these books will give me the perfect grounds to practice and hone my craft.
Here are some things to be looking forward to: We still have a month of Mal and Chad strips left. And they’re going to be awesome. Also, I’m currently setting up a Ustream account so that you can watch me draw Mal and Chad live. On top of that, I still plan to run the Mal and Chad caption contest for a while (there’s actually a new one up right now!), so there will be fresh Mal and Chad images online each week. And finally, I’m currently talking with my editor about maybe posting online a section of the Mal and Chad graphic novel in the future for you guys to read. How about that?!
Anyway.
Thanks for everything. Leave a comment and let me know what you’re thinking.
But… I just started reading… and I come to the site everyday to see it q_q
Well, Ok. To be honest I Wish you the best of luck with your graphic novels. If or when I can I will try to be picking one up to have, would be nice to have. Awesome (And cute) art work, what more do I want from a graphic novel? X3
Best of wishes from a New Fan ~ Milo Hugo Windby
Thanks Milo… I’ve appreciated your comments and everything!
Gutted (in a way) sent over from Pvp and stayed ever since, well done on your graphic novel and its a testament to your talent!
Well, it saddens me to hear that this strip will be ending
I’ve loved it from the very beggining, it it’s consistently been a great, fun, read. I guesse this means that soon I’ll have one less thing to look forward to every day. 
Though, even if the online portion is ending, you can count on me to keep up with the graphic novels, and buy every one
These characters, and this world have an awsome potential. And so do you writing and art skills [which are fantastic, and can only get better!].
All I can say is that we’re ending one chapter of the story, and starting a new, albeit less frequent, one. Here’s to the last month of Mal and Chad, and all the future fun and games to come!
Keep putting out awsome stuff Stephen: I’m counting on it.
Perhaps if you have another career gap, you can add another series. Will Megan feel jealous when another “woman” enters the picture? Will Chad accidentally reveal his sapience to someone? Will Zachary become protective when someone threatens his favorite target of abuse? Love your strip and look forward to the books. Your doing great!
That is very exciting news! Congrats! I’ll definitely keep track of you on Twitter and Facebook.
Hey, what are the chances of getting a copy of my winning Neatorama caption (Who is ANDY?) with the caption filled in? Any chance you want to sell the original?
Anyway, good luck with everything. Just keep us in the loop!
Stephen!! This is really awesome! Congratulations~! I’m sure people will understand that great ‘n awesome things are most assuredly worth waiting for
You’re doing great work!!
If the daily comic is doing well, my first reaction is that you’re crazy to give it up – but you have a better idea of what you’re doing than I do, I’m sure.
I’d suggest keeping the site up and using it as a blog. That way if someone stumbles onto it and likes what they see they can order your books! It’d be like a free preview and give your books some good publicity.
Congratulations on the book deal, though. That’s very exciting! I hope when my little guy starts reading, there’s a whole series of mal and chad comic books that I can buy for him.
Sean: It was tough to make this decision, ’cause I knew it’d be sad. But thanks!
Ducky: Thank you! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the strip so much. I appreciate your positive attitude.
Unk: I have no idea what will happen. It’s exciting.
Tim: Oh! I didn’t know you were the one who won. Congrats! I actually do all my work digitally, so there is no original… ha ha. I could fill in the caption and sell you a print if you’d like though…
Kim: Thanks a bunch– I’ve been keeping up with your work btw! Hope to see you again some day!
Kat: The strip is doing really well, so it does feel strange, but I’ve got a vision for much bigger things. Thanks so much!
Working in an office with *three* different cartoonists has opened my eyes to the difficulty of keeping a schedule going with daily or weekly strips. I understand why you have to end the strip and I respect that you’d rather end strong that let the strip wind down as your time is needed elsewhere.
That being said, I am so excited for the Mal & Chad graphic novel, and Congratulations on securing two more right out of the gate! I can’t wait to get my pre-order copy and I will be following on Twitter to know when I can get some more Mal & Chad goodies
Best of luck!
What am I thinking….hmmm… how about NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
This is my second favorite webcomic (the first one I ever read will always hold first place, so don’t feel bad) and I’m really sad that you’re ending it so shortly after I found it 
That said, good luck with the graphic novels! I’m very happy for you that you have been given this opportunity. It’s like your last journal comic – God is doing something good. Only now you can see what it is!
I love Mal and Chad, and I love reading it M-F. That being said, I’m excited for this new opportunity for you and will continue supporting your work.
Have Fun!
Sad news for we readers, but great news for you. I have enjoyed reading Mal and Chad and I will continue to do so, in book form. Preordering now.
*sigh* I was one of those people who just found this site…. Its sad. I really loved what you did here…. Just thought I should say something as a random reader.
Nine years ago around this time of year I discovered the world of webcomics. Being aware that there was a whole new universe of comic creators and strips to follow beyond what the local newspaper offered was nothing but a major revelation for me. And so I’ve followed dozens of webcomics across the years. But few have ever clicked so nicely with me -let alone compelling me to create fan art- such as yours.
And I’m actually stoked to hear about your next graphic novel projects. You know, there are lots of creators who spend their lives knocking on doors and never get a chance to get published. I think you are extremely lucky in that aspect – and that’s great. Unfortunately of course this means something’s gotta give. There’s only so much time and resources you can devote to anything in a day, and I can see how hard it would be to continue with M&C in a daily strip format.
Rest assured I’m already waiting for your first GN (and those who will follow) to come out. Just one question — what if I want mine with an extra sketch? Amazon won’t give me that option.
Baby Rhino felt a great disturbance on the internet, as if millions of “Mal and Chad” fans suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.
I’ll definitely miss reading Mal and Chad every M-F!!!
Erika: Thanks! I appreciate your insight and support for the strip! I’ve got my ear to your twitter as well!
musicalfingers: I know what you mean about the first webcomic, I’m still stuck on mine. Thanks!
Carrie: Thank you.
Steve: Appreciate the preorder… thank you!
Jeremy: Thanks for the shout out! I appreciate it.
Beto: If you ever do make it to comicon, I’ll try to be there with a sketch ready for you. Thanks for you awesome support of the comic, and for my first fan art, dude.
Baby Rhino: Ha ha! Thank you!
OUCH. But I guess we couldn’t expect it to go on forever…especially now that we know you are so methodic in the continuity and passage of time.
Congratulations!!!! Mal and Chad are SO publishing-worthy and I will SO be buying whatever graphic novels you do publish! I have been referring others to check it out…don’t know if they have yet, but I will keep reminding them! THANKS for sharing your art with us!
Kudos on the book deal – that’s really wonderful! I’m sad that the webcomic won’t continue, but that’s probably a wise choice. I look forward to the novels. I can’t wait until my daughter is old enough to read them with me! I’m sure she’ll love Mal and Chad as much as me.
Thanks for giving us months of pleasure on the site. You’re a very talented artist Stephen. Keep up the great work!
Wow Stephen! This is fantastic! I will miss my daily Mal and Chad fix, but I can’t wait to see what adventures they will get into next!.
Wow. So Congrats. I’m very sad to hear that the strip will be ending – it has been a highlight to my evenings since I discovered it last spring. Though this is the first time I’ve ever commented on ANY comment board ANYWHERE, I did not feel it was right to see you make your get away to the grand world of publishing with out a goodbye from one of your (normally) silent majority – thanks for the recognition. If I had a facebook or texting to receive twitter, I would add you and Mal and Chad in a heart beat. I will miss your up dates, but look forward to seeing your work in between the covers of a book rather than on my computer screen.
Good luck out there my friends. It’s been fun – so long and thanks for all the laughs.
You are a talented man, and I wish you the best.
I refer you to Schlock Mercenary and PvP, two webcomics that can publish and stay on the web. Howard Tayler (Schlock’s creator), in particular, has been publishing in color, without a missed day, seven days a week, for over 10 years.
I am VERY concerned that your publisher is not forward-thinking, and that this move will hurt your sales and your career. I know that the only graphic novels I have purchased in the past 3 years have been from still-active webcomics. But, I am merely a reader, and not an expert on sales.
I wish you, Mal, Chad, and the rest of your wonderful cast a continued, joyful life. God Bless.
Well it’s excellent news that bigger and better things await, all I can say though is make sure your publisher looks at digital publications as well. As much as I enjoy your work I won’t buy a paper based book now of any type, but I would buy a digital version for consumption on laptop/iPad/smartphone etc.
Talk about bad timing. I just wanted to write a news post on my webcomic Sandra and Woo about Mal and Chad. I’m sure this would have gotten you another 100 regular readers. I guess I’ll now wait until Mal and Chad will be finally finished because sending my readers to a comic strip that will end in a month does not seem to be the brightest idea.
Now I’m sad, this was one of the things I looked forward to every day. It always made me smile while I was at work… sad sad days. But I wish you the best of luck in what you feel is the right thing for you and your special gang!
Miriam: You’re one of my favorite commenters. Thanks for your support this whole time.
Tyler: Thanks I appreciate that! Say hello to your daughter for me.
Alyssa: Thanks!
Moonsong: I really appreciate having your first comment be here! That’s cool! It’s good you’re not plugged in to facebook and twitter, they can eat at your life a little bit. I hope you enjoy the book.
dkenfp: Thanks for your concern! Webcartoonists can be in both print and web media media because they take content first published on the web and publish the same content in trades. The graphic novels I’m working on are fully original works, not reprinted versions of the Mal and Chad strips. I don’t have time to draw a full time comic strip and work on a graphic novel at the same time, so I had to make a choice. And I trust the people at penguin books, and because of the planned distribution, the books will reach a much wider audience than I have yet seen on this website. It will also hit the children’s demographic a lot better than the website does. As is, I don’t have many 8-12 year olds browsing mal and chad .com.
Grimwuld: We’re looking into formats like this for the next books! Thanks!
Novil: Well that’s a punch in the stomach, ha ha. I’ve read your comic, it’s great. I’ll send you an email.
Grace: Thanks! Sorry it’s a bit sad…
Total, heartfelt congratulations.
Two questions:
1. Are you going to keep the archive up as a sampler to pull in new readers?
2. I work in a comics shop, and we’re always struggling to expand our All Ages section. Will the M&C graphic novels be available through Diamond?
So your ending the web based strip and shifting to graphic novels? I think thats a great! Just a question though. When you say “series” do you mean one with a continuity (think BONE by Jeff Smith) or just collections of strips released at regular intervals? (Think GARFIELD)???
It is the nature of life that all things we love one day must come to a end.
I thank you for your hard work and dedication that has made this website, a daily requirement akin to a cup of coffee.
Good luck in your future endeavors.
Cheers Ben
Zombies. If you’re not going to have M-F Mal and Chad, then one of your books must have ZOMBIES!
Okay, maybe not zombies, but something “menacing” and “inevitable” that Mal and Chad must face. Calvin had his angry snowmen, Mal should have zombies (or some appropriate substitute).
Good luck with the graphic novels. In one way, you’re doing what Watterson have always wanted.
Your Obediant Serpant:
1) Absolutelty. I restarted the strip primarily to get people excited about the graphic novels.
2) I’ll have to look in to that….
Sintaux: It’ll be more like Tintin– each book will be semi self contained, with a loose continuity between all the books.
Ben: Thanks! I appreciate it!
HardWearJunkie: Mal’s creation gone wrong… it has potential…. Thanks for the suggestion!
Aaw, I just started reading, too. In fact, I found this comic as recently as yesterday and read all strips from the beginning in a row. (By the way, I got to this site via Red’s Planet which I in turn found through promotion on Sandra and Woo.)
Anyway what I wanted to say is that I enjoyed this cute comic pretty much and there’s good chance I’d buy a graphic novel eventually.
You did very well in creating the unique characters of this series. Especially one like Mal I have never seen before. To stay so merry and not falling into lover’s grief despite all the rejections from Megan has to be a result of a scientist’s madness. Otherwise, I could not imagine such a person. But it’s cool to see something new like that. I’m curious about the end of this series!
My best wishes for your aims!
Will the books be too expensive? I don’t have much money…