BetaPwned?

A couple of years ago Mark Poutenis of The Thinking Ape Blues rather boisterously suggested that BetaPwned was a stupid name for my comic and that it would be more appropriately titled Daisies and Shit. While it may seem an insult, I can assure you that Mark has always been rather complimentary in regards to the comic as a whole, just not the name - which he said reminded him of, if I remember correctly, "a bullshit gamer comic".

I did concede that BetaPwned had a pretty concrete "gamer" ring to it and that the original premise for the title, that life is just a test and sometimes it kicks your ass, no longer fit the feel of the comic. When I first began BetaPwned I was going through a very nasty divorce and constantly felt as though I was being knocked around by life itself with very little recourse. By the time I began posting comics, however, much of that turmoil had died down and I had regained the measured optimism I'm known for. Still, I protested that I didn't want to confuse my readers, that I had already spent a good deal of time and effort marketing the comic as BetaPwned, and that I thought the name was clever... all of which were very good reasons for leaving things as they were.

I did, however, love the name Daisies and Shit. It did a remarkable job at humorously exemplifying my personal outlook when it wasn't being poisoned by stressful circumstances. Life is, in my opinion, literally brimming with both daisies and shit - those things we enjoy, and those things we endure. I also feel that how an individual deals with both aspects reveals their inherent nature, and that an individual's inherent nature is the most valid measure by which to judge their potential compatibility. For a time I considered maintaining a second, single panel, comic under the title. Eventually I used it to herald this blog. In one form or another, Daisies and Shit has been on my mind from the moment Mark suggested it.

So, here we are... rapidly approaching the three year anniversary of BetaPwned. This last year hasn't been a great one for the comic for various reasons, the last six months especially. My updates have been sporadic at best. I've canceled all but one convention appearance for 2010, and I'm attending that one more for social than promotional reasons. My readership, while greater than I feel I rightly deserve, has decreased markedly. The comic aspect of my life as of late has been, in a word, shit.

It's enough to make a girl depressed.

The good news is that I can see a change just on the horizon. I've been working on a new site for the comic that's more streamlined and therefore less overwhelming. Having learned that inking with a brush doesn't cause me the pain that inking with a pen did, I've ditched the tablet and have gone back to working on paper; which I ultimately find more enjoyable and relaxing. I've also contracted with a brilliant colourist whom I adore, and who gives my work a personality I've never been able to accomplish on my own. I've had to step away from a number of projects due to my health, which sucks, but my to do list is finally a reasonable length. I'm learning to better manage my time, and am finally getting back to some semblance of life worth writing about.

So, as I said, here we are... If ever there was a time for me to change the name of the comic this is it. I've less readers to confuse, good reason to launch a new add campaign in the near future, and no real emotional attachment to the title "BetaPwned" beyond nostalgia. I started this post with the intention of laying out the pros and cons of a possible change... but I suddenly realize my decision has really already been made.

Coming soon - Daisies and Shit. Thanks, Mark. *snugs*