Robot Hugs

[Robot Hugs]

New and last comic! Read good version here. 

Well hello there!

I’m here to wrap this puppy up!

I haven’t been posting much for the last year or so, and I don’t feel like I’m going to get back into the weekly comic schedule, so I’m gonna call it here and say: Robot Hugs, the comic? It’s done.

I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you a little, through social media, email, and meeting you in real life! A lot of you have sent me personal stories about how a comic has touched you, and that has meant the world to me. Others have used my comics for really interesting events and applications, and I feel very honoured to make material that you have found insightful and useful.

But I don’t want to do it anymore. I don’t want to spend my free time producing these comics. I work in front of a computer. I’m spending a third of my life in front of a computer. And I don’t want to spend my home life in front of a computer either. I only have a little free time in my life, and I’ve decided to use it for things I really actually enjoy.

And the internet? I don’t enjoy it that much. I use it, and it’s useful. I like it as a resource, and I even enjoy some of its social aspects. But I’ve realized that I don’t enjoy producing stuff for the internet, and I don’t appreciate how much stuff I need to do to protect myself on here. I don’t feel safe here. And this comic isn’t worth feeling not safe. And to be clear, I am specifically talking about not feeling safe as a trans person, as a mentally ill person, and as a person who has already experienced their share of physical violence. I don’t need it. I owe myself the gift of safety.

So I’m gonna mix up the site a bit, make the home page more of a blog, and start documenting the cool stuff I like to make. I think some of you may like it. Some of you probably won’t. That’s ok! I hope you all find webcomics and creative people and artists that make you feel seen and loved.

I’m here, and I’m ok. The comic did its job, and now it’s retiring. I’m excited for what I get to do next, and I really, really do hope I see you all out there.

With lots and lots of love,

Robot Hugs.

[Robot Hugs]

Full comic (link)

Hourlies was last week. I wonder how many other artists have a full-blown meltdown as a regular part of their day now. Probably a bunch!

[Robot Hugs]

New comic (link)

I don’t know about YOU ALL but I had some REAL PLANS for 2020 and most of it involved a very careful noble-but-suffering air that I could basically deploy to stay home and skip stuff whenever i wanted.

Now my whole liver year is gone, the world’s moved on, I feel FUCKING GREAT, no thanks to 2020, and I barely even got to use the surgery for an excuse for anything. So I ask you, what the heck was the point?!

[Robot Hugs]

New comic (link)

The last of the 2020 badges. Look, taking very basic precautious was wildly contentious this year. It was stressful, the messaging was inconsistent, people were strangely weird about mildly inconvenient things, and some communities seemed to give up altogether. Just know when you were wearing a mask this year, you were keeping people safe, and saving lives. When you stayed home, even when other people in your life weren’t, you were protecting yourself and the people you love. The assholes get all the airtime. But I see you all, staying home, wearing masks, doing your best. We did pretty good. We should be proud of that.

[Robot Hugs]

Hey! (link)

Happy new year, folks. It’s sure been a real one. I’m sorry for not posting much this year, but… ‘gestures vaguely’.  

Honestly, I’m doing alright, all things considered. My field of expertise had a major legislative deadline this year, so I’ve been very busy with my paying work, which makes me luckier than many. I hope you’re all doing alright as well.

Everyone keeps saying that they didn’t accomplish anything in 2020, but I don’t think that’s true at all. I’ve made 18 badges - I bet you’ve done something similar to these too.

Going to try to post more frequently, even if it’s not a comic. Good to know you’re all out there.

[Robot Hugs]

New comic! (link)

Toronto is lucky to have a substantial greenbelt around it and running through it, so there are lots of opportunities to see creatures and plants and remark favourably upon them. The hawk is such a delight! Shame about the blondies though…

[Robot Hugs]

New comic! (link)

I think it’s cool that my recipient will keep my DNA. They’re a chimera now!

I really did need to split my questions in two. There was stuff I really needed to know (What’s the most likely complication? How long will I be in the hospital? What drugs and medications will I have to take?). And, as a systems designer, there was stuff about the transplant process I found really interesting (how are matches made? If I get liver cancer one day, will my recipient get it too? What happens to recipients with non typical anatomy?).  I had ample time to ask all my questions, even if some of them were a little weird to the transplant folks.

[Robot Hugs]

New comic! (link)

I think the transplant folks thought my request for a liver picture was a little odd, but it was the only thing I felt really entitled to during this process. My position is that if I grew it and I was giving it, I should get to see what it looks like.

I was a little surprised at the size of the segment, especially given the little body it was going in. It’s more like a half pound of flesh (about 250g). Pretty validating, given how I was feeling in the days after!

Anyways, the pic is in the post at this link. It’s a disembodied liver lobe, so if that’s not your thing I would suggest not scrolling down.

[Robot Hugs]

New comic! (link)

This pandemic is ten thousand kinds of garbage, but one thing I have appreciated is a lot of time at home to bond with my new cats.

Toast was the smallest, saddest, scardest cat in the world. Now she purrs! Sometimes you can even hear it!

Beans’ purr is rumbly and loud and sometimes it keeps me awake but I just listen to my giant thick cat having a good life and that is nice as well.

[Robot Hugs]

New comic! (link)

I also had a special song for Oskar but I retired it when he died because I’m respectful like that. I’m sure you all have songs you sing to you cats. Maybe you should tell me what they are.