#1221: "Witnesses to our victory!"

[Kurosen]

See how fast things move when you deal with characters who aren't pathologically incompetent? (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2010/02/20/episode-1221-longest-set-up-in-webcomic-history/)

[Flarecobra]

Techically, it isn't "4 White Mages"....but eh, beggers can't be choosers.

And it looks like Chaos was shrunk...

[Sliths]

1) Is that the first time anyone has ever referred to BM as "Black"?

2) Kudos on the long-joke, Sir Douglas Adams.

3) There's no way this is over, the real bad guys are still alive.

Oh wait. Wait.



wait, shit.

They're all still level 1.

They're useless.

This really is the end.

Dammit!

EDIT: Oh, and you spelled priest wrong. Not that anyone cares. Priests're dumb.
EDIT2: And BM said "Oh, godammit it"
EDIT3: Aren't you happy to have such a concerned reader?

[Meister]

jesus christ

[A Zarkin' Frood]

This was great. So great it should've never worked.

[Sliths]

Does this mean I get another warning?

[Super King]

Here's the comic by the way (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/03/20/episode-007-kamehameha-or-something/)
Now, I really did not see that coming. I hope Bahamut comes back and gives them back their superpowers though :(

[Si Civa]

Fuck you.

But like honestly, this was the funniest one in a long time.

[Aldurin]

I don't understand why they didn't figure out that Chaos was weak against sneezes in the first place.

What the white mage dudes (all of those are variants of the class) did was a simple color spell that was so confusing that Chaos came over to ask the Light Warriors what the heck was going on?

And 8-bit theater won't end, especially not on an irregular episode number.

[Fractactical Genius]

Holy shit.

That was awesome.

[Curien]

I just want to say that was freaking epic and I laughed probably way too long.

kudos to you, sir. :)

[Gamer8585]

Wow, it took a couple seconds for me to recall the joke. "Why did he say 'goddammit' and look in a Nintendo Power Maga----ahhhhh...I remember."

Yeah, that was a pretty long set up there. I think you may actually hold a record or something.

[Sliths]

I just realized!

Now the Light Warriors have to face the....White Mages.

Unless WM really does just decide they're useless and let's them go live normal lives in obscurity.

This comic should totally end like animal house and have little text that shows what happened to all the characters in the years ahead.

[spiderbob]

If this is the end I feel obliged to say, Thank You Brian! 8bit and NP have kept me coming back day after day. Warbot, HIKYM, and especially 8-Bit have brightened my mood time and time again. Sharp, dry, sarcastic humor at it's finest, and I love it. I have actually been dreading this day as I grew up on FF1 and am still a huge fan of the game. Was not looking forward to it ending, but all good... no, great things, must end.

If this is the end of 8-bit Brian, thank you for the years of hard work. I'm kind of dissapointed I didn't see the ending coming though. 4 white mages/by products there of, pure gold. Hopefully your furture endeavours are just as successful. Good luck.

[Doc T]

fuck's sake man

[Roxas]

Is 1234 going to be the last comic or something?

Definitely didn't foresee the White Warriors, but I like how you took something 1214 chapters ago and pulled it off. Definitely the ultimate Chekhov's Gun/Brick Joke.

How did Chaos go from Fomortiis to Sarda-with-Formotiis-head?

[Deborah]

Damn, when I saw the title of the comic I was already starting to dread whatever Brian would call the longest setup ever.

But a callback to the four white mage party? After all this time I've been wondering how 8-Bit could ever come to a satisfying end... (well, I still wonder that a little about how the very last strip will conclude things) this is honestly the one thing I never expected. Sure, people said "WM got sent to safety so she comes back and blasts him" but the dots never connected.

I just don't know how you do it, Brian.

[Meister]

So I guess the whole reason White Mage waltzed into the temple in the first place was to tell everyone the others were there and to make way so they could kick Sarda's ass. Or Black Mage's. Or most likely everyone's. Except Fighter maybe.

[Faythoffenrir]

Did not see that coming. Is 8 bit theater over now? I hope not.

[Solus]

'beaten by the most unlikely of heroes'
I didn't think Brian meant this when he said that over the years.

Good show. *applauds*

[Warrioroflightfromanother]

Wow awesome, funniest comic after Real Light Warriors appearance. And nice to see another 4-member team in this comic, so now we got:

Light Warriors
Dark Warriors
Other Warriors
4 Fiends
Real Light Warriors
White Warriors

So whats next, we get Lost Warriors, aka FF II heroes lost in wrong game?

[Eman]

Wow a joke that went on for nearly a decade

[Meister]

Wow a joke that went on for nearly a decade
Quite a good description of 8BT as a whole, actually.

e: Brian, new forum subtitle?

[Art of Hilt]

Oh my god.
Oh my god.
I actually laughed out loud.
I laughed out loud for several minutes.
Holy fucking shit.

Bravo. Bravo. I don't know what else to say. It's so good I feel like I should curse you. Goddammit. Wow.

I love you. I hate you. I love you.

[Chocobo]

my mind

my fucking mind

10/10 brian

[Aldurin]

Will you guys stop talking about this being the end!!! He might actually stop if you keep this up!!

So freakin' knock it off and talk about the comic instead of the lifespan of the series!!

[Amake]

Is this really a long setup? The time passing between the setup and the punchline is certainly some kind of record, and a landmark in the category "comedic timing", but unless you can show how everything that happened between then and now contributed to building up to the punchline, I don't think it counts as "setup".

Nitpicking aside, good job. Thanks for all the chuckles, giggles and deep-throated roaring evil laughs which I don't say enough. Is this the end now? We should have a wake.

Yes, a wake. 8BT (the publication of) is dead (or maybe not just yet), long live 8BT (the finished archives)!*
*Void where prohibited by law.

[Meister]

Brian, I'm going to take back some of the things I said about you.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/6871/crunch.png (http://img218.imageshack.us/i/crunch.png/)

You've earned it.

[Dauntasa]

At first, I was like "What?"
But then, I was like "WHAT?"

[Veho]

FFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU... :O_o:

[Ztrata]

I must say, I've been wondering how chaos would be killed for several weeks now, and while I knew it wasn't gonna be by the light warriors, I honestly wasn't expecting -- even after I read the comics name-- well done, sir!

[Codemonkey85]

So this is the ending he always talked about having planned.

Do you guys realize how much license this gave him to make shit up in between? There didn't have to be any specific path the whole entire comic. It was set up in one episode, the joke was used in one episode. Everything in between could have been made up as he went and we never would have known the difference! Even right down to the class changes!

Damn. That's... that's pretty savvy.

[Donomni]

You know, I never really post here, but I have to come here to say this:

Bravo, Brian, bravo.

Seriously, it was funny when I first saw it, but now that I know what is actually being called back makes it spectacular.

[Bright_Shadows]

Guys, I'm pretty sure that Nintendo Power magazine is the most durable thing ever. Think about everything that has hurt Black Mage, and it's a long list, let me tell ya. Then, think about the fact that the magazine has been in BM's pocket the whole time.

o_o

Nintendo Power Magazine Headquarters: Real Final Boss?

[Green Spanner]

That was one hell of a brick-joke.

And an anti-climax.

All this page needs is some random violence and it would be a neat sum-up of 8-bit.

[Nuklear Waste]

I don't know what to say except...

...Healer is a dumb name. Dumber than everyone else's name. And s/he uses the dumb geomancer sprite. Therefore, Healer is dumb.

EDIT: Also, I went digging and found when White Mage said she was part of a secret cabal of healers who are going to save the world (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/07/01/episode-050-time-to-say-good-bye-almost/) and when Black Belt said they were going to follow the LWs and actually save the world (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/12/27/episode-102-and-its-always-there-just-waiting-to-suck/).

[Sliths]

Quite a good description of 8BT as a whole, actually.

e: Brian, new forum subtitle?

God, yes, do it. Get rid of that stupid ass comment I made.

[InsanityBringer]

Out of all of the possible scenarios that could have happened, I totally did not see this one coming. If it wasn't for the fact that their weapons were stolen, I would have guessed that the real light warriors would have caused it.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

4 White Mages....


Fuck you Brian. Fuck youuuu!!!




Nah but seriously, that was pretty good.

[PsychicKid]

I'm in tears from laughing so hard.

[Nexus]

Not so impossible NOW, is it BM?

[Faythoffenrir]

Exactly eight years eleven months after the Nintendo Power first appeared.

[Aldurin]

The sad part is that there will have to be something to explain this (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/06/11/episode-1139-if-then/). I want black mage to terrorize the world. It'd be cool.

[The Wandering God]

Well played, my good man.

Well played indeed.

http://www.puppiesandflowers.com/blogimages/09/04/applause.gif

[The Green Mage]

For some reason, this is the hardest I've ever laughed at an 8-Bit Theater strip.

Well-played, Brian. Well-played.

[Dauntasa]

The sad part is that there will have to be something to explain this (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/06/11/episode-1139-if-then/). I want black mage to terrorize the world. It'd be cool.

That's easy. They're level 1. They couldn't terrorize a chipmunk, let alone the world.

[Nightshine]

That's easy. They're level 1. They couldn't terrorize a chipmunk, let alone the world.

I beg to differ considering what has happened in 8 years and 11 months.

[Green Spanner]

A thought occurs!

Surely by stalling Chaos for a day and giving the White Warriors enough time to...do whatever it is they did, the Light Warriors had a hand in saving the world.

[Bard The 5th LW]

This just blew my mind. They should rename the Brick Joke the Clevinger joke or something.

Brian basically planned the start and finish like 8 or 9 nine years ago? You magnificent bastard. You have my applaud. You have about everyone's applaud good sir.

[Veho]

I beg to differ considering what has happened in 8 years and 11 months.

But they're much weaker now than they were at the beginning of the comic. And who knows how much it would take them to reach that level again.

[PyrosNine]

Oh Sum of a Witch!

[CDRW]

Oh wow, it's almost over isn't it? feels so strange with a comic that I've been reading for years and years.

Either ways, I half-saw-half-didn't-see this coming. Well played Brian.

It does kind of remind me of the ending to Mother 3, where the main villain is alive and perfectly safe, but unable to harm anyone else forever.

And that was a very good 8 year long setup. I guess this means that now, everything that BM has ever said in the comic has either been wrong or a lie?

[CaviosDaryll]

I'm going to have to contradict basically everyone else in this thread... While it was kind of cool that this was planned out from the start and all, I didn't really laugh or anything. It might be that it's because I didn't realize that the main joke was four white mages saved the world, and at first I thought it was simply that they weren't the ones upon which the world's fate rested.

I dunno, I probably would have found it much funnier if my confusion after reading it were assuaged by you making a link to comic #7 rather than reading about why it was funny in someone else's post. Either way, congratulations for pulling off the joke you've been working at for nine years.

[Mongoose]

Fantastic! Good show!

But surely, the light warrior's deleveled status ailment will wear off now?

[Aldurin]

The light warriors caused a lot of trouble even when deleveled. They had already kidnapped a baby and put an innocent person to death.

And I don't think BM needs to level up to go on a stabbing spree.

[Salganos]

But they're much weaker now than they were at the beginning of the comic. And who knows how much it would take them to reach that level again.

Probably just long enough for Sarda to go back in time again.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

But they're much weaker now than they were at the beginning of the comic. And who knows how much it would take them to reach that level again.


About 9 years is my guess.

[justice~!]

That would be *awesome*! Sarda spends all this time building himself into the greatest wizard ever without knowing:

* he will have a moment of revenge that lasts approximately 8 seconds before he is destroyed
* that the LWs he "never heard from again" came to prominence *right after* he leapt back through time!

What a life of torment!!

[Stoker]

Shaman is the cutest thing ever.

[Blackstream]

That's a good place to end it. Nice setup. I've considered planning out jokes that'd take a couple of years to see light of day, but this takes the cake.

[Aldurin]

This is making me sad, stop talking about this like it's the end!!

[Warrioroflightfromanother]

Well Dark Warriors are probably still alive so who knows maybe comic continues a little while.

[Spekkio]

Nine years. You're what, 30, now? 31? You've been walking around occasionally giggling about this since you were like 21 or 22!? All the while, you've been knowing that every single episode was only giving that one joke a little more time to gain momentum; just a few milliseconds more that we'd have to dig through our brains going "where the hell have I seen that Nintendo Power, before?"

Good GOD! I've read those first few comics maybe four or five times over the years, and every time, I remember thinking there was something odd about him pulling out that magazine. I always ended up chalking it up to an inane attempt to be funny by someone who was, at the time, still developing his writing skill, and who hadn't yet found the single, unified style for the comic.

How wrong I was.

This might actually be the most awesome thing of which I've ever heard.

That took Draconic patience, Ascetic willpower, and a malicious, twisted sense of humor that stands entirely outside the normal scope of human experience.

This joke was entirely for you, wasn't it? Sure, it's funny to all of us, but you didn't make it for our benefit. It was all about a decade of huddling yourself in the cave of your own mind, fawning over that punchline like Gollum stroking the ring.

Wow. Just... Holy shit.

[KillBill]

It's all a little out there for me, not even leaving a good feeling for an anticlimax, but that's just me.

[Panthera]

What in the name of...

Dear lord of all the things I never saw coming, this has to be the biggest WHAT moment.

[whereami]

Tidbit: Anyone else notice that the sprites for Shaman & Healer are edited FF5 sprites?

[stapler942]

Nine years. You're what, 30, now? 31? You've been walking around occasionally giggling about this since you were like 21 or 22!? All the while, you've been knowing that every single episode was only giving that one joke a little more time to gain momentum; just a few milliseconds more that we'd have to dig through our brains going "where the hell have I seen that Nintendo Power, before?"

Good GOD! I've read those first few comics maybe four or five times over the years, and every time, I remember thinking there was something odd about him pulling out that magazine. I always ended up chalking it up to an inane attempt to be funny by someone who was, at the time, still developing his writing skill, and who hadn't yet found the single, unified style for the comic.

How wrong I was.

This might actually be the most awesome thing of which I've ever heard.

That took Draconic patience, Ascetic willpower, and a malicious, twisted sense of humor that stands entirely outside the normal scope of human experience.

This joke was entirely for you, wasn't it? Sure, it's funny to all of us, but you didn't make it for our benefit. It was all about a decade of huddling yourself in the cave of your own mind, fawning over that punchline like Gollum stroking the ring.

Wow. Just... Holy shit.

I too thought that the Nintendo Power reference was just the comic finding its style, as it's never mentioned again...For nearly a decade.

I was reading through some of the earlier comics a while ago, and the question did cross my mind about whether we'll ever see this "order of white mages" that WM keeps talking about...

But this...GREAT GOOGILYMOOGILY.

And if you think about it, practically every reference in the comic to white mages, healing, the pros and cons of non-damage-dealing magic, BM's continual ignorance of these issues as he tries to get with WM, the character growth WM goes through in finding out she's the creator of the universe, all the work she does to rebuild what evil and the Light Warriors have destroyed, and finally her sudden appearance, "demise", and disappearance within the space of only a few comics (And probably some things I haven't thought of)...All build up to this.

Needless to say after a few pauses to reflect on this I laughed out loud (which I normally don't do much on the internet; it's more of a silent laugh usually).

Who knew an anticlimax could be so well thought out?

Now let's see what BM's next line will be...Or if he will even get a chance to make a pass this time.

[Mirai Gen]

...what...

I...

Goddamn it.

[krogothwolf]

Goddamn it indeed.

Just man...totally awesome. Does make sense. Light destroying chaos though. Totally awesome.

[Masam]

I started this towards the begining. I've been reading ever since. And when I read episode 7 I smiled to myself and thought, Hey, that'd be funny if that happened. Then Brian introduced WM. and I thought Hey, that's even funnier. I read both in the same day so I saw a minor connection. Then nothing happened for 8 nearly nine years. And I wondered if brian had forgotten...and he didn't disappoint me. Thank you brian, thank you for not throwing away that opportunity, with all the short forshadowing you did through out. And doing it spectacularly. I can't wait to see the ending, because I hope your not so evil that you'll deny us an epilouge. and the writing doesn't feel finished either. We have yet to see BM lose his mind in a final psychotic episode that leaves him a gibbering mad man...well more of one.

[Meister]

Tidbit: Anyone else notice that the sprites for Shaman & Healer are edited FF5 sprites?
FF3, actually. :) Check it out here (http://tsgk.captainn.net/?p=showgame&t=sy&sy=6&ga=157). (Easy mixup though, considering those were the two job system games and FF5 even had that silly Geomancer with his hat.)

[meo]

Oh.

Well.

...

That's that, I guess. I was hoping it would be a really kick-ass battle so we could get another version of Fighter vs Fire Elemental Guardian made in flash, but this works too.

[purpleemoranger]

I dont get it.

[Mirai Gen]

There's also the fact that White Mage has been talking about her secret cabal of healers the entire time but nobody ever thought to go hey you know we've never seen them, just who are they?

[Goldenfleece]

I don't know what to say except...

...Healer is a dumb name. Dumber than everyone else's name. And s/he uses the dumb geomancer sprite. Therefore, Healer is dumb.

EDIT: Also, I went digging and found when White Mage said she was part of a secret cabal of healers who are going to save the world (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/07/01/episode-050-time-to-say-good-bye-almost/) and when Black Belt said they were going to follow the LWs and actually save the world (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/12/27/episode-102-and-its-always-there-just-waiting-to-suck/).

But at least Healer isn't a ginger like the rest, amirite? ;0)

[Waiting for snark]

You magnificent bastard.

[Veho]

So.... how many of you guys think Brian had it planned the whole time, and how many believe he reads through the archives every now and then, picks up on a throwaway gag and ties it into the latest comic?

Just a thought. Because if I was an author, I would so do the latter. I'd be dropping Chekhov's guns all over the place.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Brian this was truly genius! Almost shocked that I didn't even expect that to be a possible end!

If he wanted to, Brian could extend the comic and still use RM, BM, Thief, and Fighter. Simply by having RM come up with a scheme to make them selves heroes by traveling to the multi verse and attempting to save another 8-bit FF universe. (anything from FF2 to FF4).

[Organism X]

Well played, asshole.

[Archdeco]

goddammit it?

[Donomni]

Brian this was truly genius! Almost shocked that I didn't even expect that to be a possible end!

If he wanted to, Brian could extend the comic and still use RM, BM, Thief, and Fighter. Simply by having RM come up with a scheme to make them selves heroes by traveling to the multi verse and attempting to save another 8-bit FF universe. (anything from FF2 to FF4).

I'm pretty certain he'd rather do everything on his plate at the moment sans 8-bit or another sprite comic.

I mean, yeah, continued FF spoofs would be sweet, but having done this for nearly a decade and only adding more work, it's not much to assume he'd say "Screw it" and leave sprite comics.

For good or not is obviously his choice, not ours.

[Ggolbez]

Preist? Godammit it!

Although, return of Nintendo Power Magazine? Haven't seen that gag for a long ass while.

[Organism X]

The only setup bigger than this is if Fighter and Black Mage end up searching for the Armor of Invincibility.

[Truec]

Why does everybody assume Brian's been planning this since the original mention of the 4 white mage team? That would be stupid. It's obviously something that recently occurred to him that it would be funny to reference.

[Nique]

I didn't even expect an update today - is Saturday an update day? It's so hard to remember in my old age, anyway - and this is what I get? There are no words. I mean, no one waits 8 years for a punchline.

[Reaperz-XIII]

Wow Brian you just blew my mind, you completely blew it, my mind has never been blown like that.

But WM still have some enemies left: King of Evil Black Mage, King of Thieves Elf, King of Overelaborate Plots Red Mage and their pet meat shield Fighter.

You know the embodiment of all that is evil in this world moreso than Chaos.

Why does everybody assume Brian's been planning this since the original mention of the 4 white mage team? That would be stupid. It's obviously something that recently occurred to him that it would be funny to reference.

The possibility that he did have this all planned though is just...no words can describe it

[SSSS]

I actually had that Nintendo Power, back in 1990 or so. It was a strategy guide, not a magazine. There really was a little sidebar near the end discussing the feasibility of a party of four White Mages. I somehow remember it from when I was 9 or 10 years old. So in reality, this was closer to a 20-year set up than a 9-year set up. Also, I just realized I'm about to turn 30, so that's a nice bonus "fuck you". Good show.

EDIT: I found the guide but I can't find the four-white-mage bit that I definitely remember was in there. I thought it was in the part at the end about giving the Masamune to your White Wizard, but it's not. Retcon? It was definitely in there and anyone who says otherwise is an evil liar.

[Green Spanner]

Why does everybody assume Brian's been planning this since the original mention of the 4 white mage team? That would be stupid. It's obviously something that recently occurred to him that it would be funny to reference.

Considering how long he's been doing this, it would be a miracle for him to remember something so otherwise insignificant from almost 9 years ago.

[Kurokun1293]

Uh. Sarda never completely absorbed the Orbs, and the Dark Warriors are still afoot...though partly maddened. And I think there would be an uproar if our "Light" Warriors were to die now.

BROTHERS! ITS NOT OVER YET! ITS TIME FOR...

EXPOSITION!

[Meister]

Considering how long he's been doing this, it would be a miracle for him to remember something so otherwise insignificant from almost 9 years ago.
I can totally see Brian going over those first few comics he made for fun, catching the "four white mages" line and going "wouldn't it be fun to run a comic for years, covering the entire game only to make this throwaway comment the actual ending?" Actually I can see just about anyone make some sprite comics for fun and doing this, but going through with it is a different league entirely.

[Kurokun1293]

Actually I can see just about anyone make some sprite comics for fun and doing this, but going through with it is a different league entirely.

Incidentally, the last few years of Bob & George was done on account of a bet between two godlike authors.

So anything is now possible in terms of a plot I guess :whee:

[aceina]

just registered soley to say this

only 2 things left now

1.to explain fighters master plan (we all know he has 1)

2. to learn evill princess saria's goal (after all she did ask fighter for all there weaknesses way back when she was rescued)

[Kurokun1293]

just registered soley to say this

only 2 things left now

1.to explain fighters master plan (we all know he has 1)

2. to learn evill princess saria's goal (after all she did ask fighter for all there weaknesses way back when she was rescued)

Last post before I go get lunch.

1. It will involve swords or hugs. Or swordhugs.
2. ...Incidentally I didn't think of that, nor of all the other plot-threads that may still be hangin around, such as Corneria's King Steve and his kick ass bridge...

[ScarletIce]

I still think it's going to come down to White mage showing up in the end, not dead... Doesn't the universe still technically obey her commands?


Called it... sorta

[Meister]

I've been following these threads for years and I'm 99% sure no one has ever called this. White Mage returning yes, "four White Mages" hell no.

That's actually one of the best things about it.

[Solus]

Why does everybody assume Brian's been planning this since the original mention of the 4 white mage team? That would be stupid. It's obviously something that recently occurred to him that it would be funny to reference.
I more-so half think it. Plus, it does add a little humor if you consider it this way & remember Brian has repeatedly said this was a story about the 4 most unlikely of heroes.

EDIT: I found the guide but I can't find the four-white-mage bit that I definitely remember was in there. I thought it was in the part at the end about giving the Masamune to your White Wizard, but it's not. Retcon? It was definitely in there and anyone who says otherwise is an evil liar.
I remember it as well. Was it maybe in the beginning of the book? (Even of the very first page before the guide started? (or maybe around Tiamant itself. I thought it was something that looked a bit out of place when I read it.))
(I thought 4 white mages would actually be pretty easy. You get the extremely useful exit spell(after all, in the old FF games, random encounters were a true threat, unlike in the new games) & around mid-game, you start relying primarly on the magic weapons like Thor's hammer instead of actual attacks.)</babbling>

1.to explain fighters master plan (we all know he has 1)
After BM, RM, and Thief revealed they were going to become a great evil upon the world for their own sake, Fighter also revealed his goal, to open a guild to teach people to be heroes to rid the world of all the evil in it. (So he has no evil plan, unless he forgot it... Then again, what about Fighter, Fighter, or Fighter?) :)

2. ...Incidentally I didn't think of that, nor of all the other plot-threads that may still be hangin around, such as Corneria's King Steve and his kick ass bridge...
No Cones. :P

But yeah, I too have been wondering what Sara would be up to. Maybe she is gonna be a decent ruler. (In comparison to King Steve.)

[Meister]

I think the Princess Sara thing is either an idea Brian set up, but later decided to drop, or just a plot device to show how gullible Fighter is, but nothing more. Then again I just saw him turn a throwaway joke into the thing that saved the world so who can say.

e: if there's one thing about 8BT I could pick to get it would be Creator's Commentary

[timemonkey]

This is the most satisfied any webcomic has ever made me. And the best part is that the evidence was there in front of us the whole time. We were told White Mage's plan, her goal in life, her order's goal, what kept her going and we all ignored it.

[Nuklear Waste]

Why does everybody assume Brian's been planning this since the original mention of the 4 white mage team? That would be stupid. It's obviously something that recently occurred to him that it would be funny to reference.
While I agree it's probably likely he went through the early comics recently to find throwaway gags that would work making a comeback (hence the recent inn time shift jokes, I presume), it's not entirely impossible. Like I linked earlier, it seems that White Mage killing Chaos anticlimactically while the LWs acted all dumb was something he planned from the beginning.

Plus, look how far ahead the Atomic Robo timeline goes: Up to volume 11 (http://www.atomic-robo.com/timeline/). (Unless that's supposed to be some kind of hidden Spinaltap reference.) That's probably a good half-a-decade from now.
Then again 8BT's more of a "whatever joke comes to Brian's head" kind of thing, whereas Robo is his main/dream project where he cares much more about continuity (and is not the sole source of creative input).

So...either way, I'm impressed.

[Mirai Gen]

I can't tell if this is the best joke as Brian, a reader who just read the entire archive, or a reader who has been a fan of 8bit ever since they were standing outside Garland's castle, lured inside by the "Free (Noun)" signs.

I'm the latter obviously and I still think this is fucking hilarious.

[OmniShadow]

But White Mage... I thought killing was wrong?

[SSSS]

I remember it as well. Was it maybe in the beginning of the book? (Even of the very first page before the guide started? (or maybe around Tiamant itself. I thought it was something that looked a bit out of place when I read it.))
(I thought 4 white mages would actually be pretty easy. You get the extremely useful exit spell(after all, in the old FF games, random encounters were a true threat, unlike in the new games) & around mid-game, you start relying primarly on the magic weapons like Thor's hammer instead of actual attacks.)</babbling>

Hmm, I still can't find it. Maybe it wasn't actually in the Nintendo Power strategy guide, maybe it was in the instruction manual or something?

I tried Google and other people seem to remember it as well I found no useful additional information.

I downloaded a copy of the instruction manual and it didn't seem to be in there, either. All I found was this early example of Fighter being Fighter:
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/4751/fighterf.gif

[Faythoffenrir]

What will happen when Onion Kid grows up into Sarda again?

Brian can not possibly end the story here.

And SSSS, would you mind if I used that pic for my sig? It made me lol.

[POS Industries]

I don't get it.

[Kisai]

The very moment I laid my eyes upon the panel with Black Mage holding the Player's Guide, my eyes immediately widened in shock. Instantly, my mind shat bricks, and I was left starring dumbfounded at the screen, mouth gaped open in a shocked smile for half a minute.

I can't fucking believe this. Absolutely INCREDIBLE.

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/de/images/c/c8/350662-big_boss_salute_super.jpg

[SSSS]

And SSSS, would you mind if I used that pic for my sig? It made me lol.

You want to use materials copyrighted by Square for the purpose of entertainment? Outrageous.

For reference, here (http://www.replacementdocs.com/download.php?view.146) is a download of the FF1 instruction manual and here (http://www.emuparadise.org/magazine-comic-guide-scans/Final_Fantasy_Nintendo_Power_Strategy_Guide/1520) is the Nintendo Power FF1 strategy guide referenced in the comic.

[Truec]

What will happen when Onion Kid grows up into Sarda again?

He'll go back in time, be too late to create the universe in his own image, wiat a few billion years, dick around the Light Warriors while they get the orbs for him, abosrob their power, absorb Black Mage's evil, and become Chaos. Stable Time Loops 101.

[Venath]

That...dear god, that was freaking epic. This is probably one of my favorite comics (Hell, probably THE favorite) in the entire thing so far. Referring all the way back to the "Four White Mages" joke from the beginning definitely makes this the longest setup that I've seen in any webcomic.

I really don't have much else to say besides this: Awesome job.

[Art of Hilt]

And 8-bit theater won't end, especially not on an irregular episode number.

Will you guys stop talking about this being the end!!! He might actually stop if you keep this up!!

So freakin' knock it off and talk about the comic instead of the lifespan of the series!!

This is making me sad, stop talking about this like it's the end!!

Dang dude I don't know what to tell you but they just killed Chaos.
You know. Chaos. Final boss. He's dead, the credits roll, and you turn off the gaming system. Also the TV.
Sorry, man, but if it ain't the end then it's pretty damn close.

[Faythoffenrir]

Something we have not thought of:

Could this be another one of Brian's fake endings?

[timemonkey]

Dang dude I don't know what to tell you but they just killed Chaos.
You know. Chaos. Final boss. He's dead, the credits roll, and you turn off the gaming system. Also the TV.
Sorry, man, but if it ain't the end then it's pretty damn close.

Considering there was no travelling thousands of years into the past only to discover that Garland had become Chaos, Bahamut hasn't done anything yet, and it can take months to acomplish tasks that should only take a few minutes I'd say the whole following the game thing isn't exactly the plan.

[Kirby Pufocia]

Something we have not thought of:

Could this be another one of Brian's fake endings?

A third one would be a bit much.

Then again, that would be right up his alley.

But he knows we'd think that.

Ad nauseum.

[Carteeg_Struve]

This is only the second time I've stared in shock at a web comic for so long.

(Note: the first time was for The Order of the Stick's when Roy came to a sudden *cough* stop.)

As soon as the "four white mages" were introduced, my brain clicked back to the exact scene. (I had recently ran through 8-bit Theatre Chaos on YouTube, so it was fresh on my mind.) I had the bottom of my browser lined up with that row of the comic so it took me a bit to notice the comic continued to the last line re-revealing the Nintendo Power.

My god. This made my day.

[Aldurin]

Dang dude I don't know what to tell you but they just killed Chaos.
You know. Chaos. Final boss. He's dead, the credits roll, and you turn off the gaming system. Also the TV.
Sorry, man, but if it ain't the end then it's pretty damn close.

Can't . . . let . . . 8-bit theater . . . die. He has to keep going. In fact, if Brian stops, I will personally send him reports of suicides caused by the end of the comic. He should at least figure out how to revive the animation series.

And nobody seems to understand that it wasn't the WM squad that killed Chaos, is was when Black Mage sneezedokened his head off.

EDIT: And you don't turn off the game, you mod a second quest and play it.

[capnchicken]

*golf clap*

[Fantabulate]

Is it just me, or do some of the older comics maybe sorta y'know look different?

Like something has been... changed?

[voodooKobra]

Brian Clevinger, you are a magnificent bastard.

[Nuklear Waste]

Is it just me, or do some of the older comics maybe sorta y'know look different?

Like something has been... changed?

Not sure if that's sarcasm, but I can think of a few reasons: the backgrounds stopped being 8-bit around the time they went to Elfland (and they weren't even that in the very first few strips); less custom sprite poses; different font (only in the first few) and the speech bubbles had thinner outlines. The different backgrounds are probably the most notable.

[Aldurin]

It became more refined as Brian got better at whatever he uses to make 8-bit.

[joshedis]

Four White Mages? It will never work.

At least, that was what I hoped. No epic battle scene, just the greatest anti-climax and brick joke of all time. Brian Clevinger. You are a sick sick man. Funny as hell. Yet sick. Although... For some reason. I think I am in love with this single comic more than anything else I have ever read. Good show old chap.

[Kurosen]

Why does everybody assume Brian's been planning this since the original mention of the 4 white mage team? That would be stupid. It's obviously something that recently occurred to him that it would be funny to reference.
Well, obviously I can't prove it to you, but I promise that I've been waiting all these years to drop this joke. I've mentioned in interviews for years and years I had the end planned since I began the comic.

This is what I planned.

It's not "done" done. There's some wrap up to tackle first. But, yeah. This was the plan all along. It's not the first example of a terrible joke planted years in advance in these archives. It's just the longest example.

[Hetsurin]

I thought it was pretty funny.

[joshedis]

Well, obviously I can't prove it to you, but I promise that I've been waiting all these years to drop this joke. I've mentioned in interviews for years and years I had the end planned since I began the comic.

This is what I planned.

It's not "done" done. There's some wrap up to tackle first. But, yeah. This was the plan all along. It's not the first example of a terrible joke planted years in advance in these archives. It's just the longest example.

Ah, the mighty god of the internet has given us the knowledge. People of the internet! Our heroes' quest is not over! Brian, I am honestly impressed. Waiting all these years for a punchline. A mortal man would have gone crazy. Therefore, you are a god. I love you- your comics. Yeah, that's what I meant.

[Super King]

So do you have an estimated date for the end of the series? I'd imagine it would be pretty bitter sweet seeing the comic end after an entire decade.

[joshedis]

So do you have an estimated date for the end of the series? I'd imagine it would be pretty bitter sweet seeing the comic end after an entire decade.

NO! How dare you mention the end! Blasphemous fool! You will anger the god of the internet!

Although, jokes aside, I hope it doesn't end; but it will. Eventually. Since he wouldn't let any one else touch his decades worth of work, he will have to end it eventually.

Haha! Look at me, I forgot he is a god. That means it doesn't need to end. Sorry for the false alarm folks!

[Aldurin]

What Brian needs to do is get the Scott Adams mentality on old age and comic writing. Scott believes that longevity technology will come out before he dies and he'll live several hundred years while waiting for immortality technology or something.

We just have to convince Brian that longevity medicine won't help if someone kills him for ending 8-bit theater. I need to find a mentally unstable fan (make that severely mentally unstable, since we all somewhat apply to the first) and convince him it's his destiny to make sure 8-bit keeps churning out until the world ends.

EDIT: Another reason Brian should keep going is that our failsafe is broken since the HomeStarRunner guys are MIA. We'd have to become normal if that happened.

[joshedis]

What Brian needs to do is get the Scott Adams mentality on old age and comic writing. Scott believes that longevity technology will come out before he dies and he'll live several hundred years while waiting for immortality technology or something.

We just have to convince Brian that longevity medicine won't help if someone kills him for ending 8-bit theater. I need to find a mentally unstable fan (make that severely mentally unstable, since we all somewhat apply to the first) and convince him it's his destiny to make sure 8-bit keeps churning out until the world ends.

EDIT: Another reason Brian should keep going is that our failsafe is broken since the HomeStarRunner guys are MIA. We'd have to become normal if that happened.

EvilEarl. As a devout worshipper of Brian (Well, not really. That would be just a little weird) I would be willing to do this. Of course, I would be spending my life making longevity medicine before I made an immortality device. We cannot become normal. I will make someone commit suicide before that happens!

Though, quite honestly. I have no clue what the HomeStarRunner guys are. So, this failsafe doesn't quite work for me. Since I read Pokemon X I am still safe... For now.

Edit: Gah, the anticlimactisism (I am making that a word as of now) is making my typing and grammar sub-par. If you will excuse that.

[Aldurin]

Though, quite honestly. I have no clue what the HomeStarRunner guys are.

Prepare to watch your life spiral down the hole of flash cartoons. (http://www.homestarrunner.com/)

[Truec]

Well, obviously I can't prove it to you, but I promise that I've been waiting all these years to drop this joke. I've mentioned in interviews for years and years I had the end planned since I began the comic.

This is what I planned.

Well, okay. It's not like you've ever lied to us before or anything.

[Ronfar]

I'm not sure this is actually the longest joke setup ever in a webcomic.

Irregular Webcomic also has a claim. (http://irregularwebcomic.net/1292.html)

[Locke cole]

I'm not sure this is actually the longest joke setup ever in a webcomic.

Irregular Webcomic also has a claim. (http://irregularwebcomic.net/1292.html)

Look at the respective dates on the Irregular Webcomic strips. That's only three years in the making.

Amateur. :p

[Papermage]

Wait a minute. What about Doctor Swordopolis and Fighter's "destiny"? I was completely waiting for him to show up and have Fighter use him to slice Chaos in half, or something.

[Bob The Mercenary]

I don't get it.

[Solid Snake]

The archives, Bob the Mercenary! Get thee to the archives!!

(Hint: Start at the very beginning.)

EDIT: I actually refuse to believe this is the very last comic because I have a strong suspicion that Brian would have a front page post (or at least, something unique to say on the forums) about it. This final insult to Black Mage may take us to an epilogue and there may be nothing more in terms of significant reveals, but I just have a hunch that Clevinger's ending will be obvious enough that we won't have to debate it.
(I fully await Mr. Clevinger bursting in here, laughing at my face and telling me I'm dead wrong...)

Still, if this was the official ending: there's a few unanswered questions that I'd want Brian to at least discuss with his fans in the forums or through a FAQ.

EDIT 2: Mr. Clevinger already beat me to it, and apparently there's (a little) more to come.

[joshedis]

The archives, Bob the Mercenary! Get thee to the archives!!

(Hint: Start at the very beginning.)

Idea come soon to you it will, young padowan.

Edit: EvilEarl. I would watch those videos, except South Park is on right now.

[Bob The Mercenary]

I mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?

[joshedis]

I mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?

I am pretty sure it just mentioned the plausability of doing it with 4 White mages.

[Bob The Mercenary]

Well...huh.

Now I feel like a dick for being absolutely unaffected by that conclusion. Good job anyway, Brian. Here's looking forward to the denouement.

:(

[Mirai Gen]

My dumbfounded, mid-laughter confusion aside, I have to say the possibility that this or the big, epic, final confrontation were both perfectly possible all along during 8bit's lifespan was really what made the comic a treat to read.

EDIT: This is, of course, if you know Brian's style of anticlimax.

[justice~!]

Wait a minute. What about Doctor Swordopolis and Fighter's "destiny"? I was completely waiting for him to show up and have Fighter use him to slice Chaos in half, or something.

I second this...what was this actually referring to? Will we ever know?

[Solid Snake]

The only thing that lessened the impact of the joke for me was the fact that three of the four characters on White Mage's team simply haven't been factors at all in the plot (I can't say for certain that they haven't appeared before now, but I certainly don't remember them.) A little more foreshadowing as to their existence would have led to a bigger narrative payoff.

But then again, I don't think Brian cares about narrative payoffs: he's just looking for yet another way to take Black Mage down a few more pegs, and this kind of unexpected development is the worst kind of pill for BM to stomach. So, I can't blame him for having the story (at least temporarily) take a backseat.

[Mirai Gen]

man 8bit theater really has gone downhill since it ended

[Panthera]

I'm guessing something to do with Swordopolis and Darko will be part of the loose ends Brian says he's still going to wrap up before the end of the end.

[PyrosNine]

The comment about a celestial cigarette butt in Black Mage's eye was important: the world exists to hurt Black Mage, and when the world needed his power the most, he had utter failure.

He failed to properly work for chaos, he failed in making Chaos's goals succeed, he failed as a nexus of chaos, and he failed as a light warrior, and as a main character. The LW's were decoy protagonists in a long line of Decoy protagonists.

This is also the most epic anticlimax ever, so it definitely works, and ends with the boss's total death by BM doing something stupid- a sneeze.

But I think one thing Brian has got going on is that war, war never changes. Oh wait, I mean, that life goes on, with or without you. The time loop made pretty sure that Chaos would never succeed in his plans, and that Sarda's goals were ultimately pointless and futile, and that if the LW's hadn't gone down the road, the world would have been fine, and since they have gone down the road, the world's going to end up fine anyway. Chaos would have been defeated irregardless, and the world would go on.

Obviously there's gonna be some epilogue, as level 1 or not, they have stilled accrued more atrocity in their entire lives for 3,502 Nuremberg trials, a few of which are for breaking laws of time and space, and the sole strongest party around isn't going to let them just walk away from it, All of the Kingdoms are still existing (except maybe dwarfland) and there are still hundreds of crazy people dotting the landscape.

I expect the next few comics to feature a cameo from every recurring character EVER. I mean it. Brian. Kurosen. Do it. If it ends up being cool as a wallpaper, extra points.

Oh well. Assuming they aren't killed on the spot or incarcerated, Thief has a princely life back at his Kingdom, Red Mage has a clan of reality warping mages to restart, and Black Mage and Fighter have a life of being wandering adventurers to return to.

[Solus]

I mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?
That issue of Nintendo Power was just a strategy guide that covered the entirety of Final Fantasy I, and only that game. It was not focused on a specific party.
It listed weapon stats, info on towns, bosses, secrets, tips, and so forth.
The comment on 4 white mages was just an editors remark randomly tossed in there along with a few other comments.

[waddle2120]

I mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?

I seem to remember that at the end of each magazine they would list a "challenge" to complete, and I remember that one of the challenges was beating the game using 4 white mages.

I unfortunately don't have my old issues anymore so I can't go back to find out which one it was... Although I am pretty sure it was not a strategy guide persay, just a normal issue.

[waddle2120]

mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?.

I seem to remember that at the end of each magazine they would list a "challenge" to complete, and I remember that one of the challenges was beating the game using 4 white mages.

I unfortunately don't have my old issues anymore so I can't go back to find out which one it was... Although I am pretty sure it was not a strategy guide persay, just a normal issue

[AngelFoodBB]

not saying this in a joke manner like everyone else. The ending was lame.

[stefan]

so, White mage just killed chaos.

perhaps its just my religious beliefs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discordianism) speaking, but I have a strong suspicion that killing the personification of chaos is going to have horrible, horrible ramifications upon the 8bit world.

It would also fit into how white mage has more or less had every task she's set for herself come to ruin through various means.

[...]

To everyone who says none of these characters but White Mage have appeared before...

:rmage:FALSE!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you....

http://www.nuklearpower.com/2005/04/26/episode-545-pattern-recognition/

PS This is pretty much the best ending I've ever read. Brian Clevinger I take back anything bad I've ever said or thought about this comic.

[meo]

So, like, is his name Preist and he's a Priest?

[...]

So, like, is his name Preist and he's a Priest?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preist Now that would just be silly, as everyone in 8 bit theater has the same name as what they do. Obviously, he was meant to be a municipality in Western Germany.

[POS Industries]

not saying this in a joke manner like everyone else. The ending was lame.
You're just mad because it didn't appeal to your obsession with crossdressing.

Like always.

[Geminex]

It took me quite a while to realize what comic this was a refrence to. And I don't even feel bad. Really, Brain? 1114 comics? I mean, really? Do you have a mental image of a readership that re-reads the entire comic every sunday, just to make sure that they can quote every panel in casual everyday conversation?

Still, once I realized, it was hilarious. And mildly impressive. Though couldn't you have skipped 3 pages of filler along the way? 1111 would have made for a much more satisfying realization.

[Neni]

WIN!!! WIN !!!!
GIANT EPIC SUPER WIN!!!
WHITE F**CKING MAGE SET UP SINCE EPISODE 2 OR 5 OR SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW EPIC SUPER DUPER WIIIIIN!!!!

AND AERITH WHITE MAGE LIIIIIIIIIIIIVES!!

[Nightshine]

"Oh Goddammit It"

[Veho]

Hey Chaos!

http://i46.tinypic.com/2ds4hfo.gif

[Alipeewee]

I have a feeling that somebody (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2008/07/01/episode-1011-better-than-l2/)might be coming back. Sure, he might be a little far away, but I can think of a way he could get back. (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2006/03/28/episode-678-skys-the-limit/)

[meo]

I think Brian would only use a second brick joke if nobody bothered pointing out that there is both a chocobo that can fly to the moon and Dragoon on the moon. Now Dragoon gets to die up there forever. Thanks a lot, Alipeewee.

I do hope for the final few strips of the series, Brian goes through each character introduced in the run to show what became of them. Bahamut, King Steve, the Dark Warriors, Princess Sarah, even Black Belt. Black Belt's can be either of his rotted corpse and the words 'Black Belt died and stayed that way. Forever'.

[Kurosen]

Well, okay. It's not like you've ever lied to us before or anything.
Like I said. I can't prove it to you because I kept it a secret FROM EVERYONE except for a few people very close to me whom you wouldn't believe if you don't believe me anyway. But it's the way that it is. I gain or lose nothing by lying about it.

I'm not sure this is actually the longest joke setup ever in a webcomic.

Irregular Webcomic also has a claim. (http://irregularwebcomic.net/1292.html)
You're kidding right? Onion Kid = Sarda was longer than that.

[Astrobot7000]

So what's left to wrap up?
The fate of the Dark Warriors, the fate of the Real Light Warriors, most likely we will have to see what Darko and Swordopolis have to say about the situation, and of course we need to find out the fates of the Light Warriors.

Oh, the return of Dragoon would be nice. He enters, too late and the epic battle is already open.

[Super King]

I think Brian would only use a second brick joke if nobody bothered pointing out that there is both a chocobo that can fly to the moon and Dragoon on the moon. Now Dragoon gets to die up there forever. Thanks a lot, Alipeewee.

Naw, that theory has been around for a very long time now.
So as far as loose ends are concerned, we have:
Darko and Swordopolis
Other Warriors
Dragoon and Chocobo
Bahamut and the end days
Dark Warriors

Anyway, I really don't think that the LWs are in any danger. The majority of the world are idiots, and will believe that it was them that defeated Chaos, probably after some of Theif's patented flawed logic and circular reasoning. Event if no one is fooled, Theif is still the ruler of the most powerful nation on Earth

[Aldurin]

so, White mage just killed chaos.

I've already said, Chaos died when Black Mage sneezedokened his head off.

[Solus]

I mean, I know about the reference to four white mages and nintendo power. But, what was in that issue? An actual strategy to beat the game with four white mages?
That is why I am saying it is not a normal issue of Nintendo Power. It is just a strategy guide for the game, no matter what classes you pick. It lists every item, every town, the monsters, and so forth. Its not for a specific class. Its like a normal strategy guide for any other game. A reference book.
The white mage comment in the book was just something random the editor said. (And I don't think he even tested it out, since four white mages is actually one of the easier ways to beat the game once you get to the midway point thanks to the exit spell and items like Thor's hammer.)

Other Warriors
They were Sarda'd.

Bahamut and the end days
Dark Warriors
I wouldn't mind seeing more of them, but after Bikke's brilliant attack, they ran off, so that could be considered their end.
As for the prophecy, it was because of the enlightened warriors that Chaos was able to manifest himself. The end of days may have just been adverted.

[Veho]

The white mage comment in the book was just something random the editor said. (And I don't think he even tested it out, since four white mages is actually one of the easier ways to beat the game once you get to the midway point thanks to the exit spell and items like Thor's hammer.)
:O_o: Did you say "exit spell" (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2009/05/14/episode-1128-guns-blazing/)?

Could it be?

[Domestibot]

Yeah, there's some wrapping up to do for sure. SOMETHING happens to the light warriors, at least based on a prior statement made by Sarda.

"I still know I win because my past self grows up in a world no longer terrorized by you!"

Or something to that effect.

[Faythoffenrir]

I have a feeling that somebody (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2008/07/01/episode-1011-better-than-l2/)might be coming back. Sure, he might be a little far away, but I can think of a way he could get back. (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2006/03/28/episode-678-skys-the-limit/)

Never saw the connection before. Now I do.

[Nightshine]

Never saw the connection before. Now I do.

Guys, we now have to read through all the archives again and see exactly what Brian will pull out of his ass from the past.

[Ecks]

NO! I WON'T DO AN ARCHIVE BINGE AGAIN, I JUST CAN'T!

[Amake]

his ass from the past.
But where is his ass. . .?

Nah, too easy.

By the way I just realized something about the joke: Black Mage is wrong again. Heeh.

[UndrDog]

So bitter-sweet. On one hand that was the greatest setup there has ever been. On the other hand, this can only mean the series is nearing it's close. Don't end it Mr. Clevinger sir!

S-seriously, this is like the only Webcomic that actually updates. Not to mention it's also the best.

[Red King]

Well. I'm actually a little sad. The webcomic I've looked forward to every odd day has finally reached it's conclusion.

That was still rockin' awesome though. I didn't get it at first, and then it hit me. I dont care what some people are saying, that has got to be the best way to end 8bit. It is the only conclusion that is not only satisfactory, but downright awesome.

I would like to see a few of the character plots wrapped up (Like Bahamut and Trickster, etc.) but I'm content if it ended here.


Also, for everybody complaining about filler. Stuff it. You complain now because it keeps you from getting things read faster, but once you start re-reading the comic(I know you do it.) you'll be glad, because without filler this would be an infinitely shorter and less funny comic. The filler is what makes 8bit great. I don't want to see an epic battle with the fiends. I want to see Drizz'l "Break the Ice". (I think I spelled his name wrong.)

[Truec]

Yeah, there's some wrapping up to do for sure. SOMETHING happens to the light warriors, at least based on a prior statement made by Sarda.

"I still know I win because my past self grows up in a world no longer terrorized by you!"

Or something to that effect.

Considering they're all level 0 and can't do anything to terrorize the world, I don't think Onion Kid is going to have to worry about them.

[mad2physicist]

Don't you just wish the Giant from Giant's Forest could have had something to do with this? I mean, why not go for the absolute record on 'longest time between opening and closing of a joke?'
Not that Brian didn't just SET that record. But he could have set it HIGHER.

[...]

Don't you just wish the Giant from Giant's Forest could have had something to do with this? I mean, why not go for the absolute record on 'longest time between opening and closing of a joke?'
Not that Brian didn't just SET that record. But he could have set it HIGHER.

The absolute highest record would be if the solicitors the Giant's Forest was trying to keep out showed up to do something in the very last panel of the comic. Or at least referencing that sign in some way.

[Veho]

The absolute highest record would be if the person to defeat Chaos were that old man in the blue robe that took all of Fighter's (and BM's) money in exchange for the info on the Cave of No Return.

[Ecks]

The absolute highest record would be if the person to defeat Chaos were that old man in the blue robe that took all of Fighter's (and BM's) money in exchange for the info on the Cave of No Return.

Unfortunately, he was only referenced, and never made an actual appearance. Dunno if that would count or not.

[Green Spanner]

The absolute highest record would be if the person to defeat Chaos were that old man in the blue robe that took all of Fighter's (and BM's) money in exchange for the info on the Cave of No Return.

I'll admit I would laugh if the last page of 8-bit was the old man living it up, telling people of the time he tricked some idiot into giving him all his money.

[Art of Hilt]

S-seriously, this is like the only Webcomic that actually updates.

Not to diminish 8-Bit in any way but that's simply not true at all ever.

Also, people trying to set a higher record, those wouldn't be jokes. They would just be badly foreshadowed references or whatever. I don't know. They'd just be a random character from the past doing something that they have no business doing. 4 White Mages beating Chaos is an actual joke, since it was that very event that was dismissed by Black Mage ten years ago.

[timemonkey]

Don't you just wish the Giant from Giant's Forest could have had something to do with this? I mean, why not go for the absolute record on 'longest time between opening and closing of a joke?'
Not that Brian didn't just SET that record. But he could have set it HIGHER.

I still say they'll run into a giant on the way out and get crushed again. They couldn't even handle them before they lost all their abilities.

[Marinated-in-Sin]

omg most clever joke of all time!!!!!!SHIFT1

of all time






no but seriously

nice cop out

i guess it saves you the trouble of actually writing something that doesn't suck.

[Ecks]

your thinly veiled criticism is thinly veiled
and not very subtle

[Nuklear Waste]

So as far as loose ends are concerned, we have:
Darko and Swordopolis
Other Warriors
Dragoon and Chocobo
Bahamut and the end days
Dark Warriors
Eh...

The patron deities: I think it was implied that the Light Warriors kinda failed their gods' prophecies. Megahedron, Darko, and Swordopolis got all fed up with their guy's stupidity (and 2 of them were shown walking out), and Raven was outconned.

Other Warriors: As much as I like these guys, you can stick a fork in them--they're done (or worse).

Dragoon: Again, I like him, but I don't think it really qualifies as a "loose end".

Bahamut: He was just supposed to usher in (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2007/11/08/episode-917-let-sleeping-dragons-lie/) the end times, not necessarily participate in them.

[Mirai Gen]

omg most clever joke of all time!!!!!!SHIFT1

of all time






no but seriously

nice cop out

i guess it saves you the trouble of actually writing something that doesn't suck.
This is the reason I love this comic.

[Fantabulate]

Not sure if that's sarcasm, but I can think of a few reasons: the backgrounds stopped being 8-bit around the time they went to Elfland (and they weren't even that in the very first few strips); less custom sprite poses; different font (only in the first few) and the speech bubbles had thinner outlines. The different backgrounds are probably the most notable.

NO!!! That's not what I mean. I guess I'll be blunt, then.

I THINK HE CHANGED SOME OF THE TEXT IN THE EARLY COMICS TO FIT WITH THIS ONE.

He's been known to do such things before.

[Archbio]

This is the reason I love this comic.

That's a pretty sad statement, in itself.

I know it's not actually true, or else I would surely go mad.

[Gadgeteer]

NO!!! That's not what I mean. I guess I'll be blunt, then.

I THINK HE CHANGED SOME OF THE TEXT IN THE EARLY COMICS TO FIT WITH THIS ONE.

He's been known to do such things before.

AhHA! Here is my moment to be the shinning asshole I always knew I could be!

*ahem*

Why don't you PROVE IT?!

[PsychicKid]

NO!!! That's not what I mean. I guess I'll be blunt, then.

I THINK HE CHANGED SOME OF THE TEXT IN THE EARLY COMICS TO FIT WITH THIS ONE.

He's been known to do such things before.

That's just an urban legend.

[Greenjolt]

the most funniest, awsomeness, and just plain "did-not-expect-this-to-be-how-chaos-was-killed" ever! if this is the end or near end of the comic, then damnit bryan, you outdid yourself.

[timemonkey]

I don't think Black Mage failed Darko. Black Mage basically created Sarda and then filled him with super evil, which he obtained while earning his class change (maybe the reason Darko had to turn him into a Blue Mage is because him absorbing his ambient evil was the whole point of sending him there), which he then used to push Sarda over the edge and allow the coming of Chaos. All in all I'd say that was a perfectly executed plan until Chaos dropped the ball.

Even though they didn't personally defeat Chaos, they did bring about his coming which allowed the White Warriors to defeat him. Plus they did kill the four fiends, twice. Actually, the world is probably in the best shape it's ever been with Chaos and the Fiends dead and the Ligt Warriors depowered o the point of being nothing specil. Evil's lost a lot of ground because of the Light Warriors.

[Drake XD]

I THINK HE CHANGED SOME OF THE TEXT IN THE EARLY COMICS TO FIT WITH THIS ONE.

OOH I can prove you wrong ^^
This was made in 2003:
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/79149
You don't have to watch far in before you hear Black Mage say "4 White Mages? It'll never work"

So that proves the White Mage joke was there before 2003 XD

[CopperNinja]

Black Mage is gonna die big time. I figure he is gonna hit on White Mage
and get his head smacked off.

Or maybe Darko(Assuming he actually exists)will plant his foot in Black Mages jewels.

[Nuklear Waste]

NO!!! That's not what I mean. I guess I'll be blunt, then.

I THINK HE CHANGED SOME OF THE TEXT IN THE EARLY COMICS TO FIT WITH THIS ONE.

He's been known to do such things before.
What are you talking about? Thief's class change was always black and there was never a Bard.

[TimeSpaceMage]

So ah... I wonder where the Orbs' power went. >_>

[KoolKKid]

FOUR WHITE MAGES??!! IT'LL NEVER WORK!!!


PWNED BM. PWNED.

[Kirbyslaboratory]

Unfortunately, he was only referenced, and never made an actual appearance. Dunno if that would count or not.

Oh, no, he appeared for one brief strip. Black Mage roasted him swiftly though.
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/04/29/episode-022-mission-accomplished/

[whereami]

I hope they [Light Warriors] get their own restuarant now that the comic is almost over [presumably].

[y10k_complient]

I THINK HE CHANGED SOME OF THE TEXT IN THE EARLY COMICS TO FIT WITH THIS ONE.

I chuckled at the first mention and then again today... because I actually tried this. It took FOREVER to kill anything until you got into the sky castle, but then it was like a hot knife through buttah. My favorite setup was one BM and 3 WMs - which is disturbing in it's own special way.

[Xshu]

I'm a little annoyed that the only epic fights were against Lich and Kary. I liked it when he pulled the rug out from under us with Kraken, and then it was kind of funny with Muffin since I didn't see it coming twice in a row, and the four fiends fight was replaced with the BM fight so I didn't mind it, and I got a chuckle when Sarda blew himself up, but now it's just disappointing. It's like Brian showed us he could do semi-serious plot with 8-Bit if he wanted to and then he just never did it again. The BM fight was heading there while it lasted, but that became one of the "payoffs that never happen". Oh well.

That having been said, this was the best setup ever. It's almost worth the lack of an epic fight.

[orangejediman]

I posted the record on the ultimate record database!

It will be up within the next seven days.

urdb.org

[Faythoffenrir]

What about an optional superboss for them to fight?

[Deborah]

I THINK HE CHANGED SOME OF THE TEXT IN THE EARLY COMICS TO FIT WITH THIS ONE.

He's been known to do such things before.

Not this one, though. I was there. I remember reading this and loving the strategy guide appearance back in 2001.

Ah, those were good days. I got my roommate interested one day when she was looking over my shoulder and even though she'd never played FF before, she loved the strip just because Fighter was funny.

[Art of Hilt]

Oh, no, he appeared for one brief strip. Black Mage roasted him swiftly though.
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/04/29/episode-022-mission-accomplished/

No, no, that was an innocent old man in a red robe.
The guy who took Fighter's money was in a blue robe.
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/08/12/episode-067-give-em-the-ol-fire-poker-in-the-eye/

Edit- "IT'S BLACK MAGE FROM THE FUTURE WHO STOLE FIGHTER'S MONEY"
There. I articulated the crazyass theory so nobody has to.

[GARUD]

Guys, guys, you are all missing the point.

Black Mage gets to be in a 5-some!

[Mirai Gen]

That's a pretty sad statement, in itself.

I know it's not actually true, or else I would surely go mad.

This specific comic, I mean.

[tshadowdrag]

White Mage proved her point in using the Light Warriors and like the most of us, we pretty much ignored the point that Evil Princess Sara was making about the male populous in what we wanted to see.

I wouldn't be surprised she made King Steve sell S'no cones so she could finally rule Corneria.

I have a feeling Dr. Swordopolis will send Fighter back on his quest for the Armor of Invincibilty and BM will just have to tag around or otherwise have to deal with 4 white warriors. That and I feel final comic will come on March 1st - 9 year 8 bit anniversairy.

Dragoon will stay on the moon despite everyone else wanting him off. Just leave it at that.

I was hoping for the white mage ending as it was the only one to fit, I wonder if I was one of the others that never wanted to mention it because secretly wanted to see it?

[Dancing_Fox]

Can't believe that no-one has mentioned that "Ashes Chaos" is in "Sarda/Chaos" form rather than "Big Scary Chaos" form.

Speculation on why the ashes form isn't in the big scary version?

Changed back when out of view?

[Fantabulate]

No, once more, I don't mean the page where he talks about the 4 white mages. That's always been there. I mean a couple of later pages where white mage and black-belt used to refer to them as "charges" and now refer to them as something else.

Specifically:

I don't remember THAT being the original plan:
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/12/27/episode-102-and-its-always-there-just-waiting-to-suck/

Same in this one:
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/12/28/episode-103-those-wacky-light-warriors/

This one I could be wrong about... but I don't remember the mentioning of war-mech before. But IDK:http://www.nuklearpower.com/2002/01/15/episode-108-garland-just-dont-get-it/

[Art of Hilt]

The second one seems different from what I remember, but I remember Black Belt has always said something about them being decoys. The War-Mech... has also always been there, yeah. I remember that.

[joshedis]

As for the optional boss, Sephiroth is always a good option. Haha, just kidding. He would kill them just with his presence. For an actual boss, they could go up against war mech. Who is about the only other super powered enemy in this game. Oh! Better yet, the Omega Weapon! With Lazers! And Guns! AND BIG BOOM STICKS!

...Best. Boss. Ever.

[Regulus Tera]

Wait, I thought the "use cure/phoenix down/whatever" trick on the final boss only worked in Mystic Quest.

I'll shut up now!

[PyrosNine]

Wait, I thought the "use cure/phoenix down/whatever" trick on the final boss only worked in Mystic Quest.

I'll shut up now!

No, the actual trick with four white mages is that there are magical staffs and weapons that can cast non white magic spells for free, that can use the White Mage's magic power to increase their attack. The white mages can also have at least a potent staff attack, use holy, and naturally have plenty of cure spells to keep themselves alive.

The battle ends up being a war of attrition, whittling down Chaos.

Of course, these aren't just white mages, as each of them has extra skills beyond that of a white mage. Healer probably can do stat buffs and regen, Priest can use paladin style healing and attacks, and Shaman can do debuffs and use simple summons. Of course, White Mage can use every white magic spell and is deadly with that hammer, and may have had a hand in the creation of the current universe.

(Of note, other challenges include an all Black Belt Party, One Black mage going solo, etc. The easiest, though harder in the end game, is four Red Mages.)

[Fantabulate]

The second one seems different from what I remember, but I remember Black Belt has always said something about them being decoys. The War-Mech... has also always been there, yeah. I remember that.

Well, I said I wasn't sure about the last one. Really. That was just sort of thrown in there...

However, the first and second I think WHERE different at some point. I think. I thought they used to say stuff more along the lines of the light warriors being twisted into heros, not decoys, where they now are, well, decoys.

There's one other I saw with white mage and black belt wandering around where they refer to them as "Decoys" now and they used to refer to them as "Charges."

[EvilFuzzy9]

... Clevinger, you magnificent bastard!

[Grognor]

Sarda said that Onion Kid doesn't grow up in a world terrorized by the Light Warriors.

He'll grow up in a world terrorized by the Dark Warriors.

Also, I think the Light Warriors will end this comic dead. Not sure why I think that. Just do.

[Leper Messiah TR]

"black"? *roll*

"preist" :sweatdrop

but the rest... pure greatness

8BIT MUST NEVER DIE

[tacticslion]

Just four words: EPIC!

[Kurosen]

Specifically:

I don't remember THAT being the original plan:
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/12/27/episode-102-and-its-always-there-just-waiting-to-suck/

Same in this one:
http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/12/28/episode-103-those-wacky-light-warriors/

This one I could be wrong about... but I don't remember the mentioning of war-mech before. But IDK:http://www.nuklearpower.com/2002/01/15/episode-108-garland-just-dont-get-it/
Spoiler: you're wrong about all of this.

[Warrioroflightfromanother]

I'm a little annoyed that the only epic fights were against Lich and Kary. I liked it when he pulled the rug out from under us with Kraken, and then it was kind of funny with Muffin since I didn't see it coming twice in a row, and the four fiends fight was replaced with the BM fight so I didn't mind it, and I got a chuckle when Sarda blew himself up, but now it's just disappointing. It's like Brian showed us he could do semi-serious plot with 8-Bit if he wanted to and then he just never did it again. The BM fight was heading there while it lasted, but that became one of the "payoffs that never happen". Oh well.

That having been said, this was the best setup ever. It's almost worth the lack of an epic fight.

Well I think its kind of hard to make epic fight with 8-bit sprites, it would look just too silly. Also what other episode has fake ending? I only know 1070.

[Meister]

Just to prevent any "of course you would say that" posts: I have a good chunk of early episodes on my hard drive from at least six or seven years ago, and checking those three reveals that, like Brian says, they're the exact same that are online today.

Kind of makes me wonder why I also thought something about the second one seemed unfamiliar, but I guess it was just some psychological effect caused by expecting to see an old episode with updated text.

[tacticslion]

Also, just to back Meister up on this (and because I want it too):

e: if there's one thing about 8BT I could pick to get it would be Creator's Commentary

Seriously. I would love to get to know what goes on in Brian's head... the better to avoid getting any on me, of course (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8u7px_GzWQ).

[Meister]

95% of episodes:

"Yeah in this one I stretched the joke as far as it would possibly go so the final reveal about the four white mages would come another tiny bit later."

[tacticslion]

95% of episodes:

"Yeah in this one I stretched the joke as far as it would possibly go so the final reveal about the four white mages would come another tiny bit later."

QFT

[Kolgax]

You know, last I remember Chaos he was huge and had arms and legs. Is it possible that the ashen thing the white mages blew up was kind of like the dead skin of a snake?

[Faythoffenrir]

I think I just figured 8 bit theater out. Queen Jayne is the true big bad. That is the only reasonable explanation. Chaos/Sarda was just her pawn. Every thing bad that has happend was her fault. She did not stop King Steve from seeking the "Light Warriors", and BM and Fighters stay in Corneria led to the Onion Kids first scarring for life. Thus leading to Sarda becoming Chaos. She also could have stopped King Steve from chosing our "heroes" as the Light Warriors. She secretly wanted to cause as much evil as she did. And where do you think Sarah got her evil, hmm?

[Veho]

95% of episodes:

"Yeah in this one I stretched the joke as far as it would possibly go so the final reveal about the four white mages would come another tiny bit later."

But I like that about 8BT. Probably because Brian manages to pull it off. The filler is funny. The tangents are funny. The plot-halting constant bickering is funny. All the random useless sidequests are funny. The "meanwhile" comics are funny. Some of the best jokes were in the filler comics, and without it the whole of 8BT would be a hundred comics long.

And somehow, it fits the main characters. They all seem like they have an attention span of five seconds, and the fact the comic meanders and goes off on tangents and asides and that everything seems to be taking one step forward, two steps back and one to the side, fits them perfectly. It's what these guys would do.

[Meister]

I never said I considered it a bad thing. :)

[tacticslion]

A valid point and mild rebuttle to my own and Meister's vaguely amusing (to me) banter

So, after pondering the ways in which he could ninja'd me, while I slave laboriously at studies...

I never said I considered it a bad thing. :)

So, yeah. QFT and Ninja'd.

[Syzygy]

Ok, I don't really get the whole white mage thing. I don't remember priest, shaman, or healer ever showing up in previous comics, or even being mentioned. And what's with the nintendo power black mage is looking at?

[Mirai Gen]

Just to prevent any "of course you would say that" posts: I have a good chunk of early episodes on my hard drive from at least six or seven years ago, and checking those three reveals that, like Brian says, they're the exact same that are online today.
He says the same thing about Bard.

[timemonkey]

Ok, I don't really get the whole white mage thing. I don't remember priest, shaman, or healer ever showing up in previous comics, or even being mentioned. And what's with the nintendo power black mage is looking at?

The Nintendo Power is a reference to a challenge that was put out to beat the game with four white mages, Black Mage was seen reading it while Fighter was getting beat up by the first giant they encountered stating that the four white mages party would never work. Ever since the quest got under way White Mage flat out said she was going to just follow the Light warriors around so they could take care of the monsters on the way to destroy Chaos, which was the goal of her Order of White Mages. Granted, a LOT of this stuff was done near the begining of the comic, Black Belt was still alive and well and they hadn't even mentioned the elemental orbs yet.

[Xubble]

Good lord, I think I just jizzed in my pants. Kudos to you, Brian.

[Magic_Marker]

Goddammit, Brian.

[Aldurin]

All of your theories are obviously wrong. Dragoon will come back on the golden chocobo and Black Mage will get credit for killing Chaos with his sneezedoken. King Steve will continue on an endless cycle of giving away the kingdom to inanimate objects before "killing" them. Black Mage will also show his insensitivity to timelines and kill the Onion Kid. White Mage will be pregnant (the father is anyone's guess) and will give up her vows so she can hammer at will with top priority.

And Brian will be the true final boss (anybody who's played Dink Smallwood knows the best final battle is fighting the creator.) And Red Mage's plan to kill him will be so elaborate and stupid that reality will start to tear until one of the "rip rifts" hits Brian, after leveling half of the world.

[UndrDog]

[QUOTE=Art of Hilt;1018284]Not to diminish 8-Bit in any way but that's simply not true at all ever.[QUOTE]

Well, the only webcomic that I care about then. ^_^

[Signal11]

But I like that about 8BT. Probably because Brian manages to pull it off. The filler is funny. The tangents are funny. The plot-halting constant bickering is funny. All the random useless sidequests are funny. The "meanwhile" comics are funny. Some of the best jokes were in the filler comics, and without it the whole of 8BT would be a hundred comics long.

And somehow, it fits the main characters. They all seem like they have an attention span of five seconds, and the fact the comic meanders and goes off on tangents and asides and that everything seems to be taking one step forward, two steps back and one to the side, fits them perfectly. It's what these guys would do.

It's approaching 9 years now.

I'm tiring of this. The jokes, while still funny, aren't that fresh anymore.

Brian needs to stop while he's still in Calvin and Hobbes territory, before it veers into undead zombie Garfield/Peanuts range. I hope it's nearing that, instead of just dragging this on and on.

Anyway, registered after about 8 years of reading, just to say that.

[Link_991]

Not sure if that's sarcasm, but I can think of a few reasons: the backgrounds stopped being 8-bit around the time they went to Elfland (and they weren't even that in the very first few strips); less custom sprite poses; different font (only in the first few) and the speech bubbles had thinner outlines. The different backgrounds are probably the most notable.

All that and the humor kinda changes along the way, or it seems that way to to me.

[tshadowdrag]

All of your theories are obviously wrong. Dragoon will come back on the golden chocobo and Black Mage will get credit for killing Chaos with his sneezedoken. King Steve will continue on an endless cycle of giving away the kingdom to inanimate objects before "killing" them. Black Mage will also show his insensitivity to timelines and kill the Onion Kid. White Mage will be pregnant (the father is anyone's guess) and will give up her vows so she can hammer at will with top priority.

And Brian will be the true final boss (anybody who's played Dink Smallwood knows the best final battle is fighting the creator.) And Red Mage's plan to kill him will be so elaborate and stupid that reality will start to tear until one of the "rip rifts" hits Brian, after leveling half of the world.

Just no. I think you have a very difficult time of letting go. It's been 9 years and the final battle's been fought. Get ready for the epilogue of epilogues and be ready to move on.

[Raphaël Lafarge]

Best boss fight EVER. :D

[Aldurin]

It's approaching 9 years now.

I'm tiring of this. The jokes, while still funny, aren't that fresh anymore.

Brian needs to stop while he's still in Calvin and Hobbes territory, before it veers into undead zombie Garfield/Peanuts range. I hope it's nearing that, instead of just dragging this on and on.

Anyway, registered after about 8 years of reading, just to say that.

Maybe it will go in the direction of a Atomic Robo/Marx Brothers plot features and get better. Just sayin'.

Just no. I think you have a very difficult time of letting go. It's been 9 years and the final battle's been fought. Get ready for the epilogue of epilogues and be ready to move on.

It's 8-bit theater. How can I? I actually think that ending 8-bit is bad for the country. What if it demoralizes the troops in Afghanistan? What if it sabotages our national defenses because the key people are demoralized? I don't want the terrorists to win, especially if it's caused by that.

[Darkurai]

I accept this ending.

Bravo.

[Green Spanner]

It's 8-bit theater. How can I? I actually think that ending 8-bit is bad for the country. What if it demoralizes the troops in Afghanistan? What if it sabotages our national defenses because the key people are demoralized? I don't want the terrorists to win, especially if it's caused by that.

Just no. I think you have a very difficult time of letting go. It's been 9 years and the final battle's been fought. Get ready for the epilogue of epilogues and be ready to move on.
.

[Sky Warrior Bob]

Just adding the comment that this comic was epic. I'm only saying this now because I'd only just gotten around to reading it. (I think I checked early Saturday, but after that I never got back to the site, and just assumed there was no new comic Saturday.)

SWB

[Sl0th]

Right. Now that I have managed to stop laughing hysterically at what - whether it was planned from the start or not - was a brilliant way to finish off Chaos, all I can say is bravo, good sir. Bravo.

[Flamefury]

Well I think its kind of hard to make epic fight with 8-bit sprites.

Logged in just to say MS Paint Masterpieces by DisgruntledFerret. Not only does he use 8-bit sprites, he also only uses MS Paint to do the special effects and my word is it glorious. And THEN come back and tell me epic battles can't happen under simplistic art.


Anyway...damn. I have to admit I didn't laugh at this comic, but I understood it after about 5 seconds and all I could think was damn.

[Endarire]

Healer, White Mage, and Shaman I know. Who's 'Preist?'

Regardless, bravo! I roared with laughter!

[Naqel]

Lack of speech has never been so loud...

This is genius.

[Radeon]

No, I don’t know how many more are left, but it won’t be many..

Well folks, here's the confirmation that we're really honestly getting close to the end and not moving towards a new after-Chaos storyline...

I, for one, am a little saddened by the notion of not being able to come back to 8-bit theater on a regular basis. But, I'm also glad to have experienced the masterpiece that is 8-bit Theater and glad to say I've been with it from the beginning to its end.

Thanks Brian for sharing your crazy version of FF1 with us.

[Aldurin]

Brian better start churning out more Warbot comics when he ends this, or possibly revive Field of Battle. (http://www.nuklearpower.com/2005/08/01/field-of-battle-chapter-1/)

Hopefully he eventually starts something new.

[Kurosen]

Hopefully he eventually starts something new.
How I Killed Your Master, Warbot, Atomic Robo, and Marvel Gig aren't new enough?