Since May 23, 2005, it has been my great pleasure to bring you Starshift Crisis, then Starslip Crisis, then Starslip, five days a week (except for the times it was three days a week).
We leave our crew on a bittersweet note. Vanderbeam is at last in the arms of Jovia, having beaten back a destiny demanded of him by men from a future devoid of hope. Slowly, two of them will recover their memories of the future. His happiness comes at a cost: saying goodbye to his beloved crew for what seems like an eternity — though far less than the eternities he’s had to gird himself against.
Cutter, Mr. Jinx, Holiday and everyone Vanderbeam knew suddenly have to deal with his absence. There is much to do, but for the first time, all the old obstacles are beginning to fade.
It’s a bittersweet time for me as well! I’ve written these characters for the last seven years and they speak very clearly to me. This was the longest story I’ve ever told, with pieces of it reaching back to my childhood. I’m very happy that these ideas found their way into Starslip. I am a little emotional today!
So… what’s next?
- I’ll be doing a live video Q&A Monday night, June 18, at 7PM Pacific on my Ustream channel — just something to answer your questions about Starslip and wrap up the strip and say thank you personally to you for reading. (It will be recorded in case you can’t make it.)
- The first four Starslip volumes are available in my store. The fifth Starslip book, the final volume, is completed and ready to print — I’m looking to have it by San Diego Comic Con, but it will be available to order before that! I will make an announcement about it and about special offers for all five books, including a new collectible piece of merch as well as a new, sixth book called…
- The Starslip Companion: a 64-page book of character and plot commentaries to go with the series. I discuss my motivations behind the story, things that worked and didn’t work, and elaborate on several behind-the-scenes stories we never got to see in the comic strip. This will be available before San Diego Comic Con too! Watch for announcements.
- You can still find me at Chainsawsuit five days a week, and on Twitter like thirty times a day. Also, for non-canonical fun, I recently registered the account @Starslip_S8.
- Oh, ha ha! You can like Starslip on Facebook now. I’ll post updates there too — right now it has a glimpse of the fifth and final book cover!!
- I have gotten a lot of comments from people who like Chainsawsuit, but looove Starslip and want to see more longer-form story-driven work from me. You will not be disappointed! I’m developing a new series right now, similar in scope, that I’m not ready to share details of. With Starslip’s work finished, I can turn my attention to it.
As ever, I welcome your comments and e-mails. Thanks for joining me for the last seven years. And if you’ve been here since I started out as a cartoonist online, thanks for being here for all twelve.
Watch Twitter, Chainsawsuit and this space! You won’t miss a single announcement when I make them!
On behalf of the crew of the Fuseli, thanks again.
Kris Straub
June 14, 2012
A fantastic end to one of my favorite comics of all time, online or not. Thanks for the years of great Starslip/Starshift strips, sir. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
I always knew there was going be an end game, a final chapter for Starslip. And although I knew this was it, I find myself in a state of genuine melancholy.
Thank You Kris, for delivering to us an fantastic, simply brilliant comic. I will miss it deeply…
This makes me genuinely sad. For the last 7 years I have looked forward to a Starslip comic every day, and now it's hard to think about there not being a new page in the adventures, joys and misfortunes of the crew of the Fuseli. I'm glad, though, that Vanderbeam is now happy and will get to continue on with Jovia by his side.
Thank YOU Kris for providing such wonderful and truly moving characters and story over the years. I'll miss Beams and his friends, but I look forward to what you have in store for us next.
Top half looks like a salute to SW:ESB.
Thank you, Mr. Straub. It can't really be seven years. It's over too soon.
I was a latecomer to the Starslip universe, only hopping on board a couple years ago, but I've read this strip every day (or three times a week, as the case may be) since discovering it. And now, the end has me choked up, hoping against hope that I don't have to wait thirteen years to see these dear friends again.
Thank you, Kris, for the journey you took us on. I eagerly await the next.
Goodbye, Starslip. I wish you well in your future (past) endeavors. It's been a great seven years and I'm proud to have been privileged enough to read some of it live.
Thanks, Kris, for all the good times!
A fine ending to one of my all-time favourite comics. Thank you. Can't wait to see the new project!
Indeed, here is to your next effot. – Him.
Thank you for the fantastic voyage.
You sir, are a boss, and I salute you. I will be looking far forward to what you've got coming next.
Thank you, Kris, for a magnificent ending to a wonderful story. And thanks for the little bonus in Chainsawsuit, as well.
Thanks Kris, it was a beautiful goodbye
It was juust right. Thank you!
Thanks for seven years of futuretainment!
A wonderful conclusion to one of the finest stories it has been my privilege to experience. Be seeing you.
Well after three years gone, I sure picked a helluva day to check back in, didn't I. O_o Congrats Kris, and I guess I better get crackin on the archives…
Buy the books – they're better.
Thanks Kris – fantastic read from start to finish, and I can't wait for your next strip
One of my all-time favorite webcomics, with some of the best writing. I'll miss it, Kris.
Thank you. That was awesome. I look forward to your future work and to finally buying the books!
Sad to see this go…but I will enjoy rereading…starting now…and when I get all the books. Thank you for an epic ride, Kris.
The line from older Memnon about how curation is about knowing which pieces fit together… wow, the whole series all just shone together in one blinding flash of light. Thanks so much, Kris. I started reading midway through Starslip Crisis, and I've enjoyed every year since then. Can't wait to see what you have planned next.
An incredible saga filled with humor and drama and scifi goodness. Thank you for sharing your vision with us.
Thank you Kris for delivering one of the finest things I've ever been lucky enough to read. Starslip was full of comedy, action, full characters and a sci-fi world that allowed a curator to live a life more fascinating than it should have been. Who would have thought that something so off the wall would have ended up being as endearing as it was funny. Thank you for sharing this world with us.
While I'll morn the conclusion of one of my favorite comics, I look forward to what is coming next.
I've seen a number of cartoons end for whatever external reason. I've seen others drag on beyond inspiration.
Thanks for wrapping up the journey of the great characters you created in an ending doing them, the story, and its creator justice and joining so many loose ends in a skilled manner that it does not reek of mere deus ex machina.
Genuinely sad overe here. Sorry to see the comic end, I wasn't even expecting it. This was my dose of enterainment every morning before work. Good luck with your new project, from one of your fans from Germany.
I've been reading Starslip since the day it launched, having been referred over by another webcomic, which I can no longer identify. It took me a bit of time to get into it, but the idea of a space opera centering around an art museum was so novel that I stuck with it, waiting to see what happened. I'm glad I did.
Starslip been in my top five webcomics for several years now. Watching the characters and concepts evolve has been an absolute pleasure, but I knew the long, strange, and silly trip had to end at some point. I'll miss waiting up until irresponsible hours to see the next installment, but I can't wait to see what you have planned for the future.
Thank you for the adventure, Kris.
Wait, but… What happened to Von Lucifuge’s new drive? And will Holiday ever regain respect for the captain? And… Gah! So many questions, now forever unanswered! Or I just need to re-read everything carefully, I guess.
I got into Starslip just before the name change, and have been following it since. From the hilarious ("Wear it like a hat!"), to the simple and wonderfully poignant ("Begin."), it has been a great storyline, and I've thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Definitely sad to see it end, but that's a good thing.
And agreed with all of the above, Old Vanderbeam's final line was perfect.
Just like to thank you for sharing your story
Maybe an… epilog?
It's been a fun ride.
Thank you.
I've been reading this comic since the very beginning and it's always been one of my all time favourites. I'm sad to see it end, but at the same time I appreciate that you took the time to wrap it up so nicely. Thank you for this journey.
Thank you so much for Starslip. I started reading this when my life had reached it's lowest point. Day after day I eagerly awaited seeing the next page appear on my feed list. Thank you for making my laugh when I needed it most.
While the ending of Starslip is bittersweet and hard to face, it is a great ending.
Thank you
Thank you for telling this story. I enjoyed this comic a lot.
Thanks Kris. It's been a great ride and I am looking forward to your next project.
Well done. I enjoyed the journey.
Wonderful final line.
Thank you for the amazing journey. As all good things must end, I'm glad it can be with a tear-soaked smile.
Thank you, Kris. It has been an amazing run. And a wonderful, wonderful finish.
I don't have anything witty or poignant to say. Thank you very much for Starslip, I will miss it dearly. I'm looking forward to anything and everything you create in the future.
I've been reading for close to the beginning, and I'm going to miss reading this. It's been such a constant in my life, it will just feel, well, wrong, it not being there. While I get the need to move onto something new, sometime down the line I'd like to see a "Side 2" for Starslip as well.
Thank you for seven years of awesome, with a perfect ending.
Bravo, Monsieur Straub.
It's been an awesome 7 years. Can't wait for what's next!
I've been reading this comic since almost the beginning, and am looking forward to being able to experience the whole story in segments longer than a couple strips per week. What with my poor old memory, it'll be like a whole new adventure of rediscovery.
Just wondering though, because i'm a bit OCD about this: does the six-volume series include all the strips, including the early Starshift Crisis ones? I seem to remember the name change going hand-in-hand with a partial reboot which some strips fell victim to, but my memory may be playing tricks on me again…
Even while you talked about Starslip ending, the majority of my brain didn't want to believe it. I have looked at starslip.com every weekend for years and I'm sure I will be navigating here for weeks from force of habit! Very glad you left all the main characters alive so you can come back to them in 13 years. Maybe you can license the universe like the Star Wars books?
I have been reading since day one (seven years, really!?), and I'm sad it has ended, but I'm thoroughly satisfied with the end. Kudos Mr. Straub; I look forward to your next project(s).
Wonderful ending! Congrats on a fine run and thanks for the many years of Starslip
If you've got to go, go out with a bang. Thank you for the last seven years, Mr Straub, and I look forward to your new beginnings.
Thanks Kris. I've been a reader since late 2006, and have enjoyed your work here immensely. Looking back it's great to see where you started with Starshift Crisis and ended with Starslip, both as a writer and an artist. The ending couldn't have been any better. Like everyone else here, I look forward to your next endeavor. Good luck!
I still don't understand the whole Renaissance thing. Now Vanderbeam is definitely is in the past, since he was brought there, but were all the flashbacks dreams? Or what? Why is Jovia also in the past if she was in the "present", and dead in most timelines?
I literally cannot believe I'm tearing up because my favorite sci-fi-comedy-time-travel-comic-strip is ending, fuck you Kris Straub
Thank you for the seven years. And excellent ending. No infuriating, unsure vagueness. No disappointing , way too pat wrap up of everything and everyone. Although, we could have used a few more episodes of Concrete Universe.
This has been a fantastic journey and one of the best endings I have ever read. Thank you so much.
I have really enjoyed Starslip and can't wait to see what you've got planned next. I'll be looking forward to your announcement on the special for all the volumes. I'll have to pull some money together.
One more thing… have you seen the TV Tropes page about Starslip?
Fascinating stuff: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Webcomic/St…
Truthfully I am sad to see the end of the strip; I have been following it so long it seems strange not to see the newest RSS feed in my inbox ready to read. It was beautifully written and drawn to even to its final panel; a fan couldn’t as for more than that. I hope to see you at a Canadian con in the near future so I can personally buy the final books from you and hopefully have you sign them as well.
I look forward to your future projects and see what other creations of the mind you come up with.
Thank you, Kris. It’s been a pleasure reading these past several years, and your webcomic has been something to look forward to every morning. –Mike
I have been reading Starslip from beginning to end. I am very happy for Vanderbeam finally waking up with his beloved Jovia by his side. But all things must come to an end even something as wonderful as Starslip. I thank you Mr. Straub for a wonderful roller coaster ride for the past seven years! God bless Mr. Straub. To the crew of the Fuseli, Hasta Luego!
A great ending to the story that I didn't see coming in the slightest. Enough open ends to continue the story or expand upon the universe, but a great story for Vanderbeam.
How beautiful and tragic that Vanderbeam & Jovia were destined to meet, love, and yet never be together, throughout many cycles of time. So glad that Vanderbeam found a way to break the cycle and right a wrong written into the very code of the universe.
Thanks for the ride Kris, this has been an enjoyable jaunt around space and time. You should make some backgrounds for us to download, i would like a Cutter to go with my own one eyed drunk self. Time!
I've really loved this series. Reading it in book form is one of those rare experiences that reminds me why this medium is so powerful. Thanks for a great run and good luck with your future endeavors!
Thanks for the ride, Chris! Always sad to come to the end of a good story, but we wish you the best and I'll be keeping an eye out for your next series. Make sure to post a link here, or I might be too lazy to find it….
A beautiful ending. I teared up. Thank you, Kris, this has been a consistently quality work since the beginning. It will be missed.
I'm going to be honest. I love the comic, I love the ending, but it's missing something.
The crew is still in the Dreadnox, and we don't know whether they're still wanted across the galaxy or not (I'd assume time travelling would be able to set that right, but there's nothing in the story that hints at that)
The ending feels rushed, like the first draft of an awesome idea that needed a little more fleshing out.
Still, I loved the confrontation with deep time, loved the amazing dialogue, loved all seven years of this journey.
I still think "Wear it like a Haaaaat!" is the funniest moment in webcomics history.
So sad… But looking forward to whatever is next!
Beautiful. You really wrapped up all the loose ends I cared to know about, in a manner appropriately sentimental and humorous for the strip and it's characters. Great job, all the way through.
God speed man! This was a great story and I have been a daily visitor since the very beginning. All the best!!
I have enjoyed reading this comic for many years, and while I am sad to see it finish, I like that way that you did it, it feels "right" to me. I am a big fan of your work, and I consider it a highlight of my life to have been able to meet and talk with you in Calgary last year.
I look forward to your next project.
Wow… Hard to believe that this is the end. I've been following your work since the early days of Checkerboard Nightmare and have had the immense privilege and pleasure of reading Starshift/Starslip since day one. While there are plenty of other web comics/comics I've enjoyed over the years none have grabbed me like this story. You've created and curated an amazing thing here and I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am than you chose to share it with the rest of us. Can't wait to see what you have for us next but it's honestly very sad to be saying "goodbye" to Memnon and crew. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go curl up in the corner with my jinxlet and have a good cry.
Kris: Thank you for Starslip Crisis. I've been reading for five or six years — it was a consistently great comic strip (I've loved the art history jokes throughout) with enjoyable characters and great writing. Your art got much better as the strip went on, as well.
I'm sad to see it go, but just wanted to say that you've absolutely killed it these past few weeks. The writing, the pacing, and the wrap-up were all great, and the last panel felt just right.
I look forward to your future endeavors (more F-Chords one of these days?).
The problem with reading this at work is that I can't claim to have been cutting onions.
What a wonderfully told story, and characters worth keeping close to the heart.
I'm feeling sad that it is over, i've enjoyed the misadventures of the Fuseli and her crew for the past few years and i will miss them
Thank you so much for your amazing art, humor, and storytelling. It is so rare to see a truly good webcomic that has all three of these AND manages to wrap things up with an actual meaningful ending. I just wanted to join the rest of the fans here in thanking you and congratulating you for a job well done.
Kris,
I don't know what to say. I've been following this strip since the beginning.
You're an amazing writer and an amazing artist, and I'll miss Starslip more than words can say.
Thank you for letting the characters live on. I know so many artists that would and have made the characters die or change or something when the strip comes to an end.
Also, (and I know this is probably furthest from your mind) I like that you left open the possibility that someday they could come back and have more adventures.
Even if they don't, just the possibility that the option exists makes me happy.
Thank you for doing this for seven years.
I'll miss it.
You and Starslip have been a big part of my life.
And I thank you for it.
John Crandall, aka Cranny777
Loyal Starslipian … Starslipite … Starslipper?
P.S. If you have any Jinxlets sitting around, I'd love to buy one. I always thought I'd have more time.
*Cries a single, manly tear*
Sad but glad. I'll miss the crew of the Fusili.
Thank you.
Standing goddamn ovation.
In Highschool, I took a class about the history of my hometown, And it was super interesting. Lot's of cool stuff happened there. So I when I went to the town's historical society museum, I expected it to be rad. It was not. It was a random collection of artifacts that could have come from anywhere in colonial America. The entire museum gave no hint that anything interesting had ever happened there.
Since then I've had sort of a low-level interest in museum curation. How is it that some museums are a joy to explore even if you don't care about the subject, and other museums are tedious even with interesting material?
So it was with that low-level curiosity in curation and a passionate love of Sci-Fi that I discovered Starslip Crisis, just after it had switched from Starshift.
I remember being initially intrigued by how it had changed names with an in-story hook of multiple universes. That was enough to make me go back and read from the beginning.
…And I've been loving it ever since.
It's sad to see it end, but it's great to see it finish as a completed work.
Claps, just stands and claps.
That was awesome
Kris, kudos to you for pulling together so many different themes and schools of learning throughout the life of this strip. Most of all, you made characters who resonated while they grew and matured. Eventually, you need to suck it up and just write a damn book, because I think you could give that self blow-jobbing Neil Stephenson a run for his money, Lord knows that rimjobber needs it. After you've rested up (two weeks, MAX), I am looking forward to what pours out of that twisted mind of yours next. Whatever time passes from now until then will be worse than those nights spent downloading an animated gif of bouncing titties on a 2400 baud modem. If I was a little more unbalanced, I'd totally stalk you. Keep up the good work, man.
Allow me to apologize for the egregious comma usage. I don't know what came over me. Damn emotions.
What about the Cabal? When Vanderbeam eventually returns, won't he and the crew of the Fuseli still be on the run from the governments of all the alternate universes? Katarakis and Deep Time may have been defeated, but what about Obdrath Von Lucifuge?
Stay tuned for Kris' next comic epic, "That's our Cenobyss!"
Thank you so much for creating and sharing this amazing and epic webcomic with us. I started reading when it became Starslip, and did not regret the hours and hours of backreading to catch up to the timeline.
So thanks again, and I look forward to your next long-form story comic : )
Thanks for all the fish, Kris! It's been a joy to tag along with the crew.
I hate goodbyes, even beautifully crafted, well anticipated, not forever goodbyes. I've loved this comic from the start and thank you for taking us along on this wonderful ride Kris. I'm eagerly looking forward to your next work, while secretly hoping this won't be the last we see of the crew of the Fuseli.
Thanks for everything, Kris! I’ve loved this comic for years and eagerly await what you do next!
And so Starslip can be filed away in the Fuseli's archives as arguably the finest example of early Terran webcomics. A masterpiece worthy of Vanderbeam's expert curation if ever there was one. Thanks for the last few years and I'll see you and the crew in 13 years!
I've been dreading this for the last 6 months, but it was a good ending. I'm hoping that there will be at least a few followup stories because it's hard to let these characters go. At least the long-awaited crossover with F Chords? or not
For over 6 years you've made me laugh, but this is the first time you made me cry. I'm a grown man! Aghhh!
Beautiful ending to an amazing story. Can't wait to pick up the last books to complete the collection!
Thank you so much. I have loved reading Starslip these years, and will miss it now that it is gone. Thanks for all your time and talent.
Thank you Kris. Starslip/shift (Crisis) has been one of my favorite artistic experiences. Your humor, class, intelligence, and hard work have been a fantastic part of every weekday for the past seven years. I will await, eagerly, your next project.
Wow, I just deleted Starslip from my IE favourites and I got a hitch in my throat. Thanks for all the great work and I look forward to all the great things you have planned. Starslip will be missed.
Been reading the comic for a while Kris, truly sad to see it end but it has been one fantastic read! Good luck for the future.
I'm actually a little sad this had to end, Every Afternoon coming home from worked I would turn on my computer and before anything else I would go through a very short list of web comics before getting into everything else. Now while my gaming time has marginally increased, It will leave a small hole that is hard to fill.
Thank you for all your work I have enjoyed it immensely and look forward to what comes next.
Thanks so much, Kris! So many great strips over the years. "Wear it like a HAT!" is still my all-time favorite strip in any comic whatsoever and – dead serious – probably top three in any work of fiction I've ever consumed. Such a masterful job to make it truly absurd while also making it a powerful culmination to a huge even that somehow could only be solved by a museum curator with that all feeling perfectly natural.
The callback joke of "Oh what the frig." made me so happy I literally started reading from the beginning again just to get full effect. I've read from #1 to that point four times now and it's always enjoyable.
I'll miss these characters very much and look forward to the next project.
NOOOOOOO!!!! I have been reading this series for the past year and when I found it I read every single previous comic in order to "catch up"… I love Starslip! I will always love Starslip, and now it hurts to watch it go…. sniff sniff…
Congrats on this wonderful strip and ON TO THE NEXT ADVENTURE!!!!!!!
Lights out.
Ah, Him! Don't fade away. I don't even know where to find you.
I was in shock when the strip ended, and I suppose I still am. I find myself clicking the link everyday out of habit and being disappointed when the page loads.
Thank you for one of my favorite comics of all time. I look forward to seeing when you come up with next.
Pfff, thanks for making me all teary-eyed at work. Seriously though, many thanks for the years of quality, meaningful, warm characters and stories. I'd say I'm going to miss Starslip but I know I'll just keep coming back and re-reading it over and over. I look forward to the next journey, whatever it is. Thanks again.