Bringing It All Back Home 1
What’s this? It looks like a longer eye-opening look into the origin of Bellen! told from the perspective of Box Brown and not “Ben” his thinly veiled counterpart. In fact, that IS what it is.
But, where is that old timey-yellowing paper we’ve all grown to love? It’s gone because there are no more veneers in Bellen! it’s the pure unadulterated truth from here on out.
But, WHY? It’s because Bellen! is coming to end. In early September the cute little strip that could will be coming to a close. It’s not in me anymore and hasn’t been for a while now. While I love Bellen! and strip comics, it’s not the direction I want to take anymore. I will let this story, “Bringing it All Back Home”, fill you in on everything I know about Bellen! and hopefully bring some closure to the people who want it.
I will be launching an Everything Dies site around the same time. Which will house exclusive web-only strips as a companion to the print series I’ve been working on. I realize that Bellen! and Everything Dies don’t necessarily share an audience and that I will probably lose a lot of you as readers. While I’ll be sad to see you go, I’ve decided I’m ok with it. There will be more details on this new site as the date draws nearer.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:07 am
congrats on the success of bellen. wishing you the best on what sounds like an exciting new direction for you. looking forward to seeing it. very curious to see how you finish out bellen too. you seem like a sucker for closure.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:19 am
I’ll be sad to see it go, and while I was never an active commenter I always looked forward to updates. I did read the first volume of Everything Dies (Paul got it at MoCCA) and I did enjoy it a lot, so I will definitely be back, and maybe I won’t be so darn quiet
July 26th, 2010 at 12:25 am
Jiminy jilickers, Box! Feels like I just found out my puppy has only a few months to live.
I’ll still be sticking around, though. And I’ll have to pick up Everything Dies.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Man, I’ll be sad to see Bellen! go. But I hear where you’re coming from. I’ve been thinking about ending inkdick at the end of the year (maybe even sooner) to pursue other projects, so I know what it’s like to let something that you’ve been working hard on for so many years go.
Anything you do in the future is going to be great and I will ALWAYS read anything that you ever do. Best of luck on the next project! I’m sure it will be amazing!
July 26th, 2010 at 2:40 am
i’ve been reading bellen since day one and have loved almost all of it. as much as i love it though, i can definitely understand the need to move on. and i probably do like everything dies more than bellen…
July 26th, 2010 at 6:41 am
The problem with this is that “Bellen” is a great idea for a comic strip while “Everything Dies” is a terrible one. Seriously, now…do you really expect people to read a comic called “Everything Dies”? Why not just call it “Life Totally Sucks And You’re An Idiot For Reading This”? (Actually, I’d probably be a big fan of a comic with that title.)
But if it ain’t in you, it can’t come out. RIP Bellen.
July 26th, 2010 at 7:51 am
Well sh*t. Bellen is a big part of my morning wakeup. It felt like you were lifting moments right out of my life every couple of days. I kept thinking, Damn straight, that’s exactly right!
July 26th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Thanks everybody!
RMc: I know you’re sad to see Bellen! go, but it’s something you’ll have to get used to, after all, everything dies.
July 26th, 2010 at 9:44 am
I always thought bellen was super cute but you totally shine with all of your other work.
I’m excited to see what you’re going to do!
July 26th, 2010 at 9:47 am
thanks so much Olga
July 26th, 2010 at 10:06 am
That’s so sad.
The news and the comic, I mean.
But well, I enjoyed reading the comic, and I’ll enjoy reading the “closure”.
So… now I got a reason to catch up on Everything Dies… hope it’s worth it
July 26th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Me too!
July 26th, 2010 at 10:22 am
well THAT was unexpected. But we’ll get used to it.
July 26th, 2010 at 10:57 am
Booooooooooooooooooooooooo.
But I’ll give Everything Dies a chance. =) I do, after all, love your work.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Hey there,
you’ve never heard from me before because I’m not big on commenting, but seeing as this might be my last chance to do so, here it goes.
I want you to know that Bellen!, as a webcomic, really spoke to me. I saw a lot of my own emotions and mannerisms reflected in the main character. I really want you to know that I appreciated this strip immensely and that I am very sad to see it go.
I know it’s your own decision what to do with your life, so I won’t stop you, but know that Bellen! was like a little twinkle in the bleakness of life.
Good luck with everything.
PS: Is the website going to stay up, or are you taking it down?
July 26th, 2010 at 11:22 am
I was just thinking that today will be the day that I finally write to tell you how much I thoroughly enjoy Bellen. Well, I still want you to know that, and I will likely follow whatever projects are to follow. But just so you know, Bellen is great and truly special. Good luck!
July 26th, 2010 at 11:28 am
“Everyone Dies Alone.” I think the philosopher Mark Newgarden said that.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:57 am
haha! Mark Newgarden said, “We All Die Alone”
thanks so much to you guys you’re great.
The archives still will be available forever.
July 26th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
WHAT? Aw man… I just found the comic a few months ago (funnily enough, in a roundabout way I discovered Bellen in a dream).
I suppose everything great must end, and in a way it’s refreshing to see a good comic end good, rather then be beaten dead into the ground just to have an update all the time. But this is too soon for me =(. Still, at least you haven’t given up on webcomics entirely.
I’ll try Everything Dies and see what happens, and I have faith because anyone who could make such a great down-to-earth chill comic like this must have potential in everything he does. I’m with you all the way! rip bellen
July 26th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
A little sad to see the end of Bellen! but very excited to see new work that you’re much more jazzed about. Enjoy!
July 26th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
Aww that’s sad
I’ve been reading Bellen for over a year at least, and I always look forward to it. There will be something missing when I check my webcomics now.
But that’s for making all the strips for all of us and yourself! It’s been a great, touching read.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
All your guys’ comments are so appreciated.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
I seriously just got teary-eyed reading all these comments. I am so proud of you Brian and your persistence and consistent growth as an artist never ceases to amaze me. Though I am also sad to see Bellen! go, I am so excited about what your(our) future holds. Looking back through the archives of Bellen! is like looking back on my entire relationship with you. I will treasure this document of our love FOREVER!
July 26th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Looking forward to this.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
I love you, Bubby
You too Nathan.
July 26th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Let me add my sadness that Bellen! is coming to an end, but also my congratulations on an amazing body of Bellen!-related work that you’ll always be able to look back on with pride! You clearly reached a lot of people with this strip, and I know I found a lot of my own attitudes and thoughts reflected in Ben (and I’m not alone, clearly!), which really made the work speak to me. Even in today’s comic! I swear I’ve had just that same train of thought many times in my life–the name of the person it didn’t work out with changes, but the sentiment was the same.
I’ve been reading and loving Everything Dies, and I’m excited to see where you take it, and continuing to read and enjoy whatever other projects come dripping out of your talented pen and brain.
Best wishes for loads and loads of success in the future, you deserve it. And thank you so much for BELLEN!
Sincerely,
The Vicar
July 26th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
BUBBY #2: I love you, too!
PS: I got this message on FB:
“Nice job, SARAH! I just read Brian’s post about his idea to end the “Bellen!” strip. See what you did? You went and made a cartoonist HAPPY, and now he doesn’t have sad stuff to write anymore! What are your future plans? Will you date Robert Smith so the Cure breaks up? I BLAME YOOOOOOUUUUU!
-Anon.”
July 26th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Get out of here, Sarah! I shake my tiny fist at you! What possessed you to make a web cartoonist HAPPY? They are to be kept in cages, poked occasionally, fed nothing but sugar and caffeine, and HEARTS BROKEN! Then, when they achieve any success, the fan base must turn on him immediately and call him a sell-out. This is how it’s *done*! Why don’t you go cheer up Robert Smith while you’re at it? Maybe hire some clowns for Tim Burton?
Kidding aside, I will miss Bellen! just as much as I’m looking forward to whatever you do next. Good luck!
July 26th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
haha, I think it was Todd.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
DUDE, WHAT? your relationship was my relationship. at times i thought you had some surveillance on my house, it was so eerie.
I have loved bellen for years, and i’m sad to see it go. but archives is cool, and everything dies will be a new adventure. let’s see where it goes.
July 26th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
dammit Bellen is going away. fuck this. LIFE IS MEANINGLESS
July 27th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I’ll be sad to see Bellen! go, but I’m excited to see what you’ll be doing next. Bellen! was one of the first webcomics I ever discovered, I think because we were both on Webcomics Nation at the same time.
July 27th, 2010 at 1:05 am
You were inspired, Brian, and with your art, you’ve inspired all of us.
Why you little…! : P
July 27th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Does Ben stab Ellen to death with a creamsicle at the end? I always suspected that’s where it was headed…
All hail the great Bellen! A toast to great ventures and their creative arcs! To the future with thee, Box Brown!
July 28th, 2010 at 1:33 am
This strip just made us want to go back and read the entire archive again. My gf and I will definitely miss Bellen but congrats on a job well done. Looking forward to your next project(s)!
July 28th, 2010 at 8:27 am
[...] Bellen! Bellen! is a comic about Ben and Ellen ◄ [...]
July 29th, 2010 at 10:52 am
box i love the new direction and the balls to let your art move towards where your heart is movin. ill read anything you ever make.
July 29th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Thanks Dan and David!
July 29th, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Oh sad… but absolutely understandable. I think it’s good for you to pursue what you have a passion for. It’s a miserable life to keep doing something your heart isn’t into. I love Bellen and I’m sad to see it go, but I will also check out anything you do because I have come to love your style, your creativity and whatever your uniquely Box Brown brain comes up with. Good luck and I’m looking forward to experiencing your next adventures!
July 29th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Happy Trails! I’ll see you on the new site!
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:07 pm
[...] is coming to an end quite soon. But never fear, Box Brown won’t be retiring from comics any time in the near future: [...]
August 10th, 2010 at 4:21 am
No one in this world ever gets what they want and that is beautiful
Everybody dies frustrated and sad and that is beautiful
August 11th, 2010 at 3:51 am
I’m loving this series. It reminds me why I started reading Bellen, you reminded me of the good things in life - love and art.