Pull out the party hats, pour yourself some of the strongest liquor you’ve got in the house and party like it’s 1989, ‘cause AAiS is turning 1 today!

That’s right, we, together, have survived the first year of AAiS’ existence, which is actually not that insignificant of an achievement if you consider the way things are going around the world. But while the German nation state may be falling apart around me in real time as I’m writing this, I’m – nonetheless – feeling like a million dollars. And for good reason!

My baby, the webcomic I’ve put off doing for years and years in fear of what others might think of it, is turning one year old. Right now, I’m sitting in front of my PC with a grin on my face and a certain pride in my heart, probably not all too dissimilar from what a real father would feel on the first birthday of his son. I mean, just look at how my boy has grown up. How he has changed in a single year. How much better (and less annoying) he is compared to a year ago. How much hair is on his forehead! At this rate, he’ll be walking and talking and paying taxes in no time!

Of course, I’ll be the first person to admit that things haven’t always gone smoothly. The pre-planning for this comic was non-existent, my artistic skill was borderline void, and to say that I’ve missed some goals and deadlines of mine throughout this year would be the understatement of the decade. In keeping with the father analogy, AAiS was like a kid you had with thirteen years old, the mother (and her mid-twenties parents) fleeing the country after birth, and you going out for cigarettes and leaving the little fella to fend for himself for several weeks at a time more than once in the course of this first year.

Of course, the boy has done well for himself. He’s learned from his experience and is now standing in front of you stronger, smarter and with only some minor trust issues. That’s the AAiS we see in front of us today, a picture-book example of the saying “strength comes from hardship”.

Needless to say, though, I couldn’t have done any of this without you guys. You’ve showered my work in kindness even during the times when I was frustrated with how sub-par it turned out, you’ve shown me patience in the face of delays and broken promises that I myself couldn’t bear, and you’ve given me love and appreciation in what I can easily claim to have been the single hardest year of my life. I owe all of this, every last bit of it, to you, and for that, I’d like to give you my sincerest thanks. You are nothing short of incredible.

Here’s to another year of rykani-filled chaos! Bottoms up!

P.S: There’s also an anniversary video out on my YouTube channel: