Sometimes Tom has trouble gauging the passage of time. Sometimes I wonder if "real life" Tom doesn't suffer the same affliction. Have we been talking about Charlie for two weeks?

Today's comic brushes up against the 4th wall a little bit, but only if you were paying attention. It's actually a subtle commentary on some of the feedback I requested in Wednesday's blog.

This isn't me poking fun at anyone who took the time and care to write. I actually agree with a lot of what I was hearing.

While some people said they were enjoying Charlie's introduction just fine, some people commented that they felt it was being drawn out too long. I actually received a couple of notices that the last two weeks of strips simply weren't funny.

It's cool. I take it in stride. I wouldn't have asked for criticism if I couldn't handle the negative stuff. I want to publicly thank everyone who was thoughtful enough to write in and let me know what they felt was working at what wasn't.

I mean, on the one hand, I feel that I've committed myself to the story that I want to tell and there probably isn't a lot that anyone can say or do that's going to change that. Besides, it would be pretty lame of me to change course on the comment based on the suggestions of a vocal few. It would be creatively fraudulent of me to kowtow to someone else's vision when it's my own artistic satisfaction that has been propping this up for the last 2 and half years.

But on the other hand, the internet is a marvelous tool that allows me to receive very specific feedback very quickly and it would be foolish not to take advantage of that.

Basically what those e-mails did for me was put into focus my own doubts about this new direction. While I believe strongly that some things are working, it puts into focus the issues I was concerned about. Basically, it answered the question, "Does this seem weird to anyone else, or is it just me?"

I should note that although I've strongly trumpeted the "NEW DIRECTION" of Theater Hopper through basically ever media outlet I could uncover, what's been happening for the last two weeks won't be a permanent shift in tone away from comedy and toward the dramatic.

Some of you said that while introducing Charlie, I've strayed away from the meat and potatoes of the site - topical reflections on movies and pop culture. I agree. But I FULLY INTEND to come back to that. The objective here is to lay the groundwork for a new character so when I do return to that format, there will be a fully-realized creation through which I can filter my opinions. Bringing Charlie into the fold adds a whole new layer to what I can say about movies. She brings a new voice and a fresh perspective.

However, in order to do that, I need to make her prominent. While readers have become familiar with Tom, Cami and Jared over the last 2 and half years, I have to establish A LOT of exposition in a short amount of time if I'm going to make Charlie their contemporary. In other words, so that the audience will recognize that the words coming out of her mouth are coming from an honest place in terms of characterization. That there is motive. That there is a background story which is the prism through which she interprets her situation.

This sounds heady, I know. But I've put a lot of thought into. Maybe too much thought. Maybe what's important is that people come to the site to be ENTERTAINED and they don't need to be bogged down by the drama of FICTIONAL characters.

Whatever the situation, one thing has become clear. While undertaking what I want to achieve with the comic and the characters in 2005, there's no reason it can't be funny. This weekend I am going to reassert my focus and strive toward that.

Goodness, that was quite the little manifesto, wasn't it? If you have any response to what I'm putting out there, I am always available.

That said, I want to remind everyone that TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO PRE-ORDER A T-SHIRT, BABY DOLL TEE OR HOODIE! After today, I'm going to shut down that portion of the store probably for the next few months. So if you were thinking about getting a Spoiler t-shirt any time soon, now's the time to do it.

Actually, if you were thinking about getting a "Professional Movie Goer" shirt, now would be THE BEST time to do it. The design hasn't been a strong seller, so I'll probably discontinue it after today.

I have some other site-related thoughts bouncing around in my head. I might come back and share them later if I have time.

Honestly, are there any other web comics out there that pull the curtain back as far as I do in regards to process? I mean, it's not like I'm showing you the penciled artwork before I ink and color it, or anything. I'm affording you frigging real estate IN MY BRAIN. You totally get a glimpse of all my little hang-ups bringing this thing to you 3 times a week, don't you?

Ho, boy. Life in the Digital Age...