letter
Explanation
The Joke
This is not a traditional comic but rather an open letter from Zach Weinersmith to his readers, published on the launch day of his and Kelly Weinersmith''s book "Soonish." Zach acknowledges that he has been nagging readers about the book lately and says he considered putting up another comic for launch day, but felt readers had probably had enough marketing.
Instead, the letter is a sincere thank-you note. Zach thanks readers for their support -- whether or not they bought a copy -- and explains that continued reader support on new projects allows him and Kelly to keep trying new creative directions. He reflects on the privilege of writing for a living, noting that while it is a privilege, it is "often a stressful privilege," and shares that kind letters from readers have turned around many bad days. The letter closes with "Your fan, Zach" -- a touching inversion of the typical fan-to-creator dynamic.
The postscript adds a small plug reminding readers that it is the last day to get bonus items from the "Space Elevator of Rewards" promotion for the book.
The Humor
This entry is intentionally devoid of jokes. It is a rare moment of unguarded sincerity from Zach, using the comic''s platform to express genuine gratitude. The only hint of the usual SMBC sensibility is the self-aware acknowledgment that he has been pushing the book too hard, and the cheeky P.S. that sneaks in one final marketing plug right after apologizing for all the marketing. Signing off as "Your fan" rather than expecting fans to address him that way is a characteristically humble Weinersmith touch.
References
"Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That''ll Improve and/or Ruin Everything" is a nonfiction book by Zach and Kelly Weinersmith, published on October 17, 2017 (the date of this comic). It covers futuristic technologies including space elevators, asteroid mining, fusion energy, programmable matter, and more. The "Space Elevator of Rewards" is a play on Kickstarter-style reward tiers, themed after one of the book''s chapters.