I got my files back and: what actually happened...

On April 1st 2019 around 8 PM CEST my main external harddrive,  where I stored ALL my data, decided to die on me. I briefly mentioned it  on twitter but didn't elaborate further on the matter because honestly,  it was an emotional rollercoaster. This harddrive literally had  everything I've worked on for over 10 years now. Of course the harddrive  wasn't that old itself, the data were migrated several times, but the  harddrive in question was the latest storage device. It held all my  pictures, documents, music and - of course - every render I've ever  made. The entire Giants and the City Multiverse was on the brink of  extinction.

We didn't go down without a fight tho. Stuart Callahan and I fought to the teeth and powerful tech-magic was deployed. I was  lying down underneath my desk, my phone in the one hand and a flashlight  between my teeth, filming what my other hand was doing so Stuart could  direct me, as we tried to circumvent the USB controller we deemed  responsible for the irresponsiveness of the harddrive. Turned out, this  harddrive was the one of 4 model-types who used manufacturer hardware  encryption, so the data couldn't be accessed without the controller. At  some point I couldn't keep myself awake anymore and took a nap, while  Stuart kept on throwing everything he got at the harddrive - alas, to no  avail. The data seemed lost.

Short story  shorter, we finally sent the harddrive to a data recovery company, which  specialiced in restoring encrypted data like this. Unfortunately, those  guys know what's on the line for their customers and their prices  matched the risks. In the end, I paid nearly 1600€ (about 2000$) for  their service, but at last, finally, thank Gandalf, I got my files back.  The package was delivered just now and after a first review, everything  seems to be in order.

Up to this point, I  didn't want to talk about it, I didn't want to think about it, I only  mentioned it on twitter here and there, but with the huge relief and the  massive weight lifted off my chest, I finally can inform you about this  - knowing that there is a somewhat "happy end".

There  are however, some consequences. 2000$ are no joke and to be able to pay  it, I will - unfortunately - have to cut back on the freebie comic.  Don't worry, there will be a freebie comic. But it will be shorter and  only feature Scarlett. I will make up for my promises to feature Sally  and Ashley as determined by the poll, but this will have to wait until  after the next commercial comics have covered the massive, 2000$-shaped  hole in my budget. Please bear with me.