I had always planned to expand the cast of Robot Friday over time, particularly by introducing family members of the main characters. But as the strip developed its own distinct voice, I realized that adding too many outside influences - especially family - risked diluting the focus on the core cast. Instead, I leaned further into short storylines, using them to flesh out the existing characters and explore where they might be headed. And with Karen now a part of my real life, it felt like the perfect time to introduce a new direction for both the comic and its characters.

From the beginning, Robot Friday had been a quasi-autobiographical comic - a space where I could share my thoughts, experiences, and career journey. Naturally, as my real life evolved, so did the strip. Karen's character was introduced for two key reasons: first, as a way to share my love of comics with the woman who would soon become my wife, and second, to bring a new focus into the strip, business, allowing me to explore entrepreneurial ideas just as I had previously done with my graphic design interests.

Originally, Karen's character was meant to be the highly successful owner of an international chain of strip clubs - a bold and unexpected direction. But after some, shall we say, thoughtful discussion (translation: the real-life Karen absolutely vetoed that idea), I settled on something far more fitting. Instead, she became the creator and owner of her own brand identity, which not only aligned perfectly with the Robot Friday world but also opened the door to fresh new storylines that would shape the comic for years to come.

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