Valve Concludes Team Fortress 2 Webcomic After Seven-Year Hiatus

Valve has finally released the long-awaited final issue of Team Fortress 2's webcomic, marking the end of a storyline that fans have been following for over a decade. This update, which comes after a staggering seven-year gap, offers closure to one of the most beloved components of Team Fortress 2 lore.

A Comic Series Decades in the Making

Initially, the Team Fortress 2 webcomics served as tie-ins for major game updates, such as the Scream Fortress events, while also adding bits of lore to the game's world. However, in 2013, Valve embarked on a more ambitious project: a long-form story arc titled Team Fortress Comics. This series delved deep into the lives and backstories of the playable mercenaries, even incorporating characters from the original Team Fortress game.

Despite its strong start, the comic series faced numerous delays. After the release of Issue #6 in 2017, the project entered a prolonged hiatus, with no clear timeline for its conclusion. The departure of lead writer Erik Wolpaw from Valve during this period only added to fans' uncertainty.

The Return and Final Issue

Fans were pleasantly surprised in July 2024 when Valve writer Jay Pinkerton announced that the comic series would return to wrap up its story. On December 20, 2024, Valve delivered on that promise, releasing the seventh and final installment, The Days Have Worn Away. The issue picks up directly from the cliffhanger ending of Issue #6, resolving key storylines that had remained dormant for years.

Key plotlines tied up in the final issue include:

• Scout's crush on Ms. Pauling
• The Administrator's mysterious history with the Mann family
• Soldier's romance with Zhanna

Fans can read the final comic on the Team Fortress 2 official website.

A Bittersweet Farewell

The final issue provides closure to the Team Fortress 2 lore, offering a heartfelt conclusion to the characters' arcs. A time skip shows where the iconic mercenaries have ended up in the future, with many of them settling down and achieving happy endings. In a touching moment, the comic's closing pages break the fourth wall, thanking readers for their dedication over the years.

The release was met with overwhelming praise from fans, many of whom expressed disbelief that the comic had survived years of development limbo. The dedication at the start of the comic to Rick May, the voice actor of Soldier who passed away in 2020, brought tears to many readers. Fans celebrated the long-awaited conclusion, calling it the perfect way to close out the story, especially during the holiday season.

A Legacy Worth Remembering

With the release of The Days Have Worn Away, Valve has not only provided closure to the Team Fortress 2 webcomic but also honored the legacy of a game that continues to resonate with its community. For many, this final comic feels like a heartfelt goodbye, not just to the story, but to an era of gaming.