Something about Tori’s final official heartstopper comic appearance being one defined by pure, intense joy makes me tear up because I feel like it shows the evolution of her character.
Her story started as a sad, isolated teenage girl who hated herself, her environment and the people in it. She was so empathetic that other people sadness made her own worse, and so she asked 'why are there no happy people?' in 'Solitaire' since school and its misery effected everyone around her too. But a year and a half after the events of Solitaire we have this panel. Tori is sitting with her friends at university and has an outburst in the library. At school, Tori felt alienated from everyone in her own friend group, but then she came to uni and found her own people. What's more, she's doesn't feel obligated to put on a front in the presence of her new friends, whereas in 'Solitaire', Michael explicitly says that the two of them have to put on a pretence to appear 'normal' like a 'posh suit for dinner', But in this scene Tori allows herself to fully feel and display her emotions and is completely unapologetic about it. Also, her established empathy from 'Solitaire' let's her be happy for Michael's success here. What could have been her 'weakness' in Solitaire (empathy) became a source of joy for her. Moreover, Michael, the person who she was so reluctant to form a relationship with ended up being the person who brought her so much joy in multiple ways. This entire panel completely contrasts to Tori's depression, alienation and reservation at the beginning of 'Solitaire' and it is so beautiful to have seen her evolve- even if only in snippets throughout the comic.
I know Alice Oseman probably didn’t intend for this one short scene to be analysed like this, but what I am trying to say is that finally, at the end of heartstopper, Tori spring is happy. And it makes me that much more hopeful about my own future after school.
The Heartstopper webcomic’s first update dropped on September 1st 2016. Today, on April 11th 2026, the story has concluded.
I don’t quite know how to put all of my feelings into one letter. Heartstopper means more to me than words can express, but I’ll try my best.
Heartstopper has defined the past decade of my life. It started as a fun side project and quickly grew into something much bigger, eventually becoming my career. Despite that huge and unexpected change, making the Heartstopper comic feels the same to me as it did on day one. When I sit down to make Heartstopper, I feel at peace. When the world feels so scary and difficult, I have been able to return to Heartstopper, and everything feels okay again for a little while.
Nick and Charlie first appeared as supporting characters in my first novel, ‘Solitaire’. In Solitaire, Nick and Charlie represent the idea that hope, love, joy and connection can persist and thrive despite the trials and tribulations of being alive. So maybe it’s ironic that Nick and Charlie have come to represent this in my own life. They have brought me joy. They have given me purpose. They have given me everything, really. And I’m so grateful for every moment I have spent with them.
Heartstopper is profoundly special to me. Which makes it extremely hard to say goodbye.
But it is time. I always knew that Nick going to university would be the end point of the story. And despite how sad I am to be bidding farewell to these characters, I am so, so proud and excited to have made it to the end and concluded the story exactly the way I wanted to.
Any webcomic creator can tell you that making a webcomic requires a heavy amount of determination and endurance. To draw a page almost every day for the past ten years has required a lot of sacrifice and a lot of energy. But every moment was worth it. And now that it is complete, Nick and Charlie’s story can be experienced from beginning to end, for the rest of forever.
I wouldn’t have made it here alone. From the very start, Heartstopper’s readers have offered so much support, love, community, conversation, and enthusiasm. Knowing that there are people out there who love these characters just like I do has given me the strength to keep going. I’ve also had the support of many colleagues, friends, and family members, who’ve all helped in different ways at various points in the past decade. Thank you so, so much to everyone who has been here for the journey.
I have no idea what I’ll make next. For now, I’m taking a break. And I know that Nick and Charlie won’t simply vanish. I expect I will always return to drawing them and writing about them, probably in smaller ways, for the rest of my life, as long as my body allows.
Nick and Charlie will forever be in my heart, hand in hand on a beach somewhere.
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