Ctrl+Alt+Del
Author(s)	Tim Buckley
Website	http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/ http://www.cad-comic.com
Update schedule	updates every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Launch date	October 23, 2002
End Date
Genre	Video games
Rating(s)	{{{rating}}}

Ctrl+Alt+Del (CAD) is a gaming-related webcomic written by Tim Buckley, known online as Absath. The name refers to computing's most common three-finger salute, which on Windows systems is control-alt-delete. CAD's tagline is "Tragically l337", a nod to The Tragically Hip. It premiered on October 23, 2002, and is currently updated every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The strip features a pair of gamers, Ethan and Lucas, as the main characters, as well as a Linux user, Scott, and a female gamer, Lilah, also Ethan's girlfriend. Most of the humor in the comic concerns video games, but some is also bred of violence, with more still coming from the strip's randomness. As the comic has progressed, the comic has focussed a lot more on long story arcs instead of smaller, one comic gags (although, comics like this still appear regularly, but generally aren't related to the main characters), which serve to add a sense of continuity and introduce new plot elements. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (625x790, 147 KB)Cartoon parody of attorney Jack Thompson from online webcomic Ctrl-Alt-Del, showing one possible explanation to his obsessive hatred of Video Games. ... The word author has several meanings: The author of a book, story, article or the like, is the person who has written it (or is writing it). ... Tim Buckley is a webcomic artist noted for the Ctrl+Alt+Del webcomic. ... The front page of the English Wikipedia Website. ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The webcomic genres are the types of themes a webcomic can take. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Webcomics, also known as online comics and web comics, are comics that are available on the Internet. ... Tim Buckley is a webcomic artist noted for the Ctrl+Alt+Del webcomic. ... In computing, the three-finger salute is a jocular term for the keyboard combination that forces a soft boot, brings up the process manager (on Windows, BeOS or Mac OS X) or a jump to ROM monitor. ... Microsoft Windows is a series of operating environments and operating systems created by Microsoft for use on personal computers and servers. ... This article is about Control-Alt-Delete, the keyboard shortcut. ... The ELinks web browser, set to Leet language, on the Leet language version of Google. ... The Tragically Hip are a Canadian rock band from Kingston, Ontario, consisting of Gordon Downie (lead vocals), Paul Langlois (guitar), Rob Baker (guitar), Gord Sinclair (bass) and Johnny Fay (drums). ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... 2002 (MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about gamers - persons who play games. ... Tux, a cartoon penguin frequently featured sitting, is the official Linux mascot. ... The term girlfriend is usually used in one of two senses, each implying a kind of intimate friendship: When describing a girl or woman as girlfriend of a heterosexual woman, it is usually used in terms of very close friends. ... Humour (Commonwealth English) or humor (American English) is the ability or quality of people, objects or situations to evoke feelings of amusement in other people. ... Violence refers to acts —typically connotative with aggressive and criminal behaviour —which intend to cause or is causing of injury to persons, animals, or (in limited cases) property. ... It has been suggested that random number be merged into this article or section. ... A story arc is a term in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books and comic strips that refers to a continuing storyline. ...

There are several in-jokes, the most notable concerning arrows. There are several strips in which Ethan is killed (or at least gravely injured) by arrows shot from out of frame [1], [2]. An explanation was finally given in the first collection book (Insert Coin: CAD Volume 1). It's a gag joke taken from a cult classic comedy called The Kentucky Fried Movie. Ironically, the February 28, 2003 strip [3] turned the tables, with Ethan shooting an arrow at and killing Absath, who was present in the comic to discuss the fact that he had drawn 100 Ctrl+Alt+Del strips. An in joke is a joke whose humour is clear only to those people who are in a group that has some prior knowledge (not known by the whole population) that makes the joke humorous. ... The Kentucky Fried Movie is an American comedy film, released in 1977. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Ctrl+Alt+Del also features a post-New Year's holiday dubbed Winter-een-mas [4] [5]. Absath has detailed the holiday: the season lasts all of January, much like the Christmas season, but the actual holiday itself is January 25 to January 31. It was created as a holiday for all things concerning gamers or gaming. Little is told about its traditions, however there are several spirits which represent the different genres of gaming (such as fighting or real-time strategy) who fly around the world on Winter-een-mas Eve in a giant ethereal gamepad [6]. Every year at Winter-een-mas, Ethan dons a crown and proclaims himself king. This page deals with the annual event. ... Winter-een-mas is a week long celebration of video games that lasts from January 25th through January 31st. ... January 25 is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Characters

Main

Ethan

Ethan

A twenty-one year old of Irish descent, somewhat insane game fanatic, amateur artist and sometime alcoholic. His antics are the focus of the strip, and have resulted in many a story arc. He is dating Lilah, to the dismay of some others. He also works as a sales clerk at Game Haven. Various antics of his have included trying to create a device to stop time[7], creating a sentient robot out of his Xbox, getting amnesia and becoming a supporter of Macintosh, and suffering a relapse of an addiction to Everquest. He invented Winter-een-mas. Image File history File links Cad-comic_ethan. ... Image File history File links Cad-comic_ethan. ... Artist is a descriptive term applied to a person who engages in an activity deemed to be an art. ... This article needs cleanup. ... The Macintosh project started in early 1979 with Jef Raskin, an Apple employee, who envisioned an easy-to-use, low-cost computer for the average consumer. ... EverQuest (EQ) is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that was released on March 16, 1999. ... Winter-een-mas is a week long celebration of video games that lasts from January 25th through January 31st. ...

Lucas

Lucas

Twenty-three years old, Lucas is more level-headed and down to Earth than Ethan. He is something of a slacker, prepared to enjoy a good video game over actual work. Cynical and sarcastic, Lucas is a programmer, and works Customer Service at a computer store. He only plays video games on the XBOX console and is responsible for keeping Ethan out of trouble (although he often fails at it). Image File history File links Cad-comic_lucas. ... Image File history File links Cad-comic_lucas. ... For the Richard Linklater movie, see Slacker (movie) The term slacker, in contemporary western culture, applies generally to young people who underachieve at school, work or both. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Cynicism was originally the philosophy of a group of ancient Greeks called the Cynics (main article), founded by Antisthenes. ... Sarcasm is sneering, jesting, or mocking a person, situation or thing. ... A programmer or software developer is someone who programs computers, i. ... The Microsoft Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console first released on November 15, 2001 in North America, then released on February 22, 2002 in Japan, and on March 14, 2002 in Europe. ...

Lilah

Lilah

Smart and attractive, Lilah smashed Ethan's preconception that girls (or at least, pretty ones) don't play video games, after which they began dating. Lilah is twenty-one and her job is unknown. Though calm and responsible, she finds herself strangely drawn to Ethan's character. Online, she is known as "Black_Widow". [8] Image File history File links Cad-comic_lilah. ... Image File history File links Cad-comic_lilah. ...

Scott

Scott

[9] - A twenty-three year old web designer and Linux user, Scott firmly believes that Microsoft is evil and that Linux will someday come into its glory; this is in stark contrast to Ethan, who worships Microsoft. He is quiet, intelligent, and introspective, and a devout practitioner of meditation. He's also referred as a hippy from time to time, including when Ethan asking Scott for protesting advice. He also says such hippy phrases as "Groovy!" and "Yeh man". [10] Interestingly, although Lilah has been mentioned several times around him, Scott has never actually met (or been told about) Lilah. He appears to be working on some unknown project in his room, and at one point had to distract Ethan with desserts to keep it secret. Scott had not been seen for several days after the fire that destroyed their apartment, except looking in the hotel window suspicously. He has since returned, after slipping a real estate listing under the door of the hotel room used by Ethan, Lucas and Lilah, aiding them in finding a new place to live. Currently resides in his bedroom (which mysteriously has a big metal door [11]). This door has been equipped to shock eavesdroppers, such as Ethan. Image File history File links Cad-comic_scott. ... Image File history File links Cad-comic_scott. ... Web design is the design of web pages, websites and web applications. ... Tux, a cartoon penguin frequently featured sitting, is the official Linux mascot. ... Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT, HKEx: 4338) is the worlds largest software company, with 2005 global annual sales of 40 billion US dollars and nearly 60,000 employees in 85 countries and regions. ... Tux, a cartoon penguin frequently featured sitting, is the official Linux mascot. ... According to Bogart (1991) and Perez-De-Albeniz & Holmes (2000) the different techniques of meditation can be classified according to their focus. ...

Zeke

Zeke

Zeke, formerly known as the "Xbot", is a creation of Ethan's, an anthropomorphic Xbox console. It walks, talks, thinks, plays computer games (it was very good at Halo until Ethan handicapped its skills), and was shown in one comic "eating" bandwidth. Image File history File links Cad-comic_zeke. ... Image File history File links Cad-comic_zeke. ... This is a chronological list of robots and androids in literature, television, and cinema. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Microsoft Xbox is a sixth generation era video game console first released on November 15, 2001 in North America, then released on February 22, 2002 in Japan, and on March 14, 2002 in Europe. ... Halos protagonist, the Master Chief. ... Bandwidth is a measure of frequency range. ...

It has previously embarked upon an unsuccessful quest for humanity; but after some bad experiences, Zeke decided it didn't want to be human after all. Ethan, in a bout of pity, named the robot "Zeke" due to the name Ezekiel [12] spray-painted on its "posterior" by one of the humans who beat him, and informed it that he had installed a humanity program in it, though what he had actually installed was a ball of lint (which made him feel warm and fuzzy inside).

Zeke's internal computer has been upgraded with Xbox 360 hardware, however, only his left arm was upgraded to be reminiscent of the 360. The rest of his body is still Xbox casing, as the 360 is smaller than it's predecessor, and Ethan cannot buy another one of the consoles at this early stage of the console's retail. The Xbox 360 is Microsofts successor to their original Xbox, referred to during development as Xenon, Xbox 2, and Xbox Next. ...

Secondary

Ted

Ted [13] is a penguin, a homage to the Linux penguin, Tux. He moved in along with Scott. He enjoys fish and the cold. Ethan and Ted have a deep relationship of mutual hatred although Ted never talks. Genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are an order of flightless birds living in the southern hemisphere. ... The concepts behind Tux, the Linux mascot, were developed in email exchanges on a public mailing list. ... Groups Conodonta Hyperoartia Petromyzontidae (lampreys) Pteraspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Thelodonti Anaspida Cephalaspidomorphi (early jawless fish) Galeaspida Pituriaspida Osteostraci Gnathostomata (jawed vertebrates) Placodermi Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fish) Acanthodii Osteichthyes (bony fish) Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish) Sarcopterygii (lobe-finned fish) Actinistia (coelacanths) Dipnoi (lungfish) A fish is a poikilothermic (cold-blooded) water-dwelling...

Barry

Barry [14] is twenty-six and manages the Game Haven where Ethan works. Though goal-driven, he is very easy-going. He is perpetually in a good mood, because he is living his lifelong dream to run a video game store. Goal is a graffiti artist who is a member of the crew 1134 http://en. ...

Rob

Rob is a nineteen-year-old Counter-Strike enthusiast. Ethan, Lucas and Lilah all despise him because all he does is talk about Counter-Strike, with constant "you-had-to-be-there" tales. Other characters lament that Rob has not realized that he is an annoyance, despite having been told on several occasions. Counter-Strike (CS) is a popular team-based mod of Valves first-person shooter (FPS) Half-Life. ... Counter-Strike (CS) is a popular team-based mod of Valves first-person shooter (FPS) Half-Life. ...

Chef Brian

Chef Brian [15] represents the surreal side of the comic (similar to Twisp & Catsby in Penny Arcade). With no backstory, his appearances consist of nonsensical ramblings over separate subjects. Chef Brian was the end result (as Buckley explains in Insert Coin: Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume One) of too much alcohol and a deadline, though some sources state that the character is based on Brian Carroll, author of the webcomic, Instant Classic. The word 'pancake' shows up many times in his comics. Penny Arcade is a webcomic written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. ...

Players 1, 2 and 3

A subcomic which focuses on three generic gamers (colored blue, red and yellow), and related gamer and gaming ettiquette, often ending with the gruesome demise of one of the Players.

Emma

A serial killer/robber who dated Lucas. Was fired after refusing to help Ethan. After Lucas became suspicious of her, she revealed that she was trying to kill him and plotting to forge his will to take his money. Emma thought that Lucas inherited $700,000 from his uncle, though in reality Lucas didn't inherit anything from anybody; Lucas was a mistaken target. Zeke prevented her from killing anyone, and she is now in jail. [16]

Ace

Emma's real boyfriend, and partner in crime. He posed as a skydiving instructor in order to help her kill Lucas, but a hired goon Gord stuffed it up. He is now in jail along with Emma.

Ashley

Ashley [17] dated Lucas after hitting him with her car. Became obsessive and stalked him. Lucas filed a restraining order against her and she hasn't been seen since.

Sara

Sara [18] dated Ethan in the original strips for an undisclosed amount of time. Dumped Ethan after being neglected for video games.

Vodka Bottle

Flying bottle of Vodka. This is Ethan's best friend in alcohol-related times. The vodka bottle flies beside the drunken Ethan and reminds him of the reasons he's drinking, often taunting him to drink a bit more. This character made many appearances in the earlier strips, after Ethan and Sara split up.Comic October,15, 2002 Look up Vodka in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Vodka is a strong, clear, typically colorless liquor, usually distilled from fermented grain. ...

Mickey

Lucas' boss. He is described by Lucas as "an Elitist Bastard" and doesn't deny it. In fact, he's proud of it. He hates Macs, AOL, and stupid people.

Christian

Christian [19] was Lilah's boyfriend before Ethan. This is odd because he's the exact opposite of Ethan. He is extremely wealthy and thinks he's the best there is because of it. He considers videogames to be silly and thinks that the people who play them are simpletons. Lilah left him [20] because she found out he was cheating on her and the fact that he gave her no respect in general. He makes an appearance in the strip for a couple weeks but promptly leaves after an incident outside Lilah's apartment where he tries to bribe Ethan into leaving Lilah for $5000. Ethan then proceeds to punch Christian in the face so hard he breaks his hand. Christian hasn't been seen in the strip since. He was on the comic from April 23, 2004 through May 12, 2004. April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Josh

An impostor king of Winter-een-mas. When Ethan heard about Josh he went into a rage, snuck into the TV studio where Josh was being interviewed and promptly defeated him, proving once and for all on national TV that Ethan is the true king of Winter-een-mas.[21]

Faceless corporate executive

All that is known about him is that he is plotting to take over Winter-een-mas. He has been unsuccessful with sending out Josh in 2005 but plans to do better in 2006.[22]

Collections

• Currently, Tim has announced that pre-orders of Volumes 1 and 2 are now shipping.
• The 460 pre-order Collector's Editions Hard Cover Volumes 1 and 2 sold out within 24 hours after technical difficulties with Canada Post.

Insert Coin: Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume One

• In early 2004, Buckley announced plans for a collection book of approximately the first year of strips from CAD. The book, along with the strips, features added commentary below every comic, along with several pages of bonus material.
• ISBN 0974696641

2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Press Start: Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume Two

• In June 2005, pre-orders for volume two were announced.
• A collection book of most of the second year of strips from CAD.

Sources

• Buckley, Tim (2004). Ctrl+Alt+Del Volume 1: Insert Coin, Believed to be Zestuff. 0974696641.

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Ctrl Alt Del (webcomic)

• Ctrl+Alt+Del
• Tim Buckley's Journal
• Official Winter-een-mas site