The simplistic style was always an artistic choice (I find a lack of mouths to be inherently funny because... I'm utterly demented, I guess). Also I held back for schedule purposes -- I always planned on going daily, and for that I'd need a style I could pump out every day. Still it didn't really work out. Hugely stressful and time-consuming. So I went back to a three times a week schedule, and since I'm indefinitely sticking to that, why not up the art style. So I did.
Also, thank you, agentarsenic and nemomen, for the kind comments.
I went to take my first look at Pitch Black last week, and this ended up with me going through all your strips in a bulimic fashion. I extremely enjoyed them, and they also came at a time where I was in due need of laughter, so thank you very much for this. As one of your reader said, you have a uncanny talent for unforeseen and surprising punchlines. One of the reason I so enjoyed them was that it was filling my need for strips in the vein of the Perry Bible Fellowship (which I know you know as you dedicated one of your strip to Nicholas Gurewitch). I don't think I can get enough of that kind of humour, and yours is most welcome.
As for your your new art style, I think it's gorgeous and kicking much ass. I do not think, however, that all your strips need to be done in that tone - again, I have the PBF as an example, were the style would switch to accommodate the tone of the story. In your case, for example, I do not think the Witch story especially needs to be done in the complex style, but it surely enhances strips involving the spaceship team and the Admiral of Awesome.