Thanks to my over-crowded brain, we missed a few YES, MOTHER updates (I thought I’d set ‘em to go up automatically but that’s not, in fact, what happened at all).

To make it up to you, here are the next three pages! Previous pages are here.

Previous pages are here.

Remember, it’s the artistic brilliance of Sami Makkonen on this one.

Allow me to first introduce myself. My name is Dwight L. MacPherson and I am a single father of three boys, disabled Army veteran and published creator/writer/editor of funny books and–obviously–the newest member of this brilliant webcomic collective known as The Chemistry Set.

I would like to thank the current members for their interest in my webcomic The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo–as well as their faith in me. After all, you never quite know what to expect when you invite new members into a preexistent, established team.

Now, dear reader, to you.

Here is what has been said thus far about The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo:

“[The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo is] A brilliant fantasy epic on par with Mouse Guard.” - Broken Frontier

“I’ve seen enough to convince me to buy it.” – Kurt Busiek (Creator of Astro City)

“I’ll be picking this one up for sure.” -Steve Niles (Creator 30 Days of Night)

As you may or may not know, the first volume of The Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo will be published by Image’s Shadowline imprint and hit comic and bookshops this coming Wednesday, August 15th. Pre-order numbers were exceptional, so there will definitely be future adventures.

The reason I’m telling you about the graphic novel is to say this: we won’t let you down. Updates will be made every Saturday, rain or shine, sickness or health. We have 96 completed episodes ready to go–and new pages being completed as I type this. Make no mistake… this is an epic adventure, so we hope you are prepared for a long, eventful, magical journey.

So put on your favorite safari hat, grab your walking stick and prepare to join the adventure September 8th!

-Dwight L. MacPherson

It was one year ago yesterday that we all started this grand collaborative experiment in online comics. We’ve had some growing pains along the way, a lot of stops and starts, comings and goings… but also a lot of success.

Over the past year, the majority of our members have seen their work — ChemSet or otherwise — published in anthologies like NEGATIVE BURN (Chris Arrant, Jim Dougan with Eric Kim & Hyeondo Park and Elizabeth Genco with Sami Makkonen), the SLG Anthology: TOO STUPID TO QUIT, TOO MEAN TO DIE (Neil Kleid with Dan Warner), Image Comics’ 24SEVEN 2 anthology (Chris Arrant with Tom Williams) and the new Villard anthology series POSTCARDS: TRUE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED (Neil Kleid). In the coming year, expect even bigger announcements.

By and large, we’ve been very successful, which can be both a blessing and a curse. As a result, several stories, STUCK and TODT HILL, are on indefinite hiatus, and some of our other stories are awaiting new artists.

But you know us: the chemistry between collaborators is irresistible, and starting in the fall, fresh new creators and wild new stories will be joining the fold here at the ChemSet.

• Andrew Foley, creator of PARTING WAYS and DONE TO DEATH, is bringing his new serial, AS REAL AS MONSTERS, to our lineup very soon;
• Stacey Garratt, a talented filmmaker and up-and-coming comic writer, will be starting a new project on the ChemSet in the coming months;
• Dwight MacPherson’s popular SURREAL ADVENTURES OF EDGAR ALLEN POO joins us starting next month;
• Vito Delsante will be unveiling THE DOBERMAN, a harrowing World War II-era adventure strip;
• Steven Goldman will be premiering new STYX TAXI stories as well as other new work;
• More of Elizabeth Genco’s SCHEHERAZADE, including the continuing Tattered Coat;
• And a few more creators we can’t announce just yet

We hope you’ll continue checking us out throughout our second year. Thanks for all of your support.

-Vito Delsante (co-founder)

You Are Now Leaving TODT HILL.

We now conclude the second episode of TODT HILL by Misters Kleid and
Colden. Unfortunately, for the time being, we must also say goodbye to
the Tompkins family, our mysterious zombies, Smiling Jack’s fish cakes
and our missing pirate gold.

You see, with the close of “issue two” Kevin and I are taking a hiatus
from working on TODT HILL and the Chemistry Set. It isn’t for
nefarious reasons or falling out with our fellow ChemSet corporate
sponsors… it’s all for good, good reasons. Kevin, as most of you
know, was lucky enough to join me in the ranks of Xeric grant winners
for his graphic novel, FISHTOWN, currently serializing at ACT-I-VATE.
That said, Kev is taking the time needed to put all of his focus into
that endeavor and I wish him the best of luck. I, in the meantime,
need the break to finish a number of projects that will be hitting
your eyes and bookshelves and computer screens during the course of
2008 and 2009. Projects like THE BIG KAHN, my next graphic novel from
NBM; STARSTRUCK, a serialized online graphic novel for a big time
website; POP!, a mini-series I’m co-writing for IDW Publishing; and
MIGDAL DAVID, my next cartoon book, coming in ‘08-’09 from Seraphic
Press.

Basically, we’re busy. And unfortunately to work on Project A, Project
X has to take a back seat and today (just today, mind you, if “today”
means “an indefinite amount of time”) Project X is TODT HILL. Both
Kevin and I still believe in this project and I’ve mapped out the
treasure hunt from start to finish but it’s going to have to wait.

We’re sure that our Friday slot will be filled up soon with another
amazing team and another gripping tale and we wish our fellow
Chemsetters the best of luck.

Thanks for letting us tell some of our tale and thanks to all our pals
here at the Chemistry Set for asking us to come along. Thanks to Kevin
for the amazing work he’s done on TODT HILL - you’re at the start of a
great, great career, dude, and I’m glad I get to work with you now
before you’re too stuck up to talk to me. Most of all, thanks to you,
Constant Reader - without you, what’s the point? Kevin and I hope you
follow us to our future works wherever and whatever they might be.

Yo ho and all that piratey jazz.

Neil Kleid

———

It’s been a very full and rewarding year here at ChemSet. Since last August, I’ve been fortunate enough to have reached a much wider audience than ever before, worked with many new and wonderful people, and was even recognized with a Xeric Grant.

As Neil said (much more eloquently) we’re both fortunate enough to have a number of projects on our respective plates. Unfortunately, that means that we have to put Todt Hill to bed for the moment.

It’s been wonderful working from Neil’s great scripts and having the opportunity to work with the entire ChemSet crew.

More importantly though, I want to sincerely thank all of our readers for checking us out over our run so far. You are why we do this. Sure drawing it is fun, but without a readership, we’re just a tree falling in a lonely forest. Thank you times ten. You are what makes serialized digital comics work.

Arr,

Kev