If you’re asking yourself who “Ryan” is, perhaps you might want to take a moment. Or two. Or three?

Please allow me to be sappy for a moment. I promise it won’t take up too much of your time.

First of all, this is the end of Chapter Nine.  Friday starts Chapter Ten, which is also our Season finale story arc. After that ends, there will be a week (or two) of awesome guest comics and then we begin with Season Two. I’m so so excited.

One year ago, I started this comic.  One whole year. I can’t believe it.  It seems as though no time has passed since I first drew Mot and Clue and yet looking over some of the archive today, it feels like a century ago.  Like they’ve been here all along.

This is the first time that I’ve grown to care about the characters I’ve created and it’s really a wonderful feeling.  And what’s better?  Many of you have grown to care for them too, getting emotionally invested in their black and white little lives.  Which is why I thank YOU, because you are part of the reason why I continue to do this.  Thank you to those of you who have been with us for the beginning and those of you who are just finding the comic.

I feel as though I’ve grown as a storyteller and an artist and we can only go up from here. I still have a lot of growing to do and, let’s face it, so does our cast of characters. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re at one hundred and fifty six comics and yet I barely feel like we’ve begun.

So enjoy the end of this chapter today and get ready for Friday.

Because like I said, we’re barely begun.