For the first time in the history of this webcomic, I think I’m actually going to miss posting on schedule this week.

I might be wrong, and I might be able to pull it off, but I was waylaid this week by one of those weird 24-hour flu bugs, which thankfully didn’t render any symptoms until after driving back from Santa Barbara Sunday night. I spent most of that night and Monday morning puking out my guts, and then most of Monday sleeping and slowly trying to regain my strength by eating a little bit of toast here, a little bit of banana there.

Those two days lost, in addition to the three prior for vacation, pretty much killed my productivity at a fairly crucial time (you don’t even want to know what obligations related to other business I’m way behind on now). So … you may not see the next installment of The Utopian until Thursday, maybe even Friday.

But the good news? Issue Two of the print collections is coming to your mailbox next week. What? You haven’t pre-ordered your signed copy yet? For shame.

Just a little notebook sketch I found to tide you over as I work on next week’s new Utopian strips. ‘Nuff said.

No, I’m not kidding.

Pre-order The Utopian #2 TODAY ONLY (Nov. 30) for HALF-OFF.

Yes, HALF-OFF. That means $1.50 for the standard or $2.50 for the deluxe version. Come on, you can’t beat that. And they will come to your house SIGNED (by me). You can stay in your underwear.

Do it up, share the link, buy extra for your nephews and neices. CLICK CLICK!

A few weeks ago, I was on Maryland Parkway and stopped in one of my favorite Las Vegas eateries, Yayo Taco, to pick up a few copies of the Rebel Yell issue featuring that lovely profile of yours truly. The manager was curious as to why I stopped in just to pick up the paper, so I explained what I did that earned me a page and a half inside the college newspaper. He suggested I do a release party for the first print issue of The Utopian. At Yayo, of course. I thought about it for a few days, putting out feelers whether there was even an interest. Apparently, there is. And so …

Yeah … the day after we make our (mini) con debut at the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival, we’ll be celebrating The Utopian’s print debut with tacos, tequila and … tormented comic characters at Yayo Taco (4632 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas) at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8. There will be giveaways (comics & swag, natch), $5 Corona buckets and … me. Yep! And it’s free! So tell your friends, come on down, and have a beer with me. I’ll sign your cast or kiss your baby or whatever too. Yayo has the yummiest tacos ever, even vegetarian stuff for non-meat-eaters like me, so make a dinner out of it. Oh, and if you’re on Facebook, please RSVP to the event so Yayo knows for how many of you suckers to accomodate.

But wanted to let you know the first batch of The Utopian #1 has been received and I’ve sent out all the pre-ordered, hand-signed copies today. Here’s what my home studio looked like last night:

Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered the title (which helped pay for the initial print run and supporting materials). If you missed the pre-order, no worries: Visit the “Buy” page, where you can still order the deluxe and standard editions of issue one directly from IndyPlanet. If you want to get signed copies, you’ll need to track me down at a convention. Like maybe the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival on Nov. 7 or Emerald City Comic-Con on March 13 and 14, 2009.

Of course, if you’d prefer to just nix the shipping nonsense and pick one up at your favorite comic shop, please click the image below, print out the coupon and put it in the hands of your local shop owner:

Thank you for your support. Stop back next Wednesday for the start of Part 007, “Odyssey.”