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.”