I know, I’m an ass for leaving you hanging here for a week and a half, but won’t it make you come back? IT WILL.

So, yeah, hiatus until Dec. 9. While you’re gorging yourself on turkey and whatnot, you might want to consider pre-ordering the next issue of The Utopian. Why? Well, how about brand-new cover art by me and Stephen Downer:

Yeah. And that’s just the “Standard” version. We have one more coming.

See you!

One more page to go in this chapter, people. I know, it’s been a long one. Why do you think I need a break?!

In case you missed it, pre-orders are now open for both the second issue of The Utopian (shipping Jan. 13) and the first issue of Omega Comics Presents (shipping Feb. 10). I just got the art for the third story in OCP #1, and let me tell you, not only will this entire issue be awesome sauce, but the other stories are making my contribution look weak by comparison. Yes, that’s a terrible way to sell my work to you. What can I say? BUY IT AND FIND OUT.

Also: If you want to spread the word, here’s a handy flier for you to post on your Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, Doodlr, Pootr, or whatever:

As much as you guys don’t like it and I hate doing it, The Utopian will be on hiatus again, starting Thanksgiving. We should be back either Dec. 4 or Dec. 9 with Part 008 of this saga, “Reborn.” But don’t worry: We still have three more strips before then, so you won’t be jonesing going into the holiday.

The hiatus is multi-fold: First, there’s the usual chapter ending break I need to get caught up. But also, my parents will be staying with us for a few weeks and I need to free up some time for them. As well, we’re getting into final prep for the second print issue of The Utopian, which is, believe it or not, coming out in less than two months (you bought the first one, RIGHT?).

As a matter of fact, the winter 2010 schedule from Pop! Goes the Icon is now live on the website, so go check out what other goodies are coming. I’ve been diligently at work pulling double duty as editor and partial creator for Omega Comics Presents, so that’s also sucking away some time, but it is gonna be awesome.

In the meantime, you have about 10 days left to get in your LETTERS for the second issue of The Utopian. For reals, kids.

Hi there. Sorry, I know some of you get up at the crack of dawn to read this stuff right at 7 a.m., but even though the page was done days ago, I didn’t have time to post it until now. It may be because I was drinking last night at an event and passed out pretty quickly after I got home. Maybe.

Anyway, for those of you who missed either the Utopian release party last Sunday or the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival on Saturday, I have a few things for you: First, I have like three copies each of the standard and deluxe editions of The Utopian #1 signed by myself and their respective cover artists. If you want to buy a copy direct from me, click here NOW, because these aren’t going to hang out long. Also, photos from both events have been posted on Facebook, so if you’re not following Pop! Goes the Icon over there, well, get on it.

By popular demand, it’s the return of the school newspaper office!

OK, not really.

I’m posting this after midnight the night of the release party for the first print issue of The Utopian. We had a great time taking over Yayo Taco for beer, tequila and tacos. I’m pretty pooped, but you should go check out the photos over on the Pop! Goes the Icon Facebook page, and while you’re there, become a fan. YEAH!

I have a few leftover copies of the issue signed by Hernan Valencia, Mark T. Zeilman and yours truly. If you’re interested in getting your hands on a copy, please e-mail me and I’ll see what I can do to make it happen.

OMG YOU GUYS: Tomorrow’s the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival! I know I’ve been drilling this into you for MONTHS now, but come on, this will be cool! I will be out there at the Clark County Library from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with my boys Hernan Valencia and Mark Zeilman to sell stuff, sign stuff and schmooze it up. Come down! It’s free! And it’s the only place you can get this badass 11×17 poster by Hernan:

Heck yeah! If you bought a copy of The Utopian #1 in print*, you’ve seen this at a small scale already, but not in large, glossy glory! And Hernan will even rub his paws all over it for you.

And don’t forget about the issue release party on Sunday. Good times, people, good times!

*If you haven’t, you suck and must redeem yourself by clicking here.

Yes, I am officially posing more questions than answers. This should keep you around for a while. And while I am posting this a good nine days ahead of schedule, I’m running out of page layouts from my catch-up jaunt afforded by my recent Orlando trip. So I may need to slow down and draw the next couple of pages before I get behind again. But the good news is that I actually have fully plotted out the next ten or so pages (as opposed to the loose “in this chapter, stuff happens” writing I usually do), so … yeah, this is only news to me.

Either way, if you’re reading this, it must be at least Nov. 4, which means you’re all geared up for coming to see me at the Vegas Valley Comic Book Festival on Saturday, right? And if that’s not enough for you, I’m doing the Utopian issue release party at Yayo Taco on Sunday. You really can’t miss either way.

This is the most fun page I’ve ever drawn. I was literally smiling the whole time I inked it.

Fun and weird stuff is coming, kids. I’d better be careful, or else we’ll lose our standing as “America’s Most Emo Comic Strip.”

Also, if you want to read the never-before-seen four-page story that inspired the Utopian, well, there is only one place to do so.

I know I’m going to get asked this: “What does the text message say, Pj — don’t you know we can’t read that on our tiny little computer monitors?”

What, you can’t read 3-pt. text condensed to 72 dpi?

It reads “Student’s body found in lot across street – come see me!” I was going to leave it partially unreadable and ambiguous, but I’ve been accused (subtly) in recent days of not being clear enough with my narrative, so there you go.

Though things are going to get real unclear starting … Friday. Look out.

Oh, Sean, you just couldn’t wait to pounce on that juicy bit of gossip, could you?

You know, when I started this thing, I was very careful to keep scenes restricted to two pages max, so that in any given week, you had a complete piece of the story to digest. But as the story has developed, it’s become harder to do so. I’m going to try in the future, really, to get the online presentation a bit more streamlined again. But not for at least the next 10 pages. Sorry.