I am here to declare my return from the glorious vacation that was Magnolia’s internship. She did a lovely job, and now I don’t know where anything is. But that’s ok! Kris has gone to San Diego, so I’ll just reorganize everything the way I like it. Win-win for everyone, no?

First up, some updates about product. The Seas Are Packed t-shirts arrived and any solo orders for them have left the building! If you happened to order something else with the shirt, it may still be waiting to be shipped. The shirts arrived the day before Kris left, and without him here to sign books and do Artist Editions, it leaves me a bit stunted on what I’m able to get out the door. The Chainsawsuit books have just arrived today, but as Kris is in San Diego, they won’t leave the house until he can return and sign them. But they look great! And many Volume 2 orders have now also left the building! If you ordered your Volume 2 with Chainsawsuit, it will go out once Kris returns.

And now onto more exciting news! Kris and I are both launching huge “projects” the week of his return. Remember when Kris joked about wanting to have five webcomics, and earn the title of the hardest working man in the biz? Well he wasn’t kidding. His new comic will launch upon his return. Here’s a little sneak preview. F Chords.

My project is a bit different. Learn more about it and follow my journey here.

I want to thank all of you again for your support. Kris and I both know how lucky we are to be able to get by doing what we love.

If you’re headed to San Diego this weekend, be sure to stop by Kris’s booth and ask for a sample of his new webcomic that he hasn’t told anyone about. I happened to notice that he made a few photocopies……

I wanted to apologize to the guys at Star Pirates — my ad server has been collapsing for the past two weeks, and they’ve been more than good to me. Their ad was supposed to run last Monday and today, and it only just now went up. I don’t think it’s overstating it that SP has rejuvenated my reader base and galvanized them into action. Check out my forums, they’re loaded with Star Pirates planning fleet battles.

What is Star Pirates? It’s a browser-based MMO that’s totally free to play, with a big and active community of players. You can log in from anywhere — home, work, the moon. Customize your ship, research weapons and shields, raid asteroid fields, fight other players and raid their valuable cargo, or join a fleet and declare war on an entire other fleet! The fleet wars concept is pretty exciting — when a war starts, the fleets themselves are given a computed HP. It’s like two titans going at it. Last time we had a war, a lot of Terran Astry players were in IRC at the same time, chatting and planning skirmishes. It was pretty fun.

I’m going to be offline for about a week while I handle the fleet battle that is San Diego Comic-Con, but if there are any Star Pirates in SD, stop on by booth 2107. As for the curious, check out the game now and show SP some serious love. I like it enough to make it the official MMO of Starslip Crisis!

Despite scrambling for San Diego Comic-Con, I’m releasing my third album, Aviators Hide The Tears right now.

You demanded aural greatness. You just got way more than you bargained for. 30 minutes of music ripped from the headlines, from the Slipcast theme, to victrola porn and other skits, to more new themes written for cartoonists like David Malki, PVP and Penny Arcade. Includes the two themes for Paint The Line 2! (Parental warning: some explicit language.)

Plus, your download includes a PDF booklet with selected lyrics and a new introduction by Will Hafner, Straub scholar emeritus from Harvard University. (When you purchase you will be sent a download link within 24 hours.) Not convinced? Look into my sunglasses and take a listen.

Looks like this bird came home to roost a little early. I’m also running a special: buy all three albums and get $5 off. If you haven’t bought them yet, take aim and make the shot.

The aviators and I will see you in San Diego at booth 2107. Rock.

The Seas are Just Packed shirts are supposed to arrive here in Dallas on Monday, and I fly out Tuesday, which is cutting it really close. However those are the only ones I planned to bring. (Even if they get here Wednesday, Erica can overnight me a batch so I’ll have them for con weekend.)

If you’re coming to San Diego and want to buy either a Lincoln Shot First or Space Pirate T-shirt, post here before this coming Monday. Remember to include sizes and I’ll pack just those sizes that you request.