The Day After Launch
So it’s the day after From Parts Unknown finally hit shelves, and I’m feeling incredible. It was a whirlwind day - I actually went around to about five stores in the Toronto area just to see the book on shelves, shake hands with the retailers, and say thank you for your support. It was a great experience.
I know Wednesday is the busiest day at comic shops, and when I’ve been doing the Pesto Comics Road Show, I’ve made a point not to visit on Wednesdays. I always make sure not to get in the way of sales - but this one time, I had to see the books on shelves.
Release Day Road Show
So I made a few stops. I started my day at the Silver Snail, which was a little funny because they actually held the book back from the shelves. They’ve ordered dozens and dozens of copies and will be handing them out on Free Comic Book Day - so the thinking was, don’t put them on the shelves if we’re giving them out on Saturday.
So our first stop was less about seeing the book on shelves and more about confirming that the plans for Free Comic Book Day are in place. I’ll be there Saturday signing books and handing out copies of From Parts Unknown, which is going to be a lot of fun.
I also went to Heroes World, where I signed every copy on the shelf. So if you go to Heroes World, you’re getting a signed copy - we used all different kinds of markers and pens and signed in different places, so every book is a little unique. If you’re in Richmond Hill, Heroes World is a great place to go.
I also stopped into Gotham Central, where I finally got to meet Carlos and Clara, the owners, in person. They’re very warm and friendly - it felt like I’d known them the whole time. They made me feel like I belonged, and I had just met them that day. I will definitely be back. There are actually events there that I’m already looking forward to.
And then of course I went to what feels like a secret comic book shop. If you’re familiar with Toronto at all, there’s a BMV in the Annex - it’s a huge three-floor book outlet, and on the third floor is a full comic shop. New releases, incredible deals on backlist items and trades, including From Parts Unknown with a really good discount. The owners are super friendly too.
And then, of course, I saved the best for last: my LCS, Knowhere Comics in the Stockyards. I walked in and felt like an absolute rock star. The staff had all picked up copies of the book and I signed every one of them. They’ve already pre-ordered issue two - which you should do as well if you enjoyed the first issue, because FOC is Monday, May 4th. Being able to walk in, sign the books, and feel that love from a shop I’ve been going to for years... seeing my book on the shelf next to the Flash, next to Batman, next to all the Image books - it just felt real.
The Oscar Speech
The truth of all of this is it’s just step one of many. This is issue one of five of From Parts Unknown, and then there are books coming after that, and after that. We have plans for a second series. We have Crimson Frontier - our western set on Mars, with the same team - coming out in between series one and two. This is something we’re going to keep rolling.
Seeing the excitement and how well the first issue is doing is very comforting. You just never know how it’s going to go - it’s all a shot in the dark. And to see that this shot in the dark hit something... it paid off. It’s super, super comforting.
And to that end, I’m going to do my quasi Oscar speech and thank a few people.
The Team
Daniel Caval - I have been throwing all kinds of weird stuff at him, not just with From Parts Unknown but everything we’ve been working on. And he’s been game for all of it. He’s ended up being a great partner. There are covers he’s done for Snip, one coming for Naked Kaiju Woman - a lot of cool things we’ve been doing together, and a lot more to come.
JP - JP has become the colorist of Pesto Comics. He does nearly every book, and what I really appreciate is that he does something unique with each one. If I didn’t tell you that JP colored Snip, From Parts Unknown, Naked Kaiju Woman, Crimson Frontier, and a handful of others coming soon, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell - his style is so adaptable, it suits whatever story we’re telling. That’s a true professional. And not only that, he’s kept me in check more than once when I’m ready to say “it’s fine” - and he’s the reason we get to the quality we get to.
Travis - Travis is a new entry to the team. The version of From Parts Unknown you see on shelves is a little different than the one from two years ago. I was doing production design, and I am not a production designer by trade. Travis has surely shown that, because the book he put together just feels like it belongs on the shelf next to everything else.
Prana - The folks at Prana - Adam, Keith, Megan, Blake, Gabe, and everyone else - the books don’t hit shelves without them. I really want to thank everyone at Prana, and I hope this is a long and fruitful relationship. This is just the beginning.
The Retailers
I’m limited by travel and by time, so I can’t visit every store in one day - but I’m going to keep doing the Pesto Comics Road Show for the foreseeable future, whether shops ordered the books or not.
There are shops that supported me long before we ever officially got on store shelves, and I appreciate them. One in particular: Wayside Comics and Cocktails in Newmarket. I didn’t make it on the Road Show and I regret it. Omar the owner, Jordan who hosts the podcast, and everyone else there - I really appreciate you folks. I’ll definitely make it up and buy a beer. Wayside was one of the first stores to jump on board early, put books on the spinner rack straight from Kickstarter, and really helped me build the confidence to get where we are today.
And there are so many others: Pendragon Comics in Etobicoke, Freak Show Comics in Niagara Falls, Mostly Comics in St. Catharines, Worlds Collide in Oshawa, Heroic Dreams in Pickering, Planet X in the Beaches and Richmond Hill, Cyber City Comix in North York, and The Beguiling in Toronto - and there are even more that I still have to visit.
The Foundation
My brother David - he’s been a supporter since before day one. The reason From Parts Unknown even exists is because of him. He was there at the earliest iterations, when it was just an idea about pro wrestlers and mystical beings. He’s supported every single campaign, and he tries to be the number one backer every time. David, if you’re listening - thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
My wife & partner Lisa - unlike David, Lisa didn’t know this was a real thing until I was shipping books out for Unlimited Udo. I held her opinion in very high regard, and honestly, if she had said “maybe find something else to do with your time,” it would have crushed me. So there’s been an ongoing joke about me running a secret business in the basement. But ever since I let her in on it, she’s been nothing but supportive - with me on every stop of the Road Show, making sure everything looks great. And we’re actually going to be bringing her into the fold with Pesto Comics, because there are a couple of cool ideas we’re going to be able to do together.
Danon Hennessy - he was the first one to step up and say yes, I will waste my weekend sitting next to you at a convention table. That convention didn’t go great - it was quiet and slow - but we came up with a really cool idea while we were there, which is the trading card game we’re working on together now. He’s been there with me at TCAF, been one of my best friends since film school, and has supported every campaign. I truly appreciate it.
The Fans
None of this happens without you - the folks who’ve been following Pesto Comics on Substack, YouTube, Instagram, or wherever you found us. I appreciate each and every one of you. I appreciate those who have been around campaign to campaign, and those who have both backed every campaign and gone to their store to pick up copies. I really, really appreciate you.
I wish I had better words to say how much it means that you’ve continued to support me as I’ve made mistakes along the way - books not getting out exactly right, books falling apart (Paul, I’m sorry about Big Smoke Pulp) - just me learning as I go. We started Pesto Comics in 2023. It hasn’t been around that long. But we’ve grown so much, and it’s thanks to folks like you who are the foundation of everything that we do.
I want to keep giving you awesome stories, getting incredible artists involved, expanding the team, and finding ways to do things better. I want you to get comics that don’t exist anywhere else - until Pesto Comics creates them.
Back to Reality
I’m still feeling the glow. It’s even made Pick of the Week a few times, including at my LCS, which I absolutely love.
But this is a high that won’t last. The reality of making comic books is going to hit me hard and fast - I’m celebrating issue one, and I already have to get the metadata and solicits in for issue four. No win lasts that long. You get back to work.
We’re also prepping Naked Kaiju Woman #3 for Kickstarter, and I’m working with Daniel on Crimson Frontier to get it on Kickstarter this summer and on shelves in 2027. All of this while juggling a full-time job. I’m getting this video in on my lunch break.
I just want to bask in this as long as I can - and I hope you get to as well. This is your win too. However you found us, I’m glad you’re here. It’s going to be a wild ride, and we’ll continue it next Thursday. Thank you for being here.
