News

Owosso Taco House ‘immortalized' in comic book

By GARY WEBSTER Argus-Press Education Editor

Monday, May 12, 2008 10:00 AM EDT

OWOSSO - Owosso Taco House is being “immortalized” in a comic book.

Owosso Taco House Funnies No. 1 goes on sale today with a premiere party from 1-6 p.m. at the landmark Owosso eating establishment, located at 907 W. Main St.

The comic book is “a celebration of local artists paying tribute to ... Owosso Taco House, bringing together a number of mid-Michigan artists and writers to not only showcase their talents, but to also pay homage to and immortalizing the place that initially brought them all together ... and fed them in the process,” according to co-producer Joe “Tornado” Toth, past proprietor of The Comic Stop in Owosso.

Arrow Comics of Flint, in conjunction with Sisters Comics, named after Toth's daughters, Layne, 11, and Peri, 7, of East Lansing, are jointly producing Owosso Taco House Funnies No. 1. The Toth sisters have appeared in several publications, including Owosso Taco House Funnies No. 1.

Carrying the banner headline Comics With Extra Cheese!, Owosso Taco House Funnies No. 1 features short stories of Sisters Comics' See-Thru-Baby, Scribble Monster and Lucky the One-Eyed Stray Dog, as well as Arrow Comics' Hero Bot Zero and Little Michael Taylor.

Owosso Taco House Funnies No. 1 also introduces a brand-new comic book character, Black Belt Perez. “The book also contains many more comics, games, puzzles and other great fun,” Toth said of the comic tale.

“This is a tip of the hat to those great old underground style comics of the 1960s and '70s,” Toth added. “The Taco House comic book offers a wide variety of comics and fun from many diverse hands meant to be fun for everyone.”

The Owosso Taco House is family-owned staple of mid-Michigan, celebrating its 38th year in business. Owned and operated by Benny Hernandez and his family, it has the reputation of top-notch classic Mexican food in home-cooked style.

Sisters Comics and Arrow Comics, regional Michigan comics publishers, used “The Taco House” as a midway meeting point (between Flint and East Lansing) for comic thought and, says Toth, the best Mexican-style food around.

“I suggested that the Owosso Taco House ... would be a great name and topic for a comic book,” Arrow Comics publisher Randy Zimmerman said. “Over the next half year, and many Taco House meetings over taco and burrito dinners, the book took shape.

“We couldn't be more proud of Owosso Taco House Funnies No. 1. It's just an awesome product,” Zimmerman concluded. “Check it out for yourself.”

n Owosso Taco House Funnies No. 1 carries a cover price of $3 and will be available in several outlets. Wholesale rates are available. Copies will be available from Sisters Comics at www.sisterscomics.com or Arrow Comics at www.arrowcomics.com off their Web sites and at forthcoming comic book conventions. Copies will also be available at the Owosso Taco House starting today. A portion of proceeds will go to the Autism Awareness organization.

Comment on this Story

Dawn wrote on May 12, 2008 6:48 PM:

" I think this is really great not only was a brand new comic created and published but Benny may be able to get more business. I was there for dinner Friday night and he was discussing how hard it is to run his business now that prices are going up and people are staying home for dinner. I think this event is a real turning point for Benny and his business. "