The Gosh! Authority 13.09.23

Hello!

I'm back! Big thanks to Paul for covering while I was away, I'm sure you'll hear from him again when school holidays loom once more for me. In the meantime, let's have a look at this week's events! First up, local music and comics hero Alexander Tucker will be here on Friday, 7-9pm to launch the latest standalone issue of Entity Reunion. Sup from the abstract art-comics table of a man who is not just a fabulous musician and artist, but a thoroughly lovely chap to boot. Details here.

Then celebrate the release of the limited edition hardcover of Hancock The Lad Himself with artist Keith Page, signing here on Saturday, 1-2pm! The book is a loving, well-crafted biography of the legendary British comedian Tony Hancock, a man whose troubled genius made him a beloved icon, even as it led to his tragic early death. Details here.

And in case you missed it, on Friday we announced that we will be doing an Estate Sale of the late, great Kevin O'Neill's book collection on the 1st October, from 10.30am - 7pm. Get the all the details on that here.

HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

• BATMAN GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #1 - Far and away the most anticipated comic here at Gosh! Towers for quite some time (maybe since the first issue of Catwoman Lonely City), Gargoyle of Gotham sees the amazing Rafael Grampá given the freedom to cut loose on Batman, both as writer and artist. Set in a world where Batman has laid the Bruce Wayne alter ego to rest, giving himself fully to his Dark Knight persona, Grampá's art on this ultra-dark, Black Label series looks phenomenal. DC have also simultaneously released a Noir edition, so you can soak it up in all its black and white glory. Absolutely not to be missed!

• DAREDEVIL #1 - I know, I know: "Not another relaunch!" But to be honest I actually don't hate the fact that a run of a series ends up tied to a particular writer, providing the perfect chance for people to jump on (or off, if you prefer). Okay, so Zdarsky had two series, but Marvel will as Marvel does. Anyway, now it's Saladin Ahmed's chance to take a crack at ol' Hornhead with artist Aaron Kuder, as the pair get back to basics with all the Hell's Kitchen / Elektra / moody angst you demand from Matt Murdock!

• CREEPSHOW VOL 2 #1 - The horror anthology taking its inspiration from the classic films returns with a Garth Ennis-shaped blast, as everyone's favourite Irish shock-meister teams with Becky Cloonan for the opening story. Phil Hester is also kicking about on this one, providing writing and art duties on the second story. Looks like they're pulling out the stops on this series, with rising UK superstar Zoe Thorogood popping up next issue!

• AVENGERS INC #1 - Al Ewing and Leonard Kirk have some fun with Janet van Dyne getting embroiled in the shady mysteries at the heart of the Marvel Universe. It all begins with Victor Shade, a killer who is supposed to be dead himself, and yet inexplicably (in all the publicity material I've seen anyway) is working with her to solve an even bigger case. Expect guest-stars a-plenty in a book that seems like pure, uncut Al Ewing (and that's a good thing).

• BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 - Joshua Williamson and Simone Di Meo get the father-and-son crime fighting team back together for this new series which sounds like it's going to get a bit monster-y to start. Fine by me, as is any use of Damian Wayne, the Best Robin. (Oooh...fighting words!)

• ALLIGATOR LOKI #1 - You saw him in the tv show! You had a laugh, thinking it was a fun idea, and maybe referenced it on occasion when talking about series! You went "Wha?" when Marvel made a digital comic series by Alyssa Wong & Bob Quinn that actually made the cute little critter some kind of humourous canon! You spat your coffee when they brought it into print in this one-shot that also contains an all-new story! What a crazy ride it's been!

• SPINE-TINGLING SPIDER-MAN #0 - Speaking of former Marvel Unlimited digital comics, get ready for Halloween with this spooky Spider-Slayers tale courtesy of Saladin Ahmed (him again!) & Juan Ferreyra. Ferreyra's art always adds a lush spookiness to anything he does, so worth a read if you've not, and leads into an all-new mini from the same team starting in December.

• WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #1 - And speaking of Halloween, Emma Bloodstone takes up her shotgun and teams up with Jack Russell - the improbably-named Werewolf by Night himself - for a menace that surpasses even their natural emnity in this spooooky one-shot.

• KILL MORE #1 - A cop in the city of Colonia - a failing city with rampant unemployment and urban decay - becomes increasingly convinced that his town is the target for a concerted campaign by the country's worst serial killers. After all, where better to find your victims than a city everyone has given up on? Triple-barrelled creators Scott Bryan Wilson and Max Alan Fuchs spin the best kind of horror: one with something to say.

See you next time, folks!

Andrew