The Gosh! Authority 17.11.21

Hello!

I'm off to Thought Bubble up in Harrogate for the weekend just gone and not back in until Tuesday, so I'm gazing into my crystal ball a bit here to bring you a blog and shipping list based on what should be coming. It's likely to be 90% accurate, so you'll have to forgive me if the odd thing doesn't make it in. (UPDATE: Actually I'm now posting this on Monday night and the list is 100% accurate, but I love that cover so much I'm not going to change it.)

Also, as you may have heard, Diamond - the main comics distributor - have been taken down by a cyberattack and are still barely able to access their systems, so there will be some product delays with this week's delivery, making it a bit of a titchy one. But rest assured, I spoke with the folks at Diamond this weekend, and despite the strain they're under, they are doing their absolute best to keep the comics flowing!

So remember how at various times between lockdowns we exhorted people to come and collect their standing orders as our overspill had gotten out of control. Well...we're kind of back there again. No doubt the space issue is slightly exacerbated by the release of a new Brubaker / Phillips hardcover (whose standing orders outstrip any single comic title), but we are now up to 9 long boxes of comics that won't fit into our regular standing order shelves. So if you've let your order build a little, please do us a favour and collect!

Oh, and I know I said they were coming last Friday, but time has conspired against me and our Best of 2021 lists for kids and adults will now be announced on Wednesday!

HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

• RADIO APOCALYPSE #1 - The latest from Gosh fave Ram V and his Blue in Green collaborator Anand RK. Some time after a meteor strike that has devastated the Earth, a lone radio beacon transmits the world's last radio station: Radio Apocalypse. Situated in Bakerstown, the station transmits to an unknown audience. But people begin to flock to the station, seeing it as a beacon of hope. Among the refugees is an orphan named Rion, whose fate is tied with that of the radio station, and will help to set the soundtrack of the world to come. An intriguing title from a reliable creative team.

• CATALYST GN - The first output from SelfMadeHero's Graphic Anthology Programme, a mentoring programme intended to give voice to ethnically diverse UK comic creators. Spearheaded by Asia Alfasi, Catherine Anyango Grünewald, Sonia Leong, and Woodrow Phoenix, this anthology features stories from the first graduates of the scheme themed around the idea of a catalyst, where the consequences of actions big and small are explored. Also, while they last,, our copies are signed by all the creators! 

• FANTASTIC FOUR ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE #1 - A 60th anniversary special for Marvel's First Family, featuring a redraw of Fantastic Four #1 and Fantastic Four Annual #3 by a crazy line-up of artists including <deep breath> Aco, Aaron Kuder, Adam Hughes, Albert Monteys, Alessandro Cappuccio, Bryan Hitch, Cafu, Carlos Pacheco, Chris Sprouse, Daniel Warren Johnson, David Lapham, Elsa Charretier, Erica D’urso, Federico Vicentini, Greg Land, Javier Rodríguez, John Cassaday, John Romita Jr., Kate Niemczyk, Kei Zama, Leinil Francis Yu, Leonard Kirk, Lucas Werneck, Luciano Vecchio, Marco Checchetto, Mattia De Iulis, Michael Allred, Mike Del Mundo, Neal Adams, Nic Klein, Olivier Coipel, Paco Medina, Patch Zircher, Pepe Larraz, Ray-Anthony Height, Rod Reis, Ron Frenz, Simone Di Meo, Stefano Caselli, Steve Epting, Tom Reilly, Salvador Larroca, Jorge Fornes, Kim Jacinto, Walt Simonson, Simone Di Meo, Leonardo Ortolani, Sanford Greene, Terry Dodson & Mark Bagley! Phew!

• ROBINS #1 - The winner of the DC's Round Robin poll, where a bunch of titles were put to the vote to see which got their own mini, Robins is...well, pretty much what it says on the tin. A team book featuring Robins past and present, as they are ambushed at a get-together by a woman who claims to be the very first Robin who thinks none of them are worthy of the title. Tim Seeley and Baldemar Rivas assemble the sidekicks!

• WONDER WOMAN EVOLUTION #1 - An eight issue miniseries by Stephanie Phillips and Mike Hawthorne. Diana is whisked away to the edge of the universe by a cosmic entity where she must face a series of trials to earn the right for humankind to exist. Secret Wars of Wonder Woman!

Brief and to the point this week! See you next time!

Andrew.