The Gosh! Authority 28.01.21

Hello!

Hope you're all feeling Spring-y! Not much news to report, but it's worth noting that with the bank holiday on the 3rd May, new comics shipping for the 5th will only arrive with us on the Wednesday. As per usual, we'll get things out on the shelf as quickly as possible, but best to leave coming in until the afternoon. We'll announce it on social media as soon as everything is out.

It's a lovely sunny Saturday afternoon as I write this, and I need to get out in the garden and start barbecuing, but it's a pretty small week, so let's get it done!

(I'm once again working from a preliminary list instead of my invoice, so some things may be subject to change, but this will be 99% correct).

HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

• THE MARVELS #1 - A Marvel Universe-spanning book by Marvels OG Kurt Busiek and artist Yildiray Cinar. Busiek promises a book that mines the entire history of Marvel, using all the toys in the MU toybox to tell a Tom Clancy-like thriller. Seriously, he's got everyone from the Sub-Mariner to Aero in there, and takes the time to introduce a couple of new characters besides. This looks like real sweet-spot material for long-time Marvel fans.
  

• ROBIN #1 - Damian Wayne, categorically the best Robin, is back in a new title by Joshua Williamson and Gleb Melnikov. Damian discovers the existence of the League of Lazaraus tournament, a competition to find the greatest fighters in the DCU. If you guessed that he wants to show everyone that it's him, gold star for you! Loveable little egomaniac.
  

• X-MEN LEGENDS #3 - Here's a good example of why it's important to keep an eye on X-Men Legends. This untold tale of X-Factor sees XF legends Louise and Walt Simonson return to the characters for a 2-issue story. Having foiled Apocalypse's plans during the Fall of the Mutants, the team discover that the seeds for their defeat may have been laid within Apocalypse's sentient Ship that now acts as their base.
  

• HELM GREYCASTLE #1 (OF 4) - A new fantasy series by Henry Barajas & Bryan Valenza with a distinct Latinx identity. Set in the world of Mexica, a band of heroes are on a quest to save the last dragon price when they are recruited by a resistance movement fighting against the tyrant Montezuma. Interestingly the issue also comes with an RPG adventure set in the world of the comic, written by Tristan J Tarwater with illustrations by Jen Vaughn.

• SUMMONERS WAR LEGACY #1 - Here's an odd one for Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint: a spin-off of a popular mobile turn-based fighting game. Written by Justin Jordan with art by Luca Claretti, it requires no prior knowledge of the game, but rather uses its setting and lore to create a fun fantasy adventure.
  

• CATWOMAN SOULSTEALER TP - One of two DC YA books this week, this one having been missing in action for quite some time. Sarah Maas's novel is adapted by Louise Simonson and Samantha Dodge. Selina Kyle returns to Gotham after the departure of Batman, only to run into Luke Fox, aka Batwing, who is eager to prove himself. A clever game of cat and mouse (cat and bat, I guess) ensues.
  

• POISON IVY THORNS TP - And our second DC YA GN of the week is an alternative origin of Poison Ivy by bestselling author Kody Keplinger and artist Sara Kipin. Pamela is a shy, awkward kid who is reached by Alice, a goth girl she meets in the park. But her happiness is threatened by the dark secrets of her family, secrets that might just - maybe - ruin everything. Spoilers: she becomes Poison Ivy.

And that's it! See you next week, all!

Andrew.