The Gosh Authority 29.09.21

Hello!

I know it seems very early to start thinking about Christmas, but we're getting warnings from different distribution quarters that we're almost certainly looking at supply issues on stock as December approaches. We'll do our best to make sure we've always got great options for gifts, and digital gift certificates and physical gift cards are always an option, but if there are specific titles you're seeking for loved ones then I would advise purchasing sooner rather than later. It's advice that I'm sure to forget myself, regretfully scrambling about on the 24th looking for anything halfway decent for my family. Don't be like Andrew: buy early to avoid disappointment.

Speaking of later in the year, we've started working away on our Best of 2021 lists! We're all scratching our heads and scouring back over what we've read over the past year (and looking ahead for any likely candidates to come) to come up with a diverse list that will hopefully provide something for everyone. As usual there will be an adult and kids list, with the latter split into age recommended groups. Look for an announcement some time in November.

Let's get onto the comics!

HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

• INFERNO #1 - The beginning of the end of Jonathan Hickman's tenure as X-Men showrunner as various plot threads get resolved, especially around Mystique, Destiny and Moira. This could be the bell tolling for the utopian vision of Krakoa, and Hickman and Valerio Schiti are ringing the heck out of it.

• TWENTY FOUR CARTOONS BY TOM GAULD - A small 24-page collection of Guardian cartoons by Tom Gauld that he has produced himself, a callback to his small press roots. Tom has given us small amount of these to sell, and I expect they're going to fast. Let me know if you'd like to reserve one (or buy one here now to be safe!)

• BATMAN VS BIGBY A WOLF IN GOTHAM #1 - I mean, I didn't see this coming. In anticipation of the return of Fables to our shelves as an ongoing monthly, Bill Willingham has teamed with artist Brian Level to bring everybody's favourite Big Bad Wolf to Gotham City, where he comes head to head (at least initially I'm sure) with the Dark Knight Detective.

• FASTER ONE SHOT - From Jesse Lonergan, the phenomenal talent behind Hedra and Planet Paradise, comes a new one-shot about an eclectic team of drivers that's equal parts Formula 1 and Wacky Racers. This was Kickstarted by Bulgilhan Press, and our stocks are extremely limited and unlikely to be replenished any time soon once these are gone. I'm going to hold off putting them on the website for a few days so that you faithful blog readers get first crack. Drop me an email if you'd like one!

• THRESHOLD ONE SHOT - Also from Bulgilgan Press and even more limited is Threshold, by Anke Gladnick. It's a self-reflection on their feelings around transitioning, and is told with a poetic mix of linework, texture and language to create a symbolic journey.

• DARKHOLD ALPHA #1 - The first chapter in a magical Marvel mini-event! Steve Orlando and Cian Tormey crack open the Darkhold, Marvel's version of the Necronomicon. After a premonition of the dark god Cthon wreaking havoc on world's greatest heroes, the Scarlet Witch gathers together some powerful allies to head the apocalypse off at the pass. 

• DEATHSTROKE INC #1 - Now for something completely different: Slade Wilson gets his own series thanks to Joshua Williamson and Howard Porter. Slade has made a decision to fight for the good guys, using his abilities to take down the targets of T.R.U.S.T., an ancient secret organisation. I'm sure it'll all work out really well.

• GUN HONEY #1 - Charles Ardai, writer and founder of the immensely successful Hard Case Crime line of crime novels, comes to comics with this new series. Joanna Tan, a notorious weapon smuggler, is recruited by the US government after a brutal prison break leaves one of America's Most Wanted on the loose.

• HUMAN REMAINS #1 - Peter Milligan is still on a roll, bringing along artist Sally Cantirino for this tale of forbidden love in an age of alien occupation. An age where our alien overlords have made it so that to feel anything is to risk everything.

And that's me! See you all next week, you lovely people.

Andrew.