The Gosh! Authority 04/03/09

You might have noticed Watchmen is out this week. As far as we know, this is probably exactly what Big Hairy Alan ‘I’ll never watch this f***ing thing’ Moore is up to right this minute. But if you’re looking forward to it and fancy winning an Owl Ship watch or summat head over to Geek Syndicate and enter their competition.

Lots of Darwyn Cooke stuff this week, which is nice. He collaborates with writer J. Bone (Mutant Texas, Super Friends, go look at his blog) in Madman Atomic Comics #14 for an all-new story in which some Hollywood suits want to base a film on Frank Einstein’s life. Loosely, of course. Here’s what Allred says:

"Darwyn and I are like twins separated at birth. We dig all the same things and get ridiculously excited about whatever we're working on. We also throw fits whenever we're told 'no' by 'the Man', and, sometimes to our detriment, have a 'burned earth policy' when it comes to doing a project the way we want. Fortunately, we usually get the support needed to build our visions, and Madman Atomic Comics is a prime example of that. Image Comics could not be more supportive in their backing me up with all my crazed paper dreams in Madman Atomic Comics. They're just as jazzed as I am to invite Darwyn and mutual pal, and cool genius, J.Bone, on Madman Atomic Comics #14!"

The other Darwyn Cooke news is that he’s done the cover for the next issue of Jersey Gods, out this week! You may remember Allred did the last one (we’ve still got the first printing of issue one kicking about somewhere if you missed it). Glen Brunswick and Dan McDaid’s second issue sees things go horribly wrong when the Gods choose the Cherry Hill Mall as their battleground. There’s lots of lovely preview art from the incredibly talented McDaid which is well worth a look.

The second trade paperback of Gosh favourite Atomic Robo is new this week, and if you like the art in it you should pick up a copy of Killer of Demons #1 because it’s by the same bloke, Scott Wegener. Hell has invaded Earth and only Dave Sloan, junior account executive, and his collection of annoying co-workers can save the day. There’s an interview with writer Chris Yost and Wegener over at Comicbook Resources, plus lots of art here.

The Art of Pixar Short Films hardcover is in this week, which is a big coffee table thing directly tied into the Pixar Short Films Collection DVD – an in-depth history of the studio’s early shorts and whatnot. Here’s what the writer Amid Amidi’s got to say...

“Today we look at Pixar as the untouchable 800-pound gorilla of computer animation so it’s easy to forget that not so long ago, they were a struggling hardware company and their animation division was comprised of just a handful of folks working in a company of over one hundred people.” More here.

Speaking of nice art and stuff, Spider-Man and The Human Torch Bahia De Los Muertos! from the guys who brought you the weird Fantastic Four Isla De La Muerte! looks great, thanks to Juan Doe. They’re back in Puerto Rico but this time the Human Torch was allowed to bring his pal Spidey along.

Writer Tom Beland says, “They're, to me, the ultimate team-up. They're Butch and Sundance, and when you get the chance to put them together, you take it. You don't say 'No thank you, I'll have the Falcon, please.' No. You sit down and you demand your Torch to be served with a side of Spidey."

Eisner-nominated Jonathan Hickman’s (Nightly News) Dark Rein Fantastic Four #1 (of 5) starts this week which will give you a look at what Hickman’s FF will be like when he eventually takes over from Mark Millar. Sean Chen provides the art on this one, which can be seen in these previews.


Also starting this week is Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning’s (Nova) Secret Invasion aftermath mini-series War of Kings #1 (of 6), which promises to be a pivotal turning point in Marvel’s cosmic history. Paul Pelletier (Guardians of the Galaxy) did the art which you can see a bit of here.

You’ll probably be pleased to know that Damon Lindelof and Leinil Yu’s (Secret Invasion) Ultimate Wolverine Vs Hulk #3 is finally here! The first two issues are out of the way and as long as it doesn’t go the way of Lost, it’s time for the battle of the century. Preview!

The brilliant Brainiac story from recent Action Comics is collected in hardcover this week and they’ve creatively called it Superman Brainiac. Written by Geoff Johns with art by Gary Frank and Jon Sibal, this is the arc that set the stage for New Krypton.

Speaking of which, Superman: World of New Krypton #1 is the first part of 12 which follows New Krypton. It’s by James Robinson and Greg Rucka, out this Thursday, and will probably be sat comfortably beside the Superman Brainiac hardcover.

Lastly, the New Brighton Archeological Society from Mark Andrew Smith (Aqua Leung, The Amazing Joy Buzzards) and Matt Weldon is out – the graphic novel which found its beginning in his PopGun anthology contributions. They’re both interviewed here, and then there’s a bunch of preview pages here.

And finally, congratulations to Top Shelf’s Nate Powell on his LA Times Book Prize nomination for Swallow Me Whole, the first graphic novel since Maus to make the list.

That’s all I’ve got.

-- Hayley