THE HOT MESS PRESS - 8.27.23

I have a feeling my readers aren't checking their phones in church

Aug 27, 2023

Speaking of Church, it's Dragoncon week, so this will be quick.

Dragoncon gets a weird rap, and that's because it's a weird place. And it should stay weird - it’s fan-run, stretches across FIVE downtown Atlanta hotels, and is where I’ve consistently met up with so many of my friends from all over the nerd world for the past decade or so. Hope to see you there.

In addition to THAT it’s the start of Gotham War this week - so let’s keep it short, kitties, there’s work to be done.

8.29 - BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE GOTHAM WAR - BATTLE LINES - The first part of GOTHAM WAR starts here!

9.5 - BATMAN #137

9.19 - CATWOMAN #57

9.26 - BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE GOTHAM WAR - RED HOOD #1

10.3 - BATMAN #138

10.17 CATWOMAN # 58

10.24 BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE GOTHAM WAR - RED HOOD #2

10.31 BATMAN/CATWOMAN: THE GOTHAM WAR - SCORCHED EARTH

11.21 CATWOMAN #59 - NINE LIVES part ONE - Selina’s next arc, spinning out of GOTHAM WAR, starts here, and we’re joined by the incredible STEFANO RAFFAELE :

“The Catwoman we know has vanished. Selina Kyle is gone. She’s no longer Gotham’s fugitive—she’s its ghost.

After the events of “The Gotham War,” Selina leaves the city a forever-changed woman with a plan: nine deadly missions, each one set aside for their certain lethality—only possible for a cat with nine lives.”

HARLEY QUINN #32 - 9.26 (FOC: 9.3) - This is the start of Sweeney Boo and I’s second arc together. Jump on board!

HARLEY QUINN #33 - 10.24

APPEARANCES:

8.31.23-9.3.23: DRAGONCON - Atlanta, GA

Here’s what I’ve been enjoying, I think you might enjoy it too:

OUT AND ABOUT IN L.A: I need recess. It's a fact, I need to go outside for part of my day and run around a little, get “it” out of my system. I largely do the same things when I go for little walks now as I did as a kid: I look at interesting plants, snails, and miscellaneous other locals. I make up stories in my head. I toe curiously at interesting looking bits of trash. I slow to a crawl to eavesdrop on loud people - I'd never say anything, but I like to listen.

And sometimes I rent a bike at a local park and ride until things make sense, like they did beautifully here:

READING: Still the Ancient Egypt book I mentioned last week: its a tome. But I recently added an old favorite to my collection. Earlier this summer I was indulging in one of my most capitalism-brained drooler activities: searching terms like “vampire” on the Depop app and scrolling until my hands lose grip strength and I drop my phone on my face.

Imagine my surprise when, a few days later, a package showed up! I must have (with the help of some of the Valley’s fine cannabinoid tinctures) ordered myself an old copy of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Lestat graphic novel. And I’ve adored going back through it with comic writer eyes. It's got a half dozen artists, all with varying levels of sequential storytelling skill. But when it's beautiful it is really something, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't had it in my head while writing recently.

WATCHING: I’m kind of a YouTube essay addict. This one by We’re In Hell about “Death of the Author” and famous robot-arm modern-art piece “Can’t Help Myself” did what my favorite YouTube essays do: stir my brain into a philosophy pudding with a swirl of 21st century post-structural nonsense humor. His vids get even better - the reality-show deep dives about shows like Too Hot To Handle are my suggestion. Enjoy!

MAKES ME THINK: Blake and I have been playing Vampire the Masquerade: Rivals, the new customizable deck-building game that takes place in that world. Lest you waggle your finger at me at putting this under my ‘makes me think’ subheader, I forgot how much I fucking loved the strategy of these games. I’ve been speeding into wins with a brutal Ventrue Title deck that makes me feel like, well, a very powerful vampire (and also a smart little cookie.)

ARTIST I’M DIGGING: I have a confession-I am a t-shirt hipster. I can't stand to have the same band shirt or comic shirt as everyone else. It’s a problem but at least I know I have it, and I’m also willing to share with you some of my favorite sources. Revenge of the Nerd is a DIY bootleg screenprint genius - my favorite kind. Follow him on Instagram for updates - like most bootleg geniuses, his shirts pop up quick and go right back into the trenches so they don’t get their heads shot off by Generalissimo Mouse. (That Ahs*ka AKIRA shirt? Fuck yes.)

That was fun, let’s do it again next week?

Stay weird, talk soon -

-TH 08.27.23 15:09

The Scorpio Room

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