THE HOT MESS PRESS 9.21.23

perfection breeds failure, consistency requires self-forgiveness

Sep 21, 2023

Are we late? Yes. Are we forgiving ourselves for it and moving on? YES! On we go.

CATWOMAN 57 came out this week, the third chapter of GOTHAM WAR, and we’re all pretty proud of it. It’s a beautiful, melancholy chapter where we see a bit of Selina’s softer side in all of this fight.

I got to sign some early, held-behind-the-desk-til-release date copies on BATMAN DAY at the lovely 4 Color Fantasies in Rancho Cucamonga here in Southern California. And I ran into some of my co-workers…

We called a Gotham Truce because they looked so good!

It’s killing me I can’t find the Instagram account of this amazing BatCat couple - they were so nice, endlessly gracious with fans and fun to talk cosplay with. I love cosplayers, and working with them is one of my favorite parts of my job.

Batman Day just reminded me of why I love comic shops so much and why I worked at them for so long. Any of you all work at a shop? Or do you have a local favorite? I’m always looking for new places to visit, or new shops to pop into when I find myself on the road. Maybe I’ll do a signing tour next year?

PS - If you work at a comic or book shop, why not subscribe your shop email to The Scorpio Room below? Even at the free tier, you’ll get weekly-ish updates about what I’ve got coming out to make your ordering life a little easier. Always here to help my pals in the infantry (comics retail).

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 - This is the start of Sweeney Boo and I’s second arc together. Jump on board!

HARLEY QUINN #33 - 10.24

APPEARANCES:

10.12.23-10.15.23: NEW YORK COMIC CON

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

OUT AND ABOUT IN L.A: My big adventure this week was the drive out east to Rancho for the Batman signing, but it was a blast to hit the road and see a new comic shop. If you’re in the area, hit up 4 Color Fantasies and say hi to Chris, the wonderful owner.

While there I got to add to their art desk, but my favorite piece on the whole thing was this Josh Cassara Black Tom. Love to find Josh in the wild!

READING: I got to read an early copy of Naked: On Sex, Work, and other Burlesques by NYC Burlesque icon Fancy Feast, and I could not put it down. Not just for the juicy details that sexy books about sexy people often feature, but because Fancy’s approach to sex, pleasure, and the love of yourself and others is radical, based in her experience as a fat Jewish woman. It’s a great book, and the essays build to a real winner that made me smile and cry. It’s out pretty soon, you can pre-order at the link.

WATCHING: There’s a new season of GLOW UP on Netflix, and I think it might be the worst competition reality show on television. I’ve talked before about how I love competition reality and I owe you all a longer breakdown on the whys of it, but GLOW UP…isn’t great. I can’t explain why. Do I watch it anyway? Yeah, I like to yell at the tee-vee. It’s not all bad though - they cast a very diverse group of UK queer folk, and Trixie Mattel (who has famously discussed her own critical obsession with the show) is a judge on the Drag challenge, and she lets those kids HAVE IT (in a supportive, elder-queer sort of way.) Give it a watch and let me know your thoughts.

MAKES ME THINK: No thinking, only Baldur’s Gate 3. I have a tiefling warlock with victory rolls named Marian and a drow paladin with heterochromia named Lestat. Tell me about YOUR embarrassing D&D dollies!

ARTIST I’M DIGGING: Tattoo artist Johnny Gloom reopens their books and I get tempted to get more ink, every time. Their work is like a combo of blackwork and 80’s vintage, and I can’t get enough.

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

Stay weird, talk soon -

-TH 09.21.23 14:40

The Scorpio Room