I want them alive!

Chapter 44: Big things coming... Biiiig.

• State of the Ol’ Newsletter!

• San Diego Comic Con!

• More Vampires than ever before!

• WTFPFH? bookplates!

• Go find Ed Brisson and tell him I sent you!

• The Mixtape! - Jams, kick them out.

Hello again.

Hope you’re staying cool in this massive heatwave so many are experiencing. My hatred for the heat knows no limits so I probably won’t see the sun for a few days. He knows why.

It’s been a crazy few weeks in both some really good ways and really not good ways, but we’re not going to dwell on the not good. I had a great 4th of July where I did my usual tradition of watching war movies on my roof while the neighborhood blows itself apart with fireworks. This year’s pick was Dunkirk, which is an interesting 4th of July choice because it isn’t about Americans. But really I just pick movies that go well with the constant explosions. I took some pictures of the screen and fireworks but it turns out photos of fireworks? Not that interesting. Use your imagination.

Also this month Tyler and I, along with our good buddy Josh Hixson, ventured down to the mighty THIRD EYE COMICS in Annapolis for a signing. A lot of fun was had. We discussed who was the best member of Blink 182, which oddly we all had opinions on. Josh got to try his first Fat Sandwich from the Grease Trucks. And we signed some comics. Thanks to all who came out to the signing.

But beyond just signing in the store, this is also where our warehouse is for the FURTHESTPLACE.com store. So Tyler and I spent a day going over stuff there and changing some things around. We aren’t ready to announce the changes yet, but when we do it will be here. Lots of improvements, cool new features, better organization, and some signed stuff. And yes, I know a few orders are running late or were lost in the mail, so that is all being taken care of this week. Those affected are getting some extra gifts for their patience. We appreciate it.

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Speaking of appreciation, in my last newsletter I wrote a long thing about my feelings on the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe. In it I said that I hoped the readership of this newsletter, even if they didn’t agree with me, were the type of people who could encounter other viewpoints and not recoil in horror like me when the sun comes out. Turns out quite a few readers were not. I had a lot of people unsubscribe. A lot. I am choosing to think that is because I am pro choice and not because they finally read one of my books. Either way, my feeling on them leaving is a big ol’ shrug. Not everything is for everyone, and that’s okay. I’m only bringing this up because I want to take a moment to thank those of you that did stick around. We actually have more subscribers now than we did when I sent that newsletter out, despite the large number who unsubscribed. So thanks for sticking with me here, or thanks for signing up.

I promise cool stuff is coming!

I know that sounds like a bumper sticker but it’s actually true. I have some really huge and fun things coming up very soon. Some of the biggest of my career, actually. And this is going to be the place where I talk about them and share about them and give you early access to them. So stay tuned to this spot for the next few weeks and I will do my best to bring you some really fun and cool news. Vague as hell, I know. But you just have to trust me.

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As some of you may know, San Diego Comic Con is this week. SDCC is the largest gathering of nerd stuff in North America. It’s got comics, toys, stuff that looks like comics but isn’t, video games, body odor, movies, Mrs. Fields cookies, tv, board games, head games, crowds, probably a lot of nft’s, and of course, gladiator fights!

A lot of people have been asking me my schedule for the convention so I made up this little chart of when and where to find me.

Come find me!

But just because I’m not there, doesn’t mean there isn’t ‘me’ related stuff there. Most notably, my partner in crime (who is not related to me but whatever) Mr. Tyler “Globe Trotting” Boss will be there. He is nominated for his second Eisner Award (!!!) but I’m pretty sure he’s not going to the awards because they don’t serve Coors there. He is however doing one signing at the show.

Friday 7/22 @ Image Comics booth - Tyler Fucking Boss!

Tyler will be signing whatever you bring him, but this is our first signing for Image, so try to make him look cool, okay? Even if you’re just bringing him his issue of TMNT that he drew or like Archie variant covers, say things like “You are the greatest artist to ever live. Image is lucky to have you.”

Also, if you have the WTFPFH? connecting map variants, there is a strong chance our amazing map-maker Courtney Menard will be there. Tyler would know where she is. Can you find her? Will she sign them? Are these questions I should have asked her before I wrote this? Maybe. But she’s on a plane now so…

Anyway, Tyler is signing with the great Hayden Sherman who draws awesome books like THE FEW, ABOVE SNAKES, COLD WAR, WASTED SPACE, and DARK SPACES: WILDFIRE. We also worked together on one issue of Kingpin. Go say hi to these lovely folks.

And while you’re there, in addition to their normal amazing stuff Image Comics will have some special WHAT’S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE? items for sale while supplies last. They have copies of volume 1 with bookplates signed by Tyler and I, and they will have a very rare item that will probably sell pretty fast. What is it? I’m not saying, but if you look closely they might be. So get there early if you want one.

Other than that, our friends at Black Mask will have a booth with a ton of cool stuff, including perhaps the limited edition and out of print hardcovers for WE CAN NEVER GO HOME and 4 KIDS WALK INTO A BANK.

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Out this week I have a brand new #1 from the mighty DC Comics. DC VS VAMPIRES: ALL OUT WAR spins out of the pages of DC VS VAMPIRES obviously, but you can definitely read it if you haven’t read the main title. I got to partner with my good buddy and badass writer Alex Paknadel (Red Fork / Giga) to tell the story of some of our DC favorites- Deathstroke, Azrael, Mary Marvel, Bane, Deadman, Hellblazer, and Booster Gold. Alex really went wild on these scripts and brought a totally unique feel to our little corner of the DCU. And to make it a comic the mighty Pasquale Qualano came in and drew the hell out of it. The book has big manga energy and Pasquale goes nuts on these pages. Our mad genius editor Ben Abernathy came up with the idea of doing the book in just Black, White, and Red to make it stand out and it was definitely the right call.

Behold this great Alan Quah cover!

If you want to try before you buy our friends at AIPT have a preview for you here. Like using the little taster spoons at ice cream shops, I tend to think reading previews of comics is for cowards. But I’m not your parent. You do what you want.

And if this looks cool to you but you worry you missed the main book, despite my telling you that was okay, DC just rereleased the first 6 issues in 2 fancy new budget-priced, oversized editions with all new covers by the great Carmine di Giandomenico. Get 132 pages of comic insanity for the price of like 50!

The Lost Boys cover is so fun and is very on the nose. The Breakfast Club cover is pure madness though. Because WE are breakfast, get it? They eat people. Also who doesn’t love Hawkgirl as Ally Sheedy? I would pay good money to see a remake of High Art with Hawkgirl in it.

Anyway, both are in stores now along with issue #7. Go get caught up.

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Also, since we last spoke volume 1 of WHAT’S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE? came out. The response has been overwhelming and bunch of stores have let us know they are flying off shelves, which is so exciting. As always, if you want to get the book, we strongly encourage you to do so at your local comic shop. If you don’t have a local comic shop, one will be provided for you- ComicShopLocator.com. And if you don’t have a local comic shop close or that you feel comfortable with, I am always happy to recommend shops that do mailorder worldwide. Just send me a note.

Some shops got limited edition bookplates so poke around and you can maybe still find some. A few shops even took their own exclusive bookplates designed by Tyler and signed by Tyler and I. Here are links to a few shops with custom bookplates.-

• OK COMICS in Leeds.

• GOSH COMICS in London.

• FORBIDDEN PLANET in London.

Why are they all in England? I don’t know. The British just get us, I guess. I think it’s my love for Morley’s Chicken. We have a couple other cool ‘rare’ versions of the book out there, but we’re not talking about those quite yet

Another highlight of my last week was getting to hang out with Ed Brisson when he came to New York on his cross-continent roadtrip. Ed is one of my oldest friends in comics and, despite us almost never being conventionally nice to each other, I really love to see him and get the chance to hang out. We got to hit up Veselka, walk in Central Park, go to Times Square, get some pizza at Di Fara, and just generally hang.

For those that don’t know, Ed and I have been in a low-key war for years about where to have dinner when he’s in town. I always choose Veselka in the East Village to represent my Ukranian heritage, enjoy great atmosphere, and eat at one of the best restaurants in the world. He always chooses a place called Thai Select in Hell’s Kitchen because he went there once and thought it was fine. When he’s not in town I will sporadically send him photos of burnt down restaurants or photoshopped google listings and tell him that Thai Select closed. Invariably he panics and calls them all the way from Canada to assure himself they did not, much to their confusion. It’s fun. He hates it.

But now on this trip we drove by Thai Select and it had, in fact, closed. I was overcome with such a wave of complex emotions. I don’t ever want an independent business of any sort to close. But it was a good chance to laugh at Ed. But also I kind of liked their food. But also, also Ed was so sad and that was very funny. Conversely, I don’t want my friend to feel sad about a place he found comfort suddenly vanishing. We all lose so much so often. But conversely again, I can now start texting him that they reopened and get him all excited only to have him realize I’m lying and crush him all over again. Like I said, complicated.

Anyway, Ed is traveling across the U.S. and Canada in part to promote his books. The excellent sci-fi thriller THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH PATRICK TODD just released it’s first issue and it is a clever, brutal, smart story about a young psychic boy trying to do the right thing in the wrong ways. But you can also pick up copies of his excellent and hard to get CATCH & RELEASE hc from him at any of his appearances. He’s already signed at the wonderful JETPACK COMICS and HEROES YOUR MOM THREW OUT but I’m sure they still have signed books in stock. Otherwise catch him at one of these spots-

And for more details you can check out Ed’s excellent Newsletter here.

Not sure why this has been in my head. Henry Rollins fronting Bad Brains covering the MC5. But I’ve always loved this one.

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Stay safe. Take care of each other. Remember milkshakes are nature’s way of keeping you cool.

-Matthew Rosenberg

NYC 7/19/22