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Chapter 37: Records and comics, comics and records...
I went outside again!
New 7” news
New issues!
Stuff I didn’t write!
Hi again. Hope your week is going well.
I’m having a good one. On Saturday I left my house again (becoming a trend) to stop in at brand new comic shop EVERYONE COMICS in Long Island City. For their grand opening my MULTIPLE MAN partner in crime Andy MacDonald was signing there with a bunch of other folks like David Chun, Jerry Ma, Jerome Opena, and Ivan Brandon. Did Ivan and I discuss the first time we met where I misunderstood a funny joke and decided I didn’t like him for like 3 years? Yes, we always discuss that. I bought some books, took some pictures with cosplayers, said a bunch of weird stuff, and explained my love of dry cookies to Andy while 2 young women listened in in horror. Sort of on them for eavesdropping, sort of on me for saying ‘I want to eat so many dry cookies that my insides dry out and when I pee it comes out like rubber cement.’
Kudos to the Hawkeye and Black Widow cosplayers for having color appropriate masks to go with their excellent cosplay. Kudos to me for having a cool Token Entry shirt on, I guess. I dunno. I’m not used to other humans looking at me. 2 thumbs up.
Anyway, it’s a great new shop from the owners of ANYONE COMICS in Brooklyn, which, if you’ve been, you’ll know is one of the best in the city. So if you’re looking for a new comic shop to check out it’s right off a bunch of trains.
In other news I started working on not 1, not 2, but 3 new projects in the past week. I’m a little sleep deprived but I am happy to say they are all very exciting to me so far. Expect announcements… Well, I have no idea when. Just expect announcements I guess.
In some very exciting news we have some updates on the WHAT’S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE? 7”s.
Issue #2 Deluxe Editions have been popping up in comic shops this week. I’m pretty excited about this one. The amazing SCREAMING FEMALES and the mighty WORRIERS covering some absolute jams. And you might be able to snag a copy from WORRIERS on their upcoming tour dates with JAWBREAKER and THE LEMONHEADS! Or check with your local comic shop and see if they got a copy because they’re going fast. Last I heard there were still some copies at Diamond Distribution so even if they’re sold out they might be able to get you more. Or you can wait for the reprint. Or I might be able to get you a copy next week… Maybe.
And in other news we announced the 7th 7” in the series today over at a little magazine called ROLLING STONE!
That’s right. The brilliant JULIEN BAKER and the amazing SHARON VAN ETTEN are doing a split 7” for WTFPFH? and we couldn’t be more excited. We’re huge fans of both of their entire catalogs and honestly we couldn’t have hoped for better tracks from them. It’s truly an honor and we can’t wait for you all to hear it. In the meantime let your local comic shop know if you want a copy.
I have 2 books in comic shops this week. Well, sorta 3 actually. We’ll get to that.
First up WHAT’S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE? #5.
Cool cover. When I see this all I can think is ‘man, Tyler must have spent a lot of time at carnivals as a kid.’ I’ve never asked because I don’t want to know. But what happens in it? Well let’s read the solicit to find out.
APPROPRIATE-SIZED FIFTH ISSUE! There are fights to be fought, bargains to be struck, and roads to be hit. But when it all comes together, will it be enough to tear the gang apart? Alabama is betting her life that it won't.
Also, are you reading CROSSOVER? I love that book so much.
This is the penultimate issue of our first arc, and I’m really excited for you all to read that. It’s a bit of a bummer, but also exciting, and hopeful, and weird, and funny. Because a few of you asked, Donny and I just like to flirt in public. But no, this has nothing to do with CROSSOVER… Or does it?
It doesn’t.
In the meantime I know some of you are here for those rare and secret goodies. So let’s get to that. I want to thank everyone who has been patient with the webstore hickups, which are 95% my fault and 5% the worlds fault. A few things sold out and are coming back in stock now and will be shipped to you as soon as we get them. And the shirts are finally shipping next week! Finding fair trade and sweatshop free shirts in the middle of a global pandemic / supply chain crisis has been not a lot of fun. We literally had to split the shirts up between 3 different companies. But they are on their way to us and will then be on their way to you.
And since it’s a new issue of WTFPFH? we have 2 new exclusives. Our very sexy glow in the dark cover, limited to 100, 1 per person is here.
And the limited to 500 connecting cover are here.
Also in comic shops this week is the Penultimate chapter of our HOUSE OF GOTHAM story in DETECTIVE COMICS #1057, by me, Fernando Blanco, and Jordie Bellaire. Penultimate is a fun word. How come we don’t use the “Pen” prefix more often? I’m assuming it means “second” in… Latin? Greek? I could google it but I like this newsletter to accurately recreate the experience of talking to me in person and hearing all the inane bullshit I say, so research would ruin the authenticity. Also I’m lazy. Either way I want to start referring to my older brother as my mom’s Penson. But wait… I guess I’m the Penson. He’s the Penultimate son. That sounds much cooler. This sucks. Nevermind.
In last weeks newsletter I referred to last weeks issue as 1052 right below a picture of it that clearly said 1056. And none of you commented so every single one of you gets a C- for reading comprehension last week. Don’t feel too bad though, I got an F for writing. If you’re looking for extra credit I’ve carefully hidden 231 typos, mistakes, and grammatical errors in this newsletter. If you find them all it worth 10 points toward your overall grade.
In the world of things I didn’t write but am very excited about, my dear friend Alex Segura has a new novel out that should be relevant to all your interests.
I’ve known Alex for years, since his time working at DC, on to his time as a VP at ARCHIE, through reading his own excellent comics and novels. Eventually we worked together on writing ARCHIE MEETS RAMONES, THE ARCHIES, and THE ARCHIES MEET THE B-52s. Besides being a great person and a passionate supporter of comics as a whole, Alex is just a stellar writer. His Pete Fernandez detective stories are just top notch genre work. Well now Alex has combined all of his passions (or a bunch of them) into one place with his amazing new book SECRET IDENTITY. It’s a 1970’s noirish murder mystery set in the New York comic publishing world. Yes, it’s an awesome idea. Yes, I’m jealous I didn’t think of it. Yes, I still loved it through my seething jealousy.
But you don’t have to take my word for it that it’s great. The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and a bunch of esteemed places like that have all given it glowing reviews. It’s rare that I recommend a prose book on here, but I really think this is a truly fun and great thriller and must read for comic fans.
If you’re looking for a copy, you should ask your local book seller or use that giant mega corporation that’s taking over the world if you must. Or you can get a nice signed copy mailed to you from the very cool THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP in New York.
Either way this comes with my highest possible recommendation. Go grab a copy and read it in public so people know you’re cool.
And that’s it from me.
Stay safe. Take care of each other. Go get some fresh air.
-Matthew Rosenberg
NYC 3/16/22
Thanks for adding carnies to the mix, the Gravitron is still one ride that scares me.
You're the best. Thanks so much, man!