26 Comments
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Erica Phillips Graves 🔮's avatar

It blows my mind that over the years I have read these. Amazing work, Instigator. 👑

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William Pauley III's avatar

That blows my mind, too! I hope you know just how much I appreciate your constant support. I can't thank you enough. 🫠

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Erica Phillips Graves 🔮's avatar

You’ve been an amazing friend these last (omg) 10 years, I think. Your writing is really amazing.

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William Pauley III's avatar

You're too kind! Thank you, Erica! I think you're amazing, as well. I'm happy our mutual love for creepy weirdness brought us together!

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Erica Phillips Graves 🔮's avatar

Understatement! One day I will get out to your area and we’ll get that drink.

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William Pauley III's avatar

🍻

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Logan the Lobotomizer's avatar

Gobla feels like a Junji Ito story.

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William Pauley III's avatar

Junji Ito's artwork has been marinating in my mind for many years! He's one of my all-time favorites.

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Nick Winney's avatar

is FIGHT TUB the backstory to GOBLA?

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William Pauley III's avatar

Great question, Nick! They aren't directly related, but yes, they exist in the same universe (the same building even). The same entity responsible for the maintenance man's actions in GOBLA is indeed the same entity responsible for what happens in FIGHT TUB. 😉

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Nick Winney's avatar

Noooo! gobla was perfect and 1000% you. and also dusgytindt. disgusting .

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William Pauley III's avatar

Kind of you to say! I am thrilled you think so, but I definitely doubted it at first. You're an amazing writer, Nick! Never doubt and never stop.

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Nick Winney's avatar

gobla genuinely made me feel nauseated. powerful writing... like James's THE SOURCE made me feel like I needed to piss!

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William Pauley III's avatar

Thank you, Nick! Kind of you to say. Honestly, that issue of SUM FLUX contained some of the best stories I've read on Substack. 🍻

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Nick Winney's avatar

you're not wrong! i loved being part of it...of course i think the rest of you had better work than me but then you all might think the same way. being in the gang... that was a real moment for me.

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William Pauley III's avatar

I loved your story, Nick! I get what you mean though, we all get down on our own work. Just before SUM FLUX was published, I told Sandolore I was thinking of writing something completely different because I just wasn't confident GOBLA was right for it. She insisted I keep it.

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Simon Lombardo's avatar

I just discovered this and I feel I found the most amazing treasure in the world....

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William Pauley III's avatar

Ha! Happy you feel that way! It's definitely a weird little rabbit hole. Will you be taking the red or the blue pill? 😵‍💫

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Simon Lombardo's avatar

Oh I'm taking the red pill and will go down the rabbit hole, that's for sure! 🐇

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William Pauley III's avatar

Excellent. 😈

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Jeannine's avatar

Thank you for organizing everything so well! Now I can search out whatever I've missed...

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William Pauley III's avatar

It had to be done. Things were getting messy around here. 😅

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Spencer D.W.'s avatar

I really need to make one of these for my work. do you do your own art?

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Apr 19
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William Pauley III's avatar

It may seem that way, haha, but I've been writing for 20 years. I'm just old. 😅

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Apr 19
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William Pauley III's avatar

Sounds fun!

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Apr 19Edited
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William Pauley III's avatar

Ha! Thank you! 🍻

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