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Panel Mania: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1: The Last Amazon’ by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman​

DC Comics’ new “Absolute Wonder Woman” line reimagines the hero’s origin. Diana is raised by the sorceress Circe after Themyscira is destroyed and must confront a monstrous pilot named Steve Trevor. Calvin Reid’s feature notes the darker tone, bold costume design and Jordie Bellaire’s artwork.

Publishers Warily Await Completion of ReaderLink‑B&T Deal​

Jim Milliot reports that ReaderLink’s purchase of Baker & Taylor’s assets is creating anxiety across the book trade because the agreement doesn’t include the wholesaler’s liabilities. Publishers worry about outstanding payments and some are considering a class‑action suit, though the transaction is expected to close by 26 September and would keep B&T’s operations running.

Bluestockings Workers Clash with Owners Over Store Closing​

The worker‑owned Bluestockings Cooperative in New York announced it will close after 26 years, but stewards say they were abruptly locked out of the shop and bank accounts without warning. Co‑owner Blaise Sanderson says the decision followed months of rebuffed attempts to meet and that high rent and financial losses forced the closure. The dispute has raised questions about cooperative governance and communication.

TMNT × Naruto: PW Talks with Caleb Goellner and Hendry Prasetya​

In an interview with Andrew Farago, writer Caleb Goellner and artist Hendry Prasetya discuss their crossover comic bringing together the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Naruto. They explain how they blended Eastern and Western storytelling traditions, redesigned iconic characters and aimed to unite two fan bases while honouring the spirit of both franchises.

Choi, Desai, Kitamura Among Booker Prize Finalists​

Publishers Weekly’s Ed Nawotka reports that the 2025 Booker Prize shortlist includes Susan Choi’s *Flashlight*, Kiran Desai’s *The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny*, Katie Kitamura’s *Audition*, Ben Markovits’ *The Rest of Our Lives*, Andrew Miller’s *The Land in Winter* and David Szalay’s *Flesh*. Desai, who won in 2006, returns to the list, while several authors appear for the first time.

At PoP, Publishing’s Finance Minds Share How Strategy Drives Acquisitions​

At the People of Publishing conference, finance executives from Dow Jones, Pushkin Industries and Penguin Publishing Group emphasised close collaboration between editorial and finance teams when acquiring properties. They spoke about analysing data and return on investment, using cross‑format strategies for podcasts and audiobooks and ensuring acquisitions support broader business goals.

People 9/24​

Publishers Lunch’s Erin Somers lists recent publishing personnel moves. Casey Denis was promoted to senior editor at Penguin Press. At Penguin Random House Audio, Brian Ramcharan and Denise Lee became executive producers, Darlene Sterling was promoted to senior manager, Ian Conlin to senior associate and Emily Krentz to manager, while Carline Bialas joined as a post‑production associate. Literary agent Maria Whelan also joined Mushens Entertainment.

Financial Times Business Book of the Year Shortlist​

Erin Somers highlights the 2025 shortlist for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year. The six finalists are *House of Huawei* by Eva Dou, *Chokepoints* by Edward Fishman, *How Progress Ends* by Carl Benedikt Frey, *Abundance* by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, *Breakneck* by Dan Wang and *The Thinking Machine* by Stephen Witt. The award recognises books that improve business understanding.

More Anthropic Settlement Documents and Answers Take Shape​

Michael Cader reports that in the copyright lawsuit involving Anthropic’s AI models, the parties filed additional documents outlining proposed claim forms and notices. They answered the judge’s questions by confirming that the corrected works list encompasses approximately 482,460 titles and that any unclaimed settlement funds will be redistributed among the legitimate claimants.

Strand Owner Sued Over Alleged Harassment of Former Assistant​

A lawsuit filed in New York alleges that Nancy Bass Wyden’s children harassed her late personal assistant, making explicit comments and exposing themselves, which contributed to his suicide. The widower is suing Bass Wyden, owner of the Strand Bookstore, for negligence and emotional distress.

DK launches Paper Sailor​

BookBrunch reports that DK has introduced Paper Sailor, a lifestyle imprint led by publisher Richard Atkinson. The imprint will produce distinctive, highly collectible books focused on food, craft, gardening and nature.