Willy Wonka Who? Josh Gad Announces Golden Ticket Giveaway to Support Local Comic Bookstores

Josh Gad wants you to hit up your local comic bookstore — and you just might get a reward!

The actor, 44, is celebrating the trade paperback release of his comic book series The Writer – written in collaboration with Ben and Max Berkowitz – with a golden ticket giveaway à la Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Taking inspiration from the beloved Roald Dahl novel, the authors have hidden 15 collectible golden tickets inside copies of the comic that have been distributed to 10 comic book stores in North America, according to a press release shared with PEOPLE. 

The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more!

Fans who find a golden ticket will receive a hand-printed T-shirt designed by Zach Merrill that features artwork based on the cover illustrations by comic book artists Mike Mignola and Jeremy Haun. The shirt will also come in a custom box. 

Gad shared the giveaway in an Instagram video on Thursday, April 22, which saw him urging people to support their local comic bookstores. 

“I have a question for you, and I don’t expect you to answer in real time,” he joked. “But what if you were to find a golden ticket in a comic book that I helped write? I co-created The Writer, a wild, weird, hilarious, horrifying, folklore-fueled adventure. It’s like a Jewish Indiana Jones. And to celebrate the trade paperback, we’re hiding golden tickets and select copies at comic book stores. Yes, like actual golden tickets.”

“Find one and you win an exclusive, limited edition hand-printed T-shirt,” the Frozen star continued. “It’s cool. It’s rare. It’s so not available online.”

Explaining the motive behind the giveaway, Gad said, “We made this giveaway to support local comic shops, the real heroes of this industry. So if you want the book, you’ve got to go in store. Run, don’t walk, but run carefully to your nearest comic book shop, and maybe just maybe, you will find a golden ticket.”

He ended with a love letter to the stores that make up the bookselling industry: “It’s our little thank you to the readers and comic shops who made this ride possible. Get to your local shop this weekend. A little magic might be waiting inside.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The Berkowitz Brothers also thanked comic bookstores in a shared statement obtained by PEOPLE. “We wanted to do something unforgettable to thank the comic shops and readers. This Golden Ticket Giveaway is our way of celebrating the wild, weird, wonderful ride of bringing all four issues together in one epic volume,” they said.

The Writer follows comic book writer Stan Siegel as his “life unravels into a dark, fantastical adventure that blurs the line between fiction and reality,” per an official synopsis. Along with his mother and daughter, the writer goes on a journey that sees him fighting against Nazis, demons and entities from Jewish folklore. 

“As the trio journeys through a world shrouded in occult secrets and ancient myth, long-buried truths begin to surface. Their quest for answers reveals hidden identities and ignites a high-stakes race against an emerging terror,” the description teases. 

The Writer is a four-issue series with illustrations by Ariel Olivetti and lettering by Frank Cvetkovic.

Earlier this year, Gad released his new memoir In Gad We Trust: A Tell-Some. The book, which hit shelves Jan. 14, saw him reflecting on personal topics including his parents divorce, his struggle with self-image and his big break in entertainment.

Right before the release, the stage actor revealed that he would be donating a portion of the proceeds to several different organizations helping victims of the Los Angeles fires.

The Writer is available now, wherever books are sold.

Sign up for a free one-month free trial of Audible Premium Plus. Now through 4/30 receive an Audible Premium Plus membership for just $0.99/month for the first three months.