Inspired by Rich Johnston’s work over at Bleeding Cool where he gets “Little Bleeders” to share rumors from the con floor, we’ve managed to develop a network of fans who share information picked up from creators and publishers around the industry. We’re going to call this column “Multiversity Ear,” and it’s where you’ll get rumors from around the industry about what’s coming next and what could be big that people didn’t hear about out of these cons.
So let’s get to it. Let’s find out what’s next from the comic industry, straight from the mouths of our readers and to our ears.
– An anonymous DC source told one of our readers that plans for both a Vixen and Cyborg series to be announced at Wondercon that weekend, but that DC editorial pre-canceled both books because they assumed that they would not sell. They’re probably right, but it’s a first we’ve ever heard of pre-canceling books. If DC has proven anything, it’s that they are truly innovators in their field at this point.
– Talking to someone close to the show, a reader who calls himself “MichonneMan717” says that the new, upcoming showrunner for The Walking Dead was going to be let go due to his ideas sounding “expensive” and “promising.” Instead, they were going to hire Ronald Moore of Battlestar Galactica reboot fame, but fears grew quickly of his “good ideas” and “character growth,” and they decided to go with someone named Quirinus Quirrel instead.
– A reader named “HudsonHawk,” speaking anonymously, shared that he spoke to a high level marketing person at Marvel who was beaming about “Avengers Animals,” a book coming straight out of Age of Ultron. From what we know, it’s effectively Pet Avengers but told from a really gritty, ground level perspective. Details are limited, but we’ve heard it will start with a #0.1 issue in August that tells the origin of Niels, Speedball’s former cat sidekick who kills Ultron in the stunning conclusion to Age of Ultron #12. Art will be provided by up-and-coming superstar Rob Granito, who claims he’ll be stealing Michael Lark’s art for the book.
– Also at DC, one of our readers claimed to have overheard a gleeful high level editorial member, laughing about how Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown and Wally West all appeared in the New 52, but as dead bodies in the background of Justice League’s first arc. First person to confirm this with screenshots gets a no-prize!
– Lastly, that same reader shared that he also overheard at a nearby bar a DC editorial member exclaiming about the genius of “Batman Month.” Apparently, due to flagging sales in other books, DC is now going to simply put Batman in every book in the month of August to try and boost sales. We’ve heard the same rumor previously, and from what we understand, if it is successful it will now be mandatory to include Batman in every story. “Especially” Vertigo books, from what our anonymous tipster said.
That’s it for rumors from Wondercon. If you hear anything tasty at your local con, please share it to us at YouMustBeJoking@multiversitycomics.com. Keep your ears on your ground, readers.
