Welcome back to The Rundown, our daily breakdown on comic news stories we missed from the previous day. Have a link to share? Email our team at rundown@multiversitycomics.com.
– Lucasfilm announced a new original graphic novel and a manga alongside a launch trailer for the multi-media publishing initiative, Star Wars: The High Republic, as part of a live streamed panel. The graphic novel, “The Monster of Temple Peak,” will be penned by Cavan Scott, the writer of Marvel’s High Republic comic series, with Rachael Stott providing the artwork. Writers Shima Shinya and Justina Ireland, and artist Mizuki Sakakibara, will be the creative team behind the Viz Media’s manga-formatted graphic novel, “The Edge of Balance.” Release dates for the newly announced projects were not given. The first phase of the initiative, ‘Light of the Jedi,’ starts today with the release of three novels, including Charles Soule’s Star Wars: The High Republic: The Light of the Jedi, with the comics side of the initiative being led by Scott and Ario Anindito’s “Star Wars: The High Republic” #1 tomorrow. Full details on the rest of the announcements can be found here.
– Disney revealed that the upcoming Marvel Studios Disney+ series, WandaVision, will have nine episodes airing across eight weeks, from January 15 to March 5. Previously, the series had been reported to consist of six or eight episodes, with questions now being asked as to whether the series will premiere with two episodes. The series will follow Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) as they question the reality of their idealized suburban life that they find themselves in. In further Disney+ news, the streaming service announced its international, adult-aimed tier, Star, will launch on February 23.
– Kodansha have confirmed the manga “Attack on Titan” will end in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine on April 9, 2021. Created by Hajime Isayama, “Attack on Titan” began on September 9, 2009, and tells the dark, post-apocalyptic story of a world besieged by cannibalistic giants. The fourth and final season of the anime version is currently airing in Japan, and the 34th and final paperback collection of the comic will be published there on June 9.
– Ablaze announced they will publish Maria Llovet’s “Eros/Psyche” as a five-issue series from March. The comic, written, drawn and colored by Llovet, follows Sara and Silje, two students at the magical Rose boarding school, which is a “paradise for young girls… but only if you follow the rules. Because, if you disobey them, you can end up expelled, or even worse, dead.” Both girls fall in love, but their relationship “threatens to break under the weight of the dark secret society within the Rose.” Issue #1 goes on sale March 17, 2021.
– Skull Fracture Records announced via press release that they will be releasing a soundtrack for Scout Comics’ upcoming series “By The Horns.” By The Horns (Original Soundtrack) will feature two original songs by Arctic Sleep, the first of which, “Blade Through Your Heart,” is available to stream now via both Arctic Sleep and Skull Fracture Records’ Bandcamp pages. The comic series by writer Markisan Naso, artist and letterer Jason Muhr, and colorist Andrei Tabacaru, will follow Elodie, as she seeks to kill all the unicorns across the continent of Solothus after her husband is trampled by a group of them. The soundtrack will be released digitally as well as on vinyl, with four different editions, with two editions assigned to the Arctic Sleep Bandcamp page, and two to Skull Fracture Records’ Bandcamp page. The soundtrack will be released on March 5, following the release of “By The Horns” #1 on February 24.
– In more musical news, Warner Bros.’ WaterTower Music announced a partnership with Mondo that will see the launch of a new line of DC superhero soundtrack vinyl releases, starting later this week with a three-disc deluxe edition of Rupert Gregson-Williams’ Aquaman score. The three discs will include the entirety of the film’s score, bonus tracks, and remixes. The edition will feature original artwork by Pascal Blanché. Shazam!, both seasons of Doom Patrol, and Superman: The Movie are the other titles announced for the line at this time. The vinyl release of Aquaman is scheduled for January 6.
– Finally, a GoFundMe page was set up for Tony Atkinson, the husband of colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, after he was taken to hospital on January 3 following heart and kidney failure. The page has a target of raising $50,000 to cover the hospital bills as they do not have health insurance. Artist Todd Nauck launched an auction for an original 9″ x 12″ of Jean Grey, with the money raised being donated to the cause. $11,114 had been raised by the fundraiser at the time of writing.
