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.
In case you missed it, “2000 AD” artist Ron Smith passed away at the age of 94. We also spoke to editor Katii O’Brien about 2019’s Mignolaverse books, and have an exclusive preview of next week’s “Conan the Barbarian” #2.
– The creative team for Humanoids’ “Strangelands” has been announced. Magdalene Visaggio (“Kim & Kim,” “Eternity Girl”) and short story author Darcie Little Badger will co-write the title, with art by Khoi Pham (“Teen Titans”) and Vanessa Del Rey (“Redlands”). The story centers on a couple of strangers who are forced to stay close to each other or risk destroying their planet. The series is one of three ongoings and three mini-series that were announced as part of Humanoids’ new H1 imprint, which will have a “shared super-powered universe.” Del Rey is the only “Strangelands” creator mentioned in the original announcement. The other two ongoings will be “Ignited” by Mark Waid, Kwanza Osajefyo, Phil Briones, and Leonardo Paciarotti, and “Omni” by Cheryl Lynn Eaton and Ariela Kristantina. The shared universe will launch in May on Free Comic Book Day 2019 with “H1 Ignition” #1.
– As part of Netflix’s Carmen Sandiego reboot, they will release a graphic novel called “The Sticky Rice Caper.” No creative team has been announced, but Amazon has it listed for a May 7 release date. The reboot will also include an animated series starring Jane the Virgin‘s Gina Rodriguez (starting next Friday), a novelization of the animated series, an original middle-grade book, four additional unannounced books, learning resources for schools, and a live-action movie also starring Gina Rodriguez in 2020.
– Writer Jay Faerber revealed on Twitter that the upcoming “Near Death” Vol. 3 OGN has been canceled by Image due to low pre-orders, but that it will still be released digitally via Image’s site and comiXology. The book by Faerber, Gigi Baldassini, Ron Riley, and Simone Guglielmini was originally solicited for February 6, but it’s unclear if the digital version will still release that day.
– Netflix has released the trailer for Marvel’s The Punisher: Season 2 with the tagline “Back on the job, Back in the fight.” It features all the guns, blood, and brutal fights you would expect. The new season will be released on January 18.
– First Second Books announced the latest in their “Maker Comics” and “Science Comics series. “Draw a Comic” by JP Coovert releases in October 2019, and “Skyscrapers” by John Kerschbaum releases in November.
– The CW has revealed the premiere and return dates for their spring 2019 TV schedule. DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will return to Monday nights starting April 1, but at 8 PM. Arrow will now air in the 9 PM slot, but is being preempted by a Penn & Teller special on April 1 and will air a rerun against the NCAA men’s basketball championships the next week, so it will return with new episodes on April 15. The fifth and final season of iZombie will also begin airing on Thursday, May 2.
– Mean Girls‘ Jonathan Bennett has been cast to play an “anti-alien troublemaker” in episode 14 of the current Supergirl season. The show returns with new episodes on January 19.
– A few Marvel employees have received promotions with the new year. Darren Shan and Mark Basso have been promoted to full Editors. Some of the titles they will oversee will be the cosmic and Conan titles, respectively. Eric Monacelli in the games division has been promoted to Director of production and will oversee Marvel console games like the recent PS4 Spider-Man and the upcoming The Avengers Project.
– And lastly, in news surprising to no one, “Doomsday Clock” #9 has been pushed back three weeks to February 13. #10 is still set for March 27.
