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, we ran exclusive previews for “Dark Web: X-Men” #3, and comiXology’s “Retroverse” #2.
– Titan Comics has announced “The Michael Moorcock Library: Multiverse Vol. 1,” a brand-new hardcover collection, collecting the first six issues (and three story arcs) of the series. The book features many of Moorcock’s most celebrated characters from his Eternal Champion saga, pitting them against crime lord Silverskin. The collection features art from legendary creators Walt Simonson, John Ridgway and Mark Reeve. The book will be available on July 12, 2023 and can be preordered at local shops, Forbidden Planet, and online retailers.
– Star Wars‘ Dark Lord of the Sith is getting his own anthology series from Marvel. “Star Wars: Darth Vader – Black, White & Red” will run for four issues, with the first featuring stories from Peach Momoko, Torunn Grønbekk, and the first chapter of Jason Aaron’s four parter. The book will also feature art from Leonard Kirk, Momoko, and others to be announced. Like previous Marvel “Black, White & Red” anthologies, the book will use the limited color palette suggested by the title. Alex Maleev will provide covers with a variant from Jim Cheung. Issue #1 (of 4) is due out April 26.
– In other Marvel news, “Guardians of the Galaxy” fan favorite Groot is getting his own limited series. The miniseries will be written by defining “GotG” and Cosmic Marvel writer Dan Abnett with art from Damian Couceiro (“X-Force,” “Ghost Rider 2099”). The series will follow the adventures of young Groot years before he joins the Guardians, as he travels across the galaxy after invaders attack his home planet, Planet X. Mar-Vell and a “distant ancestor” of one of his teammates are slated to make appearances as well. “Groot” #1 (of 4) is set to hit shelves on March 3.
– ComiXology Original “Edgeworld” returns next week, with issue #6 kicking off the series’ second season. Creators Chuck Austen and Patrick Olliffe return to the digital exclusive, described by the publisher and website as “a sexy and gritty adventure series that combines the sci-fi, western, and mystery genres to create something altogether new.” The story follows space magistrate Killian Jess, who defends a distant war torn planet from various intergalactic threats. Issue #6 goes on sale January 17.
– Following the success of the Batman Unburied audio drama, Spotify has announced that Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Mind will premiere this month, with all episodes hitting the music streamer on January 31. Part of Spotify’s multi-year agreement with DC and Warner Bros., the new series stars Christina Ricci and Billy Magnussen as the title villains, with This Is Us‘s Justin Hartley appearing as Batman. The series will explore Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s origins and transformation into Harley Quinn at the hands of “Patient J.”
– Online retailer Europe Comics is shutting down all “consumer-facing activities,” specifically mentioning their website, social media, newsletter, and events. The company still plans on selling new titles, going on to say “you’ll still be able to find new Europe Comics titles through your preferred online retailer,” before thanking fans for their support over its seven-year existence. Formed in 2015, Europe Comics was formed out of a partnership between mostly French and Belgian publishers, and is owned by Média-Participations group.
– Finally, Rick and Morty star and co-creator Justin Roiland has been charged with felony domestic violence in Orange County, California. The charges were in relation to a criminal complaint filed in May 2020, over incidents said to have occurred on or around January 19 of that year. Rolland pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, which include one felony count of domestic battery with corporal injury, and one felony count of false imprisonment by menace, violence, fraud and/or deceit that October. The accuser’s name has not been released publicly, and much of the evidence has been sealed. A plea deal is reportedly on the table, with Roiland ordered to attend another pre-trial hearing on April 27.
