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, Rumiko Takahashi was awarded the Grand Prix d’Angoulême.
– “Powers” co-creator Michael Avon Oeming has announced he will be writing and drawing a new Dick Tracy limited series titled “Dick Tracy Forever.” Oeming, who has spoken publicly for over a decade about his desire to work with the character, said this week, “I’ve gotten to write and draw most of my bucket list characters, from The Spirit to Batman and more, but I never dreamed that Dick Tracy would even be a possibility.” IDW Publishing described the new series as Sisyphean, with Tracy “pushing the law boulder up the hill as he struggles for reason and order in a world with none.” Issue #1 is out April.
– A new “X-O Manowar” ongoing series has been announced for fall of 2019. At this time, no info has been released regarding the book’s creative team or if it will tie into the current ongoing series – which is set to conclude with this April’s #26. However, Valiant Comics shared a teaser image by Doug Braithwaite and colorist Diego Rodriguez with the tagline “Unleashed.” In other Valiant news, artist Rags Morales is set to return to Valiant Comics this April with “Bloodshot Rising Spirit” #6. Morales worked for the original Valiant Comics from 1993-1998 on titles like “Archer & Armstrong” and “Geomancer.” Since he left Valiant, he has worked primarily with DC Comics, having drawn 2004’s “Identity Crisis” and 2011’s “Action Comics.”
– Dark Horse Comics has announced a new graphic novel tie-in to the upcoming The Lion King film. “The Lion King: Wild Schemes and Catastrophes” will be written by John Jackson Miller, and will be an anthology style book featuring different stories about Simba and his friends. No artist has been announced to be attached the graphic novel yet. The book is out June 4, 2019, and the remake will be in theaters July 19.
– In his most recent Jinxworld newsletter, comic book writer Brian Michael Bendis teased the upcoming DC Comics event, ‘Leviathan.’ In the statement, Bendis confirmed that longtime collaborator Alex Maleev will draw the event and claimed that ‘Leviathan’ will be “monumental to the DC Universe.” No release date has been given at this time.
– Comic book writer John Layman took to his Twitter account to address rumors surrounding the apparent cancellation of his Image Comics series, also called “Leviathan.” In the tweet, Layman says that the series has not been cancelled, but has been taken off Image’s publishing schedule until he and artist Nick Pitarra get caught up. You can read his tweet here.
– March’s “Catwoman” #9 will have a different creative team than originally solicited. Initially, the issue was to be written written by regular writer/artist Joelle Jones and illustrated by Fernando Blanco, but the issue will now be written by Ram V (“Paradiso”) and illustrated by John Timms (“Harley Quinn”).
– Newsarama reports customers who have preordered or purchased a digital copy of “Fantastic Four” #6 before 11:59 PM ET on January 29th will now instead receive the Director’s Cut edition of the issue. The new edition of the issue will feature a draft of #1’s plot, inked pages, color pages, a variant cover gallery, never-before-seen character designs and more.
– Doctor Who actor Matt Smith has been cast in a leading role in the Spider-Man spin-off film, Morbius. Little about the film is known as of yet, other than it will be directed by Daniel Espinosa (Safehouse) and will star Jared Leto (Suicide Squad) in the titular role. Smith’s role has not yet been announced.
– According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bryan Singer remains attached as the director for the upcoming Red Sonja film, despite an increase in sexual assault allegations. A statement provided by producer Avi Lerner accused The Atlantic‘s exposé of being “agenda driven fake news,” concluding “I am very comfortable with this decision. In America people are innocent until proven guilty.” Singer has been accused by several men of statutory rape and sexual assault, while Lerner has been sued for sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
– Finally, Phoenix police have arrested a Florida man for trying to sell stolen comics valued at almost $100,000. Phillip Weisbauer of Royal Palm Beach, Fla. twice visited a Phoenix comic book store in an attempt to sell four individually graded comics believed to be from the collection of 446 comic books stolen from a storage unit in Boca Raton.
