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, Roxane Gay’s short story “The Sacrifice of Darkness” will get a graphic novel adaptation from Archaia. We also have an exclusive preview for “Tales of Harrow County: Death’s Choir” #3.
– From Newsarama, Oni Press announced that it has cancelled all orders of the comic series “r(ender);” #1 through #3, but that the series is still in development. A representative for the publisher explained that original artist, Lenka Šimecková, has stepped away from the book due to health concerns, but co-creator and writer Leah Williams plans to find a new artist to resume work on the series. The series was originally announced as a 10-issue maxi debuting in April 2019 from Lion Forge, then Oni Press (Lion Forge’s sister company). Williams writes, “We’ve truly loved working with Lenka but we have to prioritize her well-being. Newly settling in with Oni, now, fortunately provides us with the juncture where we can actually pause to make such a prioritization happen, and allow us to shift gears with a new artist and co-collaborator accordingly.”
– The Comics Beat (also known as The Beat) announced that after its two year deal with Lion Forge, the comics media website will return as an independent publication. In a letter by Heidi MacDonald, the Editor-in-Chief wrote on the decision and thanked her partners and staff in anticipation of the transition. The Comics Beat was established in 2004 and is a two-time nominee for the Will Eisner Award in the Best Comics-Related Periodical/Journalism category.
– Bleeding Cool reports that creators of the comic book “The Mall” and publisher James Pruett of Scout Comics have entered into legal proceedings with creators of Vault Comics’ “Mall” over the legal usage of the name. Pruett reached out to Vault Comics through Facebook requesting the publisher and creators of “Mall” change the title of the comic series. Damian Wessel, CEO and Publisher of Vault Comics, responded that “Our counsel has advised that the titles are not protectable under copyright law, and the series creator is firmly committed to the title. In addition to this, the titles are not at all confusable in terms of content: one is a crime story set in the eighties, the other is a post-apocalyptic story of clan rivalry reminiscent of The Warriors. For what it’s worth, our book is titled ‘Mall’ not ‘The Mall’; the current presence of the article in our Diamond solicits is the result of a Diamond typo.”
– From a press release posted on Newsarama, Nell Brinkley (“Brinkley Girl”) and E. Simms Campbell (a cartoonist who contributed to Esquire and Life) will be automatically inducted into the 2020 class of the Will Eisner Comics Awards Hall of Fame. Joining them will be four nominees from the following fourteen: Alison Bechdel, Howard Cruse, Moto Hagio, Don Heck, Jeffrey Catherine Jones, Francoise Mouly, Keiji Nakazawa, Thomas Nast, Lily Renée Peter Phillips, Stan Sakai, Louise Simonson, Don and Maggie Thompson, James Warren, and Bill Watterson. Industry professionals can vote online by March 15th to decide who will be inducted.
– From CBR, “Afro Samurai” creator Takashi Okazaki is making his Marvel Comics debut with a variant cover for “Werewolf by Night” #1, set to launch in April. Marvel Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski wrote about his appreciation for Okazaki, saying, “I’ve wanted to bring Takashi to Marvel ever since we first met during production of Afro Samurai, and we’re thrilled he’s finally found some time in his schedule.” “Werewolf by Night” will be written by Taboo (of The Black Eyed Peas) and Ben Jackendoff with art by Scot Eaton, and will introduce a Native American version of the character.
– Newsarama writes that “Superman: Heroes” #1 has been delayed by three weeks, with the book now aiming for a February 19th release date. The 48-page one-shot comic book will explore the consequences of Superman’s decision to make his identity as Clark Kent public, and is written by “Action Comics” and “Superman” writer Brian Michael Bendis, “Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen” writer Matt Fraction, “Lois Lane” writer Greg Rucka, and “Supergirl” writer Jody Houser. Contributing artists include Kevin Maguire, Steve Lieber, Mike Perkins, and others.
Continued below– Newsarama also wrote on the collaboration between comic book creator Jen Bartel (“Blackbird”) and shoemakers Puma for Harley Quinn-inspired shoes ahead of the film Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The sneakers will be available in February. Bartel previously collaborated with Adidas for shoes inspired by Marvel Comics characters Thanos and Captain Marvel.
– In film and television news, The Hollywood Reporter writes that the previously announced television adaptations Howard the Duck and Tigra & Dazzler have been cancelled. The two shows were announced as a package of animated Marvel Comics comedies debuting on Hulu with M.O.D.O.K. and Hit Monkey. The current status of the crossover show The Offenders is not currently known.
– Lastly, director Nicole Kassell won the DGA Award for Dramatic Series for her work on the first episode of HBO’s Watchmen, “It’s Summer and We’re Running Out of Ice.” Meanwhile, at the Annie Awards, Avengers: Endgame won Best Character Animation in a Live Action Production, while Shauna McGarry won Best Writing in an Animated TV/Media Production for Tuca & Bertie‘s “The Jelly Lakes.”
