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, Titan announced a graphic novel of “The Man Who Fell to Earth.”
– Tennessee’s McMinn County school board voted to ban Art Spiegelman’s acclaimed graphic novel “Maus” from all schools in the county. The book, based on the experiences of Spiegelman’s father during the Holocaust, was struck down in a 10-0 vote. The school board cited use of the phrase “God damn” and “naked pictures” (illustrations) of women, denying the subject matter played a role in its removal. “Maus” is the latest in a line of book banning efforts. Cathy G. Johnson’s “The Breakaways” was pulled from schools in Houston last October over the inclusion of trans characters. That same month, all of Jerry Craft’s books were pulled from the Katy Independent School District in East Texas after parents complained his work promoted “Critical Race Theory.”
– Meanwhile, Iranian-Canadian journalist, filmmaker and activist Maziar Bahari, in conjunction with the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, has translated the official graphic novel adaptation of The Diary of Anne Frank into Persian. The translation is part of The Sardari Project, aiding in its efforts to educate young Iranians about the Holocaust, and counter the goverment’s policy of denial. Bahari and his 2004 incarceration were the subject of the 2014 film Rosewater, directed by then-Daily Show host Jon Stewart.
– AHOY Comics has announced the time-traveling romantic dramedy “G.L.I.T.” from Eisner-nominated comics writer and novelist Alisa Kwitney (Rogue: Untouched) and artist Mauricet (“Star Wars Adventures”). The story follows Guild of Independent Lady Temporalists member Hildy Winters, and home healthcare aide Trista, as they’re cast into a time portal back to 1973. Issue #1 is due out on April 6, and will feature a variant cover from Jill Thompson.
– Anne Leung DePies, who has served as DC’s senior vice president, Global Brands and Franchises, has stepped into the company’s senior vice president and general manager role. She takes over from the exiting Daniel Cherry III. DePies will work directly with DC publisher and chief creative officer Jim Lee, assisting with creative, talent, and editorial decisions. “I’ve worked with Anne for over a decade and what impresses me is that she gets the importance of story,” Lee says of her hiring. “She understands it is our foundation, and she has literally woven it into our business plan which speaks volumes as to the future she envisions for DC.”
– After 16 years in the position, Lisa Wood (aka Tula Lotay) announced that she would be stepping down as director of the Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival. Wood cites career and family obligations as her reasoning, and announces that Traveling Man store owner Nabil Homsi would be stepping into the position. She thanked the staff, volunteers, and audience for making Thought Bubble a safe and friendly environment to explore comics.
– “American Jesus,” one of the earliest Millarworld titles, is the next to be adapted by Netflix. The series, which was promoted as multilingual (Spanish/English) in the streamer’s announcement, will focus on a twelve-year old boy learning that he’s the reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Everardo Gout and Leopoldo Gout will showrun, with Gout directing as well. When the show premieres, it will be available here.
– “Tell us you can’t wait for season two without telling us you can’t wait for season two,” the official Masters of the Universe Twitter demands, in an announcement for the release date of season 2 of the new CG animated He-Man series. The next season of Netflix’s hit reboot hits the streamer on March 3.
– Finally, Sony has released a new ad bringing Ghostbusters and Shaman King together. The ad features Shaman King characters recapping the plot of last year’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and commenting on the similarities between the two properties. Both franchises saw revivals last year: Ghostbusters: Afterlife released last November in the States, with its Japanese premiere scheduled for February 4. The current Shaman King series debuted in Japan in April 2021, getting a worldwide release the following August.
