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.
– At the Angoulême International Comics Festival, this year’s top prize or Fauve d’Or went to “Revolution 1. liberte,” the first installment of Florent Grouazel and Younn Locard’s trilogy about the French Revolution. Prizes also went to Seth for “Clyde Fans,” and Gou Tanabe’s adaptation of “The Shadow Out of Time” by H.P. Lovecraft: you can read the full list of this year’s winners here and (in French) here.
– Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron caused a stir with his visit to the festival after posing with a t-shirt (designed by cartoonist Jul) that criticizes the use of rubber bullets by the French authorities. The Beat shared that Macron responded to criticism that the shirt was “anti-police,” by defending the right to free expression, and to make comments he disagrees with.
– In other awards news, Watchmen won the WGA Award for Best New Series; Avengers: Endgame and The Umbrella Academy both won separate DGA Awards; and Joker won three BAFTAs for star Joaquin Phoenix, casting director Shayna Markowitz, and composer Hildur Gudnadottir. (Andy Serkis was also recognized with the Outstanding British contribution to Cinema Award, while Kathleen Kennedy received the BAFTA Fellowship.)
– Disney aired new TV spots for Black Widow and Disney+ during Super Bowl LIV, with the latter bringing us the first look at The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Loki. Wonder Woman 1984 also received a tie-in Tide commercial, co-starring Charlie Day.
– Speaking of Loki, Variety have confirmed Owen Wilson will feature in the series. It is unknown who Wilson will play at this time. The casting marks a reunion for star Tom Hiddleston, who acted opposite Wilson in Midnight in Paris. Loki premieres on Disney+ next year.
– School Library Journal revealed three new Oni Press graphic novels for young readers, due out this Fall. They consist of “This Is a Flying Rat” by Andrew Cangelose and Josh Shipley (out September 1); “Wizerd! And the Potion of Dreams” by Michael Sweater and Rachel Dukes (September 8); and “Frankie and the Creepy Cute Critters” by Caitlin Rose Boyle (October 6). Head on over to the Journal for a preview of all three books.
– The Bookseller reports Myriad Press will publish “Hamid and Shakespeare,” the debut graphic novel of Iranian animator and former Calais refugee Majid Adin. Set for publication on April 23, 2021 (the 405th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death), the book will tell the story of a refugee who becomes determined to watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream be performed at the Globe Theatre in London.
– According to Publishers Weekly, HarperCollins have acquired Keith and Larissa Marantz’s middle-grade graphic novel “Blake Laser.” Set in the 24th century, the book follows a 12-year-old inventor who, along with her family, “must stop aliens from stealing the Sun’s energy, which would lead to the total destruction of Earth within 48 hours.” It will be released in Fall 2022.
– Writer Eric M. Esquivel and editor Eddie Berganza – who were respectively accused of sexual abuse and harassment – have set up a new publishing company called Alternate Empire. The press release claims they will donate ten percent of proceeds to Los Angeles’s “Restorative Education Services,” but a quick investigation by cartoonist Nick Marino demonstrates no such organization exists.
– Finally, on a much lighter note, Ryan Reynolds bought a full-page newspaper advertisement showcasing “Crowded” writer Christopher Sebela’s dog. Sebela made the unlikely request on Twitter after seeing Reynolds advertise the Mint Mobile phone service (which he has an ownership stake in) in the paper. The writer joked, “I’d explain all this to her but first I’d have to explain newspapers, mobile phones and Ryan Reynolds so nevermind.”
