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, Marvel and DC announced “Fantastic Four: Life Story” and “Wonder Girl,” respectively. We also spoke to Tony Fleecs and Trish Forstner, the creative team behind “Stray Dogs.”
– Thought Bubble has announced the initial guest list for its 2021 convention as they return to an in-person event. Of particular note are writers G. Willow Wilson, Scott Snyder, Gail Simone, Chuck Palahniuk, Ram V and James Tynion IV, in addition to a swathe of artists and cartoonists including David Aja, Becky Cloonan, Rafael Alburquerque, Ronald Wimberly, Michael Conrad and Emma Rios. A full guest list can be seen here, with tickets available now. The festival will be held from November 13-14 at the Harrogate Convention Centre in North Yorkshire, UK.
– The students of Cheney High School in Oxford have brought ancient Greece to their hometown in the graphic novel “Primordial Soup: Tales of the Greek Gods in Oxford.” “Long before Zeus and his gang took over, the primordials were running the show,” reads the blurb. “Overthrown and forgotten, somehow they’ve ended up living out their lives in twenty-first century Oxford. Cronus owns a clock shop in St Clement’s and Gaia is running allotments up the Cowley Road.” Each story in the anthology was plotted by the Year 8 students of Cheney High with the support of the Iris Classics Centre, who were then supported by author Ahmed Alameen and artist Lydia Hall in creating the final product. The project began in September 2020, with students studying Greek mythology, the graphic medium, and the adaptation of mythology into different media. The 32-page comic can be accessed here free of charge.
– We have new details about DC’s Ambush Bug series “Let Them Live!” In addition to the debut issue’s Suicide Squad story from Jim Zub and Tradd Moore, issue #2 will have a Nightwing story from Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Jorge Corona, and #3 will spotlight a Batman adventure by Scott Bryan Wilson and John Paul Leon. The comics will debut on the DC Universe streaming service, with each issue then releasing on other digital platforms after 30 days. Each issue features framing sequences written by Elliot Kalan, with art by Mike Norton and Marissa Louise. Issue #1 hit shelves on February 2, with each upcoming issue coming out on a bi-weekly basis going forward.
– Dark Horse will be publishing “The Complete American Gods” this September, bringing together the full three-year series from Neil Gaiman, P. Craig Russell, Scott Hampton and David Mack. The book clocks in at 720 pages, collecting all 27 issues of the original series. The hardcover collection features an all-new slipcase cover from David Mack, with the book releasing September 14 for US$124.99.
– Ariana Grande is selling a comic book that ties in with her song “R.E.M.” and the perfume inspired by it. The book can be purchased as a part of her $75 “R.E.M.” Fan Box Set. The comic was created by writer Terry Blas and Atomic Demon Art, with a cover by Cheyne Gallarde. “Ariana Grande vs Sargeant Shade and the Clonebot Brigade” features Grande saving the galaxy alongside her pet sidekicks Toulouse and Piggy Smallz.
– Scarecrow has a new character design from artist Jorge Jimenez, set to debut in “Infinite Frontier” #0 and “Batman” #106. The next arc in Tynion and Jimenez’s “Batman” run is titled ‘The Cowardly Lot,’ with this reinvented Scarecrow taking centre-stage. “They’re not nearly scared enough,” reads Jimenez’s tweet. “But they will be.” “Infinite Frontier” #0 and “Batman” #106 will both release on March 2, 2021 with the former retailing for $5.99 and the latter $4.99.
– The Simpsons creator Matt Groening is auctioning off a portrait sketch of Homer in a face mask as a part of a charity auction for his old school, Lincoln High, in East Portland. The “Flock On!” school fundraiser is open for entry from all bidders, with Groening’s sketch going up for sale around 6pm PST (9pm EST) today. “Go, Lincoln High School! Safe, safe!” reads the work. “Matt Groening, Class of 1972.”
Continued below– A range of CW shows have received early renewals, including Riverdale, The Flash, Batwoman, and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow. This gives confirmation that The Flash will continue into its 8th season, Legends of Tomorrow into its 7th, Riverdale into its 6th and Batwoman into its 3rd. In addition, the CW have ordered an additional two episodes of Superman & Lois for its debut season, bringing the total up to 15 episodes. This leaves the fates of all ongoing Arrowverse shows sealed into the near future, with Supergirl and Black Lightning both previously confirmed to have reached their final seasons.
– The 2021 Golden Globe nominations have gone live, with Lovecraft Country and The Mandalorian both receiving nominations for the Best TV Series, Drama category. Overall, the most nominated show and film for the event were Netflix’s The Crown and Mank, which are each competing for 6 awards. As always, our coverage of both The Mandalorian and Lovecraft Country is only a click away.
– Zack Snyder’s Justice League has officially received its MPAA R-rating for “violence and some language,” bringing it in line with two of Snyder’s previous DC pictures, Watchmen and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Ultimate Edition. Snyder had previously told audiences to expect the rating because “there’s one scene where Batman drops an F-bomb,” he said. “Steppenwolf is pretty much just hacking people in half. So [the rating would be due to] violence and profanity, probably both.”
