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, DC announced “Generation Zero” as part of their Free Comic Book Day offerings. We also have an interview with letterer John Roshell on his new font company Swell Type, and an exclusive preview of “Wonder Woman” #751.
– Newsarama has a teaser hinting at an announcement today for a new comic book publishing company headed by ex-Valiant Entertainment executives Dinesh Shamdasani, Warren Simons, and Hunter Gorinson. The teaser features black-and-white art by Doug Braithwaite, Tomás Giorello, Lewis Larosa, and Adam Pollina (all artists who have worked at Valiant Entertainment) with the words “Bad Idea” centered in the image. The teaser included a message saying: “Your new favorite comic book publisher. Announcement tomorrow.” Expect coverage from us later today.
– School Library Journal announced “Prince of the City,” a sequel to “Queen of the Sea,” from creator Dylan Meconis arriving in Fall 2022. On the plot, Meconis says, “Our three intrepid escapees from the Island – Eleanor, Francis, and Margaret – travel to the Continent aboard the Regina Maris. Their enemies think they’re dead, so they have to adopt some unusual disguises, and rely on odd jobs and the charity of Elysian convents to get by. Their mission is to convince the rulers of other kingdoms to join in fighting Queen Catherine.”
– CBR writes that comics publisher Devil’s Due will be starting an imprint of comics dedicated to “progressive politics and populist movements that challenge both the right and the center-left.” The imprint, Ballot Box Comics, follows the popularity of Devil’s Due’s previously released “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force: New Party, Who Dis?” comic, which will be reprinted in a 144-page trade paperback scheduled to be released on April 22nd. Other titles include “Talk to Bernie to Me: The Bernie Sanders Special & AOC Surprise” (released in July 2019), and the latest title, “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force: Squad Special.”
– In film and television news, Variety reports that Sam Raimi has been tapped to replace Scott Derrickson as the director of the sequel to the Doctor Strange movie, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Raimi’s cachet was earned among comic book fans for directing Spider-Man 2, regarded by many to be one of the best superhero films. Raimi’s hiring comes after Derrickson left due to creative differences, although he is still attached as a producer for the film. The film is currently scheduled to open on May 7, 2021.
– From TV Line, actress Abigail Shapiro has been cast as Dorothy Spinner for the second season of the DC Universe streaming show Doom Patrol. Dorothy was created by Paul Kupperberg, Erik Larsen, and Jim Sanders III for the second “Doom Patrol” comic series. She played a prominent role in Grant Morrison’s run on the title and was also recently featured in the Young Animal imprint version by Gerard Way et al. The character was featured at the end of season one as Niles Caulder’s daughter, although her face wasn’t shown. In addition to being available on DC Universe, Doom Patrol season 2 will stream on HBO Max.
– Deadline reports actors Jordan Elsass and Alexander Garfin will play the sons of Lois and Clark in the upcoming CW television series Superman & Lois. The actors will play Jonathan and Jordan, respectively. According to reports, the characters are believed to be twins: Jonathan will be clean-cut and modest, while Jordan has a mercurial temperament and is wildly intelligent. The series spins out of the CW DC Universe following the revelation of the two’s existence after the ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ crossover. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch are set to reprise their roles as Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
– From Comicbook.com, Chinese anime licensor Bilibili has pulled all four seasons of the anime My Hero Academia from its website after the reveal of the name of the doctor who worked under All For One. The character’s name, Ujiko Maruta, was met with intense criticism because of the connotations it has with human experimentation, and other war atrocities, committed by the Japanese in World War II during the occupation of Korea and China. This follows Monday’s news that the manga publisher of “My Hero Academia,” Shonen Jump, will change the character’s name in future publications.
