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, we revealed Mahmud Asrar and Emanuela Lupacchino’s variant covers for the upcoming “Immoral X-Men” #2.
– Marvel revealed plans for the upcoming “Fantastic Four” #7 (legacy number #700), by Ryan North and Iban Coello, which will see the return of Doctor Doom. The landmark issue will follow Doom as he sets off “across space and time to reverse the damage that his most bitter foes have unleashed on the Marvel Universe.” Meanwhile, the Fantastic Four face multiple challenges, in addition to Doom himself, in the shape of adjusting to their new base of operations and the loss of Language Itself from their memories. North described the issue as “a big twisty story that brings the Fantastic Four to their new home and views what’s happened to both families over the past year in a new light.” “Fantastic Four” #7/#700 is scheduled for release on May 17.
– Marvel Comics and Abrams ComicArts also revealed “The Super Hero’s Journey” by Patrick McDonnell. “The Super Hero’s Journey” will explore McDonnell’s own relationship to the Marvel heroes of the 1960s by using the characters as avatars to tell a story that is “at once autobiographical, spiritual, and mythological. It’s a unique and singular reading experience that pays homage to the great works of the Silver Age while at the same time using them to make a grander statement about the human condition,” Tom Brevoort, Marvel’s VP of Publishing and Executive Editor, said. More directly, the graphic novel will follow Mr. Fantastic going on a “meta journey that takes him through the pages of classic comic books and across scenes familiar and unexpected” to try and stop Doctor Doom. “The Super Hero’s Journey” is set for release on September 26, 2023; you can check out the cover here.
– Image Comics collaborated with dark wave band AL1CE to create an original theme song for the upcoming first volume of “The Dead Lucky” by Melissa Flores and French Carlomagno, in addition to a trailer/music video for the song. A new entry in the Massive-Verse, “The Dead Lucky” tells the story of Bibiana Lopez-Yang, a former soldier with the ability to control electricity, fighting against the rising tech giant, MORROW, as their influence in San Francisco grows. Tash Cox of AL1CE said, “Our intention in creating the music is to weave similar feelings that we had felt when reading Melissa’s powerful story. We are so honored and grateful for the opportunity of this beautiful collaboration [with Image Comics and “our truly gifted friend, Melissa Flores”].” Flores described the song as “captivating and haunting… [it] perfectly sums up the complex emotion behind this book.” “The Dead Lucky” Volume 1 has a comic book shop release date of March 22, and a bookshop release date of March 28; you can check out the video for the song here.
– Shawn Kirkham, the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Skybound, announced he will be leaving the company after almost 12 years, summarizing his tenure as “ups, downs, and all arounds, it’s been an amazing ride.” The reason for Kirkham’s depature was not revealed, nor was his future destination, with him only describing that following his departure, he will be “[looking] for my next adventure.” At the time of writing there hasn’t been a public response to Kirkham’s announcement from Skybound’s co-founder’s Robert Kirkman and David Alpert, who Kirkham gave “a huge and heartfelt thank you” for “the ride of a lifetime.” Details regarding who will be replacing Kirkham following his departure on February 15 are not yet known.
– Britain’s Royal Mail announced they will be releasing a collection of “X-Men” stamps by Mike McKone and Lee Garbett to celebrate the series’s 60th anniversary. The collection will primarily consist of two sets: the first will feature heroes such as Professor X, Cyclops, and Jean Grey, and be drawn by Mike McKone, whilst the second will showcase villains such as Magneto, Mystique, and Juggernaut, and be drawn by Lee Garbett. There are multiple collectibles releasing alongside the standard stamps, such as limited Silver Plated Ingots that feature panels from iconic moments and issues from the series etched into the back. The collection is due for release on February 16.
– It was reported that there will be an additional three returning cast members for The Flash‘s upcoming ninth and final season: Rick Cosnett as Eddie Thawne; Matt Letscher as Eobard Thawne and the Reverse-Flash; and Jessica Parker Kennedy as Nora West-Allen aka XS. Eric Wallace, the show’s executive producer, said Cosnett and Parker Kennedy’s returns were fitting as Cosnett was “an integral part of the show’s inaugural season,” whilst with the show being “about the importance of family,” the daughter of Barry and Iris returning “was always in the cards.” On Letscher’s return, Wallace detailed that “we created a very special story for him, one we’ve been excited to tell for a while, but couldn’t until now. The result is a wild and bittersweet episode we hope fans — both old and new — will love.” The Flash begins its final season on Wednesday, February 8.
– Finally, fashion designer Paco Rabanne, who was a costume designer for 1968’s Jane Fonda-starring Barbarella, died at the age of 88. Rabanne, born in Spain as Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, is most widely known for his fashion house’s debut collection, ‘Manifesto: 12 unwearable dresses in contemporary materials,’ in 1966, and for the ongoing perfume collection that bears his name; the latter started through his collaboration with Puig in 1968, and was revived by the latter company in 2011. Rabanne’s legacy will continue though Puig’s ongoing work in his name, with the company stating that Rabanne “will remain a constant source of inspiration.”
