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.
– Leading off today, a new poster and synopsis for the hotly anticipated second season of Attack on Titan were revealed today. The critically acclaimed first season of the anime, showcasing a post-apocalyptic world where humanoid-esque titans have forced humanity to retreat behind three circular walls, one inside the other, premiered back in 2013 and fans have eagerly awaited new episodes. Based on the manga series by Hajime Isayama from Kodansha, Attack on Titan season 2 premieres April 2017.
-Continuing the celebration of Image Comics’ 25th year, comiXology Unlimited will add 25 of Image’s most popular complete or ongoing series every other week until May. “God Hates Astronauts” full run was added today, as well as up to the eight issue of “Bitch Planet,” and the first volume of “Wytches.”
– With the announcement of Ben Affleck’s departure as the director of The Batman, a number of directors are rumored to be in the running as Affleck’s replacement. Names include, George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road), Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes), Gavin O’Connor (Warrior, The Accountant), Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Arrival) and Matt Ross (Captain Fantastic). The initial script by Affleck and DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns also recently underwent rewrites by Chris Terrio (Argo).
– Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige, in an interview with Screenrant revealed that the majority of Thor:Ragnarok will take place offworld, with only three scenes on Earth, and the rest on Asgard and in other parts of the MCU cosmos (as well as in a gladiatorial arena where Thor and Hulk will engage in a “Planet Hulk” inspired brawl).
– Listings on My Entertainment World have possibly revealed new information on Fox’s upcoming plans for Marvel’s mutants. The pilot for the recently announced X-Men television drama, being directed by none other than X-Men veteran Bryan Singer, is set to begin production on March 13 in Dallas, Texas. They also revealed that the rumored X-Men: Supernova, sequel to X-Men: Apocalypse, will be centered around “The Dark Phoenix Saga” and begin production in June. We await the official announcements from Fox, but it appears the mutants have a favorable, live-action future.
– A new trailer for the fifth season of Samurai Jack premiered today, detailing a much darker Jack, set 50 years after the season four following Jack being cursed by Aku to wander the Earth. The show, last on the air in 2004, has had spin off comics published by IDW and has received much critical acclaim, including 4 Primetime Emmy Awards. Look for the new season to premiere on Adult Swim on March 11.
– IGN shared a video today of 13 minutes of Injustice 2 gameplay, centered around newly announced character Black Canary. In the footage, Canary takes on Supergirl, Deadshot, and Blue Beetle (all new characters to the Injustice universe), before fighting Batman. Black Canary’s appearance in the game adds a wrinkle to the narrative, as she was written out of the Tom Taylor-penned, prequel series in “Year Two.” Injustice 2 arrives on Xbox One and PS4 May 16th.
– Finally, and take this with a grain of salt, Bleeding Cool ran a number of rumors today about upcoming plans from Marvel. These rumors include: a new X-Men cartoon to be announced later this year, plans for the fall of 2017 for Marvel’s comic line to showcase less politically charged and more status quo heroes following “Secret Empire”, and, along with that, a rebirth of sorts of A-list writers and artists to headline these new stories going into 2018. Until confirmed these are all rumors, but all point to a stronger Marvel come the fall.
