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, “The Boondocks” comic returned through Instagram, while writer David F. Walker started a self-publishing company, Solid Comix.
– ICv2, the news website dedicated to comics professionals and the business of comics, reported that Vault Comics has joined Diamond Comic Distributors’ Final Order Cut-Off (FOC) order system for retailers. Damian Wassel, Vault Comics’ CEO and Publisher says, “Joining the FOC program is a major step for Vault, and an affirmation of all the retailers and fans who have supported us so far.” Vault Comics releases will first be included in the February 2019 Previews catalog in its own section.
– Fox announced it will develop BOOM! Studios’ “Talent” into a TV series. As reported by Comicbook.com, the series will be based on the 2006 comic book by Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski, and Paul Azaceta, which told the story of a college professor who becomes the sole survivor of a plane crash, but soon discovers that he possesses the talents of the other passengers and crew. Boomtown creator Graham Yost will write and executive produce the TV adaptation.
– Netflix revealed that it has five new Spanish originals in development for 2020, including a superhero comedy entitled El Vecino (The Neighbor) which will be directed by Nacho Vigalondo (Colossal). Based on the graphic novels by Santiago Garcia and Pepo Perez, El Vecino will tell the story of Javier, who receives superpowers from a dying alien and becomes a superhero called Titan. However, Javier must also deal with getting fired, or a girlfriend who’s decided to take a break and is now investigating his secret identity.
– Sony Pictures has revived development on a film adaptation of “Shrink,” Rob Liefeld’s comic about a psychiatrist, Dr. Jessica Powers, who specializes in treating superheroes. The property was previously in development with Jennifer Lopez in 2000. Liefeld will produce with Doug Belgrad and Adam Fields, who reportedly restarted the project after dusting off a 19-year old script from the writing team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Smallfoot, Focus, Bad Santa) while trying to find new properties for Sony.
– “Rat Queens” co-creator Kurtis Wiebe and role-playing game website Hyper Rabbit Power Go (Hyper RPG) are teaming up for the first official live play based on the series. ComicBook.com explains, “Rat Queens will feature a talented cast roleplaying live as fans interact with the campaign in the chat room, and the series boasts a stellar all-women cast.” The series begins Wednesday, February 13, at 7pm PST, and will be broadcast weekly on Hyper RPG’s Twitch channel.
– Randall Munroe, the cartoonist behind the scientific webcomic “xkcd,” has announced a new book, titled How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. You can read more about the new book, which comes out September 3, in an interview at Entertainment Weekly.
– The Visual Effects Society Awards were held on Monday: Avengers: Infinity War won four awards, including the main prize for Best Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse also won four VES awards, including Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature. You can read the full list of winners at Deadline.
– IGN had the exclusive debut trailer for DC and Warner Bros. Animation’s latest animated film collaboration, entitled Justice League Vs. The Fatal Five. Produced and directed by Sam Liu (Reign of the Supermen, Gotham by Gaslight), the film features Elyes Gabel (Scorpion, Game of Thrones) as Thomas Kallor/Star Boy and Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black, Jane the Virgin, Doom Patrol) as Jessica Cruz/Green Lantern, as well as the return of Kevin Conroy’s Batman, Susan Eisenberg’s Wonder Woman, and George Newbern’s Superman. The film is based on a story by Eric Carrasco (Supergirl), and has no release date as of yet, but folks can anticipate a digital first release sometime in 2019.
