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.
– Dark Horse Comics announced “Beasts of Burden: The Presence of Others,” the latest addition to writer Evan Dorkin and artist Jill Thompson’s Eisner Award-winning saga. The two-issue series will see the titular team of intelligent pets contend with a team of human occult investigators, who have accidentally disturbed the graveyard of the mysterious “Master.” “Beasts of Burden: The Presence of Others” #1 will be published on May 1, 2019.
– After several delays, Image have cancelled the third and fourth issues of “Jook Joint.” The five-issue series, written by Tee Franklin with art by Alitha Martinez, began in October. Franklin declared in a statement at Bleeding Cool, “While ‘Jook Joint’ touched thousands of lives and helped several women leave their abusive relationships, it’s with regret that ‘Jook Joint’ is being shelved for now. Heloise and Mahalia’s story will continue when the time is right. Thank you for your support. I’d like to thank Image for giving me a platform for this series that dealt with sexual assault and domestic violence, in addition to supporting me through this unfortunate cancellation. Thank you to the amazing team for bringing ‘Jook Joint’ to life.”
– “Tony Stark: Iron Man,” which has also had multiple delays, will receive a new co-writer in Jim Zub. Zub will reportedly script the comic, which Dan Slott will continue to plot, to help get it get back on track. Zub’s first issue, “Tony Stark: Iron Man” #9, will be available digitally and in comic book stores on March 13.
– DC have delayed the sixth and final issue of Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack’s “Cover.” The final issue was meant to come out on February 20, but has been pushed back to March 13 to give the creators more time to complete the issue, which will be 29 pages longer than originally solicited. Despite the increased page count, the comic will not go up in price. DC also confirmed “Cover” will return for a second series next year.
– The finalists for the 2019 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics have been announced: “Papa Cherry” (Saxton Moore, Phillip Johnson), “The Snagglepuss Chronicles” (Mark Russell, Mike Feehan), “Archival Quality” (Noelle Weir, Christina Stewart), “Victor Lavalle’s Destroyer” (Victor LaValle, Dietrich Smith), and “The Carpet Merchant” (Reimena Yee). The winner of the award, which aims to spotlight the best underpresented voices in comic books, will be announced February 15.
– Rachel Skarsten has been cast in the Batwoman pilot as lead villain Alice. In the comics, Alice is Batwoman’s nemesis, and Kate Kane (Ruby Rose)’s identical twin sister Elizabeth. Skarsten has previously played Dinah Lance on the 2002 series Birds of Prey, Tamsin on Lost Girl, and Elizabeth I of England in Reign.
– “Motor Girl” creator Terry Moore announced on Twitter that he is working on a pilot for a TV version of the comic at Hulu. The 2017 maxiseries revolved around Sam, an Iraq War veteran with PTSD, her friend, a gorilla named Mike, and aliens who are stranded and need her help after crashing in her junkyard.
– Archie Comics is expanding with some new hires in its film and television operations. With a goal to build on the success of Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, the team is adding Siobhan Bachman as SVP of Film & Television and Matthew Lottman as Head of Development & Production.
– AfterShock Comics has hired Dan Shires for its newly-created position of UK Vice President of Film and Television. He brings two decades of broadcast experience to the independent comic book company, with stints at Vivendi Universal, the Walt Disney Company, and Fox Networks Group.
– Finally, full details were released on the Justice League vs. The Fatal Five. The feature-length animated film will be available on digital starting March 30, 2019, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on April 16, 2019.
