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, Image Comics have announced writer/artist Afua Richardson’s “Aquarius: The Book of Mer,” AfterShock Comics announced the horror one-shot “Eden,” and BOOM! Studios announced the five-part series “Eve.” We also have an exclusive preview of “Black Cat” #3.
– The world of the character Spawn is set to expand in a big way. From The New York Times, Todd McFarlane has assembled a number of fan favorite creators to bring three new monthly ongoing series to the market as part of a bid to build an interconnected Spawn universe. The efforts kick off with the one-shot “Spawn’s Universe,” that will set up the books “King Spawn,” “Gunslinger Spawn,” and “The Scorched.” Among the creators joining McFarlane on the expansion are Donny Cates, Jim Cheung, Greg Capullo, Frank Quitely and Brett Booth, although the report did not identify which creators would contribute to each book. First introduced in 1992, “Spawn” was an early hit for the then nascent Image Comics, helping to catapult the publisher to success. In 2019, “Spawn” became the longest-running creator-owned comic book series, surpassing the indie series “Cerebus.” “Spawn’s Universe” debuts in June.
– In a numerically fitting bit of news, the ongoing series “Die” from Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans and Clayton Cowles is set to end with “Die” #20. Via Newsarama, the contents of the final arc of the series, titled ‘Bleed,’ begins with “Die” #16. Following a group of estranged friends who are pulled back into the traumatic tabletop fantasy world from which they escaped as children, the book’s 20-issue count echoes the 20-sided die that is common to tabletop roleplaying games, and that features heavily in the mythos of the series. “Die” #16 rolls for initiative in May.
– Image Comics also announced that “Savage Dragon” #259 will be reformatted and rereleased in a new form as “North Force” #0. The issue, which saw the all-new Canadian super team North Force attempting to recruit Malcolm Dragon to their lineup, will be reworked by creator Erik Larsen to shine a spotlight on the new heroes with bios for the team members. “When North Force was introduced in ‘Savage Dragon’ #255 I knew they were something special and reader response has been overwhelming,” said Larsen. “This representation of ‘Savage Dragon’ #259 focuses on the team in a more in-depth fashion with bio pages and more!” “North Force” #0 comes to comic shops on May 5.
– “The Kitchen Witch,” an early work from “Wonder Woman” and “Commanders in Crisis” writer Steve Orlando that was out of print, is getting a remastered print edition from publisher 215 Ink. Polygon has a first look at the “fantasy cooking comic” from Orlando and artist Olivia Palaez, billed as “an all-ages graphic novel about a young boy who discovers the fantastical world where all great cooking ideas come from, and its guardian, the Kitchen Witch.” As part of the promotion for the book, 215 Ink will be sharing a collection of comics creators’ favorite recipes on social media. “The Kitchen Witch” drops on May 26.
– A new comic book limited series based on The Witcher games has been announced. Via Newsarama, Dark Horse’s “The Witcher: Witch’s Lament” comes from CD Projekt Red narrative manager Bartosz Sztybor, artist Vanessa R. del Rey, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Aditya Bidikar, and finds the witcher Geralt confronting dark memories from his past. Sztybor is writing the current limited series “The Witcher: Fading Memories,” the final issue of which is due out in March. “The Witcher: Witch’s Lament” kicks off on May 26.
– Marvel has unveiled the next one-shot tying into the ongoing series “The Immortal Hulk.” Via Newsarama, writer Alex Paknadel (“Giga”) and artist Juan Ferreyra (“Killmonger”) are teaming up for “The Immortal Hulk: Time of Monsters,” a flashback story that reveals a young boy who became the “Original Hulk.” Set in the year 8000 B.C., the story finds something “green and glowing” reaching the Fertile Crescent and poisoning the land — leading the young boy to become the first to open the Green Door, a metaphysical doorway to the twisted dimension known as the Below Place, which is a key setting in “The Immortal Hulk.” “The Immortal Hulk: Time of Monsters” hits shelves on May 19.
Continued below– Danny Elfman is bringing his musical stylings back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. During an interview with Inverse, Elfman confirmed that he has boarded Sam Raimi’s upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, due out in 2022. One of Raimi’s longtime collaborators, Elfman provided the score for all of Raimi’s superhero films, including the Spider-Man franchise and the 1990 film Darkman, as well as Raimi’s most recent film, Oz the Great and Powerful. Danny Elfman already dipped his toes into the MCU once before, collaborating with Brian Tyler on the score for Avengers: Age of Ultron. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Xochitl Gomez, and is scheduled to premiere March 25, 2022.
– John Wesley Shipp is dashing between shows in the CW’s superhero universe. Via Entertainment Weekly, the recurring guest star of The Flash will appear on an upcoming episode in season 2 of Stargirl, reprising his role as Jay Garrick. His appearance is part of what the CW is billing as “a pivotal flashback episode” that establishes Garrick as a member of Earth-2’s Justice Society of America, and brings Stargirl closer to the continuity shared by The Flash, Superman & Lois, Batwoman, Black Lightning, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. Shipp originally portrayed Barry Allen in the 1990 TV series The Flash, making him fitting casting for the role of Barry’s father in the CW’s modern take on the speedster. He has since appeared as various versions of Jay Garrick from different corners of the multiverse, making appearances on Arrow and Supergirl. Shipp’s appearance on Stargirl will come when the series returns for its second season sometime this year.
– The upcoming Netflix adaptation of Winsor McCay’s classic comic strip “Little Nemo in Slumberland” has expanded its cast. From The Hollywood Reporter, Weruche Opia and India de Beaufort have boarded the film called Slumberland, which also stars Jason Momoa, Kyle Chandler, Chris O’Dowd and newcomer Marlow Barkley. The film finds a young girl named Nema (Barkley) who, with the help of a large half-man/half-monster (Momoa) travels through the mystical land of Slumberland in search of her missing father. Directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Red Sparrow) with a script by David Guion and Michel Handelman (Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb), Slumberland is scheduled to film sometime this summer.
– Finally, Image Comics is teasing a mysterious series arriving in 2021. Or 2141. Or perhaps 1963. Details for whatever the cryptic project might be are still under wraps, but writer and artist Declan Shalvey hinted at his involvement, quote tweeting the teaser with the hashtag #ProjectPassenger.
