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, EC Comics is returning as an imprint at Oni Press this summer, while former Marvel UK editor-in-chief Paul Neary passed away, aged 74. We also had an exclusive first look at Cliff Chiang’s cover for “Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine” #1.
– Via Popverse, BOOM! Studios have announced “Crocodile Black,” written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson with art by Som. The crime thriller was inspired by people’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Johnson citing how people left careers or school programs they were never interested in, to pursue a path they were too afraid to before. In a statement from the publisher, Johnson said “It’s about a COVID-era kid with no prospects finding something he never knew he wanted, and using it to become someone he never knew he wanted to be: a dangerous man.” Featuring a main cover by Andrea Sorentino and a variant cover by Christian Ward, “Crocodile Black” #1 will be on comic stands on May 8, 2024.
– Via AIPT, Dark Horse have announced “Beyond the Pale,” a new comic by Christofer Emgård and Tomás Aira continuing the pair’s exploration of eldritch horror that began in their previous books, “The Secret Land” and “The Whispering Dark.” The four-issue miniseries follows Hetta Sawyer, a war correspondent who’s looking into the disproportionate loss of Black soldiers in the Vietnam War, especially at Firebase Tartarus, where Hetta believes something sinister to be happening. “Beyond the Pale” #1 will be released on June 5, 2024.
– Via IGN, IDW have announced that “TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures” #12 will feature a multiversal crossover. Written by Erik Burnham with art by Sarah Myer, the issue sees the classic animated 1987 Turtles face off against reality-warping villain Mister Ogg, who has devised a set of challenges for the Turtles with their universe on the line. The issue will see the 1987 Turtles meet Leonardo from the classic Mirage comic book run, Donatello from the 2003 animated series, Michelangelo from the 2012 animated series, Raphael from Rise of the TMNT, and Jennika from the current IDW comic universe. “TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures” #12 will be released on April 24, 2024.
– Via Women Write About Comics, Archie Comics have announced “Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Fairy Tales” #1, written by Goldie Chan, with pencils from Bill Galvan, inks from Ben Galvan, colors from Glen Whitmore, and letters by Jack Morelli. In the book, wise maidens Veronica and Betty meet a duckling portrayed by Cassie Cloud. When the duckling refuses to subscribe to the village’s social standards, she teaches everyone a thing or two about inner beauty. “Betty and Veronica: Friends Forever: Fairy Tales” #1 will be available on May 1, 2024.
– Marvel have solicited the final books of the Krakoan era, before their relaunch under editor Tom Brevoort. May’s final line-up includes “Wolverine” #50 by Benjamin Percy, Victor LaValle, Larry Hama and more, with art by Cory Smith, Geoff Shaw, Javi Fernàndez, and Daniel Picciotto. Marvel also announced the Krakoan era’s final “Giant Size X-Men” #1, written by Ann Nocenti with art by Lee Ferguson. The issue will pair a new story set in current continuity with a reprint of Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, and Ron Wilson’s Angel and the Thing team-up story from “Marvel Two-in-One” #68. All of this will be followed up by the grand finale of “X-Men” in June, which will close out the Krakoan Era in earnest.
– Marvel announced another slew of books, this time tie-ins to the ‘Blood Hunt’ event. May and June will see seven series join the event, namely “Vengeance of the Moon Knight” #5 by Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio, “Amazing Spider-Man” #49 by Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr., “Avengers” #14 by MacKay and C.F. Villa, “Doctor Strange” #15 by MacKay and Pasqual Ferry, “Venom” #33 by Al Ewing and Juan Ferreyra, “Fantastic Four” #21 by Ryan North and Ivan Fiorelli, and “Miles Morales: Spider-Man” #21 by Cody Ziglar and Travel Foreman. The main “Blood Hunt” series, by MacKay and Pepe Larraz, begins May 1.
Continued below– In more Marvel news, the company has announced Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding. The art book is written by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry and includes a foreword by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. The book features art by Ryan Meinerding, Marvel Studios’ Head of Visual Development, and includes over 500 illustrations and insights into Meinerding’s creative process. Marvel Studios: The Art of Ryan Meinerding is available for pre-order and will be published by Abrams Books on October 1, 2024.
– Via Today, the 2024 People’s Choice Awards aired on Sunday, February 18, 2024. Marvel’s Loki took home the award for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show of the Year, while Pedro Pascal won the award for Male TV Star of the Year, albeit for The Last of Us instead of The Mandalorian. You can view a list of all the winners here, and watch Tom Hiddleston’s acceptance speech here.
– Via The Hollywood Reporter, Sony’s Madame Web, starring Dakota Johnson, earned $26.2 million over six days, including a four-day weekend gross of $18 million. This marks the worst start for a Sony film featuring Spider-Man related characters. Sony now faces a dilemma in regards to its shared Spider-Man universe, as outside sources say that Madame Web cost $115 million or more to produce. Madame Web, which has a whopping 13 percent Rotten Tomatoes score, is now playing in theaters.
– Finally, Netflix’s Nimona has been made available for free on the company’s YouTube channel ahead of this year’s Academy Awards, where it was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. The film went through many production issues stemming from Disney’s acquisition of Fox (where it was originally produced) in 2019. Nimona is now available to stream on YouTube until Monday, February 26. The Academy Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
