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, we exclusively revealed that Image/Skybound will be collecting J.L. Westover’s “Mr. Lovenstein” webcomic into a hardcover print edition later this year; DC Comics announced “Danger Street” by writer Tom King, artist Jorge Fornés, and colorist Dave Stewart; and writer Tom Veitch died at the age of 80.
– Marvel Comics announced that they will be adapting the first stories from the George R.R. Martin and Melinda M. Snodgrass-edited universe of Wild Cards into a four-part miniseries called “Wild Cards: The Drawing of Cards,” written by Paul Cornell with art by Mike Hawthorne. The universe features an alternate version of Earth where humans can be infected with a ‘Wild Card’ alien virus; when they do, they are most likely to “[draw] the black queen,” which means that they will die, whilst some mutate and become “jokers,” and a select few gain superpowers and are known as “aces.” “The Drawing of Cards” is intended to be accessible to new audiences in addition to as those well acquainted with the Wild Cards stories. Over its lifetime, comic writers such as Chris Claremont and Saladin Ahmed have contributed to the Wild Cards universe. “Wild Cards: The Drawing of Cards” #1 is scheduled for release on June 1.
– Image Comics unveiled their upcoming teen horror anthology series, “Skybound Presents Afterschool.” Each issue will put a new spin on a cautionary tale and feature a different creative team, with the first issue set to be by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead (Moon Knight) with artist Greg Hinkle (“The Rattler”) and colorist Giovanna Niro. Their issue will follow high schooler Nora adopting an emotional support dog called Janine to help her with her anxiety, but the description teases that Janine has a “a winning smile and a killer secret.” The other creative teams announced are writer/director Kate Herron (Loki), writer/actor Briony Redman (Forget Me Not), and artist Leila Leiz (“M.O.M.: Mother of Madness”); as well as writer Jill Blotevogel (Scream: The TV Series) and artist Marley Zarcone (“Shade, the Changing Girl”). “Skybound Presents Afterschool” #1 is set to debut in comic stores and on digital platforms on June 8.
– The next arc of Titan Comics’s “Doctor Who Comic” will be “Origins,” and feature Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor, the publisher’s solicitations revealed. The creative team of writer Jody Houser, artist Roberta Ingranata, and colorist Warina Sahadewa will all return for the new arc. The arc will lead on from the title’s Free Comic Book Day entry, and follow the Doctor as she is sent on a dangerous assignment by the Division. The solicit teases that the series will reveal why this incarnation of the Doctor became known as the Fugitive. “Doctor Who Comic: Origins” #1 is scheduled for release on May 18, after Free Comic Book Day on May 7.
– Image Comics announced a “Frontiersman” follow-up one-shot called “Frontiersman: Lock-Up Special,” by series writer Patrick Kindlon and guest artist Nicolò Assirelli. The special will see the titular hero awaiting trial in a county jail, only to have “an antihero who wants to free him” arrive. The first arc of the series, which concluded in January, saw Frontiersman leave retirement to become a spokesperson for an environmentalist group, putting him in the sights of enemies old and new. You can check out a series of unlettered preview pages here ahead of the release of the comic on May 4.
– As part of Marvel Entertainment’s launch of the second wave of ‘Mech Strike,’ Marvel Comics announced there will be a “Marvel Mech Strike: Monster Hunters” miniseries by writer Christos Gage and artist Paco Diaz debuting in June. In the series, the Avengers will face off against a trio of their most evil villains, led by Doctor Doom, who has been “monstrously transformed by the Eye of the Kraken.” The Avengers will have to wear their own individual mech suits and become monster hunters to combat them though, in doing so, they will face the risk of being “consumed by their dark new powers.” To see the cover and for further Mech Strike reveals, head over to Marvel.com.
Continued below– Publishers Weekly reports Trung Le Nguyen will collaborate with writer Laurel Snyder on her graphic memoir “Fairy Hunter,” which will portray Snyder’s life between ages eight and 10, “when she believed in fairies and hunted for them constantly.” Chronicle Books will publish the book in Fall 2025. The magazine also shares First Second will publish two YA graphic novels by Myisha Haynes, including 2024’s “Humanities 101,” which follows a boy who falls in love with an alien; Random House Graphic acquired Dustin Bolton’s post-apocalyptic middle-grade fantasy trilogy “Kudzu;” and Little, Brown has bought worldwide rights to “When the Stars Came Home,” the story of a homesick Anishinaabe boy by author Brittany Luby and artist Natasha Donovan. You can read the whole list of last week’s YA/children’s book news here.
– It was revealed that two DC Comics series, “Teen Titans Academy” and “Suicide Squad,” will both be ending with their 15th issues in May. Details surrounding the reasoning for both series ending have not been revealed, although “Teen Titans Academy” writer Tim Sheridan, who revealed the news, simply stated that the publisher “has planned” for the series to end. “Suicide Squad” #15 by Dennis Hopeless, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira, and Dexter Soy is scheduled to release on May 3; “Teen Titans Academy” #15 by Tim Sheridan and Tom Derenick is set to follow on May 24.
– After postponing their plans shortly after announcing them, Marvel Comics have now rescheduled their omnibus collection of “Predator,” called “Predator: The Original Years Omnibus Volume 1,” for September 14. This news is seemingly connected to the resolution of 20th Century Studios’s copyright dispute with the original Predator writers, James and John Thomas, in January. There has yet to be a rescheduling of the announced Ed Brisson and Kev Walker “Predator” comic or the ‘Marvel vs. Predator’ variant cover series.
– In further collection news, Dark Horse Comics announced they will begin printing the “Tarzan of the Apes” comic strip by writer Roy Thomas, artist Pablo Marcos, and colorist Oscar Gonzalez in hardcover editions later this year; until now the series has been exclusive to the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate’s newsletter. “Tarzan of the Apes” Volume 1 is marked on the release calendar for August 24.
– Christopher Priest and ChrisCross’s “Xerø” was optioned by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s production company, G-Unit Film & Television, with the intention to adapt the comic into a live-action film. The comic was originally published by DC Comics in 1997, and told the story of Trane Walker, a Black government assassin who walks among the elite of society by disguising himself as a white man; when he experiences a moral awakening related to his liminal lifestyle, danger follows. Color Farm Media will also produce the adaptation, with producers Erika Alexander and Ben Arnon attached to the project, whilst Joseph Illidge, Priest’s “Batman” editor, is on board via Illuminous. Priest regained the rights to “Xerø” in 2008. A production schedule for the adaptation of “Xerø” has not been announced.
– Deadline reported that there have been six more additions to AMC’s anthology series Tales of the Walking Dead, namely Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse), Danny Ramirez (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier), Loan Chabanol (The Transporter Refuelled), Embeth Davidtz (Matilda), Jessie T. Usher (The Boys), and Gage Munroe (Nobody). Character details for the latest cast members have all been kept under wraps, though showrunner Channing Powell stated, “We’ve been hoping these episodes will feel like unique, little films and with this range of actors, we are well on our way.” Tales of the Walking Dead is set to premiere on AMC and AMC+ this summer.
– Finally, Oscar-winning film editor David Brenner died at the age of 59. A cause of death has not been released to the public. Brenner was known for his work on films such as Independence Day, and worked with Zack Snyder on all four of his DCEU entries. Brenner’s Oscar was awarded for his work on Born on the Fourth of July with Joe Hutshing. Brenner was working on the upcoming Avatar 2 at the time of his death, having worked on James Cameron’s first film, and had been set to work on the third film in the series. Brenner is survived by his wife Amber and his three children Annie, Haider, and Sasha. A GoFundMe page has been set up in his memory to help support his family.
