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, Jamie McKelvie is bringing “One for Sorrow” to DSTLRY, the new Ultimate Universe’s “Ultimates” begins in June, and AHOY is launching a “Toxic Avenger” series. We also have an exclusive preview of next week’s “Giant-Size Fantastic Four” #1.
– Scrooge McDuck is making his Marvel Comics debut with this summer’s “Uncle $crooge and the Infinity Dime.” Written by Jason Aaron, with art from talents such as Paolo Mottura, Francesco D’Ippolito, Vitale Mangiatordi, and more, the one-shot will see Disney’s wealthy fowl explore the multiverse while on the trail of his stolen money bin. This will be Disney’s first comics crossover with Marvel in the history of either company. Uncle Scrooge first appeared in Carl Barks’s ‘Christmas on Bear Mountain’ almost 80 years ago. The book features a cover from Lorenzo Pastrovicchio and an Alex Ross variant. It’s due out June 19.
– Speaking of Jason Aaron, he has been tapped by actor Keanu Reeves to write the latest volume of “BRZRKR: Bloodlines” for BOOM! Studios. Aaron will be joined by artist Francesco Manna on the book, which is titled “BRZRKR: A Faceful of Bullets.” The “Bloodlines” spin-offs follow the immortal main character B through various points of his life, with “Faceful of Bullets” taking place in the 1800s Old West. It’s due out in June of 2024, one month before The Book of Elsewhere, the “BZRKR” prose novel written by Reeves and China Miéville, due out July 23, 2024.
– Brian Michael Bendis and Stephen Byrne are returning with the second volume of their creator-owned sci-fi epic “Joy Operations.” The new miniseries from Dark Horse picks up right where the last volume left off, with Joy and Hampton sharing a single body and attempting to re-enter society. Though they saved the world, there are just as many who blame them for what happened. “Joy Operations II” #1 (of 4) will be available in comics shops June 19, 2024.
– Writer Zac Thompson, artist Hayden Sherman, and letterer Jim Campbell have unveiled their latest project from Dark Horse: “Into the Unbeing: Part One,” a cosmic eco-horror set in the Austrialian outback. The series follows a group of scientists who find themselves trapped in the mouth of a gigantic creature. Sherman provides the main cover with variants from Matt Lesniewski and Tyler Boss. Issue #1 (of 4) will be available in shops on June 12.
– Furthermore, Dark Horse have unveiled the newest chapter in Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s “Resident Alien” series, following the success of the Syfy TV adaptation (which began its third season this month.) “Resident Alien: The Book of Life” sees Harry, now possibly expecting a child with Asta, send a message back to his home planet, stating that “The status for this world has now changed… and you should act accordingly.” Meanwhile, Asta travels to the ocean to get advice from Aunt Shona. Issue #1 (of 4) hits comics store shelves on June 26.
– With Marvel Studios’s Deadpool & Wolverine on the horizon, the publisher has tapped writer Ryan North and artist Javier Garrón to produce a series of back-up stories that will run through various Marvel titles, all starring the Merc with the Mouth and the Best at What He Does. ‘Weapon X-Traction’ will premiere in “Incredible Hulk” #14 this July, and run for eight installments in yet-to-be announced titles. According to the official announcement, the series will see the pair “embark on an epic journey of non-friendship that will carry them across the Multiverse, battling zombies and gun-wielding librarians and — of course — one another!”
– The Boys season four now has a release date. The superhero satire, adapted from the comic of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, will return to Prime Video with a three-part premiere on June 13. The new season will see Butcher dealing with having only months to live, Victoria Neuman eyeing the presidency, and Homelander building his power base. Most of the original cast returns, with newcomers Susan Heyward, Valorie Curry, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan joining the ensemble. The season will conclude with its eighth episode on July 18.
Continued below– In a photo posted to celebrate the Superman: Legacy cast’s first table read, James Gunn has revealed Terence Rosemore will be playing Otis, the sidekick of Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult). Rosemore previously worked with Gunn on the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, playing Narblik in Vol. 2, Gurb in the Holiday Special, and Xlomo Smeth in Vol. 3, as well as a Crew Chief in The Suicide Squad. The role of Otis was originated by the late Ned Beatty in the original 1978 Superman film. Superman: Legacy will be released on July 11, 2025.
– Anatomy of A Fall director Justine Triet has been offered the chance to helm Monica. The upcoming feature is based on the Daniel Clowes graphic novel of the same name, and is set to star Cate Blanchett in the title role. While Triet has yet to accept, she would be replacing Russia’s Kantemir Balagov. Originally published by Fantagraphics, “Monica” is a series of interconnected narratives spanning multiple genres, mostly focused around a girl searching for her mother.
– Finally, with the 50th anniversary of the “Heathcliff” comic strip upon us, licensing agency Licensing Haus has authorized a new line of “Heathcliff” merch. Much of the proposed merch will focus on the titular cat’s new best friend, Jimmy the Frog. In an interview with Licensing Letter, CEO Maria Alcaide acknowledged the “very committed subculture of ‘Heathcliff’ fanatics,” adding that they’re “now finding out just on a pitching level that we’re really attracting those people to the program, and finding that the ‘Heathcliff’ world is far bigger than you probably realize.”
