Welcome back to The Rundown, our daily breakdown of 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, Titan Comics have announced “Blade Runner 2019,” a new comic book series based on the cult sci-fi film series of the same name; Stan Sakai’s “Usagi Yojimbo” will now be published by IDW; and Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora will team up for BOOM! Studios’ “Once and Future.”
– First up, Dynamite will release “Altered Carbon: Download Blues,” an original graphic novel by Richard K. Morgan and Rik Hoskin with art by Ferran Sellares, in May. The story expands on Morgan’s universe. Dynamite have also announced a “Sweet Valley High” graphic novel from Katy Rex and Devaki Neogi, based on the classic novels and TV show, that will hit comic shops in June. To see more of Dynamite’s upcoming books head on over to their website. You can also take a closer look at “Altered Carbon” and “Sweet Valley High” here.
– Devil’s Due Comics has announced Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will be getting her own comic special: “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force.” The book will feature a plethora of talented creators, including Jill Thompson (“Scary Godmother”) and Jose Garibaldi (The LEGO Movie 2). The comic will be an anthology of short stories as the Congresswoman takes on the GOP in heroic, satirical adventures. Tim Seeley (“Hack/Slash” “Revival”) will draw the variant cover. The one-shot special commemorative issue will be released on May 15. For more details head on over to CBR.
– “Venom” writer Donny Cates reported on Twitter he has received “multiple death/injury threats” over the last issue of the comic. He stated, “1: I’m not changing my plan for these characters. 2: threatening my life or injury to me is not the way to champion your cause. 3: Shipping is fine. But this is insane.” We wish Cates the utmost safety, and condemn the worst of fandom’s abusive behavior.
– BOOM! Studios has “doubled down” on its ‘Guarantee’ program that launched in 2017, reports ICv2. The initiative currently includes six returnable single-issue comics each month, exclusive gifts and products, and more. Now, BOOM! will make two graphic novels or collections fully returnable every month, with no minimums: retailers will be able to order what they need and return what doesn’t sell via Diamond affidavit. BOOM! will show these programs off when Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora’s “Once and Future” begins in August: each issue will be “fully returnable through the BOOM! Guarantee program and ship with a single cover. The first issue will have siding additional discounts, and subsequent issues will be supported with free copies to reduce risk. The collection of ‘Once and Future’ when it releases, will be fully returnable.”
– In an exclusive with The Beat, Titan’s foreign language imprint Statix Press announced they would codify their Enki Bilal and Phillip Druillet offerings into libraries of books bearing the creators’ names. The announcement states “The Druillet Library” and “The Bilal Library” will be a “a dedicated publishing slate that expands on the seminal works from two of the greatest comic book creators with lavishly produced graphic novels – collecting rare and out-of-print classics.” Bilal’s “Monster” will be the first title, set to be released in May, while Druillet’s “The Night” will follow in August. For more details head on over to The Beat.
– At the 91st Academy Awards, Black Panther won three Oscars, for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Music Score. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won Best Animated Feature. Check out the full list of Oscar winners here.
– Deadline reports Amy Smart will join the cast of DC Universe’s Stargirl as Barbara Whitmore, the mother of Brec Bassinger’s Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl, and new wife of Luke Wilson’s Pat Dugan. Addtionally, Trae Romano will play Dugan’s son Mike. Rounding out the latest additions to the cast are Neil Jackson (Westworld) and Hunter Sansone (Unfollow).
– Deadline also reports that Elizabeth Anweis has been cast opposite of Ruby Rose in the CW’s Batwoman pilot. She will play as Catherine Hamilton-Kane, Kate Kane’s step mother, a savvy defense contractor who believes Batwoman is “bad for business.” Anweis’s TV credits include 9-1-1, Twin Peaks: The Return, The Affair and NCIS: Los Angeles.
– The Hollywood Reporter announced that Matthew Vaughn’s Kingsman prequel has been pushed back, and will now hit theaters Valentine’s Day 2020, instead of this November. This news comes right as 21st Century Fox merges with Disney. Vaughn’s Kingsman series is among the important film franchises that Disney will take over. The prequel, Kingsman: The Great Game, includes Ralph Fiennes, Matthew Goode and Harris Dickinson, and will depict the organization’s founding before World War One.
– In this week’s reader poll we asked who you thought was the best comic book bounty hunter. Well the results are in and the winner with 23.8% of the vote is “Saga”‘s The Will, followed by a three-way tie for second place between Boba Fett, Hitman, and Death’s Head with 11.9%. Rounding things out with 9.5% are Kim and Kim. Be sure to check out next week’s Reader Poll.
