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, AfterShock announced political thriller “Red Atlantis,” and we interviewed Joshua Williamson about “The Flash” #750 and “Batman/Superman.”
– The impact of coronavirus on the comic book industry has grown as DC, Dark Horse Comics and Random House revealed that they will not be attending Emerald City Comic Con next week as a result. Artist Jen Bartel also disclosed that she will no longer be attending. Despite increasing concerns about the convention, its organizers ReedPop maintain that the convention will continue and they will be “constantly reviewing our health protection activities, public health messaging, hygiene and medical control measures with the aim of strengthening our COVID-19 response further in line with up to date public health advice and guidance, including that of the CDC.”
Despite the fears over the spread of COVID-19, ReedPop VP Michael Armstrong stated that the attendance for this year’s C2E2 increased from last year’s despite fears about coronavirus, with an estimated 95,000 people walking visiting the McCormick Place convention center last weekend. The impact of the virus is having an impact on other parts of the industry too, with publishers Magnetic Press and Iron Circus Comics having their printing schedules affected by the closure of the Chinese printing presses. Mike Kennedy, the Founder and Publisher of Magnetic Press, expects some titles scheduled for April and May to be delayed by a month, with schedules reverting to normal by June. Emerald City Comic Con will take place at the Washington State Convention Center on March 12-15.
– Writer J.B. Lion announced plans to self-publish a dual-version five-part series, “The Seventh Spark.” Each title in the series will be simultaneously released as a graphic novel, with Mike Danovic illustrating, and a standard text-only novel. The series is set in a parallel universe where the physical and spiritual realms overlap and impact each other. It follows the formation of an unlikely partnership that plans on sending the 12 realms of man to their final judgement. Each entry in the series will feature a different perspective to highlight the different ways that a single event can impact people. J.B. Lion cites a game invented by his two sons as the inspiration for the series. The first title in the series, “Knights of the Trinity,” will be released on September 1.
– First Second revealed that they have acquired the publishing rights to Victoria Ying (“Diana, Princess of the Amazons”)’s “Hungry Ghost.” The YA graphic novel is set to tell the story of Valerie Chu, a girl with an eating disorder, as she grows up in a Chinese American family, and realizes that those family can hurt you just as much as love you. “Hungry Ghost” is currently scheduled for release in 2023.
– Dark Horse Comics announced promotions for three of their staff: Katii O’Brien, who has been involved with the Mike Mignola titles for the last two years, has been promoted to Editor; Rachel Roberts is now a full Editor, having been in the editorial department since 2015 and worked on titles such as “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “The Legend of Korra;” finally, Brett Israel, who has titles such as “No One Left to Fight” and “Crone” to his name, is now an Associate Editor.
– The first trailer for Justice League Dark: Apokolips War was released by Warner Bros. Animation. The trailer shows members of the Justice League, Justice League Dark and the Teen Titans uniting against Darkseid, who poses an “existential threat to the planet,” and teases dramatic changes of allegiance, with Swamp Thing turning his back on the “fate” of humans while Lex Luthor is “completely” on the side of our heroes. Matt Peters and Christina Sotta will be directing the film which stars Matt Ryan as Constantine, Jerry O’Connell as Superman, Taissa Farmiga as Raven, Tony Todd as Darkseid, Jason O’Mara as Batman, Rosario Dawson as Wonder Woman, and more. The film has been rated R for “bloody language, language, and some sexual references.” Justice League Dark: Apokolips Wars is scheduled for release on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital Download in Spring 2020.
– Brandon McKnight, who plays Chester P. Runk in The CW’s The Flash, has been promoted to the role of series regular for season seven, Deadline reported. McKnight has appeared in three episodes so far this season as Chester, a down-to-earth technical genius who is able to create gadgets that can bend the laws of physics by reusing discarded tech. The Flash Season six will continue on The CW on 10 March.
– Maura Mandt, the executive producer of Marvel’s Hero Project, died on February 28 at the age of 53, it was announced. Mandt spent much of her career at ESPN and produced their award show, the ESPYs, with her own production company, MaggieVision Productions, and developed the X Games. She won three Emmy Awards during her career. Marvel Executive Producer Sara Amos worked with Mandt on Marvel’s Hero Project and said her “vision, passion and determination helped guide the team every step of the way and we are so thankful for everything she gave to bring this series to life.”
