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, BOOM! Studios announced a new miniseries titled “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow,” and Vault Comics announced a twelve-part series titled “Engineward,” written by George Mann with art by Joe Eisma.

– DC Comics have offered a glance at new character Ruin from G. Willow Wilson (“Wonder Woman,” “Ms. Marvel”) and Nick Robles (“Euthanauts,” “Doctor Mirage”)’s “The Dreaming: Waking Hours” #1. Ruin is described as a nightmare who falls in love with the person whose dreams he is meant to haunt. The character is “a nightmare who doesn’t want to be a nightmare.” Wilson explains that the idea for Ruin was induced partly by her insomnia and her desire to have a nightmare, which would mean she was asleep. She then came up with the idea to have a bad dream as a protagonist. “The Dreaming: Waking Hours” #1 will be available in comic shops and digitally on May 5.
– DC Comics have released a new look at some new panels from Tom King’s story in the upcoming “Catwoman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular” #1. The panels, drawn by Mikel Janín, reveal Catwoman’s pregnancy and her reaction to such news. Another set of panels shows Batman and Catwoman finishing a fight as Catwoman begins to get sick. “Catwoman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular” #1 goes on sale April 15.
– Image Comics are offering comic book fans all of their first issues free of charge. Fans can go to their website where they can read first issues digitally for free, where Image hopes they’ll get hooked enough to want to read the rest of their series.
– Similarly, Valiant Comics are also offering fans free downloadable comics via a Twitter thread. Valiant have announced that the thread will be updated with free #1 issues, fun reads, and full volumes as an attempt to lift the spirits of the community and help with the boredom of social distancing and isolation for the next few weeks.
– Eisner-winning illustrator Jen Bartel has released six downloadable pages from her “Sailor Moon” coloring book for free, for people who want a “fun activity while practicing social distancing.”
– New York Times-bestselling author Patrick Rothfuss’s Worldbuilders announced Operation Bookdrop 2020, a program where Worldbuilders will ship books, free of charge, to those staying home due to COVID-19, as a way to “ease the burden and provide some entertainment during these difficult times.” Humble Bundle Proceeds have provided the funds for the shipping costs. Through the website, anyone can choose the types of books or comics they prefer based on available supply, and the book will then be shipped Priority Mail and will arrive in four to five days.
– An animated short based on Tracy Butler’s long-running webcomic “Lackadaisy,” is currently being crowdfunded on Kickstarter. The short would be accompanied by a collection of artwork and new mini-comics featuring the property. “Lackadaisy” is set in St. Louis and centers around a speakeasy, frequented by tough guys and crooked cops, who all happen to be cats. The campaign hopes to raise $85,000 across six weeks.
– Amanda Smith, a production assistant on the CW’s Batwoman was involved in an on-set accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down. Smith was working on a location shoot set up on March 11, two days before the production was shut down due to coronavirus, when a bucket of a lift was accidentally lowered onto her head. She was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital for emergency spinal surgery. The Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia has launched an investigation into the accident. A GoFundMe has been set up for Smith and has passed its initial $50,000 goal, with a new goal set to $100,000.
– Meanwhile, the CW has announced that new episodes for The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, originally set to air on March 24 and March 31, will be delayed and replaced with reruns. No explanation was given and no expected airdates were announced at the time. The delays are most likely due to the coronavirus and the shutting down of Vancouver productions.
– Finally, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will be released early for digital purchase next week (March 24). The decision comes as theaters across the country have closed due to the pandemic, and director Cathy Yan tweeted that she “would not be opposed to putting Birds of Prey on VOD earlier.”