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, Dark Horse revealed their June 2022 Mignolaverse solicits, Marvel are bringing back Jane Foster as Thor, and Titan announced a four-issue sequel to Blade Runner: Black Lotus.
– Artist/cartoonist Jae Lee is making a return to interior artwork, and his first creator-owned work in over 25 years with “Seven Sons,” a religious thriller about the possible second son of God. Lee will co-write the series at Image Comics with writers Robert Windom and Kelvin Mao, who are known for their work in film; also joining the trio are colorist June Chung and letterer Simon Bowland. The seven-issue miniseries is an alt-history religious drama in the vein of The Da Vinci Code, following Delph, a boy raised by the Catholic Church, who runs away to discover how he came to be. “Kelvin and I were interested in exploring the impact of religion in society,” said Windom. “But with murder, mystery, romance, and even a missile attack or two — and Jae Lee is the perfect artist to realize our vision of this alternative history.” Click here for a six-page preview of “Seven Sons” #1, releasing June 15.
– Writer Doug Wagner, artist Tim Odland and colorist Michelle Madsen are tackling the full range of Norse mythology in their new Image Comics series “Beware the Eye of Odin,” a four-issue miniseries following a Viking prince on a quest to return Odin’s eye to him. Along the way, he’ll encounter an old, one-armed warrior, a shieldmaiden who believes she’s a Valkyrie, dwarves, trolls, and frost giants. The first issue releases June 22, and you can head here for a four-page preview.
– Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Salvador Larroca are reuniting for “Alien Annual” #1, a prequel story that shows the first encounter between the xenomorph and Gabriel Cruz, the hero of their “Alien” series. The story will reportedly conclude their “first era on the title,” as a younger Cruz has to fight to keep himself and his soldiers alive after Weyland-Yutani conducts a dangerous experiment with a horde of Xenomorphs. “Alien Annual” #1 releases June 15.
– Marvel also released its full solicits for the Star Wars comics releasing in June 2022, highlighting the oversized “Star Wars” #25 and Black Krrsantan’s return in “Han Solo & Chewbacca” #4. “Star Wars” #25 will be a celebration of Charles Soule’s extensive time writing Star Wars comics, with artistic collaborators Ramon Rosanas, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Will Sliney and Phil Noto returning to tell new stories about Obi-Wan & Anakin, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, and Poe Dameron respectively.
– “When Everything Turned Blue,” a slice-of-life graphic novel by Italian cartoonist Alessandro Baronciani, is officially getting an English translation from Dark Horse this October. Originally released through Bao Publishing in 2020, “When Everything Turned Blue” follows a young woman, Chiara, struggling with an undiagnosed disorder as she takes back agency in her life. The hardcover releases October 19 for US$19.99, and was translated by Carla Roncalli di Montorio.
– This year’s Carnegie Medal nominees have been announced, and the prestigious UK children’s book prize broke new ground with Julian Sedgwick and Chie Kutsuwada’s “Tsunami Girl” becoming the first ever manga to be nominated for the award. “Tsunami Girl” is set during the 2011 Great Eastern Japan Tsunami, and follows a 15-year old girl, Yuki Hara Jones, trying to find herself during the crisis. It features a distinctive mix of prose and manga sequences. Other nominees include Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, The Crossing by Manjeet Mann, Cane Warriors, and more. The Carnegie Medal runs alongside the Yoto Kate Greenaway Medal for the best children’s illustrator, and will be presented on June 16.
– Netflix has released a first trailer for Heartstopper, the queer romance series based on Alice Oseman’s webcomic of the same name. The high school drama follows Charlie and Nick, two boys of wildly different passions, as their friendship and consequential romance blooms. The series has a focus on self-discovery and what modern romance looks like for teens. So far Oseman’s “Heartstopper” bas been collected in three graphic novels. The series releases on April 22.
Continued below– Chance Perdomo has joined the cast of the untitled Boys spin-off at Amazon, replacing Shane Paul McGhie after he left the series last week. Perdomo is best known for his role on Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and while his role is currently unconfirmed, he will reportedly be playing a version of the character distinct from McGhie’s initial interpretation. This is due to a change in showrunners, with Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters fitting the character around Perdomo. The R-rated teen drama series also features Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Reina Hardesty and Maddie Phillips.
– Sydney Sweeney, the actress known for her roles on Euphoria and Sharp Objects, will co-star alongside Dakota Johnson in Sony’s Madame Web movie. No role has been confirmed for Sweeney as of yet, which may be due in part to the alleged overhaul of the Madame Web character set for this film. Sweeney will be working under director S.J. Clarkson with a script by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless.
– Finally, cartoonist Ethan Aldridge spoke last week about the homophobia he has faced since the passing of new, hostile legislation across the USA. After being verbally assaulted on a train, the creator behind “The Changeling King” and “Estranged” spoke about his experience on Twitter. “I can’t help but think this guy felt enabled by whole states targeting people like me,” Aldridge said. “These laws can harm more than just the children and families in the states where they’re passed. They give every bigot with violent intent the green light. This will be, and is, leveled at kids who won’t be able to defend themselves. I want to make clear that I and just about every queer person has had to face things like this and much worse throughout our lives.” He suggested donating to Safe Schools South Florida, The Trevor Project, and the Broward County LGBTQS Youth Group.
