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 “Save Yourself!,” while Dark Horse announced “Apex Legends: Overtime,” the first comic based on the franchise, and “The Secret Land.” We also have a look at June’s Mignolaverse soliciations.
– Dark Horse will publish the crowdfunded 1920s gangster graphic novel “Mafiosa” on October 13. Based on an original story by Thomas Brooke, “Mafiosa” chronicles the rise of Nicoletta Marchesi through the ranks of her father’s crime family during the height of Prohibition. The book was created by Sunshine Barbito, Alessia Alfano, Debora Carita, Ronda Pattison and Mariacristina Federica. It was funded at $7500 of its $6000 goal in 2019, and received praise from award-winning writer Gail Simone (“Birds of Prey,” “Secret Six”) as “one of the most intriguing premises for a crime comic I’ve read in years, and it’s executed (!) with style and guts.”
– The Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) Retailer Selection Committee has revealed their full fifty book line-up for this year’s Free Comic Book Day. A selection of Gold and Silver Sponsor titles were posted on their website and YouTube channel, including “Avengers/Spider-Man” from Marvel and “Star Wars: The High Republic – The Edge of Balance/Guardian of the Whills” from Viz Media. DC was not represented, though the complete list will be available in Diamond Comic Distributors’s April Previews (on sale March 24, 2021). This year’s FCBD will not be held on its usual first Saturday in May, but instead on August 14, to commemorate the event’s 20th anniversary.
– DC’s adult-oriented Black Label imprint will now be helmed by senior editor Chris Conroy. Conroy has been with DC since 2005, joining on as an editorial administration operations coordinator. He takes over from Black Label founder Mark Doyle, who was laid off from the company last year. In addition to Black Label, Conroy will also oversee Milestone and Sandman Universe.
– The release of Venom: Let There Be Carnage has been pushed back from its original date of June 25, 2021, to Sept. 17, 2021. Let There Be Carnage is the sequel to 2018’s Venom solo film starring Tom Hardy. The film is directed by Lord of the Rings and War for the Planet of the Apes actor Andy Serkis, and will feature Woody Harrelson as Cletus Kasady, host of the villainous Carnage symbiote. Harrelson reprises his role from the first film, in which he appeared in a mid-credits teaser.
– According to Publishers Weekly‘s March 15 Rights Report, the rights for graphic novels “Mexikid” and “Fool’s Gold” have been purchased by publishers. Dial picked up “Mexikid,” Pedro Martin’s road trip memoir exploring one family’s legacy through multiple generations. First Second acquired both “Fool’s Gold,” about unlikely duo Pili and Clover’s adventure across a small town desert, and a potential sequel by writer-illustrator Quinne Larsen. “Mexikid” is slated for 2023, while “Fool’s Gold” is due out in 2024.
– With Zack Snyder’s Justice League premiering today on HBO Max, the director revealed his original plans for a comic book sequel, drawing from his original plans for a cinematic trilogy (many of which are currently displayed on a white board in Dallas). He also discussed plans for a Joker/Robin mini that fell through with the Warner Bros./AT&T merger: according to Snyder, DC Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee was originally attached to provide art, and he hopes the project can be revived “in the future if there’s fan support.”
– Ta-Nehisi Coates will end his three-year run on “Captain America” with issue #30 this June. The issue, with art from Leonard Kirk, will conclude the ‘All Die Young’ storyarc. Coates will also end his acclaimed, five-year run on “Black Panther” next month. While Coates will no longer be writing at Marvel, he has been tapped by producer J.J. Abrams to script an upcoming Superman film.
– Syfy’s Resident Alien has been renewed for a second season. Based on the Dark Horse comic by writer Peter Hogan and artist Steve Parkhouse, the Alan Tudyk-led sci-fi series is the cable channel’s highest-rated drama in six years, pulling 9.3 million total viewers across all available platforms. The Hollywood Reporter notes that with the cancellation of Wynonna Earp, Resident Alien is now the longest-running original series airing on the network.
– According to Deadline and CBR, Warner Bros. and DC Films, with Tolkien and Planet of the Apes production company Chernin Entertainment, have begun development of an Hourman feature film. Gavin James and Neil Widener will handle scripting duties. No other details have been announced as of yet, including which incarnation of the character the film will follow.
– Finally, as originally announced back in December, Liefeld will write and draw (with Jack Morelli) a four-issue miniseries reviving Archie Comics superteam “The Mighty Crusaders.” The first issue, titled “The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield” #1, focuses on all-American superhero The Shield. “The Shield is the first American Patriot, pre-dating Captain America, which is a huge deal to me,” Liefeld said of the project. “I’m thrilled that I get to reimagine him for fans old and new in this first issue of ‘Mighty Crusaders!’” The issue will feature eight variant covers, including two from Liefeld himself. “The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield” #1 will go on sale June 30.
