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The Rundown: March 24, 2020

By | March 24th, 2020
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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, Diamond Comic Distributors announced yesterday that they would cease receiving new products from printers for distribution from April, and Dark Horse announced the OGN “Avatar: The Last Airbender—Katara and the Pirate’s Silver.”

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– In a statement responding to Diamond’s announcement, IDW has announced plans to suspend its May releases, as well as shrinking its overall line into July. IDW had previously sent out a statement last week pledging support for the direct market during the current crisis. In addition to the suspension of their May releases, the new statement from IDW President/Publisher/CCO Chris Ryall offers 60-day returnability for all titles with on-sale dates between March 18 and June 24. “These are first steps. As the situation continues to unfold, we’re certain to initiate additional programs to help our retail partners,” Ryall said. Ryall also included a note directed towards IDW’s creatives, acknowledging the impact this decision will have on freelancers. You can find IDW’s full statement here.

– From Broken Frontier, Fantagraphics have announced “Stone Fruit,” a new debut graphic novel from Lee Lai. The book follows Bron and Ray, a queer couple who turn to repair their broken relationships with their families as the emotional intimacy in their relationship fades. “I’ve been influenced by books and artists published by Fantagraphics since I was a teen, so it’s pretty unreal and amazing to be releasing this debut work with them,” Lee Lai said. “Working on this book has been such an exciting learning curve. I’m stoked to finally be putting it out into the world, and specifically with Fantagraphics.” “Stone Fruit” is set for a summer 2021 release.

– Prior to the big news from Diamond yesterday, both BOOM! Studios and Archie Comics revealed their plans to support retailers during the current pandemic. The “BOOM! Retailer Support Services Program” included a series of benefits for retailers, including full returnability through June 24, a paid promotion of targeted advertising for comic shops offering curbside and mail order options, and a variety of retailer exclusive variant covers. Archie Comics made their comics from March and April fully returnable, and said they plan to examine their new product launches for the summer to help ease the financial burden on retailers. As both announcements came before Diamond made their plans known, it is unclear whether or how these two companies will adjust their responses.

– Meanwhile, BOOM! Studios marked two of their upcoming titles as open to read on the website NetGalley, which offers librarians, book professionals, and fans the chance to read and review advanced copies of upcoming titles. The publisher has allowed access to “Goldie Vance: Volume One” from Hope Larson, Brittney Williams, and Sarah Stern, as well as “Eat, and Love Yourself” by Sweeney Boo.

– In the interest of lightening people’s moods, writer Kelly Thompson has made her fantasy novel Storykiller free on Kindle for a limited time. Per its Amazon description, Storyteller follows teenager Tessa Battle, the only mortal able to kill the dangerous monsters and characters of fiction that come from the dimension called Story. The novel is free until March 25, so get it while you can.

– Dynamite has partnered with comiXology to release several of the publisher’s #1 issues for free. Via CBR, the partnership will provide access to the first issues of “A Train Called Love,” “Ash and the Army of Darkness,” “Bettie Page,” “Charlie’s Angels vs The Bionic Woman,” “Control,” “Crackdown,” “Dejah of Mars,” “Ex-Con,” “Grand Passion,” “Great Divide,” “Intertwined,” “Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt” (2012), “Red Team,” “The Greatest Adventure,” and “Uncanny.” In a statement, Dynamite said, “In light of the responsible reactions and policies concerning COVID-19 being advised by the Center for Disease Control and enacted by businesses and employers, Dynamite is offering fans a great way to enjoy some entertainment while staying at home.”

– Via Comicbook.com, Dark Horse and BioWare announced they’ll be teaming up for two new books, BioWare Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development, and “Dragon Age: The First Five Graphic Novels.” The first offers an in-depth retrospective at the game studio’s first 25 years, and features never-before-seen art and photos alongside candid stories from developers past and present. The second will feature, well, the first five Dragon Age graphic novels, collecting “Dragon Age: The Silent Grove,” “Dragon Age: Those Who Speak,” “Dragon Age: Until We Sleep,” “Dragon Age: Magekiller,” and “Dragon Age: Knight Errant.” Both books are due out in October, with BioWare Stories and Secrets coming October 13, and “Dragon Age: The First Five Graphic Novels” coming October 27.

– The educational non-profit Pop Culture Classroom has announced the finalists for the 2020 Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards. The finalists for Book of the Year include “Bury the Lede” by Gaby Dunn & Claire Roe, “Camp” by Kayla Miller, “Clyde Fans” by Seth, “The Crossover” by Kwame Alexander & Dawud Anyabwile, “King of King Court” by Travis Dandro, “Kiss Number 8” by Collen AF Venable & Ellen T. Crenshaw, “Putuga & Kublu and the Qalupalik” by Roselynn Akulukjuk, Danny Christopher, & Astrid Arijanto, and “White Bird: A Wonder Story” by R.J. Palacio. The winning titles will be announced in early April, and will be honored as part of the Denver Pop Culture Con on July 4.


//TAGS | The Rundown

Reid Carter

Reid Carter is a freelance writer, screenwriter, video editor, and social media manager who knows too much about pop culture for his own good. You can find his ramblings about comics and movies at ReidCarterWrites.com and his day to day ramblings about everything else on Twitter @PalmReider.

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