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, we have exclusive previews of “The Terrifics” #14 (out tomorrow), and “Incursion” #3 (out April 17).
– Previews World announced “Thumbs” from Image Comics. The maxi-series will run for five issues, each 40 pages long, and follows Charley “Thumbs” Fellows, a member of an army of tech-obsessed teens, directed to take down the government. It is written by award-winning playwright and comics writer Sean Lewis, and illustrated by Hayden Sherman, who previously collaborated on “The Few.” Described as Black Mirror meets The Social Network, Lewis said the comic asks, “Do we actually control the tech, even at its smallest levels?” Sherman added, “‘Thumbs’ is as much a story about technology as it is about loss, time, and learning your place in the world.” “Thumbs” #1 will be released on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.
– Michelle Perez and Remy Boydell, creators of “The Pervert,” will self-publish “The Bronze,” an “unofficial official” sequel, currently limited to a 100-copy print run. “The Bronze” picks up where “The Pervert” left off, but works as a surreal standalone all by itself. Head on over to Paste for a preview of the book, which, at the time of going to press, is still available to order.
– According to The Hollywood Reporter, former Valiant Entertainment editor Joe Illidge has signed up with independent publisher A Wave Blue World, in a new role as the company’s editorial director. Illidge said “I’m excited to work as a member of A Wave Blue World’s team to continue the company’s mission, of providing a home where writers and artists create personal and imaginative books that collectively serve as the road map for a better world.” Joining Illidge is Lisa Y. Wu, former director of retailer relations at AfterShock Comics, who will serve as the company’s new vice president of sales and marketing. She added “A Wave Blue World addresses the needs of an evolving market with engaging and resonant stories. I have enormous respect for the team and look forward to bringing more awareness to a publisher that fits my core values in being a retailer and fan advocate.” President and co-publisher Tyler Chin-Tanner said “We’re lucky to have them work for AWBW as we make the next step forward.”
– The Beat reports radio personality and former comics retailer Mike Raub passed away on March 19th. Raub owned the Dream Factory comics chain. He attempted to open the chain nationwide in the ’90s. Most recently, he was best known for his work on local radio stations. There is a GoFundMe for his funeral costs which can be found here.
– In an exclusive, Deadline revealed that HBO is developing Asunda, based on the setting of the Stranger Comics titles “Niobe,” “Dusu,” “Erathune” and “The Untamed.” Stranger Comics president Sebastian A. Jones will co-write and serve as an executive producer on the series, which follows an orphaned girl, Niobe Ayutami, born of two nations and raised in the desolate down of Oasis. The character was introduced in 2015’s “Niobe,” written by Jones and actress Amandla Stenberg with art by Darrell May and Ashley A. Woods.
– Variety reports that Iron Man VR is coming to PlayStation VR later this year from Camouflaj game studio. The game follows Tony Stark as “powerful forces who seek to ruin him and everything he stands for.” The game also features a new armor created by Marvel illustrator and costume designer Adi Granov. Camouflaj Director Ryan Payton says “By fully embracing the magic of PlayStation VR, players will come face-to-face with iconic allies and Super Villains as they jet around the globe on a heroic mission to save not only Stark Industries, but the world itself.”
– Variety also discusses Beyond a Steel Sky, a follow up to the the cult 1994 adventure game, Beneath a Steel Sky. The project will reunite the creative duo behind the original: lead designer and head of Revolution Charles Cecil, and comics artist Dave Gibbons. Addressing continuity, Gibbons says “With Beyond, we’re trying to make a game that people who maybe weren’t even alive in 1994 can appreciate. If you’ve played the original, it will enrich the experience, but it isn’t absolutely necessary.”
– Finally, Kate Leth (“Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!”) has published an article in Playboy about Netflix’s Stranger Things. The article focuses on the show’s two female leads Eleven and Max, saying “I’m psyched to see these two awesome characters finally do what they should’ve done from the get-go: team up, be BFFs and fight monsters. Is it the slow teasing out of ‘Baba O’Riley’ that sealed the deal? Who can say. It looks fun, and I’m on board for more of that. Fingers crossed, July 4th might really be a blast.” Stranger Things 3 will premiere on July 4, 2019.
