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, Ed Piskor died on Monday, April 1, aged 41.
by Agustin Alessio
– Valiant outlined Alien Books’s relaunch of their comics this summer, which will build to the event series “Resurgence of the Valiant Universe” in September. May will kick off the ‘Prelude to Resurgence of the Valiant Universe’ with the four-issue “The Valiants,” written by Ryan Cady with art by Al Barrionuevo, while the ‘Road to Resurgence’ will begin in that month’s “Faith Returns” #1 (of 2) by Jody Houser & Aleta Vidal; “X-O Manowar: Invictus” #1 (of 4) by Becky Cloonan, Michael W. Conrad & Fernando Heinz Furukawa; and Dan Abnett & Emilio Utrera’s “Rai: The Book of the Darque” #1 (of 2). The ‘Road to Resurgence’ will continue with the start of “Ninjak vs. Roku” #1 (of 4) by AJ Ampadu & Emiliano Correa in June, and Fred Van Lente & Alvaro Papagiani’s “Eternal Warriors: Last Ride of the Immortals” #1 (of 2) in July. For plot details on these series, check the solicits.
– Mad Cave announced “The Last Wardens,” a supernatural horror series written by Elliot Sperl (Bob’s Burgers) and Amit Tishler (“Edenfrost”) with art by Rui Silveira (“The Few and Cursed”). Set in 1975, the six-issue series follows Danielle Pryer, whose brother, Bruce, has returned from Vietnam with a mysterious and monstrous disease. When a team of misfits shows up in pursuit, Danielle is forced “to choose between everything she holds dear, and the fate of the world as a whole.” Issue #1 releases July 17.
– In staffing news, former Batman editor Ben Abernathy has joined Skybound as Executive Editor. (Abernathy reportedly left DC in February.) The imprint also announced the hiring of Blake Kobashigawa and Alex Hargett (both formerly of IDW), and a promotion for Arune Singh to VP, Brand, Editorial. Speaking of IDW, special projects editor Scott Dunbier announced he will be leaving the company this Friday, April 5. Dunbier had been with IDW since 2008, and is best known for creating the publisher’s line of Artist’s Edition releases.
– Dark Horse announced a Library Edition of “The Lonesome Hunters,” reprinting both volumes in the series so far: the original series from 2022, and last year’s follow-up “The Wolf Child.” The hardcover book will be released in bookstores on October 1, and comics shops the following day. Created by Tyler Crook, “The Lonesome Hunters” follows a young girl who befriends an ageing monster hunter, as they set off on a road trip to save the world. Crook has expressed hope that a third and fourth installment of the series will be released soon.
– Scholastic have acquired the rights to “The Squid Squad,” a children’s graphic novel series by Irish cartoonist and comedian Aoife Dooley. The books will follow the misadventures of Ollie, a vampire squid, and Zing, a sea bunny, in the town of Nowhere, home to the weirdest creatures of the ocean. The first book will be released in 2025. Scholastic previously published Dooley’s middle-grade series “Frankie’s World,” which was inspired by her being diagnosed with autism as an adult.
– Julia Louis-Dreyfus will produce and star in an animated film based on Sarah Leavitt’s graphic memoir “Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me.” Leavitt wrote the screenplay with Giant Ant Films co-founder Leah Nelson, who is directing. Published in 2010, “Tangles” was a tribute to Leavitt’s late mother Midge, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s aged just 55. The film’s cast will also include Abbi Jacobson, Bryan Cranston, Samira Wiley, Beanie Feldstein, Seth Rogen (who is among the producers), Wanda Sykes, Bowen Yang, Pamela Adlon, and Sarah Silverman. A distributor or ETA was not announced.
– In further media news, Captain Marvel directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck will helm the first four episodes of Amazon Prime Video’s Criminal series, executive produced by Ed Brubaker and Jordan Harper. The show, based on Brubaker and Sean Phillips’s crime anthology, is currently in pre-production in Portland. Meanwhile, the first poster for Joker: Folie à Deux was released, alongside the first audio clip of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, and the announcement the first trailer will drop on Tuesday, April 9. The sequel releases October 4.
– BOOM! Studios will publish a new artbook by Paul Pope, titled PulpHope 2: The Art of Paul Pope. Ostensibly a sequel to 2006’s PulpHope, the 338-page book will feature art by the 53-year old “Battling Boy” creator dating back to his childhood. It will be released in softcover and hardcover in comic book stores on October 9, and bookstores on October 15, 2024.
– Finally, did you know Neil Gaiman is on the autistic spectrum? The author was asked about it this week on Bluesky, where he stated he found out in 2017, and that “it made more sense of my childhood and life.” He also replied to a request for comment about it last month on Tumblr, saying “From my point of view, it’s both my super powers and it’s my kryptonite. Your mileage (as they say sensibly) may vary.” Incidentally, yesterday marked World Autism Awareness Day, which is held as part of the wider Autism Acceptance Month in April; to find out more, head to the links provided.
