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, DC revealed their Young Animal imprint will return with three new titles, and James Hudnall died aged 61. We also have new interviews from C2E2 with “Unstoppable Wasp” writer Jeremy Whitley, and Robert Venditti.
– At the Parc Asterix near Paris yesterday, a new “Asterix” comic book, called “Asterix and the Chieftain’s Daughter,” was announced. The comic will be created by Jean–Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad, and overseen by “Asterix” co-creator Albert Uderzo. The comic will see the introduction of the daughter of Vercingetorix, the king of the Gauls. The aim of the comic is to not only emphasize the famous historical figure of Vercingetorix, but to explore the “adolescence in the heart of the village of Asterix” as well. “Asterix and the Chieftain’s Daughter” will be released worldwide on October 24, and will mark the 60th anniversary of the “Asterix” comics.
– Titan Comics revealed new story details, covers and a start month for the upcoming “Blade Runner 2019” via The Hollywood Reporter. The new 12-issue series will follow Ash, a Blade Runner, on a new case tracking down a billionaire’s wife and child after they have been seemingly kidnapped by a group of replicants. The series will launch with multiple different covers, with Blade Runner concept artist Syd Mead, Artgerm, and John Royle all providing alternate covers in addition to the one by series artist Andres Guinaldo. “Blade Runner 2019” #1, written by Blade Runner 2049 screenwriter Michael Green and Mike Johnson (“Star Trek”), will be released in July. You can view the covers here.
– Variety reported that Jeremy Renner is set to star as Hawkeye in a TV series on Disney+. The project is described as being an adventure series which will see Clint Barton hand over the mantle of Hawkeye to Kate Bishop. Disney, Marvel and Renner’s representatives have all declined to comment on the subject to Variety. Disney+ is reportedly set to launch this November.
– The Hollywood Reporter detailed 10 unscripted series slated for Disney+, which includes two Marvel titles. The first is Marvel’s 616, an anthological docuseries which will “dive into the rich historical, cultural and societal context that has become inseparable from stories of the Marvel Universe.” It will be produced in partnership with Marvel New Media, by the Supper Club, the team of David Gelb, Brian McGinn and Jason Sterman (all of whom produced Chef’s Table), who have signed a deal with Disney+. The series will be executively producued by Joe Quesada, Stephen Wacker, Shane Rahmani, John Cerilli, Harry Go and Sarah Amos for Marvel and by David Gelb, Brian McGinn and Jason Sterman for Supper Club.
– The second non-fiction Marvel series will be Marvel’s Hero Project, which will highlight the impact that brave and kind children have had on their communities by performing selfless acts. This will be produced by Marvel New Media and Maggievision Productions. Joe Quesada, Stephen Wacker, Shane Rahmani, Liza Wyles and Sarah Amos will all be serving as executive producers for Marvel, with Maura Mandt and John Hirsch representing Maggievision Productions. There are currently no release dates for these projects.
– In more Marvel news, O-T Fagbenle (The Handmaid’s Tale) has been cast in the upcoming Black Widow. Details regarding his character remain scarce, with Deadline only reporting his role as a lead opposite Scarlett Johansson. This casting announcement comes shortly after the news that David Harbour has joined the cast and that Rachel Weisz was in early talks for the film. There is no release date for Black Widow at this time.
– Netflix revealed the release date for the fourth season of Lucifer alongside a teaser video and a new poster, both of which you can see here. The series was resurrected by Netflix for its fourth season last June, a month after FOX cancelled it. All 10 episodes of Season 4 will be available on Netflix on May 8.
Continued below– The final issue of Azzarello and Bermejo’s “Batman: Damned” has been delayed a further four weeks and is now scheduled to be released on June 19.
– The New Zealand Herald apologized for a cartoon which was widely described as being transphobic. The cartoon was an installment of the UK comic, “Alex,” which depicted two male office colleagues discussing a transgender colleague and the “really good deal” that she has with the employer, claiming that she is allowed time off work for medical treatments and therapy as part of her transition with “no questions asked,” and that she can “skive” off work and not get questioned, “unlike if she was still a man.” A spokesperson from NZME’s (New Zealand Media and Entertainment, who own the Herald) PR agency NSPR released the apology for the strip being printed, stating that while it was intended to “highlight transphobia,” it “missed the mark,” and insisted that they will be “will be more vigilant in future.” The character of Stephanie has featured in previous “Alex” comics and her ongoing transition has been part of a long-running subplot.
– Nathan Pyle, creator of the webcomic “Strange Planet,” was involved in an online controversy after one of his tweets from 2017 resurfaced, seemingly expressing his support for the anti-abortion organization March for Life. In the tweet, Pyle stated that the March for Life makes him think about his girlfriend’s life story, stating that he was “thankful” she was given the “gift of life.” Pyle responded to the controversy on Twitter on Tuesday, stating that he and his wife have “private beliefs” that “pertain to [their] Christian Faith.” He added that they believe “separation of the church and state is crucial to our nation flourishing,” and that they vote for the Democratic Party as they “do not want to be associated with” the Republican Party.
