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.
– Kicking off, classic “Archie” comics are returning!…sort of. A new series “Your Pal Archie” from writer/inker Ty Templeton and penciller Dan Parent will debut July 25 in that similar Archie style just with a Riverdale character makeover. The first five issues of the series will have an interlocking cover that will form a picture of Pop’s Soda Shop with most of the Archie universe characters in it.
– Marvel released a teaser image today that said “Marvel Legacy Fall 2017” with no other details. This follows rumors that “Secret Empire” will lead into a more Rebirth-esque relaunch for the company. Perhaps Legacy is the title of their relaunch and will follow “Generations?” Look for future teasers as they come.
– James Gunn on his Facebook page in a long message revealed today that he will write and direct the future Guardians of the Galaxy 3. Gunn in his post said he didn’t want to return to the franchise unless it was what he really wanted and doesn’t want to fall into the Hollywood trap of making a bad third act to a trilogy. While no release date has been announced, and the probability that the film will be in the Phase 4 MCU slate, this is still exciting news for the franchise. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 premieres in a couple weeks on May 5.
– The Walking Dead recently concluded its seventh season and is gearing up for the eighth, promoting three actors to series regulars. Steven Ogg (Simon), Katelyn Nacon (Enid), and Pollyanna McIntosh (Jadis) have all been bumped up to regular status for the new season.
– Another actor is joining Justice League as Michael McElhatton has joined the movie in an unnamed role. This follows last week’s news that Ciarán Hinds would portray the Apokolips villain Steppenwolf. McElhatton was tight-lipped on his role but said, “I can’t really say, but it looks pretty amazing.” Perhaps he is playing Hawkman as many seem to think he is in the trailer?
– James Bond is getting another new series at Dynamite from the “James Bond: Hammerhead” creative team. “James Bond: Kill Chain” drops in July from Andy Diggle and Luca Casalanguida and finds Bond trapped in the crosshairs of a plot to crush NATO and up against the CIA. Will 007 be the next victim in the kill chain?
– Independent publisher Retrofit Comics/Big Planet Comics announced their Spring 2017 line of graphic novels today as well as their newest Kickstarter for the Spring 2017 line. The titles include “Combed Clap of Thunder” by Zach Hazard Vaupen, “Steam Clean” by Laura Kenins, “How To Be Alive” by Tara Booth, “Iceland” by Yuichi Yokoyama, “Tales from the Hyperverse” by Will Cardini, and “TRUMPTRUMP vol. 1: nomination to inauguration” by Warren Craghead III. This follows their most successful Kickstarter campaign ever last year where they made $40,000.
– “Well today is kinda cool” was tweeted by Jason Aaron today from the set of the WGN series Scalped. Production news has been pretty quiet so this is the first announcement that production is under way. The series is based off Aaron and artist’s R.M. Guera’s 60-issue Vertigo series of the same name about Dashiell Bad Horse and FBI agent who returns to his reservation to try to arrest Chief Lincoln Red Crow for murder.
– Dynamite is also bringing back the iconic 1950s pinup girl Bettie Page in a new miniseries from David Avallone and Colton Worley. The series explores a reality where the iconic figure used her then-nascent fame and notoriety to go undercover in Hollywood at the behest of the U.S. government. “Bettie Page” premieres in July.
– One of Rick Remender’s, earliest creator-owned works is getting recollected as Dark Horse is giving “The End League” a special library edition. The nine-issue series saw Mat Broome and Eric Canete each for four issues with Andy McDonald drawing the last one. “The End League Library Edition” will be released September 20.
– Finally, more crossovers are coming as Dynamite has announced “The Green Hornet ’66 Meets The Spirit” from Fred Van Lente and Bob Q. The miniseries follows The Green Hornet and Kato as they travel to the World Fair to research the “Newspaper of Tomorrow” and will see an aged Spirit cast as Will Eisner’s strip ended in 1952. Look for the crossover out in July!
