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, the heroes of the Marvel Universe will square off against Xenomorphs in “Avengers vs. Aliens,” the trailer for Transformers One dropped, and DC unveiled the tie-ins for “Absolute Power.” We also have an exclusive preview of next week’s “Avengers” #13.
– Marvel released their July 2024 solicitations, which revealed Jason Aaron will make his return to the publisher with “Namor.” The eight-issue series will feature art from Paul Davidson and Alex Lins, and see seven kings compete for control of the oceans in the wake of Namor’s capture and incarceration on the surface, where the Sub-Mariner has “no intention of ever setting foot in the seas again.” The official synopsis promises to lay “bare the dark history of Atlantis and its fiercest, most infamous defender.” Issue #1 will be available July 17.
– Writer Al Ewing and artist Iban Coello will head up Marvel’s next symbiote-based crossover. “Venom War” will see Eddie Brock and his son Dylan realize that only one of them can be the true Venom, with every symbiote character past and present forced to pick a side. Issue #1 (of 5) is due out August 7.
– Marvel also revealed Kaare Andrews’s “Spider-Man: Reign II” will begin in July. The dystopian sequel will introduce a new Black Cat, and an older Miles Morales. Issue #1 (of 5) releases July 3. For more details on Marvel’s releases for the month, including word on which titles will carry the ‘Deadpool/Wolverine: Weapon X-Traction‘ back-up, and an ‘Infinity Watch’ tie-in co-written by Iman Vellani, head to the link, and stay tuned for our Soliciting Multiversity column.
– Featuring the new creative team of writer Marguerite Bennett and artist Giuseppe Carlo, “Witchblade” is returning to Top Cow/Image on July 17. The “reimagined” series will be a complete retelling, with the first issue showing New York detective Sara Pezzini acquiring the title weapon. Created by Marc Silvestri, the original “Witchblade” series ran from 1995-2015, making it one of the earliest titles in Image Comics history. It was revived in 2017, but that series ended in 2020.
– Matt Kindt’s latest project at his Dark Horse imprint Flux House, the oversized three-issue miniseries “Gilt Frame,” will see him collaborate with his own mother. Margie Kraft Kindt scripts alongside her artist and co-writer son, crafting what the official synopsis calls “a classic whodunit that spans the globe from Paris to Hawaii to Montenegro.” The series follows Sam, an orphan in his early twenties, and his wealthy sleuth relative Aunt Merry. The series shows them attempting to solve a brutal murder, running up against jewel thieves, art forgers, gun-runners, ghosts, and lost puppies as they do. (Not to mention the French detective attempting to solve the case before them.) Kindt credits the collaboration to the pretend crime scenes his mother would construct for him as a child, explaining that these puzzles deeply influenced his writing as he got older, and that working with her reminded him of what writing has always been for him: play. “Gilt Frame” #1 (of 3) will be released on August 7, with advance copies available at San Diego-Comic Con.
– In more Dark Horse news, the publisher has teamed up with Asmodee Entertainment for “Arkham Horror: The Terror at the End of Time.” Cullen Bunn writes the four-issue miniseries, with art from Andrea Mutti, colors by Valerie Alloro, and letters from Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Rafael Albuquerque provides cover art. The book follows socialite Jenny Barnes as she attempts to free her sister Izzie from a dangerous cult, and the eldritch monsters at its command, with the help of private eye Joe Diamond. This will be the first comic-based addition to the largely board game-based Arkham Horror universe. The first issue is due out August 7.
– AHOY Comics announced that the satirical “Justice Warriors” will return with a new graphic novel: “Justice Warriors: Vote Harder.” Written by Nib founder Matt Bors, and co-written and drawn by Adult Swim alum Ben Clarkson, “Vote Harder” sees officers Swamp Cop and Schitt’s partnership tested during crime-free utopia Bubble City’s first ever mayoral election. Bors letters, while Felipe Sobreiro provides colors. Clarkson calls the book “an epic thrill-ride about the infiltration of civil society by law enforcement, the corrupt bickering of unaccountable elites, and unchecked military expansion,” before adding that it featured “orbital space lasers, giraffe assassins, and obscure paramilitary procedure.” The book is due out September 10.
Continued below– Magma Comix revealed details on Darick Robertson and Stephen B. Jones’s upcoming sci-fi series “Greaser: Gemini Blues.” The comic, which Robertson announced he would be writing at WonderCon, follows Buddy, a greaser making a living as a repairman for the Gemini, the aliens who migrated to the Nevada desert decades ago. “This quiet life is interrupted when a ruthless motorcycle gang leaves behind precious cargo in their yard. The owners want it back, and will destroy anything in their way!” Issue #1 (of 4) releases on July 3.
– BOOM! Studios will reprint the 1983 adaptation of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal as part of the publisher’s Archive Edition line. Originally published by Marvel, the adaptation was written by David Anthony Kraft, and featured art from Bret Blevins and Vince Colletta. The new edition will feature an exclusive variant cover from Frany. It will be available in shops on July 3 of this year.
– Finally, The Witcher season four has begun filming in the UK, with Liam Hemsworth taking over the role of Gerald of Rivia from the departing Henry Cavill. Netflix has also announced that this season will be the penultimate one, with season five being the series’ last. Both seasons will be filmed back-to-back, and together will cover the final three books in Andrzej Sapkowski’s series (Baptism of Fire, The Tower of the Swallow, and Lady of the Lake). Also joining the cast are Laurence Fishburne, Sharlto Copley, James Purefoy, and Danny Woodburn. Season four will be released sometime next year.
