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, AfterShock Comics have announced new sci-fi series “Clans of Belari;” Image’s “Man-Eaters” return with the five-part “Man-Eaters: The Cursed;” and Dark Horse announced “Harrow County” spin-off “Tales from Harrow County: Fair Folk.”
– Eisner-winning cartoonist Tillie Walden teamed with singer-songwriter Marie Ulven, better known as girl in red, and editor Lucy Bourton, to produce the five-chapter graphic novel “Do you listen to girl in red?” The graphic novel can be read exclusively on WePresent, and spans from Ulven’s childhood in Norway, to the start of her music career. “I’m just looking forward to seeing how people react to it themselves and what they take from it,” she says of the project. “It was so much fun opening up and exploring some key parts of my life, and I hope people enjoy reading about them too.” The comic releases just ahead of girl in red’s debut album If I Could Make It Go Quiet, scheduled to hit shelves on April 30 of this year.
– BOOM! Studios announced “Dune: Blood of Sardaukar,” an official “standalone” prequel from writers Brian Herbert (son of original Dune author Frank Herbert) and Kevin J. Anderson. The book will follow Jopati Kolona, a member of the Sardaukar, the emperor’s elite military unit, who blames House Atreides for the destruction of his home planet and family. Adam Gorham will provide art, while Patricio Delpeche and Ed Dukeshire will handle colors and letters respectively. Jeff Dekal will provide cover art, with variant covers from Adam Gorham, Max Fiumara, and Gerald Parel. The book will be published in conjunction with Herbert Properties LLC and Abrams ComicArts (who began a trilogy of Dune adaptations in Fall 2020). “Dune: Blood of Sardaukar” #1 goes on sale this July.
– The Beat has an exclusive preview of “Tooboroth of Goon Holler,” the new graphic novel from former Aquabats member and Yo Gabba Gabba! art director Parker Jacobs. Published by Z2, the all-ages OGN tells the story of Tooboroth, a Bigfoot roped into leading a “troop of Goon Scouts.” The book will be released with an official soundtrack in both comic book and independent record shops this August.
– “Bomba!,” the classic manga from Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka, will be getting an English translation for the first time in 50 years. The story follows junior high student Satoshi Otani, and the spectral horse summoned by his anger. Publisher Kodansha made the announcement during a YouTube stream last month. The manga is scheduled for release this fall for a cover price of $14.98.
– Faculty from the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) and the Florida State University College of Social Work (thanks to licensing from Ventris Learning) are releasing a compiled edition of “The Uncanny Chronicles,” an an eight-issue miniseries detailing the challenges of living with dyslexia. FCRR director Nicole Patton and associate director Yaacov Petscher created the comic, alongside writer Stephen Smith and illustrator Daniel Hooker, in 2016. New issues were released three times a year. A video series was produced as well, which will air this spring on the local PBS affiliate. The collected edition of the comic also features games and facts for both kids and caregivers.
– Marvel announced the latest novel in their partnership with Aconyte Books. Target: Kree, written by Stuart Moore, will be a tie-in to the Marvel: Crisis Protocol tabletop game from Atomic Mass Games. The novel will see Iron Man, Ms. Marvel, and the Guardians of the Galaxy on the trail of a world killer hiding among Kree refugees on Earth. Target: Kree will be available in print and as an eBook on July 6, and can be preordered on Acontye’s website. Moore previously wrote Marvel’s novelization of ‘The Dark Phoenix Saga.’
– Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke is reportedly in final negotiations to join the cast of Disney+ series Secret Invasion. Her role has not been announced, and neither Marvel nor Clarke have commented on the casting. Clarke joins a cast that include Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn resuming their roles from 2019’s Captain Marvel, Kingsley Ben-Adir as the series villain, and Olivia Colman in an unnamed role.
Continued below– Algonquin has purchased the rights for two YA graphic novels. The first is “Fishing,” due out in Spring 2023, which explores the unique prison communication form referenced by its title. The second is “Basketball IQ,” due out Fall 2021, exploring the psychological aspects of the sport. Both are written by Michael Ralph, and illustrated by Nia Palmer, and Laura Molnar.
– Top Shelf unveiled writer Duane Murray and artist Shawn Daley’s “Better Place,” an all-ages graphic novel due out this August. “This sidekick misses his superhero,” reads the official synopsis. “After hearing that his grandfather has gone to a ‘better place,’ a boy sets off on a grand adventure to find him, dressed as his favourite comic book character.” The book will be “mixed color,” featuring full color fantasy sequences mixed with the black-and-white reality of the main plot.
– Finally, Graphic Audio struck a deal with Archie Comics to publish audio dramas based on several classic Archie stories, starting with “Archie in Will You Marry Me?” (a.k.a. “The Archie Wedding”) this spring. 2018’s “Vampironica” and Mark Waid’s 2015 relaunch will follow. “We’re looking forward to presenting classic and modern Archie Comics in our dramatized audiobook format,” Graphic Audio Vice President Anji Cornette says of the deal. “And for generations young and old to experience ‘The Archie Wedding’ in our immersive way of storytelling.” The audio dramas will be available on Graphic Audio’s website.
