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, Image Comics announced “Ordinary Gods,” Emilia Clarke is making her comic book debut with “M.O.M: Mother of Madness,” and Vault Comics announced “The Last Book You’ll Ever Read.” Meanwhile over at DC, the Superman line is seeing a shakeup, Booster Gold and Blue Beetle are getting a miniseries titled “Blue and Gold,” and a “Shazam” miniseries is spinning out of the ongoing “Teen Titans Academy.”
– Following last week’s announcement of ‘World War She-Hulk,’ war is coming to another of Marvel’s major titles. This July, Nick Spencer’s “Amazing Spider-Man” run will feature two teams headed by two of Spidey’s greatest foes facing off in ‘Sinister War.’ Featuring art by Mark Bagley, the storyline finds Doctor Octopus’s Sinister Six clashing with the Vulture-led Savage Six, with New York City caught in the crossfire. The exact membership of each of the warring Sixes haven’t yet been revealed, but the promotional image from Mark Bagley features original Sinister Six members Sandman and Kraven the Hunter, as well as a number of recognizable members of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery including the Lizard, Scorpion, Rhino and Hydro-Man. ‘Sinister War’ kicks off with “Sinister War” #1, with a cover by Bryan Hitch, on July 14, before continuing on in the pages of “Amazing Spider-Man” #71.
– Marvel also announced Peter David, Greg Land, Jay Leisten, and Frank D’Armata will continue to revisit Spider-Man’s adventures in the ’80s. Via ComicBook.com, “Symbiote Spider-Man: Crossroads” will see Peter Parker heading to the Crossroads dimension introduced in Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema’s “Incredible Hulk” run, leading to run-ins with the Hulk, the Eternals, and Devil Dinosaur. The first issue hits comic book stores in July.
– “Captain Marvel” is getting an oversized 30th issue, and the artist responsible for the character’s 2012 redesign is joining the book for the occasion. Via Syfy Wire, the issue will see artist Jamie McKelvie, the designer of the iconic costume that brought Carol Danvers into her new mantle, will return to the character to write and draw a story that features her teaming up with another hero whose look McKelvie helped design: Kamala Khan. The milestone issue will also feature the conclusion to the ongoing ‘Strange Magic’ arc from the main creative team of Kelly Thompson and Jacopo Camagni, as Carol digs deeper into magical secrets in order to prevent the dark future she visited earlier in the series. “Captain Marvel” #21 goes on sale July 21.
– Titan Comics’ “Horizon Zero Dawn” series is returning for another storyline. The video game adaptation will be getting a new #1 issue with “Horizon Zero Dawn: Liberation,” featuring Ben McCaw (Horizon Zero Dawn’s Narrative Director) and returning writer Anne Toole, and new series artist Elmer Damaso (“Robotech”). Set during the events of the original game, the story delves deeper into the story of Aloy’s sidekick Erend, as he reveals the sweeping tale of the liberation of Meridian, and how his sister, Ersa, Captain of the Carja Vanguard, was murdered. “Horizon Zero Dawn: Liberation” #1 drops on July 14.
– Insider commissioned a team of comics creators to create a webcomic that tells the story of last year’s plot to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Make the World Glow” was written by Anthony Del Col and features art by Josh Adams with Paul Westover, colors by Irma Kniivila, letters by Taylor Esposito, and research & editing by Walter Hickey. The story relies on journalistic reporting that delved into the dramatic events that led to the FBI’s bust, using an affidavit from FBI agent Richard Trask as a primary source. “Make the World Glow: How Two Radicalized Men Almost Kidnapped Michigan’s Governor” is available to read over at Insider.
– Hot off the news of Sony Entertainment’s recent deal to bring their upcoming slate of films to Netflix following their theatrical release, Sony has now closed a deal with Disney to bring their films to the studio’s many platforms following their initial Netflix exclusivity window. Via Variety, the wide-ranging deal will make Sony Pictures titles released from 2022 to 2026 (including their upcoming Spider-Man films) available across Disney’s platforms, including Disney+, Hulu, FX Networks, ABC, Freeform and more after the end of the Pay 1 release window. The Pay 2 release window is typically reserved for ad-supported TV networks and broadcast platforms, making this deal indicative of the rapidly evolving distribution landscape. Sony’s upcoming films will head to Netflix approximately nine months after their theatrical release, before jumping to Disney’s platforms after that period of exclusivity lapses. The complex deal is expected to be worth over $3 billion for Sony, and also includes deals for some of Sony’s library titles.
Continued below– Speaking of streaming platforms, a new trailer has offered a closer look at the upcoming Marvel animated series Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K., which is set to premiere on Hulu next month. The adaptation of the oddball villain features Patton Oswalt as the voice of the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, a megalomaniacal villain who heads up the evil organization A.I.M. – or at least he did, until he ran the organization into the ground. The show was written by executive producers Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt, and also stars Melissa Fumero, Aimee Garcia, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ben Schwartz, Beck Bennett, Jon Daly and Sam Richardson. Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. premieres May 21 on Hulu.
– Via Variety, Robot Chicken has set up a new special for Archie Andrews and the gang, and they’re bringing Josie and the Pussycats with them. The Bleepin’ Robot Chicken Archie Comics Special will feature a reunion of sorts from the cult classic Josie and the Pussycats film, with Rachel Leigh Cook returning to voice Josie McCoy, and Robot Chicken co-creator Seth Green joining his former co-stars Breckin Meyer and Donald Faison to reprise their roles as members of the boy band DuJour. Additional guest stars for the special include Fred Armisen, Amy Sedaris, Betty Gilpin, Jason Mantzoukas, Ryan Phillippe, Clare Grant, Cree Summer, Jane Lynch, Jared Harris, and Katee Sackhoff. The Bleepin’ Robot Chicken Archie Comics Special premieres on Adult Swim on May 23.
– Sussman Education, Inc./Lightswitch Learning have announced a timely new children’s graphic novel that’s designed to aid and deepen conversations around racism and police violence. Aimed at children grades 6-12, “Black and Blue” follows two Black brothers in New York City who are impacted differently by family stories about their grandfather, a former New York City policeman. The graphic novel will be written and illustrated by creator Jared Sams, and accompanied by student questions designed to support classroom learning related to social justice and diversity issues. “Black and Blue” will be available in print and digital formats starting this spring.
– Via The Beat, the management company Echo Lake Entertainment has signed comics publisher Mad Cave Studios. Echo Lake will represent the publisher’s catalog of intellectual property, signaling that Mad Cave is likely pursuing some television and film adaptation deals for their titles. The deal will include Mad Cave’s young adult titles under their Maverick imprint, which was announced in September 2020.
