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.
– Writer Jeff McComsey and artist Javier Pulido announced their free digital-first comic “ET-ER,” published by AWA. “Today’s patient? An alien from the boondocks of outer space whose deadly immune system will put the doctors to the ultimate test: to save their patient, they must first survive him,” reads the series’ blurb. “But that’s just one story in the truly limitless universe of ‘ET-ER,’ which stands at the intersection of E.R. and Men in Black. For the courageous health care workers at Roswell General, no planet is too far, no asteroid is too small, and no life form is too, well, alien, for their care – and they accept most forms of insurance.” The series is currently available on Webtoon and Tapas completely free.
– StarWars.com announced yesterday that Doctor Aphra is making her audiobook debut this July in an adaptation of her introduction in Kieron Gillen and Salvador Larroca’s “Darth Vader.” The story will be adapted by Sarah Kuhn (Heroine Complex, I Love You so Mochi), and will feature a full cast of narrators. Expect to hear the voices of Chelli Aphra, Bee Tee, Triple-Zero and Darth Vader in Star Wars: Doctor Aphra on July 21.
– Following up on his 60 sketches, Jim Lee has announced that he will participating in Hero Initiative’s Batman 100 project. Alongside Chris Moreno, Kaare Andrews and 97 other artists, Lee will be drawing a Batman sketch on a blank variant “Batman” comic, which will eventually be auctioned off for charity to help comic creators in need. Lee has already raised $205K for Book Industry Charitable Foundation from the first 20 sketches in his 60 sketch series.
– In sadder news, Hector Garrido, the artist for the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toy line, died peacefully in his sleep on April 19, aged 92. Garrido began his career in the 1950s, emigrating to the US after studying art in Buenos Aires. He also provided art for The Three Investigators, The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew and Baroness. Original artwork by Garrido is available on at his Flickr, with all proceeds going to his family.
– The Kubert School, one of the world’s leading comic art schools, is offering a virtual open house on May 2nd. Starting 1pm ET, School President Anthony Marques will guide viewers through the school building, meeting with special guests to speak about what makes the Kubert school special. The school is also currently offering online courses and kid’s classes, and free applications for anyone who want to study there before the end of April.
– Comic book retailer Forbidden Planet has had to put up a GoFundMe page to compensate for lost revenue following the COVID-19 Diamond Distribution shutdown. “Since the beginning of the current crisis, myself and others have worked from home to help maintain the store’s business and customer relationships and organize a way to come back from all of this,” said general manager Jeff Ayers. “The sad truth of the matter is that nothing will be the same for some time, but we need to ensure that FPNYC is in a position to reopen when the time comes. To do that we are humbly asking for your assistance in keeping FPNYC on its feet.” The fundraiser has currently made $25,000 of its $300,000 goal.
– IDW has had to temporarily lay-off some of its employees due to COVID-19. “Due to the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on market conditions, IDW had to make the difficult decision to furlough several valued staff members beginning April 20th,” said IDW Senior PR Manager Keith Davidsen. IDW President, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Chris Ryall continued, saying “the slowdown affecting the comics industry is heartbreaking in its own right, but it’s doubly so when it affects the hardworking and talented people who are so important to our efforts.” IDW hasn’t released the identities of those affected, but editor Denton Tipton has identified himself as one of the unfortunately affected. All furloughed employees’ health premium costs will be covered entirely by IDW during this difficult period.
Continued below– Chris Cerasi, who previously oversaw licensed books at DC and edited Star Trek, Disney, Cartoon Network, and creator-owned titles at IDW, is becoming Oni Press’s newest Editorial Coordinator. He previously freelanced as an editor for Oni’s “Rick and Morty” comics, but will be shifting over to the company in earnest as he relocates to Portland.
– Yeon Sang-ho, the director of Train to Busan and writer behind The Cursed, is collaborating with Netflix on a new series, Hellbound. The series is an adaptation of the webtoon “Hell” by Yeon SangHo and Choi KyuSuk, and follows the societal impact wrought by the arrival of demons that manifest on Earth to condemn people to Hell. Yeon will be directing the series himself.
– Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender are in luck, as the full three seasons of the series are coming to Netflix in the US on May 15. The series ran from 2005 to 2008 and has spawned a spin-off series, Legends of Korra, and a host of comic book tie-ins.
