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 announced several new titles, including Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza and Stephen Mooney’s “Free Agents.”
– BOOM! Studios revealed the “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” comic will come to an end this summer, with the oversized special “MMPR: Darkest Hour.” Written by Melissa Flores, with art by Simona Di Gianfelice, and colors by Raúl Angulo, the comic will see the Rangers, now powerless without the Morphin Grid, make a final stand against the Dark Specter with an unexpected group of allies. “Darkest Hour” will be released on July 31, 2024, while the final issue of the main series itself, “MMPR” #122, will arrive beforehand on July 24. BOOM!’s take on the beloved TV show began in 2016, and has spawned multiple spin-offs, including the currently ongoing “Ranger Academy” series. It will be far from the end of the characters’ time at the publisher though, with BOOM! telling readers to expect further announcements “in the coming months, including exciting plans for San Diego Comic-Con.”
– Ahead of the release of the Free Comic Book Day issue, Gemstone Publishing have announced “Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure,” a new graphic novel in the titular series by writer/co-creator Anthony Del Col, artist Stefan Tosheff, and letterer Becca Carey. The book follows Juliet, who has become a mercenary protecting a frontier town from her ex-lover, as she discovers she’s pregnant, and that the father could be either Hamlet or Romeo. It will be released with a cover by Richard Isanove on November 19, while the FCBD preview will drop on May 4. As well as the first “Kill Shakespeare” comic since 2017, it marks the first comic from Gemstone (best known for publishing the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide) since 2008. Furthermore, Gemstone announced newcomers will be able to catch with a reprint of the IDW run in “Kill Shakespeare 1st Folio,” out September 24, and a “2nd Folio” in Spring 2025.
– Dark Horse’s Berger Books imprint will publish “Backflash,” a graphic novel by writer Mat Johnson (“Incognegro”), artist Steve Lieber (“Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen”), colorist Lee Loughridge, and letterer Clem Robins. The book follows Devin, a troubled man who discovers that when he touches a piece of family memorabilia, he is able to mentally relive the best moments of his life. “But the more Devin ‘backflashes,’ he finds himself on a trail of family mystery and betrayal. On this hunt for a truth that was never supposed to come to light, Devin must come to terms with his past if he wants any chance at a future.” It will be released in bookstores on November 12, and comics shops the following day, and retail at 104 pages for $22.99.
– In Mad Cave news, children’s imprint Papercutz unveiled the graphic novel series “Flash Gordon Adventures,” revealing Art Baltazar and Franco Aureliani will helm the all-ages version of the classic hero’s adventures. The first installment will be released on November 26, 2024, after every other Flash Gordon project Mad Cave has in the pipeline. Meanwhile, the publisher’s YA imprint Maverick announced “I’m a Mess,” a graphic memoir by Israeli picture book author Einat Tsarfati, exploring what it’s like to be a messy person. It will be released on July 24.
– Vault Comics are teaming up with Post Malone for an untitled graphic novel conceived by the rapper. The book, set for 2025, will center around the miraculous appearance of an armored semi-trailer truck in Medieval Europe, where it becomes humanity’s last hope against a demonic invasion. It was also announced the film rights have already been optioned by Michael Bay’s production company Platinum Dunes. In the meantime, the first graphic novel from Vault’s musician-centric imprint Headshell, Pete Wentz, Hannah Klein & Lisa Sterle’s “Dying Inside,” will be released on September 17, with a Free Comic Book Day preview also dropping on May 4.
– In special announcements, 2000 AD announced the “2000 AD Sci-Fi Special,” a 48-page anthology releasing July 3, featuring stories by Ian Edginton, Dan Abnett, Ben Willsher, Nicolò Assirelli, and Al Ewing. Meanwhile, Archie revealed a “Chilling Adventures” one-shot called “Truth or Dare,” which’ll see Trula Twyst put the screws on the Riverdale gang in a homage to the teen thrillers of the early 2000s. Written by Ron Robbins, with art by Laura Braga, colors by Ellie Wright, and lettering by Jack Morelli, the book releases July 17.
Continued below– Mike Grell revealed a new TV series starring his character Jon Sable is in development with producer Brendan Deneen at Second Act Entertainment. Created in 1983, “Jon Sable, Freelance” follows a bounty hunter and mercenary who became a game warden, only to return to his old ways after his family are murdered by poachers; returning to America, he also leads a double life as a successful children’s book author. It was previously adapted into a shortlived 1987–1988 TV series, Sable, starring Lewis Van Bergen, and Rene Russo (in her first acting role.) The new version also marks Deneen’s first major move since the controversy over Scout Comics, where he serves as CEO, and the subsequently announced relaunch of the company.
– In more media news, Thandiwe Newton (Westworld) has joined the cast of Wednesday season two in an unnamed part; Joe Tracz (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) will be co-showrunner on One Piece season two with Matt Owens, replacing Steven Maeda (who will still serve as executive producer); and last but not least, Neon have confirmed the Oscar-nominated Robot Dreams will open in theaters in New York on May 31, and Los Angeles on June 7, before expanding throughout June. In the meantime, you can read our review of the beautiful film here.
– Finally, Xbox revealed a Series X featuring an exclusive two-page X-Men ’97 comic on the exterior, marking the first time the console has been wrapped in a comic. The story, written by Rich Douek with art by Paco Diaz, depicts the team battling the Sentinels, and an appearance from the Series X console in the Danger Room. Head to the link to find out how you can win the console via a sweepstakes competition, and to check out controllers patterned after each X-Man’s color scheme (the Wolverine design will be the only one given to winners though.)
