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 the OGN “MAWRTH VALLIIS,” DC launched its latest horror imprint with “The Conjuring: The Lover,” and revealed its newest Black Label title, “Suicide Squad: Get Joker.” We also covered the Hamlet reimagining “Tragic,” and the Patricia Highsmith biography “Flung Out of Space.”
– Prolific cartoonist Go Nagai will return to manga this May, pencilling a chapter of Osamu Tezuka’s series “Barbara” for Big Comic magazine, and starting his own new manga “Yagyūra Shinken” for Weekly Post magazine. Both comics will be for the publisher Shogakukan and will release May 10. “Barbara” follows author Yosuke Mikura, whose discovery of the eponymous Barbara, abandoned in a train station, leads him to a masochistic obsession that puts him continuously in the way of danger. The English translation of Tezuka’s series was nominated for the 2013 Eisner award for Best U.S. Edition of International Material — Asia. So far, little is known about “Yagyūra Shinken.”
– EA Games are releasing the comic biography “Hamza: My Story” to coincide with the Midnight Ramadan League, and new in-game releases for FIFA 21. The comic stars British footballer Hamza Choudhury, who created the comic alongside writer Vithushan Ehantharajah and artist Raj Dhunna. Choudhury is currently the only British Asian player at the Premier League level, playing as a midfielder for Leicester. “Being yourself is important in life and football,” said Choudhury. “It was a lesson taught to me growing up: to love who you are and what you do. Without embracing my heritage, my skin and even my hair, I would not be the person or the footballer I am today. This is my story so far.”
– Heavy metal rockstar King Diamond will make his comics debut at Z2 Comics with the original graphic novel “Abigail,” alongside co-writer Dan Watters (“Lucifer,” “Home Sick Pilots”) and artist Damien Worm (“October Faction,” “Dark Souls”). The comic will adapt the 1987 concept album of the same name, releasing October 2021 in both softcover and hardcover formats. “Working with a company like Z2 and the writer Dan Watters, and the graphic artist Damien Worm, is making this project the highest class one could wish for,” said King Diamond. “Not just our own fans but any fan of the horror genre will enjoy the darkness and creepiness of this project.” “Abigail” can be preordered at the Z2 website.
– The NBA will feature a Marvel superhero line-up, for a alternate telecast of the match between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans on May 3, titled “Arena of Heroes.” The broadcast will bring a comic book storyline to the match with appearances from Iron Man, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Black Widow and Doctor Strange. Warriors players Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins, and Pelicans Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball will be awarded Marvel Hero Points based on their play. The Avengers will be portrayed with 3D virtual characters.
– Watch company Audemars Piguet are collaborating with Marvel and a host of celebrities to promote the interactive comic “A Tear in Time,” and their new watch, the Royal Oak Concept “Black Panther” Flying Tourbillon. Lebron James, Cindy Bruna, VERBAL, OH and Kano all appear in the digital comic as superheroes unlocking the secret powers of vibranium. Readers can select one of the five characters to follow in the comic as their stories overlap in the semi-animated story. The comic is available to read free online.
– Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train officially has the highest-grossing domestic opening weekend of any foreign film ever. The film, which continues the story of the hit anime, grossed US$19.5 million over the weekend, being beaten out only by the release of Mortal Kombat. The film has already become the highest grossing box office release in Japan, accruing $365 million in ticket sales there so far. The news comes after the announcement that Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train will be available in the UK on May 26. The animated feature will appear in theaters with both subtitled and dubbed versions available.
Continued below– Doom Patrol is getting weirder in its third season, as new casting reveals the inclusion of the Sisterhood of Dada, and the Dead Boy Detectives. Making up the Sisterhood are Micah Joe Parker, Wynn Everett, Miles Mussenden, Anita Kalathara and Gina Hiraizumi, who will be playing Malcolm, Shelley Byron (who goes by The Fog), Lloyd Jefferson (Frenzy), Holly McKenzie (Sleepwalk) and Sachiko (The Quiz), respectively. The Sisterhood is based off of Grant Morrison and Richard Case’s Brotherhood of Dada, whose leader Mr. Nobody was the main antagonist of Doom Patrol’s first season.
The Dead Boy Detectives are made up of the duo Edwin Payne (portrayed by Ty Tennant) and Charles Rowland (Sebastian Croft), two young boys that have been dead for decades, and who use their supernatural state to solve mysteries. The characters were created by Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner and Malcolm Jones III in “The Sandman.” There is no set premiere date for Doom Patrol season 3 as of yet.
– After the conclusion of the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, word broke that a fourth Captain America film is in development. The news came after the release of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s season finale, which would lead viewers to believe Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson will be the central focus of the upcoming feature. No casting has been revealed and no director is currently attached, however the film will be written by Falcon/Winter Soldier head writer Malcolm Spellman and staff writer Dalan Musson. For our episode-by-episode coverage on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier check here.
