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, Frank Miller launched a publishing company with Dan DiDio called Frank Miller Presents; Titan Comics has teamed up with StoneBot Comics to release a new Kamen Rider series; and the legendary comic book artist and writer, Neal Adams, died at the age of 80.
– Publishers Weekly reported on four graphic novel deals this week, including an adaptation of Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves’s InterWorld, and “They” by writer MariNaomi and artist Trung Le Nguyen. The InterWorld adaptation will be created by writer Scott Bryan Wilson and artist Madeline Corrette-Bennett, and follow protagonist Joey Harker as he teams up with variants of himself to maintain stable levels of magic and science across the multiverse. “They” will follow a Japanese American called Yuko becoming friends with two members of a J-Pop band, and learning to embrace her dual nationality. Quill Tree Books will publish the InterWorld graphic novel in the US and Canada in the Winter of 2025; “They” is set to be released by Little, Brown in the Fall of 2026. You can see the full round-up of children’s book deals here.
– Penguin Random House announced that significant delays to a huge number of Marvel Comics releases are set to continue, with the publisher “making measurable schedule changes to many comics and collections,” with updates due “as these changes come in.” The delays have been caused by a combination of the scarce supplies of paper and cardboard boxes, as well as the limited number of available printing presses. Titles across the publisher’s catalog are being affected, including the just-relaunched “The Amazing Spider-Man,” and the upcoming ‘A.X.E. Judgement Day;’ you can read the full details here.
– An FBI affidavit revealed that a Californian man, with the Facebook username Jeremy Hanson, sent threats to DC Comics, an unnamed DC writer, and IGN following the announcement that Jon Kent is bisexual last October. The threats were sent across various communication channels, with Hanson claiming that the publisher was “ruining Superman” and “discriminating against conservatives.” When interviewed by the FBI on October 27, Hanson stated he suffers from “obsessive-compulsive disorder, Aspergers, anxiety, and depression, and he struggles with impulse control.” The affidavit was filed as part of an investigation into Hanson after he was arrested and charged with one count of interstate communication of threats to commit violence against Merriam-Webster on April 20. Further details about the affidavit, including excerpts of some of Hanson’s messages can be read at the link, however, the messages do contain details some readers might find upsetting.
– After running for seven and three seasons respectively, the CW cancelled DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman. It was Legends co-showrunner Keto Shimizu who broke the news about her show, stating, “We are heartbroken, but also immensely grateful for the amazing work our cast, crew, and writers have contributed to the little show that could.” These sentiments were echoed by Batwoman showrunner, Caroline Dries, who said “I am bummed, but full of gratitude. What an honor to make 51 episodes,” and thanked those involved with making the show and its fans. At this stage it is unclear whether any characters from either show could return to the two remaining Arrowverse shows at the network, The Flash and Superman & Lois, which were renewed in March.
– The film adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s “Seconds” took a major step forward, with Blake Lively attached to direct the film, and Edgar Wright, who directed a previous O’Malley adaption in the shape of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, writing the script. Wright will also serve as a producer alongside Marc Platt. The film will mark Lively’s first as director; she previously made her directorial debut with the music video for Taylor Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me.” “Seconds” follows Katie Clay, a chef, who starts to disrupt time and space, after she starts altering her past decisions through a continued combination of sleep and mushrooms, despite the warnings of a mysterious girl named Liv. A release date for the adaptation has not been announced.
Continued below– Marvel Studios swapped the release dates for the upcoming The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, with them now set to release on July 28, 2023, and February 17, 2023, respectively. Plots details for both films still remain a secret, though we do know that Jonathan Majors will join Quantumania in the role of Kang the Conqueror, and Teyonah Parris will bring her WandaVision character, (adult) Monica Rambeau, to the big screen for The Marvels; Iman Vellani will make the same switch, following her introduction as Ms. Marvel in the eponymous Disney+ series in June.
In further Marvel Studios news, the upcoming Fantastic Four film lost its director, Jon Watts. Having directed all three entries in the Tom Holland-starring Spider-Man trilogy, Watts has chosen to take a break from the superhero genre, though both Watts and Marvel commented that they are hopeful of working together again in the future. How this decision affects the development of a potential fourth Spider-Man film remains to be seen.
– The upcoming second season of the Disney Junior series Spidey and His Amazing Friends cast John Stamos (Full House) as the voice for Tony Stark/Iron Man. Stamos is the latest addition to a rapidly expanding cast, joining the likes of Stephanie Lemelin as Electro, Sean Giambrone as Ant-Man, and Jaiden Klein as Black Cat. Entertainment Weekly have an exclusive look at the new characters, including Tony Stark in and out of his Iron Man suit, which you can check out here ahead of the season’s premiere in August.
– Finally, actress Lynda Carter, best known for her role as Wonder Woman, launched a monthly newsletter to reflect on her own life and experiences as well as to provide updates on her career. As part of the newsletter, Carter plans to include a ‘Fan of the Month’ section, with the launching fan being writer Gail Simone, who stated that Carter “cemented [her] love for strong female heroes.” You can read Carter’s newsletter here.
