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, comiXology announced Curt Pires and Alex Diotto’s “Youth.”
– Two Florida comic conventions were canceled, with Florida Supercon not returning until 2021. This comes after the news that Orlando’s Megacon 2020 was being cancelled and delayed until the Halloween weekend as Megacon 2020: Limited Event. “It is so disappointing not to be able to join our community in Miami to celebrate all things pop culture,” said ReedPOP, the organizers of Supercon. “But from the exhibitors and comic creators to local comic book shops and our Supercon fans, we know how many people are impacted by this pandemic, and the health and safety of ReedPop’s fans, exhibitors, and staff is our utmost priority.”
– Marvel Comics have already begun releasing advance copies of “Black Widow” #1 to select retailers. The issue was framed as a “sneak peek to the upcoming series,” in Marvel’s retailer exclusive newsletter. “Black Widow” #1 wasn’t previously listed in the slate of delayed comics set to be released by July 8, and it seems at this stage is if the Travis Charest variant will be the only version available for the time being. Marvel haven’t announced which retailers will be eligible, but the comic is set to go on sale May 27.
– Streaming service and comics platform, DC Universe, is adding a rewards program. “Fans can earn tokens and ‘level up’ simply by doing what they already love,” says the DC press release. “Whether it’s subscribers finishing a DC digital comic, watching an entire DC movie or TV episode, or even non-subscribers and subscribers alike interacting with other fans on the DC Universe community boards, there are various opportunities for fans to accumulate tokens that can be redeemed for rewards.” DC Universe Rewards will allow users to spend tokens on vouchers, statues, pins, posters, monthly DCU subscriptions, t-shirts, VOD and wallpapers.
– Bandgladeshi cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore has been arrested for posting content that was critical of the Bangladeshi government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed were both arrested and sit alongside 9 others charged with the offence. At least 40 Bangladeshi activists have been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion paramilitary forces under the Digital Security Act in the last week for similar offences. “It is seen as an assault to freedom of expression, to the right to life and livelihood,” said human rights activist Rezaur Rahman Lenin. “The government should instead nurture a free press … which can greatly help in curbing the pandemic.”
– Deadpool 2 producers TCF Vancouver Productions Ltd. have been fined $300,000 for improper safety precautions relating to the death of stuntwoman Joi Harris. Harris, 32, died during the filming of the sequel in 2017. The company was charged by WorkSafeBC with five counts of misconduct, including “Failure to ensure the health and safety of all workers by failing to identify the hazards and assess and control the risks of the work activity and failing to provide adequate supervision,” and “failure to ensure that the stunt performer complied with the Regulation by wearing safety headgear while operating the motorcycle.”
– Writer Marc Guggenheim (“X-Men: Gold,” Legends of Tomorrow) will be adapting Rob Liefeld’s “Prophet” into a film franchise. The “Youngblood” spin-off character will be a part of the Extreme Universe franchise being overseen at Studio 8 by Akiva Goldsman. Prophet is a cryogenically frozen super-soldier who was unfrozen too early, stranded in the present day, and freed too early to have any purpose. Guggenheim is also making his directorial debut on a Legends of Tomorrow crossover with The Flash, and is currently adapting “Gantz” at Sony Pictures. The film will be produced by Adrian Askarieh, Brooklyn Weaver and Rob Liefeld.
– Woody Harrelson, John Goodman, Tiffany Haddish and Pete Davidson have been cast in the mature animated series The Freak Brothers, inspired by Gilbert Shelton’s independent comic series “The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers.” The cast will work alongside supporting actors Blake Anderson and Adam Devine, with the series set for a debut this fall. The series will release four short promo episodes before then, with the first being available right now. The series is written and produced by Silicon Valley and Highly Gifted alums Dave Krinsky, John Althschuler, Daniel Lehrer and Jeremy Lehrer.”I’m really psyched to be part of this legendary comic [The Freak Brothers],” said Harrelson. “I don’t know why, but this humor seems to be right up my alley.” The first promo episode satirises the Trump administration and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
– R.L. Stine’s BOOM! graphic novel series “Just Beyond” is being adapted into a Disney+ series set for a fall 2021 release. The horror/comedy anthology series from writer Seth Grahame-Smith (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) will be produced by 20th Century Fox Television, and will likely be one of the last projects through the BOOM! Studios/20th TV first look deal before the comics publisher migrates to Netflix in January 2021.
– The first images from Netflix’s The Old Guard film have appeared on Vanity Fair, placing a spotlight on Charlize Theron’s character, the immortal warrior Andromache of Scythia (Andy for short). Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film has a screenplay by original series writer Greg Rucka, based on his comic series with artist Leandro Fernandez, and is now set for a July 10, 2020 release.
