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.
Yesterday we paid tribute to the late Margot Kidder. We also covered the 2018 Doug Wright Awards, Sony’s purchase of a stake in “Peanuts,” and the announcement of a DC Universe Doom Patrol series.
– Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been renewed for a shorter, 13-part sixth season next year. Word has also arrived that the similarly truncated fifth and final season of Gotham will begin airing next year instead of in the fall. Both the current seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Gotham wrap up this week.
– Syfy posted the first look at Deadly Class, featuring the first footage and interviews with executive producers Joe and Anthony Russo, and co-creator Rick Remender. The show, which stars Benedict Wong, Benjamin Wadsworth and Lana Condor, premieres next year.
– Syfy Wire also interviewed Bob Bretall, 56, whose collection of 105,000 comics makes him the Guinness World Record holder for owner of the most comic books. One of Bretall’s comments, where he explains why he enjoys reading Riri Williams, Squirrel Girl, and Jane Foster as Thor, subsequently went viral.
– Publishers Weekly announced a couple of graphic novels last week. First up is “The Backups,” written by Alex de Campi with art by Lara Kane, which follows three teenage girls who become backup singers for a pop star during the summer. The book will be published by Macmillan/Imprint Reads in late 2020, and de Campi has shared concept art on social media.
– Then there’s “A Jaywalker’s Journal,” a semi-autobiographical tale by Mat Heagerty, illustrated by Natasha Huffstutler, set for release from Oni Press in 2021. It follows Maty, a dyslexic junior high school student who starts a punk band.
– Cartoon Network announced Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law will return to Adult Swim this fall for a half-hour special, Harvey Birdman: Attorney General. It will see Alex Toth’s creation finding himself appointed Attorney General after the deranged Phil Ken Sebben is elected President, and having to find a way to oust his boss “before everyone starts to worry it’s more than the ridiculous plot to an animated show.”
– Vault Comics editor-in-chief Adrian Wassel published a letter thanking fans for their support. The publisher recently celebrated their one-year anniversary in March.
– CBR interviewed Daniel Freedman (“Undying Love,” “Burn the Orphanage”)’s debut short film UTU, based on Malachi Ward’s comic of the same name. The 22-minute film, which was uploaded to Vimeo last year, depicts the titular scientist from the near future trying to influence an ancient human shaman into preventing the first human conflict.
– Malaysian cartoonist Zunar (full name Zulkiflee Anwar Haque) had his travel ban lifted this week. The cartoonist was banned from flying out of the country back in October 2016. The decision comes as former Prime Minister Najib Razak was forbidden from leaving the country following this month’s general election, which Zunar remarked was certainly a “twist of fate.”
– Finally, fans mourning the cancellation of Lucifer can head to Deadline for an insight into what was planned for season four.
