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.
– Via Gizmodo, Archie Comics have announced “Strange Science,” a series of one-shots which will continue the story of Jinx Holliday, who was reintroduced last year in “Jinx: Grim Fairy Tales,” and reintroduce Danni Molloy, now Jinx’s best friend, as a transgender girl. She will become the first trans girl in the company’s history. Written by Mags Visaggio and illustrated by Butch Mapa, the comic will show Danni Malloy tell her own story about her transition, and include subtle callbacks to the character’s origin. “Strange Science” #1 will hit bookshelves on August 16, 2023.
– In an exclusive with ComicBook.com, Dark Horse have announced that “The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos” from James Tynion IV, Tate Brombal, Isaac Goodhart, Miquel Muerto, and Aditya Bidkar, has shifted from a limited series to an ongoing. Described as “an LGBTQ+ horror-hero coming-of-age series that’s ‘Invincible’ meets ‘Doom Patrol,'” the comic follows Christopher, a teenage mad scientist who meets a cute boy/deadly monster, and is thrust into a world “full of monsters, heroes, and a cult of hunters out to kill them all.” “The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos” will debut June 28, 2023.
– Image Comics have announced “Quest,” a new ongoing series from Jonathan Luna and Crystal Wood. The official synopsis reads, “In a land inspired by Southeast Asia, Princess Anya’s new husband Prince Devyan is violently abducted by three giant demons at their wedding. Anya sets out on an epic journey with a growing band of loyal warriors, crossing deadly landscapes and battling horrifying demons. What will she sacrifice to save the man she loves?” “Quest” #1 will debut on August 2, 2023.
– Via IGN, Oni Press have announced “Cartoonshow,” an autobiographical slice-of-life OGN from cartoonist and animator Derek M. Ballard. Each story is presented as a visual essay, depicting Ballard’s personal struggles as a working artist, as well as some of the absurd realities of living in a modern day America. “Cartoonshow” will be released on August 2, 2023.
– Via The Advocate, Alison Bechdel’s “Dykes to Watch Out For” is becoming an Audible Original. The audio drama will tell the story of Mo, a young, single lesbian who plays on a softball team and volunteers at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center. It was written by Madeleine George (Only Murders in the Building), directed by Leigh Silverman (Violet), and starts the voices of Carrie Brownstein (Portlandia), Roberta Colindrez (A League of Their Own), writer Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist), Jenn Colella (Come from Away), and Jane Lynch (Glee). It will be released in time for Pride Month on June 1.
– Via ICv2, the Independent Comic Book Creators Association (ICBCA), a new cooperative intended to distribute self-published comics to retailers, will launch on July 4, 2023. The ICBCA was founded by comics creators Blake Seals and Phil Avelli, and aims to provide printing and distribution services to creators, as well as a catalog, ordering infrastructure, and other support to retailers. Retailers in the US and Canada who opt in will receive ICBCA’s quarterly catalog, Fanfare, with discounts up to 55%. For more on the ICBCA, head on over to ICv2.
– A GoFundMe has been set up for Len Kaminski, co-creator of Marvel’s War Machine. Via the GoFundMe page, Kaminski was in an accident that left him in a wheelchair as well as in a rehab center. The fundraiser states, “The care at his rehab is almost laughably minimal. Physical therapy has yielded no results with his legs, and attempts to focus on his upper body have worsened his arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. As could be expected, his depression has not improved, either. He needs to get out of there.” You can check out Kaminski’s GoFundMe here.
– Via The Wrap, Netflix announced that Meg Foster is set to join Masters of the Universe: Revolution. The actress originally played Evil-Lyn in the 1987 live-action film, and has been cast as the villainous Motherboard, a sentient AI force that serves as Hordak’s liasion on Eternia while she conspires against Skeletor and the people of Eternia. Masters of the Universe: Revolution will debut in 2024.
– Finally, per TV Line, Archer is set to end after 14 seasons this August. The farewell will kick off Wednesday, August 30, at 10/9c with a two-episode premiere. Over its 14-season-run, the FXX animated spy comedy has earned nine Primetime Emmy nods and three wins, including Outstanding Animated Program in 2016. In the meantime, check out our summer binge series of Archer reviews.
