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, we have an exclusive preview of next week’s “Star Wars: Darth Maul – Black, White & Red” #2, and we spoke with Jeff McComsey about his neo-noir western “Little Black Book.”
– The documentary detailing the career of “Dark Knight Returns” and ‘Batman: Year One’ co-creator Frank Miller will get a theatrical wide release for one day this June. Frank Miller: American Genius can be seen in Cinemark theaters nationwide on June 10, though New York audiences can get a sneak peak on June 6 at the Angelika Film Center. The film will feature interviews from Neal Adams, Robert Rodriguez, Jessica Alba, Jim Lee, Zack Snyder, Stan Lee, and more. Miller will provide an introduction, moderated by Rosario Dawson from the L.A. Cinemark Playa Vista at 5pm PST. Anyone who attends will receive an exclusive collectible. Frank Miller: American Genius was directed by Silenn Thomas, CEO of Miller’s production company Frank Miller Ink, and was originally released in Italy in 2021.
– Marvel released its solicitations for August 2024, revealing the publisher’s Black, White & Blood line will look back at Peter Parker’s time with the Venom symbiote in “Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood.” Issue #1 (of 4), due out August 7, will see writer J.M. DeMatteis team with artist Elena Casagrande for a sequel to the iconic ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt,’ and former “Amazing Spider-Man” scribe J. Michael Straczynski and Marvel newcomer Sumit Kumar tell the story of Peter Parker losing his heart, and the last trace of the symbiote waiting for the right time to strike. Dustin Nguyen writes and draws a third tale, featuring Peter being hunted “from within.”
“Giant-Size Thor” #1 will be released in August as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the “Giant-Size” line. Al Ewing and Brian Level will pit Allfather Thor and Hercules against a war machine resembling the god of thunder. The book also reprints Bob Harras and Jackson Guice’s “Thor” #365. And on August 28, writers Benjamin Percy and Erica Shultz, along with artists Rod Reis and Manuel Garcia, will launch the four-issue miniseries “Phases of the Moon Knight.” The series will explore various champions of Khonshu, with Schultz and García showing us the villainous Shroud taking over for the late Marc Spector in the present, and Percy and Reis giving us an ancient Egyptian Moon Knight battling “X-Men” villain Apocalypse.
– Rebellion Publishing revealed the creative teams for their upcoming ten-issue “Battle Action” anthology relaunch, including Garth Ennis, Brian K. Vaughan, and Chris Burnham. Ennis teams with artist Keith Burns for ‘A Couple Of Heroes,’ the final story for ace fighter pilot comic strip hero Johnny Red. Vaughn and Burnham will team up for a revival of ‘Kids Rule OK!’ Other talents who will be contributing to the relaunched war anthology include John Wagner, Torunn Gronbekk, Dan Abnett, Rob Williams, John McCrea, John Higgins, Henry Flint, Steve White, and Tom Foster. Issue #1 is due out on August 28. You can learn more on the 2000 AD website.
– A new team of Power Rangers will be assemble this fall in a new one-shot from BOOM! Studios (in collaboration with Hasbro). “Power Rangers: Infinity” will be written by Sam Humphries and feature art from Brandt & Stein. The comedic book follows a new “Infinity Force” team of Power Rangers, led by superfan Lola, who’ll take on “mildly dangerous D-list villainess Poisandra.” This comes as the main comic series is ending, as well as the rumored end of the long-running TV series. It’s due out August 21.
– In more BOOM! Studios news, Keanu Reeves will return to the world of “BRZRKR” once again with “The Lost Book of B.” The one-shot will reunite the Matrix and John Wick star with fellow series creators co-writer Matt Kindt, artist Ron Garney, and colorist Bill Crabtree. The prequel will explore immortal protagonist B’s time in Genghis Khan’s horde. “BRZRKR: The Lost Book of B” due out August 21, 2024.
Continued below– Osamu Tezuka’s adult fantasy manga “I.L” will be getting its first English release courtesy of Titan Comics. According to the official synopsis, “Readers are thrown into the life of Imari Daisaku, a filmmaker whose fanciful creations have fallen of favor in a society dominated by scientific triumphs. However, his life changes forever when he encounters a peculiar group led by Count Alucard, and he receives an extraordinary gift; I.L, a mysterious mannequin with the power of shapeshifting.” It is due out on October 1.
– Kardak the Mystic will be making his return after 70 years by way of Archie Comics. “Kardak the Mystic” #1 will retell the origins of the mystic magician, showing him discover the ruby which turns him invisible, and learning that he vanishes into another dimension when he uses his new power. Kardak only appeared sparingly in the seven decades since his debut in his original 1940 series from Top-Notch Comics. Writer Joe Corallo promises a “fresh, updated look and perspective on these characters will excite both longtime and newcomer Archie fans alike!” The one-shot is due out August 14, 2024.
– Finally, in casting news, Cristin Miloti has joined the voice cast of Hit-Monkey season two. She will play Iris, the estranged daughter of Hit-Monkey’s ghostly mentor, the assassin Bryce (Jason Sudeikis). The new season premieres on Hulu on July 15. Meanwhile, Lorenza Izzo (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) has been cast as the female lead in El Gato, the upcoming Prime Video series based on Richard Dominguez’s superhero comic “El Gato Negro (The Black Cat).” The English/Spanish series will star Diego Boneta as Frank, who discovers his late father was the titular Mexican vigilante. Izzo will play Rosa, a woman who married into a wealthy family, and who discovers they are being targeted.
