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 did a separate rundown of all the news from this year’s Star Wars Celebration.
by Frank Quitely
– Via CBR, DC announced a new “Batman Incorporated” series, written by Ed Brisson (“Uncanny X-Men”) with art by John Timms (“Superman: Son of Kal-El”). Little else was said about the series, other than it will debut in October, and that it will spin out of the events of Joshua Williamson’s “Batman” run and ‘Shadow War.’ Batman Inc., which funds various Batman-inspired vigilantes from across the globe, was introduced in Grant Morrison and co.’s “Batman and Robin” run in 2011, and was the subject of two eponymous series from then until 2013. Lex Luthor bought out the corporation following the loss of most of Bruce Wayne’s fortune during Williamson’s run.
– CBR also reported various Batman artwork is going on sale at Heritage Auctions, including the entirety of Jim Aparo and Mike DeCarlo’s art for 1988’s “Batman” #428 (part five of ‘A Death in the Family,’ where Batman recovers Jason Todd’s body.) Heritage Auctions vice president Todd Hignite stated, “For an important book like this, it’s extraordinarily rare that the entire story would be kept together and offered together.” The auction will be held over the weekend of June 16-19, 2022.
– In other DC news, Kodansha’s Superman manga “Superman vs. Meshi” will conclude next month. The comic, by Miyagawa Satoshi and Kitago Kai, launched last year, and sees the Man of Steel going on a food tour of Japan. No English release has been announced for the series, but you can check out the cover for the final chapter (which sees Batman literally ride Superman) courtesy of Manga Mogura RE.
– Speaking of manga, Anime News Network reports Osamu Tezuka’s classic series “Dororo” is being reimagined as a vertical webcomic by Japanese platform Media Do, Tezuka Productions, and South Korean publisher Copin Communications. The book will follow the original comic’s protagonist, ronin Hyakkimaru, who is still alive in the present day and known as Hakki. He encounters Roro, a boy with an uncanny resemblance to his old companion Dororo. No creative team was given with the teaser artwork, but it was announced the comic will launch in Japan and South Korea in December.
– The developers of Gotham Knights have responded to criticism over the game’s depiction of Barbara Gordon, revealing they consulted with the charity AbleGamers for a more sensitive depiction of her disability. Fans criticized the character’s previous bio on the official website, which stated she was spurred into recovering from her spinal cord injury by her father’s death. The devs state Barbara’s ongoing recovery will be emphasized in the final game, and that her clothing will be depicted as integrating back bracing. Gotham Knights releases on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S October 25.
– Fear the Walking Dead cast member Alycia Debnam-Carey has departed the show after seven seasons. Debnam-Carey, who played Alicia Clark, had been part of the cast since the show began, and her final appearance came in Sunday’s episode, “Amina.” She thanked fans on social media, saying, “I needed to seek out new challenges, new opportunities and carve out a new chapter for myself. I have been so lucky to be a part of something so awesome for so long but I hope you can understand and respect my choice to further expand and grow. I wouldn’t be here without you all and I am so grateful.”
– A month-long exhibit is being held in Luton, England, to honor the memory of the late “Preacher” co-creator Steve Dillon. Dillon, who would’ve turned 60 earlier this year, was born in Luton, and had two roads there named after his work: Preacher Close, and Cassidy Close. The exhibit, which is being held at the Culture Trust Luton from Thursday, June 2, until July 7, will showcase over 50 pieces of original artwork.
– Finally, publisher Seven Seas Entertainment will not voluntarily recognize their employees’ newly formed union, United Workers of Seven Seas. The union will now have to go through the National Labor Relations Board to be recognized by the company.
