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.
– Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman, the latest installment in the DC Extended Universe, has set a record opening. Not only did it gross about $100 million in the United States, but it also pulled in another $122 million in international markets. In China, for instance, the film debuted stronger than Man of Steel, The Avengers, and Thor. It’s also the biggest debut for a female-directed and female-led superhero feature. It’s no surprise that Jenkins has confirmed she will be returning to helm the second film in the franchise and that the sequel will most likely take place in the modern day.
– Fantagraphics has announced a new tri-annual anthology series “Now.” Eric Reynolds, an Associate Publisher at Fantagraphics said, “In the age of long form graphic novels, ‘Now’ also intends to provide a platform for short fiction, experimentation, and for showcasing diversity in the comics field. The only common denominator to each piece is an exemplary use of the comics form.” “Now” will debut at the Small Press Expo this September.
– Yesterday saw the debut of the very first all-comics issue of the New York Times. Everything from the cover to the features and the editorials are drawn by industry professionals. Francesco Francavilla (“Detective Comics,” “Afterlife with Archie”), David Mazzucchelli (“Daredevil,” “Batman”), and several other comic book artists provided the artwork for the issue. It also features a new report by Andy Newman and Tom Gauld.
– Henry Ian Cusick (The 100, Lost), Tanya Clarke (A Beautiful Mind, Banshee), and Michael Buie (Grey’s Anatomy, Blackbird) have reportedly been cast in ABC’s upcoming Marvel television show Inhumans. Clarke and Buie have been cast as Black Bolt’s parents Queen Ryanda and King Agon. Cusick has been cast as a seemingly new character,Dr. Evan Declan. The Inhumans debuts on ABC Sep. 22 after a special IMAX screening of the series two-part premiere Sep. 1.
– This Friday’s announcement that the Marvel Legendary: Fantastic Four trading cards are being reprinted has many fans of Marvel’s First Family speculating on a potential return for the team in the comics. For nearly two years now Marvel has not released a single new “Fantastic Four” issue or licensed any new Fantastic Four merchandise due to the companies frustrations in attempting to regain the film rights from Fox Studios. Recently however, Brian Michael Bendis has hinted at a possible return for the Fantastic Four in several of the books he is writing. Marvel has not yet officially announced any plans regarding the comics return.
– Actress Elizabeth Debiki (Macbeth, The Man from U.N.C.L.E.) has reportedly been asked to provide a last minute voice over in the upcoming Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The film, directed by Luc Besson and adapted from Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières’s “Valerian and Laureline” comic book series, has already been completed.
– In an incredibly honest Facebook post Jimmie Robinson (“The Empty,” “Bomb Queen”) opened up about his issues with depression and anxiety over the past year. The symptoms of Robinson’s illness caused him to be unable to attend conventions and forced the abandonment of his Image series “Powerlines” midway through. After not being able to work for nearly a year Robinson announced that, with the help of his therapist, friends, and family, he has been able to start drawing again.
-Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars, Stuck in Love) has announced via Instagram that actress Blu Hunt has been cast as Danielle Moonstar in the upcoming Marvel X-Men: New Mutants film. After what was described as an “exhaustive search” for an actress to play Dani Moonstar in the adaption of the Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz’s classic ‘Demon Bear Saga’. X-Men: New Mutants is slated to be released in 2018.
-Brendon Small (Home Movies, Metalocalypse) has a brand new six-issue comic book series “GALAKTIKON” debuting this fall. The series will debut in conjunction with Small’s second solo metal album “Galaktikon II: Becoming the Storm.” The first issue of “GALAKTIKON” comes out Aug 2, with Small’s new album debuting on iTunes, Google Play and record stores that same day.
Continued below– Fans of the networks Flash and Supergirl shows will be excited to learn that this fall they can look forward to two new books set in the CW-Verse. Authors Barry Lyga and Jo Whittemore will pen Flash: Hocus Pocus and Supergirl: Age of Atlantis respectively. Both of the books will be for middle school age readers and feature covers by artist César Moreno.
-Valiant Comics has launched a new mobile app for iOS. The app features access to over a thousand comics including hundreds of out of print Valiant issues from the companies 28 years of publishing. Special bonus content on the app will include a Valiant news feed, video channel, and more. The app is currently available for download here.
– Finally, on Friday, we asked: What Classic Comic Property Should Get a Film Adaptation Next? Well, the results are in:
- 49% of voters are veering for a Black Widow solo movie.
- 18% are itching for some She-Hulk.
- 10% are ready for an official adaptation of Jodorowsky and Moebius’s “The Incal.”
Make sure you check back this Friday for our next Weekly Readers’ Poll!
