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, DC cut ties with Diamond Comic Distributors. We also published the fourth installment of our interview with Curt Pires.
— Over 70 comic strips came together on Sunday to thank COVID-19 first responders. The gesture was conceived by “Baby Blues” cartoonist Rick Kirkman, who revealed that each participating cartoon has six symbols in it (some obvious, some hidden): a mask for medical workers and caregivers, a steering wheel for delivery personnel, a shopping cart for grocery workers, an apple for teachers, a fork for food service workers, and a microscope for medical researchers. A full list of participating strips can be found here.
— Marvel has responded to public outcry on social media over pictures of two Detroit police officers allegedly wearing the “Punisher” skull logo on their uniforms. A spokesperson for the company told io9 that they are “taking seriously” any unlicensed use of its imagery by police, and that it stands by both the statement of support for Black Lives Matter made on its social media platforms, as well as the stance put forth in “The Punisher” #13, published in July 2019. In that issue, the Punisher chastises two police officers for wearing his emblem on their uniforms.
— Artists, Writers, and Artisans (AWA Studios) launched iPOP!, a new manga-inspired imprint with content available in video and webtoon formats. The first program to be released is “Be Wawa,” written by Yoshida with art by Stan Chou and colors by Maxflan Araujo. The first two episodes are available now to watch, or you can read them the old fashioned way on Webtoons and Tapas. Additionally, iPOP! is looking to hire animators, cartoonists, illustrators, and storyboarders to join its team.
— IDW pledged their support to Direct Market comic book shop owners by extending returnability on all new releases until “at least the end of July.” The publisher noted that the move is an effort to help retailers alleviate financial risk, and make the process as low-stress as possible.
— Riverdale series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa publicly apologized to Vanessa Morgan, who plays Toni Topaz on the show, after the actress criticized the treatment of black characters, as well as the pay gap between her and her fellow castmates. Sacasa tweeted an acknowledgment that Riverdale must do better to honor Morgan and all of their actors and characters of color. He also stated that the show “will be part of the movement, not outside it,” and noted that each of the writers made a donation to Black Lives Matter.
— Screenwriter Henry Gayden has been posting never-shot scenes from Shazam!, one a day for seven days since June 4. In exchange, Gayden asked that fans donate to a different organization he links to each day, such as Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ Freedom Fund.
— Finally, We Bare Bears: The Movie has delayed its release to June 30, back from its original date of June 8. No reason for the delay was given, though ComicBook.com noted that other releases have been rescheduled due to the ongoing protests against police brutality happening across the United States.
