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, AfterShock Comics have announced “Last Line.” We also have an exclusive preview of “Heavy Metal Magazine” #317.
– Dark Horse have announced “Kepler,” a hardcover graphic novel co-written by actor and author David Duchovny, and illustrator Phillip Sevy. Sevy also handles all art duties including colors and letters. “Kepler” will follow West, a 16-year-old Neanderthal girl who is thrust into conflict when the Benadem, benevolent space gods, return to the titular planet, where homo sapiens have gone extinct. The graphic novel is described as being in the same tradition as Planet of the Apes, “an allegorical thriller of environmental disaster, colonialism, religion, history, and adolescence told through the eyes of a lonely outsider.” “Kepler” will be in comic shops November 16, 2022 and bookstores November 29, 2022.
– Via AIPT, Dark Horse have announced “The Black Ghost Season Two.” From co-writers Alex Segura and Monica Gallagher, artist George Kambadais, colorist Ellie Wright, and letterer Taylor Esposito, “The Black Ghost” follows Lara Dominguez, a reporter who moves from her hometown of Miami to the city of Creighton. She becomes a masked activist fighting for the soul of her city. “At the end of Season One Lara proved to have the capacity to be courageous even in her darkest moments,” says co-writer Monica Gallagher. “But in Season Two, she can no longer outrun the years of issues that have been plaguing her.” “The Black Ghost Season Two” #1 will be available on comiXology on August 22, 2022, and “The Black Ghost: Shame the Devil,” collecting Season Two issues #1-5, will arrive in print from Dark Horse Comics January 3, 2023.
– Via Anime News Network, Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine and manga creator Kouji Mori announced that the manga “Berserk,” by the late Kentarou Miura, will continue beginning with this year’s 13th issue of Young Animal on June 24, 2022. The magazine will release the final six chapters of ‘Fantasia Arc/Elf Island Chapter,’ followed by a new story arc. Moving forward, the manga’s credits will read: “Original work by Kentarou Miura, manga by Studio Gaga, supervised by Kouji Mori.” Studio Gaga is comprised of Miura’s assistants and apprentices, who also worked with him on “Berserk.” Miura passed away on May 6, 2021 due to acute aortic dissection. He was 54. Miura launched the “Berserk” manga series in Hakusensha’s Monthly Animal House magazine in 1989, and the series continued in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine until now. Look for the latest chapter of “Berserk” on June 24, 2022.
– Marvel Comics have announced that, in honor of the 40th anniversary of the title, “New Mutants” #30 will be a supersized issue. From current series writer Vita Ayala, “New Mutants” #30 will be a series of shorts and will feature art by Alex Lins, Jason Loo, Emma Kubert, and more. The issue will also feature a fourth-wall-breaking short by special guest writer Alyssa Wong, guest starring Deadpool. “New Mutants” was created as the first of many “X-Men” spin-offs by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod in 1982. As part of the celebration, McLeod has returned to the title, showcasing a new variant for the issue featuring the team’s original roster. “New Mutants” #30 will be available in September.
– Via CBR, Image have announced the return of Ian Churchill’s “Marineman.” In support of Prevented Ocean Plastic this UN World Oceans Day, “Marineman” will now feature a new cover that aims to help spread the word about Prevented Ocean Plastic, and to encourage people to choose recycled plastic in an effort to prevent pollution. “This is exactly the kind of thing Steve Ocean would be doing if he was a real person” said Churchill, whose book was first published from 2010-2011. The series follows Steve Ocean, a marine biologist and TV presenter, who becomes an aquatic superhero protecting all bodies of water on Earth from numerous threats. Fans can sign a pledge to #ChooseRecycled this UN World Oceans Day by visiting Prevented Ocean Plastic’s website.
Continued below– Via AIPT, Vault Comics have announced their first ever live charity auction in honor of George Pérez on his birthday. All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Hero Initiative in George’s memory and honor. Original art from artists Darick Robertson, Eryk Donovan, Liana Kangas, and Tim Daniel will be auctioned off. In addition to the original art pieces, CGC 9.8 graded copies of limited release Vault comics and two copies of the extremely rare “JLA/Avengers” trade paperback will be up for auction. All auction items are available for pre-bids now on Vault’s Whatnot page. The live auction begins at 4:00pm ET/1:00 PT this Thursday, June 9, 2022.
– The Beat reports that Annie Koyama will be the 2022 recipient of the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award. Koyama and the Toronto-based Koyama Provides will be spotlighted for the award, which will be presented July 22, 2022 at San Diego Comic-Con. Koyama is the founder of Koyama Publishing and ran it for 13 years. When publishing ceased Koyama started Koyama Provides, a grant initiative to help artists at all stages of their careers. Since its inception, she has given out approximately 90 grants to artists. By the end of 2022, Koyama Provides will have given out $300,000.
– Via Twitter, Andrew O’Neill announced that Alan Moore will be the narrator for radio sitcom Damned Andrew. Co-written by O’Neill and Tom De Ville, the “occult” sitcom is set to run for four episodes in the 6:30 weekday time slot on BBC Radio 4. The program will also be available worldwide on BBC Sounds. Damned Andrew will premiere on Tuesday, June 21, 2022.
– Finally, Joker director Todd Phillips revealed a sequel has been written, posting photos on his Instagram of the draft, dated May 18, 2022, and Joaquin Phoenix reading the script. Written again by Phillips with Scott Silver, the script is titled Joker: Folie à Deux, which is a French phrase meaning “folly” or “madness of two,” better known nowadays as shared delusional disorder (SDD), implying Harley Quinn or more Jokers could feature in the film.
