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, Paul Allor and Chris Evenhuis are rebooting “G.I. Joe” at IDW this fall; BOOM! announced “Something Is Killing The Children” and a “Buffy/Angel” crossover; AfterShock solicited “You Are Obsolete;” A Wave Blue World detailed a new distribution model for their two titles debuting in October; and Vault unveiled “Relics of Youth.” We also got a behind-the-scenes look from artist Duncan Fegredo at his work on “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: The Beast of Vargu,” out today.
– Writer (and Multiversity alum) Chad Bowers teamed up with artist Eoin Coveney to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing with a comic strip at PBS. Titled “One Small Step,” the two-part comic explores civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy’s protest at Cape Kennedy during preparations for the Moon landing, illuminating the contemporaneous criticism of the attention and resources given to the Space Race. You can read each part here and here.
– Meanwhile, First Second Books have announced “Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier,” a non-fiction graphic novel from writer Jim Ottaviani (“Feynman”) and artist Maris Wicks (“Primates”) that tells the story of female astronauts and cosmonauts like Valentina Terishkova (the first woman in space). It will be released on February 4, 2020.
– In further real life stories, The New York Times published a strip by cartoonist and former film critic Nathan Gelgud about his love-hate relationship with the works of Pauline Kael, the influential New Yorker reviewer who was born 100 years ago today. The Nib also published a strip by Hazel Newlevant titled “Before Stonewall,” which examines acts of queer resistance before the Stonewall riots commemorated by Pride Month.
– Publishers Weekly reports HarperCollins have acquired the rights to Madeline McGrane (“Unbeatable Squirrel Girl”)’s middle grade graphic novel “The Accursed Vampire,” and its untitled sequel. The series “stars a group of small, very old vampire friends who find a home in the sleepy town of Baneberry,” and publication is set for 2021 and 2022 – in the meantime, you can check out McGrane’s other vampire-inspired comics at her website.
– Todd McFarlane confirmed to ComicBook.com he will write and draw a story in “Spawn” #301. “I’m taking over #301, not necessarily coming back for 30 issues in a row,” he said. “Me drawing #301, was that part of the grand plan? Absolutely. To me, in my brain, I know if I can only draw one issue, it has to be the record setter.” With issue #301, “Spawn” will surpass “Cerebus” to become to longest-running creator-owned comic book series ever.
– Y, the upcoming FX adaptation of Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra’s “Y: The Last Man,” has landed a new showrunner in writer/producer Eliza Clark (Animal Kingdom, Extant). “A decade ago I devoured the complete ‘Y: The Last Man’ series cover to cover, imagining how it might take shape on screen,” she said. “It introduced me to the amazing work of Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra and the complex, fascinating world of Y. I’m thrilled to tell this story and to be working with this immensely talented cast.” Clark replaces Aida Mashaka Croal and Michael Green, who oversaw the pilot before departing the show over creative differences in April. Y, which stars Barry Keoghan as Yorick, is expected to premiere next year.
– Swedish broadcaster SVT has picked up a series based on Henrik Bromander’s graphic novel “Kurs I självutplåning” (“Course in self-annihilation”). The show, which stars stand-up comedian Evelyn Mok, follows a young woman who enrolls in a summer course for clown theater, only to find out her fellow students are abusive bullies. It will be released in Sweden on SVT Play, the broadcaster’s VOD service, this fall: the show is not currently set for an English language release.
– Sanaa Lathan (Blade, The Best Man) revealed at a panel at the American Black Film Festival that she will be voicing Catwoman in DC Universe’s Harley Quinn series. The adult-aimed cartoon, which stars Kaley Cuoco as Harley Quinn, Lake Bell as Poison Ivy, also features Diedrich Bader as Batman, Alan Tudyk as the Joker, and many more, and will premiere on the streaming service later this year.
– Finally, comiXology co-founder and CEO David Steinberger has joined the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s Board of Directors. “The CBLDF serves an essential function in the world of comics, manga, and graphic novels,” he said. “As a member of this community, I’m excited to take a larger role alongside the impressive group of Board Members to help promote and encourage the freedom and diversity of comics. It’s as important as ever to be vigilant.”
