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 have an exclusive look at “Ms. Marvel” #31. Our podcast Robots From Tomorrow also posted audio of a panel with “Shazam” contributors Jerry Ordway and Evan Shaner at this year’s HeroesCon.
– The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization, are proud to add Gene Luen Yang to their board of directors. Gene Luen Yang, a celebrated cartoonist and teacher, served as the fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and has also written a number of graphic novels which include “American Born Chinese” and “Boxers and Saints,” which have earned him prestigious national honors including the ALA’s Printz Award, The Los Angles Times Book Prize, an Eisner Award, a number of National Book Award nominations, and recognition as a MacArthur fellow. Other than cartooning, Yang also writes comics for other artists and franchises, including “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “Superman” and “New Super-Man.” Yang states in the press release: “I’m so exited to be joining the board of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Like many people, I’ve found it more and more different to wrap my head around issues of free speech because of recent events. However, I still believe that, to borrow a phrase from poet Liu Xiaobo, free expression is the mother of truth. The CBLDF has been at the forefront of these issues for many years now, which our work more important than ever.” The CBLDF focuses on efforts to protect the First Amendment rights of readers, creators, libraries and retailers who face the threat of censorship.
– DC Comics have cancelled the “Cyborg” ongoing, written by Marv Wolfman, again. June 6th’s “Cyborg” #23 will act as the final issue. Issues #24 and #25, July and August’s listed issues, have been pulled from DC’s schedule. The series was cancelled back in November 2017 too.
– Oni Press’ Editorial Department are after comic artists to write and draw for a short-term anthology project. If you’re interested, you must be living in the US, or have been a former resident. Charlie Chu, Oni Press’ Creative VP, tweeted “this Project involves political engagement so if you’re an artist interested in US civic duty and comics, this is gonna be your jam. Also, commitment is super short.” If your interested, follow this link.
– The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture have acquired several items from the record breaking film Black Panther, including the Hero Costume, worn by actor Chadwick Boseman. Other items include: a shooting script, signed by Ryan Coogler (co-writer, director), Kevin Feige (producer, president of Marvel Studios), Joe Robert Cole (co-writer, producer) and Nate Moore (executive producer); two pages of spec script, and 24 high-resolution production photographs. The museum is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans.
– You can now watch the documentaries Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods and Warren Ellis: Captured Ghosts (both directed by Patrick Meaney), for free on YouTube. Originally released by Sequart, Captured Ghosts is available now; Talking with Gods will be available shortly. Patrick Meaney has continued to make documentaries, The Image Revolution, and his first narrative film, House of Demons, just to name a few.
– Hirohiko Araki announced on Thursday that the fifth arc of his manga, “JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken: Ōgon no Kaze” (“JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind or Vento Aureo”), will be getting a television anime adaptation that will premiere in October. The anime based on the manga’s previous story arc wrapped up in December 2016. The first episode of the new season will be screened at the Anyerri Hall in Tokyo, and Japan Expo in Paris at the same time on July 5th. It will then be shown at Anime Expo on July 7th.
