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’ve put together a running timeline of the many allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault against prominent figures in the comics industry following the first allegations against Cameron Stewart last week. In related news, Dark Horse and Mike Mignola have now cut ties with former Dark Horse editor Scott Allie following new accusations of sexual assault, manipulation, and misconduct by editor Shawna Gore.
Meanwhile, Marvel and Games Workshop have announced “Warhammer 40,000: Marneus Calgar,” by writer Kieron Gillen and artist Jacen Burrows, and longtime Marvel artist and inker Joe Sinnott has passed away at 93.
– DC has announced a new-middle grade graphic novel anthology aimed at presenting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) principles with an assist from DC’s stable of superheroes. The lighthearted “Flash Facts” will be edited by The Big Bang Theory star and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik. A host of popular creators will aim to build a bridge between the lessons taught inside the classroom and our everyday lives, as Barry Allen and his super friends take readers on “an exciting journey that examines everything from the vast expanse of our galaxy to the smallest living organism known to exist.” The list of creators includes Michael Northrop, Dustin Hansen, Cecil Castellucci, Amanda Deibert, Vita Ayala, Amy Chu, and more. “Flash Facts” will hit shelves on February 2, 2021.
– Via The Beat, Red Sonja is set to deal with a very different type of invasion than she’s used to in the Dynamite crossover event “Mars Attacks Red Sonja.” The series comes from writer John Layman with art by Fran Strukan, colors by Valentina Briski, and letters by Taylor Esposito, and pits Red Sonja’s steel against the advanced weaponry of the big-brained bad guys. “This is a book I actively pushed Dynamite to do, and I bugged them and bugged them until they finally approved it because I wouldn’t go away,” said Layman. “I’m a HUGE fan of both properties, and the idea of mixing violent barbarian sword & sorcery with ultra-violent over-the-top retro sci-fi is simply irresistible to me.” “Mars Attacks Red Sonja” #1 will hit shelves on August 26 with a slew of variant covers by Lucio Parrillo, Dustin Nguyen, Arthur Suydam, Luca Strati, Barry Kitson, and Alan Quah.
– Publishers Weekly has the news on a couple of middle-grade graphic novel deals. First, Little, Brown has acquired worldwide rights to “Buzzing” from Samuel Sattin and Jen Hickman. The book will follow a boy who learns to make friends and manage his OCD through imaginative gaming, while navigating feelings towards his classmate Micah. “Buzzing” is due out in winter 2023. Second, HarperAlley has bought “The Treasure in the Lake,” the debut graphic novel from animator Jason Pamment, where former best friends Iris and Sam discover a hidden city in a mysteriously dry lake, and must reconnect before they’re swept away. “The Treasure in the Lake” is slated for winter 2022.
– Zac Thompson has announced on Twitter that he and artist Hayden Sherman will be taking over the title “Angel and Spike” in September, building on the current run of Bryan Edward Hill and Gleb Melnikov. “I am a lifelong Buffy fan and I’ve long sung the praises of Angel being the superior show,” Thompson said on Twitter. “There is something inescapable about its themes of redemption, eternal damnation and working within evil to combat evil.” Thompson also teased the comic’s tone on Twitter, promising that he has included the word “himbo” 3 times in his script, and that he’s been taking inspiration for Angel and Spike from the Hannibal and Will relationship on Hannibal.
– Brain Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s “Event Leviathan: Checkmate” limited series has been postponed indefinitely. GamesRadar reports that the news came via DC’s most recent retailer mailer. The six-issue spin-off of 2019’s “Event Leviathan” sees Green Arrow, Talia al Ghul, The Question, and Lois Lane becoming the new Checkmate in an attempt to take on the malicious espionage group Leviathan. The first issue was originally scheduled for April 22 before being delayed due to COVID-19, but its rescheduled release date on June 2 came and went without the book reaching shelves. DC has promised that the book will eventually be “rescheduled to align with upcoming DC Universe storylines.”
Continued below– Singer-songwriter Yungblud announced the second volume of his graphic novel series “The Twisted Tales of the Ritalin Club.” Via NME, the follow-up, titled “Weird Times at Quarry Banks University,” finds Yungblud (the comic book character) and his super-powered friends Harmony, Scout, Zombie Joshua, Em, and Encore becoming enrolled as students at Quarry Bank University after graduating from high school. The Ritalin Club finds themselves in mortal peril when a new foe with a familiar face arrives from the Manga Dimension. “Weird Times at Quarry Banks University” is co-written by Ryan O’Sullivan with art by Derick Jones and MinoMiyabi, and is scheduled to ship in November 2020.
– The Beat reports that layoffs at Barnes and Noble have reached graphic novel buyer James Killen, a 41-year veteran of the company. The layoffs come as Barnes and Noble, who are currently facing rough times due to COVID-19 and a shifting retail landscape, are consolidating their buying team and shifting their strategy as they plan to rely less on specialty buyers. Killen is well known within the industry, and this move will likely impact graphic novel sales in the future. You can head over to The Beat for some (anonymous) industry reactions.
– Via The Beat, the release details for the upcoming DC animated movie Superman: Man of Tomorrow have been announced. The feature length film, which will star Darren Criss, Zachary Quinto, Alexandra Daddario, and Brett Dalton in a story set at the beginning of Superman’s career, will release digitally on August 23, 2020, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack on September 8, 2020.
– Marvel and Aconyte Books have announced the first titles in their upcoming range of prose novels. The books will fall into four different “strands”: ‘Legends of Asgard,’ ‘Marvel Heroines,’ ‘Xavier’s Insitute,’ and ‘Marvel Untold,’ and will begin publishing in the fall. The first titles include Domino: Strays, a ‘Marvel Heroines’ book by Tristan Palmgren focusing on the mercenary Domino; The Head of Mimir by Richard Lee Byers, a ‘Legends of Asgard’ tale focusing on a young Heimdall; Liberty and Justice for All by Carrie Harris, an ‘Xavier’s Institute’ novel featuring the students Triage and Tempus; The Harrowing of Doom by David Annandale, a ‘Marvel Untold’ story of Doctor Doom; and The Sword of Surtur by C.L. Werner, a ‘Legends of Asgard’ novel about Tyr, the God of War. Domino: Strays and The Head of Mimir will release on October 6, Liberty and Justice for All hits shelves on November 3, and The Harrowing of Doom and The Sword of Surtur bow on December 1.
– Diamond Comic Distributors and Alliance Game Distributors have announced the final phases of their Back the Comeback campaign, a multi-phase initiative designed to support local comic book and game stores as they began to safely reopen, restart, and rebuild. Via PREVIEWSworld, phase 2 will consist of an auction hosted by Diamond International Galleries, featuring a wide range of items donated by artists, publishers, game designers and friends of the industry. The auction will launch on July 4 and run through July 18, with proceeds going to charities that support comic and game retailers. The third and final phase of the campaign will feature a series of in-store retailer promotions. Several publishers will be including a Back the Comeback logo on their covers, and game stores will see additional in-store promotions that will begin on July 6 and run for 6 weeks.
