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, Legendary announced “The Science of Ghosts,” and DC launched “Harley Quinn: Black + White + Red.”
by Catalina Kulczar
– Designer Milton Glaser died of natural causes at the age of 91. Glaser’s most recognisable works include the DC ‘bullet’ logo that was used by the company from 1976 to 2005; the ‘I Heart NY’ logo, which was designed in the late 1970s to encourage people to visit the city despite its high crime rates; and a poster for Bob Dylan’s Greatest Hits in 1966. In 1968, Glaser, along with Clay Felker, founded New York Magazine. In 2009, he became the first designer to be awarded the National Medal of the Arts. Speaking about the ‘I Heart NY’ logo to Voice in 2011, Glaser said, “I’m flabbergasted by what happened to this little, simple, nothing of an idea. It just demonstrates that every once in a while you do something that can have enormous consequences… it was a bunch of little scratches on a piece of paper!” Glaser is survived by his wife, Shirley.
– DC accidentally revealed “Batman: White Knight Presents Harley Quinn” #1 by writers Sean Gordon Murphy and his wife, Katana Collins, artist Matteo Scalera, and colorist Dave Stewart. The series will be set two years after Murphy’s “Batman: Curse of the White Knight” and see Harley Quinn trying to balance being a mother to the late Jack Napier’s twins, whilst aiding an investigation into a new serial killer whose latest crime scene has impossible connections to the Joker. The comic was inadvertently included in the latest Diamond print catalog, although DC have clarified that the comic will be solicited in DC Connect #3 with an October release date. You can check out the cover and full plot description here.
– Dynamite announced a new “Vampirella” one-shot titled “Trial of the Soul” by writer Bill Willingham (“Fables”), artist Giuseppe Cafaro (“Catwoman”), colorist Andrew Dalhouse, and letterer Carlos Mangual. The one-shot features a cover by Bart Sears. “Vampirella: Trial of the Soul” will see Prester John (based on the legendary medieval Christian leader), on a mission to determine whether or not Vampirella has a soul. If he believes she does, she will be spared, but if he believes she doesn’t, he must destroy her regardless of how charming he finds her to be. “Vampirella: Trial of the Soul” is scheduled for release in September. Head over to Dynamite to see Sears’s cover and character designs for Prester John.
– The seven-book shortlist for Myriad’s First Graphic Novel Competition 2020 was announced. The book chosen as the winner, once completed, will be published by Myriad. To enter into the competition, writers and artists have to be living in the UK, and not have previously published a full-length graphic work. The winning graphic novel will be announced during an online event as part of the 2020 Lakes International Comic Arts Festival in October. You can check out the full shortlist with descriptions of each graphic novel and its preview art here.
– Cape Comic Con confirmed plans for the event to go ahead this year with measures in place to combat the spread of coronavirus at the venue. These measures include hand sanitizers being made available for attendees and alterations to the layout being made to allow for more space, although, controversially, keeping 6 feet apart will not be enforced, nor will the wearing of masks. What has proven most controversial on social media is that each vendor and attendee will be required to sign a waiver of liability in order to attend the event. Cape Comic Con will be taking place in the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on July 10, 11, and 12.
– Judge Otis Wright II of the Central District of California dismissed the lawsuit by the daughter of Stan Lee, J.C. Lee, against his former company, POW! Entertainment, with prejudice. The case was set to determine whether Lee should own the rights to Stan Lee’s likeness and intellectual property as she is now the representative of the defunct company. Lee claimed her father had signed over the rights in perpetuity to POW!, but having decided that the case was frivolous, the judge filed for an improper purpose and sanctioned Lee and her counsel. Lee was sanctioned $1 million and the Court has held her and her counsel jointly and severally liable for $250,000. A representative for Lee stated that the decision was “profoundly disappointing,” while POW! stated they felt “vindicated” by the ruling.
Continued below– Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video’s The Boys, based on the comic of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, will premiere the first three episodes on September 4, and continue weekly until its finale on October 9. The announcement was made during an online reunion event hosted by Patton Oswalt, who will be a guest star in the upcoming second season. The new season will follow the Boys as they try to regroup to fight against Vought, while trying to evade the law and the Supes. You can watch the reunion live stream which gave a sneak preview at the upcoming season over at TV Line.
– THR broke the news that Syfy have cancelled Vagrant Queen after one season. The series, which was an adaptation of the comic book of the same name by Magdelene Visaggio, Jason Smith, Harry Saxon, and Zakk Saam, was cancelled after ending as Syfy’s lowest-rated series among total viewers and in the 18-49 year old adults demographic since 2019. Syfy had seen a successful increase in viewership when they moved the series from 10 p.m. on a Friday to 11 p.m. on a Thursday, but it was not enough to convince the channel to renew the show for a second season.
Additionally, the channel revealed the first trailer for the upcoming fourth season of Wynonna Earp, along with a premiere date of July 26. The season will air the first six episodes, before concluding with a midseason finale on August 30, as the production of the second half of the season was halted by the outbreak of coronavirus. Syfy also revealed that the cast of the series will be a part of its panel lineup for Comic-Con@Home, which will take place on July 23-26. Wynonna Earp is based on the comic book by Beau Smith.
– Finally, Disney announced that from October 1 in the UK, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior will be taken off air. This decision comes after the launch of Disney+ in the country and the failure to reach new carriage deals with Sky and Virgin Media. National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild and Fox, and other Disney-owned channels, will remain.
