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, the creator of “Nimona” and “Lumberjanes” has announced that his new name is Nate. We also had an exclusive preview of next week’s “Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty” #2.
and Josh Bernstein
– The latest graphic novel collaboration between Z2 Comics and a musician comes from Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider. Via CBR, the free speech advocate is collaborating with writer Frank Marraffino and artist Steve Kurth for “He’s Not Gonna Take It,” a graphic novel about Snider’s life, including his fight with Tipper Gore and the Parents Music Resource Center back in 1985. The title references Twisted Sister’s classic protest anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” released in 1984 on their third album Stay Hungry. Per the announcement, “He’s Not Gonna Take It” features “the story of why free speech is so important to this man who has perpetually fought for it — even when it endangered everything that was important to him.” Erik Rodriguez and Josh Bernstein created the cover, while artists Roy Burdine, Javier Aranda and Carlos Olivares provided special retro prints that will accompany the oversized Deluxe Edition hardcover. “He’s Not Gonna Take It” is available for preorder now ahead of its release in March 2023.
– Warner Bros has released a trailer for the upcoming DC animated film Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons. The story features the titular pair’s children, Damian Wayne and Jon Kent, teaming up to save the world from an alien invasion after their fathers are dominated by Starro. The trailer offers a first look at the threat the boys will be facing, as they go toe-to-toe with their mind-controlled parents, as well as members of the Teen Titans and the Justice League. The film features Jack Dylan Glazer and Jack Griffo as the voices of Jon and Damian respectively, headlining a voice cast that includes Troy Baker as Batman/Bruce Wayne, Travis Willingham as Superman/Clark Kent, Laura Bailey as Lois Lane, and Darin De Paul as Lex Luthor and Starro. Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons soars to Blu-ray, 4k and digital purchase on October 18.
– Only a few months after stepping down as the CEO of comiXology to take on a larger role at Amazon, comiXology co-founder David Steinberger has announced that he has departed Amazon entirely. Popverse has the full story on his departure, which he announced on Twitter. Steinberger was the last of comiXology’s founders to remain at Amazon, after the departure of Peter Jaffe in 2015 and John Roberts in 2021. Steinberger had previously transitioned to spearheading Amazon’s broader digital comics arm; the end of his tenure at comiXology coincided with an overhaul of the digital comics service that received widespread criticism from users.
– In response to the recent turmoil at Oni-Lion Forge – including the removal of publisher James Lucas Jones and VP of creative & business development Charlie Chu, as well as the lawsuit by Virginia politicians of the company and creator Maia Kobabe accusing their memoir, “Gender Queer,” of violating the state’s obscenity laws – stories have surfaced on Twitter highlighting the company’s lack of support for creators. Cartoonist and former Oni-Lion Forge creator and editor Steenz advised fellow creators with work in progress at Oni Press to make sure they protect themselves and their work. “If you are an Oni Press creator you NEED to ask for your royalty statements and make sure you’re not missing a dime,” they said. “We can support Maia and ‘Gender Queer’ but we can’t look past the fact that Oni Press isn’t paying their royalties.” That sentiment was echoed by writer Matthew Erman, who disavowed working with the company in the future, sharing that he has had several books “trapped in purgatory” with them for more than four years.
– NBC has set a premiere date for their upcoming Quantum Leap reboot. Via TVLine, the series will follow a new team that sets out to understand the mysteries of the Quantum Leap accelerator, led by physicist Ben Song (Raymond Lee). After Song makes an unauthorized leap into the past, his team – including military officer Herbert “Magic” Williams (Ernie Hudson), A.I. expert Ian Wright (Mason Alexander Park), and digital security head Jenn Chou (Nanrisa Lee). Writing duo Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt are serving as showrunners. The new Quantum Leap premieres Monday, September 19 at 10/9c.
– Superman & Lois showrunner Todd Helbing has clarified in an interview with TVLine that the series isn’t directly connected to the other shows in the CW’s Arrowverse. The interview came after the airing of the recent second season finale, which had a direct reference to the multiverse. “DC and I had a conversation during Season 1, and the decision [to keep Superman & Lois separate] was made then, but I couldn’t make it public until the end of this season,” Helbing said. “We have to think about this as a separate Superman, a doppelganger of the one who was in the Arrowverse. I understand why everyone has been wanting the references, but it would have felt wrong.” Superman & Lois has been renewed for a third season.
– Finally, actress Lena Headey is being sued by her former U.K. agency Troika over commission fees the company claims they are owed from several of her recent and upcoming projects. Via Variety, Headey departed from the agency in May of 2020. The disputed fees include a commission for her earnings for Thor: Love and Thunder, which is set to release next week; although Headey filmed scenes for the film, those scenes were reportedly cut from the final product. Also included in Troika’s claims are fees for the action film 9 Bullets and for the Showtime dramedy series Rita, which was not picked up to series. Headey disputed their version of events in her filings, stating that she never signed an official contract with Troika or her former agent at the company, that she is also represented by CAA in the US, and that the company’s claims to the listed projects were either inflated or nonexistent depending on the project.
