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.
– Kicking off, Marvel revealed the names of the upcoming story arcs and the new numbering for all of it’s upcoming 53 (we’ve been duped!) Marvel Legacy titles. Notable items include, “The Mighty Thor” teasing Jane Foster’s death at #700, “Invincible Iron Man” racing to #600 searching for Tony Stark (and possibly teasing a “Secret War II storyline,” “Amazing Spider-Man” being Marvel’s highest numbered series at #789, and two sepearate crossovers with “Avengers”/”Champions” and “X-Men: Gold”/”X-Men: Blue” teasing new storylines. Marvel Legacy begins in September with “Marvel Legacy” #1. You can check out the full list here.
– In more Legacy news, while no creative teams have been announced, many have assumed that most of the existing teams will be staying on. This seems to not be the case as James Robinson tweeted in response to a fan question that he is completely back at DC now. Robinson, who was recently announced to be doing a six month stint on “Wonder Woman,” is currently writing “Cable” with artist Carlos Pacheco as part of the ResurXion titles. I would expect more details to be announced soon at SDCC.
– As Marvel moves to new Legacy numbering, could DC acknowledge some milestones in the near future as well? With Rebirth DC renumbered “Action Comics” and “Detective Comics” putting both in the #900s and “Action” racing to #1000 in 2018 and “Tec” in 2019. Someone has done the math, and “Batman” and “Superman” will both hit #800 in November, with “Wonder Woman” making it to #700 the same month, and “The Flash” hitting #700 in January. I’m predicting some anniversary issues coming our way this fall!
– Image Comics has officially issued an apology for the solicitation of the cover for Howard Chaykin’s “The Divided States of Hysteria” #4 which depicted a man hanging from a noose, genitals mutilated, with a name tag having a racial slur for Pakistani people on it. The series, which created controversy with issue #1 as well with depictions of transphobic violence, created quite the conversation on Twitter between comic creators discussing free speech vs. creator control, and elicited reactions like Comicosity’s Véronique Emma Houxbois called boycott of Image until publisher Eric Stephenson resigns. You can read Image’s full statement here.
– Fox has set the dates for six untitled Marvel movies through the year 2021. These dates are June 7, 2019, November 22, 2019, March 13, 2020, June 26, 2020, October 2, 2020, and March 5, 2021. This puts them past Marvel Studios and DC’s earlier announced films as both universes only have movies titled and untitled through 2020. Currently Fox has New Mutants, Deadpool 2, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix in production with release dates in 2018 of April 13, June 1, and November 2, respectively. Let the speculation begin!
– In other Marvel movie news, is Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury set to co-star with Brie Larson in the upcoming Captain Marvel movie? A new report suggests that this is the case and the film will begin production January 8th in Atlanta. This would fulfill Jackson’s nine movie contract with Marvel after his eighth appearance in the upcoming Avengers” Infinity War. Captain Marvel opens March 8, 2019.
– In other fun movie news, Nimona has an official release date of February 14, 2020. This was confirmed via a tweet from director Patrick Osbourne. The fantasy comic by writer/artist Noelle Stevenson debuted as a web comic in 2012 before getting a graphic novel print by HarperCollins in 2015, follows the titular character who is a young shapeshifter and sidekick of the villainous Lord Ballister Blackheart. 20th Century Fox Animation picked up the rights to the film alongside producers Blue Sky Studios. Now all of you know what you’re doing for Valentine’s Day 2020.
– First: Second will be making its big debut this year at San Diego Comic-Con with series “Pigs Might Fly” from Nick Abadzis and Jerel Dye. The series follows the pigs of Pigdom Plains as The Warthogs come flying into their world on magical flying machines with main character Lily Leanchops left to invent machines for the pigs to take to the skies as well. You can check out some preview pages here.
– Finally, we have the results from our weekend Reader Poll where we asked, “Are you excited for Marvel Legacy?” Of the almost 120 respondents, the overwhelming majority of you, 70 in fact, answered “No” with 39 “Needing more info.” Only 6 responded in the affirmative. As we know the reaction to Marvel’s Legacy announcements has been less than stellar. Will they be able to right this ship? Sound off in the comments.
