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.
– A new promo trailer has been released for Fox’s new X-Men TV series, The Gifted. The new footage offers a better look at the sentinel drones, the spider-like robots that are hunting the Strucker family. The Gifted premieres October 2, and stars Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker, Natalie Alyn Lind, and Percy Hynes White. The series is being directed by Bryan Singer, who has helmed the first couple, and most recent, X-Men films. Normally that would be exciting, but he has had diminishing returns since retaking over the film franchise. Hopefully the jump to TV will bring with it a bump in quality.
– More details are starting to be released for the upcoming Marvel Legacy publishing initiative. We now have official solicits for four of the titles: “Invincible Iron Man” from Brian Michael Bendis and Stefano Caselli, “Defenders” by Bendis and David Marquez, “Despicable Deadpool” by Gerry Duggan and Scott Koblish, and “America” by Gabby Rivera and Joe Quinones. When asked if Iron Man would be making a return in the new initiative, Bendis stated, “Yes. But in what shape? Or size? Or armor?” So that’s promising? There’s also a rumor that Chip Zdarsky could be writing “Marvel Two-In-One,” which will feature The Thing and The Human Torch, and hopefully bring the Fantastic Four back in some capacity.
– DC has announced more details for their Jack Kirby one-shots coming in August. The solicits now include the specific issues being reprinted, and the creative teams have been updated to include Mark Buckingham, Steve Rude, Paul Levitz, and Phil Hester. The series will be six 48-page specials, that will include new stories from the creators, reprints of classic Kirby issues, and new text pieces by Kirby associate and biographer Mark Evanier.
– I won’t describe it here because of possible spoilers, but a now deleted tweet from The Flash‘s production office revealed the season four premiere episode title, and it could possibly hint at which story arc from the comics the show will tackle next. I haven’t kept up with the series, but either of the options presented has definitely re-piqued my interest.
– Robert Kirkman’s “Thief of Thieves” is being adapted into a video game. The comic centers around Conrad Paulson, a thief leading a double life. The game will focus on Paulson’s protege, Celia, and explore her backstory. The video game will debut at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, followed by a release for PC on Steam in 2018.
– Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba’s “The Umbrella Academy” is reportedly heading to Netflix. The title was originally optioned for a film adaptation, before switching over to television in 2015. Not much is known about the series yet, besides the pilot using an existing script by Jeremy Slater, and Way being involved in some capacity.
– DC is doubling all retailer orders of next week’s “The American Way: Those Above and Those Below” #1 for free, and sending a complimentary copy to any shops that did not order any. The series is by writer John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) and artist Georges Jeanty, and is a sequel to their 2006 “The American Way” mini-series.
– Long time San Diego Comic-Com staple, Mile High Comics, is pulling out of the convention after 44 years. They cited changing demographics, expensive rent, and off-site events as the main reasons, but a setup fiasco (and SDCC’s handling of it) last year was the catalyst to not renewing their booth this year.
– And finally in some sad news, Joan Lee, wife of Stan Lee, has passed away at the age of 93. She had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke earlier in the week.
