Welcome 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, Image Comics announced “Ascender,” as a relaunch of the current critically acclaimed series Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nyguin’s “Descender.” Marvel will launch a new series “Shatterstar” written by Tim Seeley (“Green Lanterns”) and drawn by Carlos Villa (“Lockjaw”). BOOM! Studios will release a new all-ages graphic novel entitled “Pandora’s Legacy,” Marvel also announced that Black Panther and Deadpool will face off in a new limited series. And finally, Steve Ditko, the iconic artist and co-creator of Spider-Man, sadly passed away last week.
– First up, thanks to DC Universe, Batman: The Animated Series will be available in HD format for the first time ever, according to io9. Although we know that the first two seasons will be headed to the new streaming service in HD, details regarding the announcement have been sparse as DC hasn’t specified if the series would be available in 720p, 1080p, or 4K Ultra HD. Batman: The Animated Series is currently available to stream in standard definition on Amazon Prime.
– This September, Dark Horse will release “Stranger Things” #1, based on the popular Netflix series. According to Bleeding Cool, comic book stores will get a preview of the series and will receive three copies each. These “ashcan” issues will arrive with comic shops’ usual order for July 18th. The series will be written by Jody Houser (“Faith”) with art by Stefano Martino (“Angel: Aftermath”), inks by Keith Champagne (“JSA”) and colors by Lauren Affe (“Spider-Gwen”). The series will chronicle Will Byers’ time in the “Upside Down” in season one. If you’re lucky you may get the comic on July 18th; the rest of us will have to wait until September 26, 2018.
– Variety reported that Keri Russell is in talks for a starring role in J.J. Abrams’s Star Wars: Episode IX. Russell had her break out role in Abrams’ Felicity, and they last collaborated on 2006’s Mission: Impossible III. According to Variety, the role calls for “action-heavy fight scenes.” Russell recently finished her stint on the popular FX show The Americans in which she starred as a Soviet spy living in Cold War America. Stay tuned for more information.
– As part of The Walking Dead Day, an event celebrating the 15th anniversary of “The Walking Dead,” Newsarama has a list of all the artists participating in their blind bag variants, including David Finch, Chris Samnee, Chris Burnham, Emma Rios, Matteo Scalera, and Jen Bartel among many others. You can see the full list of artists at Newsarama. Participating comic book stores will celebrate The Walking Dead Day on October 13, 2018.
– And speaking of “The Walking Dead,” AMC has revealed posters for the next seasons of The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead. You can check these posters out over at Deadline.
– Netflix has announced that Cannon Busters, based on the comic book series of the same name by LeSean Thomas, will debut on the streaming service on April 1, 2019, according to Newsarama. Thomas raised over $150,000 on Kickstarter to fund the development of the pilot in 2014. Netflix has ordered a 12-episode first season.
– According to Publishers Weekly, R.L. Stine (Goosebumps) signed a world rights deal with BOOM! Studios for a four-book deal will see Stine release new graphic novels for the KaBOOM! imprint aimed at a younger audience of readers.
– Publishers Weekly also reports Scholastic Graphix will reprint Eisner and Harvey Award-winner Andy Runton’s “Owly” series in color in 2020. The previous five books, about the adventures of a friendly owl, were previously printed in black-and-white. Graphix will also publish the next book in the series.
– The British Fantasy Society has announced the shortlist for the 2018 British Fantasy Awards. The nominees for Best Comic/Graphic Novel category include: “Grim & Bold,” by Joshua Cornah, “Bitch Planet Vol 2: President Bitch,” by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Taki Soma & Valentine de Landro, “The Wicked + The Divine Vol 5: Imperial Phase Part 1,” by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie, “Monstress” Vol. 2, by Marjorie Liu & Sana Takeda, and “Tomorrow” by Jack Lothian & Garry Mac. All of the winners will be announced during an awards ceremony at FantasyCon 2018, held October 19-21, 2018 at the Queen Hotel in Chester, England.
– Finally, Collider reports a rumor that Nicolas Cage will voice Spider-Man Noir in the upcoming Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Cage is also playing Superman in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.
