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, writer Simon Spurrier and artist Aaron Campbell are bringing “John Constantine: Hellblazer” to DC’s ‘Sandman Universe’ line this fall. We were also given an exclusive first look at “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” #9 written by Jordie Bellaire with art by David Lopez.
– Acclaimed cartoonist Tom Scioli (“Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye”) will follow in Ed Piskor’s footsteps and retell the history of Marvel’s first family in “Fantastic Four: Grand Design.” Scioli says “’Fantastic Four’ is like the Magna Carta of Marvel, this founding document, so being allowed to get my hands on it is thrilling. They’ve given me a tremendous amount of creative freedom to just go for it.” Piskor, who wrote and illustrated the “X-Men: Grand Design” trilogy, will provide a variant cover for the first issue of “Fantastic Four: Grand Design.” He says, “Scioli has such unadulterated respect and reverence for the subject matter that I think we can all agree, the Fantastic Four are in great hands with this project!” “Fantastic Four: Grand Design” # 1 will be available in October. For the full solicit, head on over to Comicbook.com.
– Newsweek announced “Savior,” a new series from Ales Kot and Robert Sammelin. The two previously collaborated on an issue of Kot’s “Zero.” “Savior” follows a young man with godlike powers, the titular Savior has spent his whole life in a cult-like bubble, nurtured by a secret society and megacorporation that hopes to use its superpowered icon to shape the future according to its whims. “Savior” will be one of the first releases from new comics publisher Artists Writers & Artisans, which hopes to be a hybrid business model for comics. AWA hopes to expand creator-steered comics into other media properties, while offering its artists a 20 percent stake in its licensing deals. Expect a politically charged book as Kot said “I don’t see much of a difference between Jerry Falwell, Betsy Devos, Hermann Göring, and so on,” while describing the Savior’s handlers. Expect “Savior” to drop some time in 2020.
– Following the success of Dynamite’s “Casino Royale,” the publisher will continue to adapt Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, with writer Van Jensen (“Flash,” “Green Lantern Corps”) returning for a graphic novel of “Live and Let Die.” “Live and Let Die” will feature art from Kewber Baal (“Army of Darkness,” “Jennifer Blood”) and colors by Schimerys Baal (“KISS”), as well as a cover from Fay Dalton (“Vampirella”). Check out the full press release here.
– Dark Horse have announced “Grafity’s Wall Expanded Edition,” the first American edition of writer Ram V (“Paradiso,” “War of the Realms: War Scrolls”) and artist Anand R.K.’s graphic novel, now published with a brand new, specially included sketchbook section. The graphic novel follows aspiring street artist “Grafity” and his mural that chronicles his life and the lives of his friends. “This coming-of-age tale set in Mumbai’s loving, unforgiving and chaotic embrace, is a unique exploration of that entirely universal experience- the falling, soaring, the grave permanence and fleeting transience of our adolescent years,” says Dark Horse. “Grafity’s Wall Expanded Edition” goes on sale March 18, 2020.
– AHOY Comics will release a third wave of comics in late 2019 and early 2020. We’ve already covered Season Two of “Edgar Allan Poe’s Snifter of Terror,” debuting October 9, however other releases include “Dragonfly & Dragonflyman” by writer Tom Peyer, artist Peter Krause, and colorist Andy Troy, available from November 2019. The last book in the new wave from AHOY is “Captain Ginger Season Two” by writer Stuart Moore, artists June Brigman and Roy Richardson, and colorist Veronica Gandini, which starts in January 2020. For more on these new releases, head on over to Newsarama.
– Variety and CBR have both confirmed that DC original programming will be available on WarnerMedia’s new streaming service, HBO Max. WarnerMedia also announced new exclusive movie production deals for HBO Max with Greg Berlanti and Reese Witherspoon. Berlanti has produced shows such as Arrow, and The Flash. Addintionally, a promotional trailer for WarnerMedia’s new streaming service, HBO Max, includes a list of the networks and platforms subscribers can look forward to. Included in the trailer are logos for DC Universe, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, TBS, CNN, TNT, New Line Cinema, truTV and Boomerang.
