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 yesterday, BOOM! Studio announced a new, adjectiveless “Power Rangers” series along with the relaunched “Mighty Morphin” series. The book will follow the Omega Rangers as they form an “uneasy alliance” with fallen Green Ranger Lord Drakkon.
– Manga publisher Yen Press and its middle-grade imprint JY have acquired the rights to both the video game Kingdom Hearts III and the graphic novel “Wizards of Mickey.” Both stories take the iconic Walt Disney creations on a high fantasy adventure of lost magic and enchanted artifacts. “Wizards of Mickey” originally ran in the Italian Topolino digest magazine. Both manga are scheduled for a November 2019 release.
– Indie publisher Action Lab Comics is reviving the all-ages comic “Jupiter Jet.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Jupiter Jet and the Forgotten Radio” picks up one year after the original 2017 series, and follows teenage superhero Jacky Johnson (Jupiter Jet) as she faces a new threat in the form of The Black Flyer. The original creative team will be returning, with Jason Inman and Ashley Victoria Robinson writing, Ben Matasuya providing interior art, and Elizabeth Kramer on colors. Cover art will be provided again by JonBoy Meyers. The book is scheduled to hit comic shops on October 2 and bookstores on October 20. “Jupiter Jet Vol. 1” was nominated for the Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel Ringo Award in 2019.
– BOOM! Studios wants retailers to destroy all copies of the “Defend Comics 2020” anthology. The anthology was assembled by BOOM! to promote the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and would have been released on Free Comic Book Day this year. However, due to the allegations against the CBLDF, and several requests from creators to pull their work from the anthology, BOOM! is requesting both the organization and distributor Diamond to issue destruction notices for the book. The CBLDF are refusing to issue the notice, with organization president Christina Merkler stating, “We respect the wishes of BOOM! Studios and will leave the decision to distribute with the individual retailers.”
– While COVID-19 continues to put the film’s October 2 release date in question, DC Comics still plans to release a Wonder Woman 1984 tie-in comic this September. The 32-page one-shot will feature stories from veteran comic creators, including Steve Pugh and Louise Simonson (who writes the book’s opening chapter with the film’s associate producer Anna Obropta). “Wonder Woman 1984” #1 will be released exclusively in Walmarts on September 20, with a wide release on September 29.
– “Who’s Who: The Definite Directory of the DC Universe” may finally be getting its own omnibus. While not solicited by DC as of yet, their current distributor Penguin Random House lists “The Who’s Who Omnibus Vol. 1” as a 2021 release. “The series fans demanded is collected at last!,” Penguin Random House says on their website. “’Who’s Who’ was a series that began in 1985 and ran through the 1990s, cataloguing every character, good or evil, in the DC Universe, from Abel to Zyklon and beyond, with copious detail on powers, origins, and other key facets of each character.” The book will not only collect the main run, but also supplementals from various annuals released between 1985 and 1995.
– Marvel is releasing a new line of mail-order merchandise bundles called Marvel Made. The first premium bundle features a hardcover notebook, a variety of character pins, and a limited edition copy of “Excalibur #1” featuring an exclusive variant cover. Marvel Mastercard holders will also receive a copy of “X-Men/Fantastic Four” #1, also with an exclusive variant cover. Each item in this bundle was designed by veteran Marvel artist Skottie Young. These are being produced in conjunction with event and convention production company ReedPop.
– Finally, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the X-Men film series, Hasbro have announced the Marvel Legends X-Men 20th Anniversary action figure line, which will be available from this fall. Characters announced for the line include Mystique, Wolverine, and a Professor X/Magneto two-pack. The Professor X and Magneto figures come packaged with interchangeable heads, featuring the likenesses of both the original and First Class casts. A slideshow of all the figures can be viewed here.
