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, DC announced big plans for Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary this year. We also had a look at the newly announced “Hellboy: The Silver Lantern Club,” and an exclusive preview of “Savage Avengers” #22.
– DC has announced a new series expanding on last year’s Hill House horror hit “Basketful of Heads.” The DC Black Label book “Refrigerator Full of Heads” swims back to Brody Island, this time with writer Rio Youers (“Sleeping Beauties”) and artist Tom Fowler (“Books of Magic”). The mysterious axe that brought violence and evil down on the island in the first series is back, this time visiting its terrors on vacationing couple Calvin Beringer and Arlene Fields. “I knew the axe from ‘Basketful of Heads’ wouldn’t stay at the bottom of the Atlantic for long,” said Joe Hill, original “Basketful of Heads” writer and mastermind behind the Hill House imprint. “I was goofing on possible sequel ideas with the novelist Rio Youers and he pitched me a gonzo-action-horror story that would make Sam Raimi weep happy tears of blood.” “Refrigerator Full of Heads” takes a bloody swing at comic shops on October 19.
– Another local Captain America coming in the current “United States of Captain America” limited series has been announced. NORAD officer Jeremy Merrick will be the final everyday person to take up the mantle, debuting in the final issue of the miniseries from writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Dale Eaglesham. A single dad raising a young daughter, Merrick is an Air Force intelligence officer who joins the fight just as the Captains Network bands together for one last battle to regain Captain America’s stolen shield. “United States of Captain America” #5 hits the shelves in October.
– Brian Haberlin and Geirrod Van Dyke are reviving the ’90s series “Hellcop” over at Image Comics. Originally a four-issue limited series published in 1998 with a story by Joe Casey and art from Van Dyke, the series follows Virgil Hilts, a member of a covert security force assembled to patrol Known Reality Plane 1301-A (a.k.a. Hell). The new book brings back Virgil for what Haberlin calls “a modern day Blade Runner meets the conspiracy of Chinatown.” “Hellcop” #1 debuts October 20, and will be released with a special 3D version that includes an exclusive Halloween-themed cover and a 3D interior, bagged with a pair of 3D glasses.
– DC is slowing down the release schedule for their upcoming miniseries “Superman and the Authority” from Grant Morrison, Mikel Janin and Jordie Bellaire. According to Newsarama, the delay is coming “in light of retailer feedback” about the schedule for the four-issue series, which was planned to ship twice monthly. The new schedule slows the release down to monthly, except for the final issue, and makes the second issue returnable to minimize retailer risk for issue two, while allowing them the chance to adjust their orders for the final two issues. With the adjusted schedule, “Superman and the Authority” #1 debuts next week on July 20, followed by #2 on August 17, #3 on September 14, and #4 on September 28.
– FX and Hulu have provided a new teaser trailer that provides a first glimpse (in a manner of speaking) at the upcoming Y: The Last Man TV series. The tone-setting teaser was light on footage, instead detailing the impact of the central premise, which picks up in the aftermath of the death of every mammal with a Y chromosome except one man and his pet capuchin monkey. Graphics in the trailer point out that a large amount of the fallout is due to gender inequities, with 95% of airline pilots, 92% of Fortune 500 CEOs, and 85% of all government officials falling prey to the disaster. Based on the Vertigo comics by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, the series stars Ben Schnetzer, Diane Lane, Olivia Thirlby, Ashley Romans, Marin Ireland, Elliot Fletcher, and Amber Tamblyn. Y: The Last Man premieres on the streaming hub FX on Hulu on September 13.
Continued below– In further Brian K. Vaughan news, his Eisner-winning series with Cliff Chiang is set to be collected in its entirety in a trade paperback compendium. The new single volume dubbed “Paper Girls: The Complete Story” will collect all thirty issues of the series, and feature new cover art from Chiang. “Paper Girls” follows four 12-year-old newspaper delivery girls in the year 1988, as they stumble on an otherworldly mystery that takes them on a ride across time and space. The new volume will be available in comic shops on October 27 and bookstores on November 2.
– In a nice bit of corporate synergy, DC and Warner Bros will be distributing an exclusive free comic to attendees of the opening nights of The Suicide Squad at AMC. The news was shared by director James Gunn, who recently wrapped shooting on his Suicide Squad spinoff Peacemaker for HBO Max, on Twitter, alongside an appeal for fans to go purchase their tickets now. While Gunn didn’t detail the creative team or the content for the issue, it’s worth noting that the names on the cover he shared match the first arc of the ‘DC Rebirth’ era “Suicide Squad” Vol. 5, with writing from Rob Williams and art by Jim Lee, Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair, and a backup feature by Rob Williams, Jason Fabok, and Brad Anderson. The Suicide Squad, which stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, and Viola Davis, premieres in theaters on August 5, and on HBO Max for one month beginning August 6.
– The convention Thought Bubble is teaming up with the non-profit Leeds Business Improvement District for a new comic art installation in Leeds City Center. As detailed on Twitter, the installation “The Trail for Hope” features a new story by Thought Bubble director Tula Lotay, colored by Dee Cunniffe. The pieces will be on display across the city, allowing readers to follow an art trail across Leeds. The installation goes live on July 20 and will run for six weeks.
– Antonio Banderas has signed on to join the returning Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones 5. Via Deadline, Banderas is the latest big name in an ensemble packed with all-star newcomers to the franchise, including Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook and Shaunette Renée Wilson. James Mangold steps into the director’s chair for the sequel, making this the first film in the franchise not directed by Steven Spielberg. Iconic composer John Williams will, however, be returning for the film, which is currently filming. The as-yet-untitled Indiana Jones 5 hits theaters on July 29, 2022.
– After the unveiling of the Emmy nominations earlier this week, the Television Critics Association have jumped into the ring with their nominees for the 2021 TCA Awards. While the comedy Ted Lasso was the most nominated program with five nominations, awards season heavyweight WandaVision was not far behind, picking up nods for Outstanding New Program; Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries, or Specials; Program of the Year; and Individual Achievement in Drama for Elizabeth Olsen. Also among the nominees were fellow Emmy favorites The Mandalorian and Lovecraft Country, which both received nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Drama. No formal presentation will be held this year due to the pandemic, but the full list of winners will be unveiled later this summer.
