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: Titan announced Cynthia von Buhler’s new graphic novel “The Illuminati Ball,” while new publisher Ablaze have acquired the rights to French Conan the Barbarian adaptation “The Cimmerian.”
– The abrupt cancellation of a library event writer Lilah Sturges (“Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass”) was set to attend this month in Leander, Texas, has been condemned by staff members and Councilwoman Christine Sederquist as an act of anti-LGBTQ discrimination. The Comic Book Defense League Fund reports the reasons behind the city’s cancellation of the event were inadequate and flimsy, and were more than likely an attempt to silence Sturges (who is a transgender woman). The CBLDF is currently campaigning for Sturges’s talk to be rescheduled.
– Meanwhile in New Zealand, the New Zealand Herald has stopped carrying the comic strip “Alex” following a ruling from the country’s Media Council over transphobic content. The comic by Charles Peattie and Russell Taylor regularly portrayed the trans character Stephanie “as selfish and cunning, and it was implied she identified as trans solely to receive special treatment at work.” The cancellation has led the council to dismiss the complaint, citing it and the Herald‘s apology as reasons to not rule against the cartoon.
– “Champions” writer Jim Zub announced on his blog that the Marvel title will come to an end with October’s issue #10. “I took a risk with the book and it didn’t click the way we hoped, so my long-term plans for the series have been cut short. That’s the way it goes sometimes,” he said. “It hurts. Dressing that up any other way would be disingenuous. I wish it had worked out. I’m sorry I let you down.”
Zub has previously been vocal about the major impact piracy has had on the book’s sales, which he has steered through one relaunch since taking over writing the series last year. However, Zub teased big plans for Marvel’s young adult team in 2020: “It’s exciting, vibrant, and absolutely worthy of the House of Ideas. I’m a bit wistful that it’s not mine to tell, but also hopeful for the future of these inspiring young heroes.”
– Spanish streaming service Movistar+ and director Alejandro Amenábar (The Others, The Sea Inside) are teaming up for a series based on the graphic novel “El tesoro del Cisne Negro” (English: “The Treasure of the Black Swan.”) The comic, created by artist Paco Roca and Spanish diplomat Guillermo Corral, chronicled the Black Swan Project, when an American company recovered $500 million worth of silver and gold from the sunken Spanish frigate Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, and the subsequent legal battle by Spain to reclaim their treasure.
– Current “Superman” and “Action Comics” scribe Brian Michael Bendis appeared on Late Night With Seth Myers to talk about many things, including how writing the Man of Steel has made him a better person, and to present the first artwork of the full roster from his and Ryan Sook’s upcoming “Legion of Super-Heroes” relaunch (all of which you can watch here).
– Finally, Hulu has announced season 3 of Marvel’s Runaways will premiere with all ten episodes on December 13, while Netflix has added six episodes to the fifth and final season of Lucifer, bringing next year’s run to a total of 16 episodes.
