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.
– BOOM! Studios announced “Behold, Behemoth,” a horror series from writer Tate Brombal (“House of Slaughter,” “Barbalien: Red Planet”), artist Nick Robles (“The Dreaming: Waking Hours”), and letterer AndWorld Design (“The Many Deaths of Laila Starr”). It follows social worker Greyson, who’s haunted by his brother’s sudden and mysterious death, as well as nightmares about the titular monster. “But he’s truly shaken to the core when his newest case — a young orphaned girl named Wren — is found at the scene of a brutal murder, just hours after first meeting Greyson. The line between nightmare and waking life blurs as Greyson soon discovers that the monster from his dreams might just be real — a mythical, ancient beast that is bringing about the end of the world, with shocking connections to both him and Wren.” Issue #1 releases in November.
– BOOM! also revealed ten trading cards that will come with copies of next month’s “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” #100, featuring art of the original six Rangers and some of their foes by Kris Anka, as well as design work by Dylan Todd. Each copy will contain one card. Penned by Ryan Parrott, with art by Marco Renna, Moisés Hidalgo, Dan Mora, Hendry Prasetya, Daniele di Nicuolo, and more, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” #100 goes on sale September 28.
– Marvel announced “Planet Hulk: Worldbreaker,” a sequel from original ‘Planet Hulk’ writer Greg Pak with artist Manuel Garcia (“Devil’s Reign: Villains for Hire”). The five-issue series takes place on Sakaar a thousand years into the future, and follows a woman with green skin searching for “the legendary Green Scar to help save her brother from a group of apocalyptic cultists. But which Hulk will she find?” This will mark the third ‘Planet Hulk’ tale from Pak, following 2017-18’s Amadeus Cho story ‘Return to Planet Hulk.’ Issue #1, featuring a cover from ‘Planet Hulk’ co-creator Carlo Pagulayan, will be released on November 30.
– DC unveiled “Superman: Kal-El Returns Special,” a 48-page one-shot tying into the upcoming “Action Comics”/”Superman: Son of Kal-El” crossover, as well as ‘Dark Crisis.’ The comic will see Clark Kent reunite with Batman, Jimmy Olsen, the Justice League, and Lex Luthor following his return from the ‘Warworld Saga,’ as well as the moments leading up to ‘Dark Crisis,’ in stories written by Mark Waid, Sina Grace, Alex Segura, and Marv Wolfman, with art by Max Raynor, Dean Haspiel, Jack Herbert, and Reilly Brown. It will have a main cover by Dan Mora, and will retail for $5.99 on November 29.
– 2K and Firaxis Games have delayed Marvel’s Midnight Suns a second time to an unspecified date later this fiscal year (ending March 2023.) The tactical role-playing video game was previously delayed from March 2022, to October 7. The developers explained they wanted to provide the best experience possible for fans, despite the planned publication of a prequel novel, and a comic relaunching the team in the main Marvel Universe, this October. Interestingly, the PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions are being prioritized, with the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions set to be released later.
– Zazie Beetz is in talks to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond in the Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. Sophie was the neighbor of Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, with whom he had an imaginary romance; it is unclear how she will factor into Folie à Deux, which will be a musical set in Arkham Asylum, although it is likely Fleck will have similar delusions about her. Beetz herself recently said in a Hollywood Reporter interview about the sequel’s new genre, “I can see Arthur, who is feeling and experiencing so much, dancing and singing about it. He’s the Joker, so I think it makes sense to me.” Folie à Deux, co-starring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, will be released on October 4, 2024.
– Sam Mendes and Armando Iannucci are teaming up at HBO for The Franchise, a comedy pilot about the crew of a dysfunctional superhero film production. Via Variety, the project will explore whether superhero franchises are “Hollywood’s new dawn or cinema’s last stand? Is this a dream factory or a chemical plant?” The story was conceived by Mendes, and written by Iannucci with Jon Brown and Keith Akushie, who will pen the script. It will mark the first TV show to be directed by Mendes, and Iannucci’s second foray in the superhero genre, following a story in this month’s “Amazing Fantasy” #1000.
– Finally, veteran Japanese voice actor Kiyoshi Kobayashi passed away on July 30, following a bout of pneumonia. He was 89 years old. Kobayashi was best known for playing Daisuke Jigen in the anime series Lupin the Third, whom he voiced from 1971, until his retirement from last year. He was chosen by series creator Kazuhiko Katō (aka Monkey Punch) himself, as Kobayashi was the Japanese dub voice for American actor James Coburn, who inspired the character. His other roles included Dr. Tenma in the original Astro Boy cartoon, Watari in Death Note, and Avdol in the 1993 version of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
