Welcome 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, “Uncanny X-Men” is relaunching with a ten-part weekly epic in November, and Image’s “Moonstruck” is switching to a graphic novel format.
– After months of fan speculation, artist Greg Capullo announced that he will be drawing a new “Swamp Thing” series. He made the announcement while on a panel at Fan Expo Boston 2018 with fellow creators Tom King, Amanda Conner, and Dan Didio. He also confirmed that his long time “Batman” partner, Scott Snyder, would be writing it. Capullo declined to offer any other details regarding the book.
– Gail Simone issued an apology over Twitter regarding some controversy surrounding the latest issue of “Plastic Man.” “Plastic Man” #3, written by Simone, features a page wherein the titular character shape-shifts into a copy of fellow DC character, Harley Quinn. The sequence received backlash from the transgender community because a bulge is seen between his legs while in Harley Quinn form. You can read her full apology here.
– A new legal precedent is being set in South Africa as legal contracts are beginning to be drafted as comic strips. The new type of contract, called “Comic Contract,” was developed by Robert de Rooy for fruit pickers in South Africa in 2016. They were developed as a way for legal documents to be more accessible for people who aren’t fully fluent in the printed language of the contract.
– Nick Drnaso’s graphic novel, “Sabrina,” has seen its sales rocket in the month following its inclusion on the Man Booker Prize Longlist, according to The Guardian. Book retailers Waterstones and Foyles both list the book as currently out-of-stock on their respective websites, and retail giant Amazon even experienced a brief short-supply of the book. “Sabrina” is the first ever graphic novel to appear on the Man Booker Prize longlist, and is Drnaso’s follow-up to 2016’s “Beverly.”
– The Center for Disease Control and Protection (commonly referred to as the CDC) has released an educational graphic novel with the intent of educating people on the dangers of variant flu – a type of influenza transferred to humans from pigs. The book, “The Junior Disease Detective: Operation Outbreak,” follows four young detective camp attendees as one of their friends falls ill. The book is illustrated by Bob Hobbs, who had previously collaborated with the CDC on their zombie pandemic graphic novel.
– Popular Brazilian comic “Monica’s Gang” will soon crossover with DC Comics’s “Justice League.” “Monica’s Gang,” based on a comic strip from the 1950s, has been published since the 1970s in Brazil and has spawned multiple TV, film, and video game adaptations.
– Marvel announced via their website that they have partnered with Young Storytellers for a special event regarding Marvel Rising – a new project coming from Marvel Animation. The event will see professional voice actors bring life to scripts written by middle-school students. Young Storytellers is a Los Angeles based non-profit organization that promotes arts education and literacy in schools heavily affected by poverty.
– Kerry McCluggage, CEO of IDW Media Holdings, announced via a press release that David Ozer is resigning from his position as president of IDW Entertainment. Ozer had been with IDW Entertainment since its inception in 2013 and had overseen production on Wynonna Earp and helped to secure deals for shows like Locke & Key. Ozer left to pursue other independent productions.
– Viz Media announced via their Twitter account that popular anime, One Punch Man, will get a second season. One Punch Man was first released on October 5, 2015, and its second season will arrive in April 2019.
– Last week, we asked what your favorite RPG-inspired comic book was. The results came in with Elfquest coming in 1st place with 40% of the vote. “Dungeons & Dragons” and “Skullkickers” tied for 2nd, scoring 27% of the vote each, and “Pathfinder” came in and secured 7% of the vote. Thank you for voting and be sure to vote again this Friday for our Weekly Readers Poll.
