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, Jason Aaron is returning to DC with Doug Mahnke on art for the miniseries “Batman: Off-World.”
– Image announced “Petrol Head,” a post-apocalyptic series by writer Rob Williams and artist Pye Parr (“2000 AD”). The comic follows a brilliant young girl named Lupa, and her father, who live with the rest of humanity inside a domed city protecting them from the ruined atmosphere. When Lupa’s father discovers a way to heal the air, it becomes apparent the city’s administrator doesn’t want the old world to be restored, and they go on the run with a defunct, drag racing robot who runs on fossil fuel, named Petrol Head. It will launch on November 8 with a 48-page first issue.
– Sumerian Comics will publish a “Basic Instinct” series, based on the 1992 erotic thriller starring Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas. Written by Sam Freeman (“Hound”) with art by Vanesa R. Del Rey and colorist Keyla Valerio, the spin-off will revolve around an artist whose new exhibit is inspired by the murders in the film. When a security guard is murdered, “the art director responsible for the opening is thrust into an investigation that forces him to question his own involvement.” Issue #1 will be released on November 1, shortly after another Sumerian sequel to a controversial film, “American Psycho,” starts on October 18.
– Harrow County: The Game of Gothic Conflict, a board game based on the horror comic by Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook, will be published by Off the Page Games in November. The game, which was designed by Jay Cormier and Shad Miller, and crowdfunded last year, will allow players to fight for control of Harrow County as the Protectors, the Family, or Emmy’s sister Kammi; a third player can also join in as the witch Hester. It is deemed suitable for players aged 12 and up, and sessions are estimated to run from 45 to 120 minutes.
– In an interview published by Mashable, Sasheer Zamata revealed she is playing the sorcerer Jennifer Kale in the upcoming Disney+ series Agatha: Coven of Chaos. Created by Steve Gerber and Rich Buckler in 1972, Kale was introduced as an ally of Man-Thing in “Adventure into Fear” #11, and has also been associated with Doctor Strange, the Midnight Sons, and Deadpool. The show, which will premiere sometime next year, will mark the character’s first speaking role outside the comics. In the meantime, Zamata can also be heard as the voice of Lunella Lafayette’s mother Adria on Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.
– Lucasfilm announced Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be released digitally on Tuesday, August 29. The release will include a five-part behind-the-scenes documentary, chronicling the making of Harrison Ford’s final film as the Nazi-punching archaeologist. The film, released on June 30, proved to be a financially disappointing finale, grossing (at the time of writing) $370 million worldwide against a $300 million production budget, although it received a more positive response from fans than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, with an 88 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes compared to its predecessor’s 53 percent.
– Mangasplaining Extra have disclosed why the English release of Susumu Higa’s “Okinawa” was delayed last month. According to their newsletter, the book’s printer in China objected to the inclusion of an interview with Higa mentioning Taiwan, as well as a mention of China itself in the comic. “So, uh,” as Christopher Woodrow-Butcher puts it, “we moved printers, and lost just enough time to miss our window for Comic-Con. Such is life.” The book will be finally released by Fantagraphics on Tuesday, August 22.
– Finally, Mike Mignola is auctioning off several pieces on eBay to raise funds for José Andrés’s World Central Kitchen, on behalf of wildfire survivors in Hawaii. Mignola previously raised funds for Andrés’s organization by selling sketches at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (drawings that were later collected in Mike Mignola: The Quarantine Sketchbook.) The first piece, a pin-up of Hellboy vs. Zoola, Queen of the Bat People, has so far raised $3,550. You can check out all the pieces on auction here. You can also donate directly to the World Central Kitchen here.
