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, Aftershock announced their first graphic novel, “Witch Hammer;” Image announced “The Warning” by Edward Laroche; Marvel’s Black Order are getting their own limited series; Rafer Roberts and Mike Norton are reteaming for “Grumble;” and “East of West” is coming to an end. We also have an exclusive look at Marvel’s “Star Wars: Darth Vader” #20.
– Paste magazine exclusively reports Vault Comics have upgraded “Wasted Space” from a limited series to an ongoing. Written by Michael Moreci, drawn by Hayden Sherman and colored by Jason Wordie, “Wasted Space” follows a prophet, Billy Bane, who got everything wrong and the galaxy has been burning ever since (think “Preacher” in outer space). Tim Daniel, Vault’s VP of Branding and Design, told Paste, “Readers and retailers have responded with overwhelming support of the book. Critical praise has naturally followed in kind. Making ‘Wasted Space’ Vault’s first extended series is a landmark decision we make with great esteem for the entire creative team and their story.” The first arc of “Wasted Space” ends August 29, and the fifth issue is now solicited for September 12.
– Skybound Entertainment announced “Outer Darkness,” a new sci-fi horror series from writer John Layman (“Chew”) and artist Afu Chan (“Halogen”). Set several hundred years in the future, when humanity is at war with an alien species, when a terrible truth is discovered: “When a body dies, its spirit is cast into space, into the terrible, infinite ‘outer darkness.’ Turns out, space is filled with spirits, ghosts, demons and all manner of necro-essences… that are lonely, scared, confused, corrupted, or just plain pissed! Demonic possession, hauntings, cosmic horror… all as commonplace on a Starship as extraterrestrial encounters and alien attacks. Outer space is terrifying.” The first issue is out November 14.
– Image Comics also announced that November will see the release of “The Terrible Elisabeth Dumn Against the Devils in Suits,” an oversized one-shot from Brazilian artist Arabson, translated by Eisner Award winner James Robinson (“Starman”). The press release reads: “Elisabeth Dumn is a strong, rebellious girl who’s determined to make her own way. And it’s a good thing, too, because her father promised her to the devil long ago, and he’s coming to claim what’s his.” “Elisabeth Dumn Against the Devils in Suits” hits stores November 14.
– Dark Horse will publish “Lightstep,” the comic book debut of Serbian illustrator Milos Slavkovic. The book is “about a galaxy controlled by a race of elevated beings who live out their lives on accelerated ‘Lightstepped’ planets – where a single day spans a lifetime on other worlds. ‘Lightstep’ follows January Lee, a woman of royal descent, whose ‘divine illness’ reveals to her the lies of her ancestors who founded the empire. Banished from her home into the void, an unexpected rescue sets January on a course to redeem her heritage and change the galaxy forever.” The comic will begin sometime in November.
– Hasbro and DC Comics have settled a trademark lawsuit about the name Bumblebee. Hasbro set out to block the sales of a Mattel doll based on DC’s teenage heroine with that name, fearing that consumers might get her confused with the Transformers character. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. This comes just as Hasbro are gearing up to promote their new movie, Bumblebee, which is a prequel to the Michael Bay Transformers movies.
– Dynamite Entertainment have announced that four of its ongoing series are ending in November. The series are: “Xena,” “Barbarella,” “Dejah Thoris” and “Robots vs. Princesses.” The solicits for the final issues of those series can be read here.
