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.
– The Defenders debuted on Netflix over this past weekend and along with it came a new trailer for Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher. Fans who spent their weekend binge watching the show will notice that the trailer was attached to the end credits of the series’ finale. It featured scenes of Frank Castle’s past as a family man and a soldier intercut with as scene of Frank breaking apart concrete with a sledgehammer. Across all the scenes played a voiceover from Bernthal which spoke about the past and hot it’s “coming to collect.”
– DC Comics has announced a new six issue mini-series “Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands” from Black Lightning co-creator Tony Isabella and “Harbinger” artist Clayton Henry. The series will follow a different version of the character than when he was last seen. Jefferson Pierce is being moved to Cleveland where at 28 years old he’ll no longer be married or the father of two superhero daughters, however, one thing that’s remaining constant is that the thorn in his side is Tobias Whale, leader of the hundred. “Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands” will debut November 1, 2017.
– Hot off of the announcement of the stand-alone Obi-Wan Kenobi film, reports of other characters being considered for their own solo outings are coming in. These characters include Yoda, Boba Fett, and Jabba the Hutt, though nothing is currently officially in place for these films.
– “Mech Cadet Yu” the new, original ongoing series from Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa was originally announced as a four-issue mini-series. Bleeding Cool is now reporting that after the series debuted as one of BOOM! Studios best reviewed launches of the year it’s being upgraded to an ongoing series.
– There have been two big twitter announcements from DC Rebirth creators this week. “Green Lanterns” writer Sam Humphries has announced that he will no longer be writing “Green Lanterns” as DC offered him an “amazing opportunity” that he “couldn’t say no” to. Our staff is betting on “Justice League” as Bryan Hitch has just announced he’s coming off of that book and it would still allow Humphries to work with Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz. Then James Tynion IV announced the return of “The Backstagers,” Tynion’s BOOM! Studios series, in 2018.
– Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins is in negotiations to become the highest paid female director ever. No specific amount has been named but it’s reported that the amount is in line with what any other director would have received after performing at the level she has. In other Wonder Woman news oscar winner Geena Davis has approached Jenkins about a role in the film’s sequel.
– Sean Gordon Murphy has recently unveiled his new Bat-Mobile design for his original story “Batman: White Knight.” Murphy, a self-described car snob, designed the car with elements from Tim Burton’s ‘89 version, the tumbler, a 1970’s Alfa Romeo, a C3 Corvette, a 1960’s Lotus F1 racing car, as well as others.
– Star Trek The Cruise II has been announced. It features two separate voyages, one on January 5th of next year and the other on January 11th. It will feature actors from several of the tv and theatrical versions of the property, including Karl Urban and George Takei.
