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 unveiled “Lotus Land,” a sci-fi noir series by writer Darcy Van Poelgeest (“Little Bird”) and artist Caio Filipe (“Stranger Things”). The book takes place in a futuristic Vancouver, where a “miracle” code called the Keeper Program sustains the city, fighting off urban decay, and connecting its citizens’ neural pathways to its infrastructure. But when the program is attacked, a retired detective is forced to return to action to unmask those responsible. Issue #1 will be released on November 15.
– Marvel revealed Blade co-creator Marv Wolfman will reunite with the character for “What If…? Dark: Tomb of Dracula” #1. The comic, featuring art by David Cutler and Scott Hanna, will answer the question, “‘What If’… the legendary Dracula transformed Blade the vampire slayer… into a vampire?!” Wolfman commented, “It is a real thrill now that 50+ years later Marvel asked me to once again dive into that pool with this very special ‘What If…?’ story, and to bring back that great cast of characters that artist Gene Colan and I created so many years ago.” It will be released on November 8.
– Drawn & Quarterly announced “Vera Bushwack,” a surreal graphic novel by Sig Burwash. It revolves around Drew, who becomes prone to flights of fancy as Vera Bushwack, a muscular, horseback-riding, chainsaw-wielding, assless chaps-wearing arborist. “Approaching something like liberation, our protagonist comes to terms with past traumas, boundaries, and the many expressions of themself.” It will be released in Spring 2024.
– In reprint news, 2000 AD announced a 35th anniversary edition of Pat Mills and Simon Bisley’s Sláine run will be released in May 2024. The reissue, titled “Sláine: The Horned God Anniversary Edition,” will feature new scans of the original artwork. Meanwhile, Dark Horse revealed a 10th anniversary edition of “The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story.” The biography of the Beatles’ manager, by Vivek J. Tiwary and Andrew C. Robinson, will receive a new cover by Christopher Brunner and Rico Renzi, and more added features for its rerelease on November 21, 2023.
– Disney announced physical releases for WandaVision, Loki season one, and the first two seasons of The Mandalorian. Each season will be released in a Collector’s Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray steelbook, featuring covers by Attila Szarka, as well as concept art cards, and new bonus features. Loki: The Complete First Season will drop first on September 26, followed by WandaVision on November 28, and both of The Mandalorian‘s first two seasons on December 12. It marks the first time any Disney+ Original series has been made available physically.
– “Stumptown” artist Justin Greenwood is raising funds for a Relay for Life event in Sacramento County on September 30. He is participating in the event, which raises money on behalf of the American Cancer Society, in honor of his mother, who has been receiving treatment for the disease for the past year. At the time of writing, he has raised $231.88 of his $500 goal.
– Finally, the Mississippi Free Press reports the copies of “Heartstopper” pulled from Columbia-Marion County Public Library have been reinstated in the adult section; minors will only be allowed to borrow them with parental permission. The mother of a gay son, who attended a meeting about the books on Friday, August 18, told the website she was relieved the board did not completely ban them, but noted the decision would still prevent children with homophobic parents from reading the series. The library’s board also stated they were reviewing other YA books conservative patrons objected to. Head to the link for more details on the meeting, where two state members of congress strongly hinted the library would receive legal and financial penalties if they did not comply.
