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.
– Fallout Boy guitarist Joe Trohman is collaborating with writer/actor Brian Posehn and artist Scott Koblish for “The Axe,” a “Heavy Metal Magazine” series. The horror-comedy series features a trio of friends stealing a haunted guitar that sends them to Hell, where they have to fight their way back to Earth with the power of Metal. “It’s been a breeze working with Scott Koblish,” said Posehn. “He was the obvious guy to draw this and he’s killing it. Joe is my pal and even though there is a big age difference we share a brain and it’s nothing but fun to throw around ideas and make each other laugh.” Posehn has previously written “Deadpool” and “The Last Christmas” with Gerry Duggan, and worked alongside Trohman and Koblish on a story in the Z2 anthology “Anthrax: Among the Living.” “The Axe” already has a screen adaptation in the works, and is set to begin in early 2022.
– Kelly Thompson and Sergio Dávila’s upcoming “Captain Marvel” story arc, ‘Last of the Marvels,’ is hinting at the return of Mar-Vell, the original Captain Marvel, after nearly 40 years in the grave. Marvel made this announcement with a variant cover for “Captain Marvel” #34 by Artgerm featuring the Silver Age hero. “The saga will feature Carol Danvers teaming up with other former Captain Marvels,” said the press release, “including Genis-Vell, Kamala Khan, and perhaps even Mar-Vell himself!” Mar-Vell died in the 1982 original graphic novel “The Death of Captain Marvel” by Jim Starlin, after developing cancer caused by radiation exposure (which, coincidentally, he contracted in the original “Captain Marvel” #34), with all his greatest allies, friends and even enemies coming to honor him. He has gone on to have one of the longest deaths without resurrection in comics history, albeit with a variety of fake-outs through the years. “Captain Marvel” #34 releases November 17, and will be part three of the ‘Last of the Marvels’ storyline.
– The San Diego chapter of Comic-Con International have announced the construction of the Comic-Con Museum at the Federal Building in Balboa Park, with the first section of the museum set to open on November 26, 2021 at San Diego Comic-Con Special Edition. The museum will collect pop culture art, historically significant comics and other comic-related exhibits, publicly displaying them all year-round. The Museum also plans to attach two classrooms, with the full three-level museum set to have its grand opening in July 2022.
– The Hollywood Critics Association celebrated the first ever HCA TV Awards over the weekend, with comic book properties like Resident Alien, WandaVision and Harley Quinn winning big. Resident Alien was awarded the title of Best Comedy Cable Series, while WandaVision was lauded as the Best Streaming Limited Series, and for featuring the Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series with Kathryn Hahn’s role as Agatha Harkness. Harley Quinn earned the title of Best Animated Series, and additionally, Tom Ellis was granted the honorary Pop Culture Icon Award for his part in Lucifer. The Mandalorian received the distinct honor of Best Streaming Series, Drama, while Ted Lasso was the highest awarded series overall, and HBO the most awarded network.
– Bridget Regan will be joining Batwoman‘s third season as Pamela Isley aka Poison Ivy. Regan is known for her roles in Agent Carter, Paradise Lost and The Last Ship, and will have a recurring role throughout season 3. The series spotlights a version of Poison Ivy who has been active as an extremist eco-vigilante for years, and who faced off against Batman after undergoing biological experimentation. Her upcoming appearance will mark her first encounter with the new Batwoman, Ryan Wilder. Batwoman season 3 is set to premiere on October 13.
– The Return of the Rocketeer is coming to Disney+, with the sequel film currently in pre-production with writer Ed Ricourt, and producers David Oyelowo, Jessica Oyelowo and Brigham Taylor. David Oyelowo is also likely to star in the picture, which will feature a veteran of the African American Tuskegee Airmen unit taking up the mantle of The Rocketeer. No director is attached as of yet. Oyelowo, who portrayed a Tuskegee Airman in the Lucasfilm production Red Tails, recently made his directorial debut with The Water Man. The original Rocketeer (Cliff Secord) was created by Dave Stevens in 1982, and was portrayed in the 1991 Disney film by actor Billy Campbell.
– Finally, James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad will be promoted in Japan with a poster featuring original art from Paru Itagaki, the creator of “BEASTARS.” The piece features King Shark and Harley Quinn, two fan favorites from the movie, dangling from either side of the page. Itagaki recently concluded her syndication of “BEASTARS,” and is beginning work on her new series, “Sanda,” in which a steep decline in birthrates causes a rapid ageing of the population. The Suicide Squad was released in Japan on August 13, and has currently grossed over US$155 million worldwide.
