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.
– Dark Horse Books announced they will be publishing Bryan Talbot’s “The Legend of Luther Arkwright,” the latest entry in the titular multiverse-travelling hero’s adventures, in 2023. “The Legend of Luther Arkwright” is set fifty years after the second Luther Arkwright story, “Heart of Empire,” and see humanity on the verge of annihilation by an “adversary” who is “far superior” to Arkwright, with Arkwright having to use all of his experience and sheer determination to prevent his foe from becoming victorious. Arkwright has featured intermittently since his creation in “Brainstorm Comix,” with his first series, “The Adventures of Luther Arkwright” starting in 1978, but only being completed and published in full by Valkyrie Press in 1989 after moving publications; its sequel, “Heart of Empire,” then started ten years later at Dark Horse Comics; and “The Legend of Luther Arkwright” was first published in the UK in July by Jonathan Cape. Dark Horse Books’s edition of “The Legend of Luther Arkwright” has a comic shop release date of February 15, 2023, and a book shop release date of February 28, 2023.
– DC revealed, via CBR, that “The Flash” will be embroiled in a ‘One Minute War’ next year. Written by Jeremy Adams with art by Roger Cruz, “The Flash” #790 will mark the start of the new story arc and chronicle the events after “an entire armada of conquering speedster aliens,” called the Fraction, arrives on Earth, with the Scarlet Speedster having to fight against them all. As a result of their high speed, the battle is only set to span a single minute. “The Flash” #790 will be released in January, and be the first issue in the series’ new bi-monthly release pattern.
– Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin are set to introduce Simon Cross, a 1980s super spy, to readers in their new Image Comics graphic novel, “Too Dead to Die.” With the graphic novel, the pair aim to deliver “classic spy novel suspense,” as Cross navigates the complexities of the modern world after his past flushes him out of retirement. For Guggenheim, the project is a manifestation of an idea that he had “been thinking about for years,” with the pandemic providing him the time to bring it to life; he stated that “It’s very exciting to be getting ‘Too Dead To Die’ out into the world after all this time.” Chaykin echoed these sentiments, stating “I had a great time drawing this Simon Cross adventure, and I can only hope every reader can share that delight.” “Too Dead to Die” is set for a comic shop release on December 14, and book shop release on December 20.
– Drawn & Quarterly revealed they have acquired the world English rights to “20 KM/H” by Woshibai. “20 KM/H” is a collection of short stories that question “the unrelenting absurdity of contemporary life,” that manage to balance themselves between “pun and poetry,” although further specifics on the stories’ content was not stated. Woshibai’s work has continued to garner popularity in mainland China, but despite this growing attention, Woshibai is a largely anonymous individual, only known to live in Shanghai and have a history in video game design. “20 KM/H” is scheduled for release in the Spring of 2023. You can check out the cover here.
– Whatnot Publishing have announced their third comic project: “Ninja Funk” by writers John-Paul Paras and Steve Schuitt, and artist Alex Reigel. Whilst story details remain scarce, the solicitation for the series’ debut confirms it will consist of four parts, and follow a a group of characters trying to save a universe that is home to “Frequency-Bending Warrior DJs. Cyborg Housecats. The Broken Rhythm of the Universe.” The miniseries is set to launch on November 2 with a host of covers, including a primary cover by David Mack. You can find out about Whatnot’s two previously announced titles here.
– John Williams debuted the first piece of music from the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 at the annual Maestro of the Movies event. The piece of music is the theme for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s character, Helena, whom Williams described when he introduced the piece as “an adventurist [and] a femme fatale.” Waller-Bridge is one of the many new additions to the cast, alongside Mads Mikkelsen, Shaunette Renee Wilson, and Boyd Holbrook, with Harrison Ford returning in the titular role. James Mangold is serving as the director of the film, which will arrive in theaters on June 30, 2023. You can listen to the theme here.
– Finally, there were three wins for comic book adaptations at the Creative Arts Emmys 2022: Chadwick Boseman was posthumously awarded the Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for his role as Star-Lord T’Challa in Marvel’s What If…?; Moon Knight won Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special; Annie Live! won Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program; and The Boys Presents: Diabolical episode, “Boyd in 3D,” was honored as an Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation. You can see the full list of Creative Arts Emmy winners and nominees from nights one and two here and here.
