Welcome 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, WarnerMedia and DC committed to company-wide diversity and inclusion policy; the “The Dam Keeper” returns; and the winners of the 2018 Joe Shuster Awards have been announced. Plus we have an exclusive look at “Star Wars: Darth Vader” #21.
– Diamond Comic Distributors’ 2019 Retailer Summit for comic book speciality retailers will be held at Las Vegas, Nevada, from May 18 to May 20. The event was previously hosted in Chicago. Diamond’s Trade Show and Events Manager, Maryanne Marlowe stated “We had great run in Chicago over the past several years, thanks to the support of ReedPOP and its C2E2 show, and we’re looking forward to a great event for retailers on Las Vegas in 2019.”
– Deadline.com have exclusively revealed, Crystal Reed (Gotham) is to star as Abby Arcane in DC Universe’s Swamp Thing, the show’s female lead. Deadline states that Swamp Thing “follows Abby Arcane, as she investigates what seems to be a deadly swamp-born virus in a small town in Louisiana but soon discovers that the swamp holds mystical and terrifying secrets.” Swamp Thing is set to premiere in 2019 on the DC Universe digital subscription service.
– The 100-page “Superman Giant” #3 will be hitting over 3,000 Walmart stores this month, all stores should display this issue by September 9. Issue #3 is the first in a story arc called ‘Up in the Sky,’ written by Eisner Award winner Tom King, writing his first “Superman” comic since April’s ‘For Tomorrow’ in “Action Comics” #1000. Artist Andy Kubert (“Marvel 1602”) will be on drawing duty, and will be joined by inker Sandra Hope, colorist Brad Anderson and letter Clayton Cowles. Featuring cameos from Batman and Green Lantern, the 12-part arc asks: “How far across the galaxy will the Man of Steel go to bring a single child home?” The “100-Page Giant” monthlies combine new stories by top DC writers with classic tales from DC Comics deep history.
– Another ‘100 page’ giant issue will be available this week, “Justice Legaue Giant” #3, which will be the first installment of Amanda Conner, Chad Hardin, Alex Sinclair and Travis Lanham (“Harley Quinn”)’s Wonder Woman story arc, ‘Come Back to Me.’ The story will feature Diana, Steve Trevor and Etta Candy, and see the Amazonian princess help firefighters battling a wildfire in the mountains.
– Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Rob Rocha’s “Aquaman” run has been unveiled by inker Daniel Henrique’s Twitter. DC COO/Co-Publisher Jim Lee stated the series is “In many ways an examination of who the character is, kind if in the vein of ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ and ‘Batman: Year One.’” The run is solicited for December and starts with “Aquaman” #43. Warners Bros, Aquaman is hitting theaters in North America, December 21.
– Ronan Cliquet (“Green Lanterns”) will be taking over artist duties from Cary Nord and Mark Farmer on “The Unexpected” from October’s issue #5. The artist was previously going to join the book on issue #6. Cary Nord starts drawing “Wonder Woman” from November’s #58.
– Kerrang has reported Andy Biersack, aka Andy Black, the lead singer of Black Veil Brides, will be unveiling a graphic novel at this year’s New York Comic Con. Black is putting the final touches to his second solo album. He will be part of a panel that will discuss “their transition from musicians to comic book creators, the creative process, personal comic fandom and details on projects debuting at 2018 New York Comic Con.” The convention will be held from October 4 to October 7.
– MFKZ (Mutafukaz) has gained its English-language voice cast in Michel Chiklis (The Shield), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), Dascha Polanco (Orange is the New Black), RZA, Vince Staples and Danny Trejo. MFKZ is based on a French comic called “Mutafukaz,” created by artist Guillaume “Run” Renard, who co-directed the film with Shoujirou Nishimi (Batman: Gotham Knight). You can watch a trailer for the dub, which will have select screening in the United States in October, here.
