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.
In case you missed it, the 2020 Ignatz Awards were held; DC Comics unveiled December’s crossover ‘Endless Winter‘; Titan acquired Jodorowsky and Jérémy’s “Knights of Heliopolis“; First Second will publish the podcast adaptation “Bubble“; and Chuck Austen is returning to comics with comiXology’s “Edgeworld” (illustrated by Patrick Olliffe).
– At this year’s virtual Reuben Awards, held by the National Cartoonists Society, artist and educator Lynda Barry (“Ernie Pook’s Comeek”) was named Cartoonist of the Year. Barry has been nominated multiple times for the award before, and this is her first win. Stan Sakai, Harmony Becker, Pat Bagley and Amy Hwang were also among this year’s winner, the full list of whom you can read over at The Beat
– Dark Horse Comics posted an update regarding the devastating wildfires on the West Coast: they stated, although their offices in Milwaukie, Oregon, are in a Level 1 evacuation zone (non-urgent, but prepared for potential evacuation), “many of our employees in the surrounding areas have been forced to evacuate their homes. Please be patient with delays from Dark Horse Comics staff at this time. While we continue to be fully operational, we are encouraging staff to take care of themselves and their families first.”
– DC released their December solicitations, and with them came word Brian Michael Bendis’s Superman saga will end with that month’s “Superman” #28, and “Action Comics” #1028. “Superman” #28 goes on sale December 15, and “Action Comics” #1028 will follow on December 22. We’ll have more on DC’s December releases in our Soliciting Multiversity column next week.
– DC also issued an explanation for why this year’s Batman Day plans won’t involve comic book stores: the statement reads, “Due to the ongoing global health crisis, this year’s Batman Day will differ from our past blow-out celebrations. As with many recent events, we have pulled back from the physical elements of Batman Day, which is why there are no printed comic books for Batman Day 2020.” Batman Day will take place on Saturday, September 19.
– The second installment of DC FanDome last Saturday revealed Doom Patrol has been renewed for season 3, but only on HBO Max; Young Justice season 4 is happening, and will be titled Young Justice: Phantoms; and Lisseth Chavez (Chicago P.D.) is joining the cast of Legends of Tomorrow season 6, where she will play vengeful alien abductee Esperanza “Spooner” Cruz. You can read more nuggets from the TV show panels in /Film’s round-up, and listen to the day’s Superman radio serial recreation here.
– With concerns still high over the safety of movie theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic, Warner Bros. have once again delayed Wonder Woman 1984, this time from October 2, to December 25, 2020. “Patty Jenkins is an exceptional filmmaker and with Wonder Woman 1984 she has delivered an incredibly dynamic film that moviegoers of all ages around the world will absolutely love,” Warner Bros. Pictures Group Chairman Toby Emmerich said. “We’re very proud of the film and look forward to bringing it to audiences for the holidays.”
– Marvel Comics announced writer Vita Ayala and artist Bernard Chang’s “Children of the Atom” will debut in January. The X-Men title, which will introduce a new team of young characters inspired by the heroes they idolize, was intended to start in April, but was delayed until after ‘X of Swords’ because of the COVID-19-induced Diamond shutdown.
– According to The Bookseller, cartoonist Tom Gauld’s first picture book, The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess, will be published in the US and UK on September 2, 2021. The book follows the little wooden robot as he embarks on a quest to find his missing sister, the log princess, and encounters “goblins, magic puddings, a mushroom queen and a very intimidating wood pile.” Holiday House have acquired the US rights, while Bonnier Books UK’s Templar imprint will release the book in the UK, Ireland and Commonwealth countries (except Canada).
– Finally, Funimation announced a partnership with Viz Media, to bring their catalog of anime titles to the streaming service. According to Engadget, “The move is likely to affect Crunchyroll, Funimation’s main competitor in the anime streaming space. One of the things to come out of Sony acquiring a majority stake in Funimation back in 2017 was Crunchyroll losing access to Funimation’s back catalog.”
