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.
– Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev are reteaming at Dark Horse Comics for “Masterpiece,” a teenage crime caper. The six-issue series, colored by Ian Herring, and lettered by Joshua Reed, follows Emma, aka Masterpiece, a 16-year old inventor and webcomic creator, who learns that her late parents were criminals who stole from a vengeful billionaire. When said billionaire blackmails her into committing “one of the greatest heists of all time, Masterpiece fashions a crew of her peers and her parents’ old associates.” Issue #1 will be released on December 13, with variant covers by Tula Lotay and Peach Momoko.
– Dark Horse also announced “Critical Role: The Tales of Exandria – Artagan,” a four-parter starring the immortal Archfey (faerie) trickster Artagan, aka the Traveler. Written by Matthew Mercer and Sam Maggs with art by Aviv Or, colors by Cris Peter, and lettering by Ariana Maher, the comic sees Artagan get summoned to a hearing by the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Despite his reluctance, he obliges with regaling “how he’s graced the various material and other realms with his knowledge and mentorship,” unaware of “witnesses who may have a different take, and the consequences could be dire.” Issue #1 releases with a cover by Toby Sharp on January 3, 2024.
– In Marvel news, the publisher continued to tease their New York Comic Con announcements, revealing Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto will relaunch “Ultimate Spider-Man” in January. The company also announced a new “Star Wars: Revelations” one-shot for December, setting up the next year of comics storylines, and confirmed November’s “Scarlet Witch” #10 will be the series finale, with the promise Steve Orlando’s run “will evolve in a fascinating way this January, before ultimately returning later next year.”
– Random House Children’s Books and Dr. Seuss Enterprises are bringing Theodor Geisel’s characters to graphic novels. While details are vague, the publisher and estate will host a panel at New York Comic Con, where two of the cartoonists working on the line will be in attendance: James Kochalka (“Johnny Boo”), and Art Baltazar (“Tiny Titans”). The panel, called Introducing… Dr. Seuss Graphic Novels!, will be held in the Javits Center’s Family HQ Workshops 1E01 at 4:45pm on Thursday, October 12.
– Per Forbes, Scholastic Graphix will publish “Unico: Awakening,” a reimagining of Osamu Tezuka’s 1976 manga by writer Samuel Sattin (“Wolfwalkers: The Graphic Novel”), and the artistic team Gurihiru (“Superman Smashes the Klan”). The series, which will consist of four volumes, follows a young unicorn with the power to make humans happier. “After being banished from the heavens and forgetting his original identity and purpose, Unico meets the Spirit of the West Wind, and travels across time and space, spreading messages of resilience and hope.” It will begin releasing on August 6, 2024.
– BOOM! Studios unveiled “Book of Butcher,” a new Slaughterverse one-shot by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell’Edera, Miquel Muerto, and AndWorld Design, plus “special guests” Tate Brombal, Antonio Fuso, Chris Shehan, and Letizia Cadonici. The book will follow Maxine Slaughter as she transitions from being a White Mask (group monster slayer) to a Black Mask (lone hunter), setting up future storylines in “Something is Killing the Children” (which turns five next year), and “House of Slaughter.” It will be released on December 27.
– Archie announced a “Sabrina The Teenage Witch Holiday Special,” releasing December 13. It will feature two stories: the first, which will reunite previous “Sabrina” creative team Kelly Thompson and Veronica & Andy Fish, will see the young sorceress contend with a monster stalking her boarding school. The second will be written by Danielle Paige (“Mera: Tidebreaker”) with art by newcomer Veronica Johnson, and take us back to a ghostly encounter Aunt Zelda and Hilda had as teenagers.
– Per a press release, Ten Speed Graphic will release Katie Cook’s webcomic “Nothing Special” in four print volumes, beginning March 5, 2024. The all-ages Webtoon series revolves around Callie, a teenage girl whose father owns a magical antique shop. When he disappears during one of his routine collection trips to the magical realm, Callie, her friend Declan, and her ghostly pal Radish must work together to find him and bring him home. The 416-page first volume is available to pre-order in paperback and hardcover here, while a Kickstarter for signed copies and additional exclusive material will launch in October.
– Blue Beetle will be available to rent and buy digitally on Tuesday, September 26, and released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD on October 31. The home release will include a four-part behind-the-scenes documentary, plus featurettes spotlighting Nana and Khaji Da. Released in North American theaters on August 18, Blue Beetle has only grossed approximately $120.8 million worldwide ($67.7 mil domestically, $53.1 mil internationally, against a $104 million budget), but has also comfortably emerged as the most well-reviewed DC Universe movie since The Suicide Squad, with a 78 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
– Finally, Disney+ Star and Hulu have renewed Gannibal for a second season. The Japanese mystery horror series, based on the manga by Masaaki Ninomiya, became the streamers’ most-watched locally produced original series in Japan when it premiered last year. The show stars Yuya Yagira as Daigo, a police officer and family man who’s relocated to a village, where he uncovers sinister goings-on. Disney promises “audiences will get to uncover more of the village’s horrifying secrets, and discover if Daigo has what it takes to escape the impossible and bring the nefarious Goto family to justice.”
