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.
– Cartoonist Dan Schkade is relaunching the daily and Sunday “Flash Gordon” comic strip, King Features Syndicate announced. It will mark the first original Flash Gordon strip since the daily and Sunday comics respectively ended in 1993 and 2003, and pick up immediately with the overthrow of Ming the Merciless. It was not specified when the relaunch will begin, although it will coincide with the 90th anniversary of when Alex Raymond’s space hero debuted (January 7, 1934). Schkade is no stranger to Flash Gordon, having contributed to the 2021 anthology “Flash Forward!” (excerpt above), which was created to mark the 40th anniversary of the movie.
– Via Screen Rant, comiXology revealed the release date for “By A Thread,” the series written by Scott Snyder with his son Jack. First teased late last year, “By A Thread” takes place in a world where humanity lives far above ground after a mysterious affliction spread across the land. When young hero Jo’s “community comes under attack by the despotic Charon and his forces, [he] and his friends must decide whether or not to venture across the wasteland in search of a safe haven.” Created with artist Valeria Favoccia, colorist Whitney Cogar, and letterer Tom Napolitano, “By A Thread” begins Tuesday, October 10.
– The Harvey Awards revealed this year’s Hall of Fame inductees, who will consist of Chris Claremont, Walt and Louise Simonson, Marv Wolfman, the late George Pérez, and “Zippy the Pinhead” creator Bill Griffith. They will be officially inducted at the 35th annual Harvey Awards ceremony during New York Comic Con on Friday, October 13. Head to the link in the meantime for comments from Claremont, Wolfman, Griffith, and John Lind, co-chair of the awards committee.
– The 2023 National Book Award finalists were announced, and they include two graphic memoirs in the Young People’s Literature category: Huda Fahmy’s “Huda F Cares?” (the story of her family’s trip to Disney World), and Dan Santat’s “A First Time for Everything,” the tale of the life-changing trip to Europe he had during middle school. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 15, where each finalist will be awarded $1,000 and a bronze medal, while the winners will receive $10,000 and a bronze medal and statue.
– In further awards news, this weekend’s Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) festival saw Raina Telgemeier receive the Transformative Work Award; the Master Cartoonist Award go to Daniel Clowes; and the Newly Emerging Talent Award be given to Evan Salazar (“Rodeo Comics”). They were honored alongside former Publishers Weekly editor Calvin Reid, who was previously announced as winning the third annual Tom Spurgeon Award, a prize recognizing non-comics creators who’ve helped advance the medium. Congratulations!
– With just days to go before the premiere of Loki season two, Marvel have released an Infinity Comics version of “Loki: Agent of Asgard” on Marvel Unlimited. The 2014-15 series by Al Ewing, Lee Garbett, and Nolan Woodard, which ran for a total of 17 issues, followed the trickster god on a new lease of life, after returning to adulthood in Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s “Young Avengers” run. The Infinity version adapts the first five issues across ten parts, and is now available for free.
– Rocksteady Studios have delayed the Nintendo Switch release of the Batman: Arkham Trilogy until Friday, December 1. The games were originally set to debut on the console on October 13. The developer said, “More time is needed to bring players the best possible experience on Nintendo Switch. We apologize to fans who are excited to play this version of the trilogy. Thank you for your patience.”
– Finally, longtime “2000 AD” artist John M. Burns has announced his retirement. The 85-year old had originally intended to only cut back on his workload after receiving medical advice, before making his final decision this week. Multiversity wishes John, and his partner Julia, a very happy retirement. In the meantime, author Paul Duncan is working on a book about Burns’s career, and you can find out how you can help them finish it at the link.
