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.
– Humanoids announced “Space Bastards” by writers Eric Peterson and Joe Aubrey and artist Darick Robertson. “Space Bastards” will see David S. Preston joining the Intergalactic Postal Service, a mercenary-run delivery service which allows its staff to deliver the mail by any means necessary, with whoever delivers the mail getting the money. Preston is an unemployed accountant who gets partnered with Manny Corns, aka the Manicorn, a brute who thrives on competition, with events quickly spiralling out of control. ‘Tooth and Mail’ will be the first arc, consisting of seven parts, with artists Simon Bisley and Clint Langley joining the writing duo for a one-shot and two annuals later in the year. The series was originally funded via Kickstarter. “Space Bastards” #1 will be released on January 13, 2021.
– In his newsletter, Jeff Lemire revealed that there will be a new ongoing series featuring Lucy Weber as the Black Hammer, as well as two more “Black Hammer” series that “may” feature creators such as Chip Zdarsky, Scott Snyder and Mariko Tamaki, in 2021. He also shared that his next graphic novel, which features a “talking dog and a map,” is completed but won’t be published until Fall 2021. Lemire discussed the ending of “Gideon Falls” with its 27th issue too, stating it had reached its “natural conclusion,” but has started discussing another project with artist Andrea Sorrentino, and that “it would not shock me if we returned to the world of ‘Gideon Falls’ one day too.” You can read the full newsletter, which features a Jim Lee variant for “Sweet Tooth: The Return” #1, and more, here.
– Publishers Weekly reported on three graphic novel deals concluded by publishers, one of which was by Graphix for Jamar Nicholas’s Dwayne McDuffie Award-winning series “Leon the Extraordinary.” The comic, which will be published as three middle-grade graphic novels, follows Leon, a boy growing up in a world where superheroes are part of normality, who finds out that he can be a hero too, by being kind and courageous and using his common sense. The first in the series is set for 2022 with the rest of the series following yearly. For details on the other two acquisitions, namely Ashley Robin Franklin’s “The Hills of Estrella” and Meggie Ramm’s “The Adventures of Batcat,” head to Publishers Weekly.
– Marvel announced that artist George Jeanty (“The American Way”) will be taking over art duties on the upcoming “U.S.Agent” limited series with writer Christopher Priest. Jeanty replaces the previously announced Stefano Landini. No reason was given for the departure. The series will follow John Walker A.K.A. U.S. Agent after getting stripped of his official government status and forced to operate on his own, with him becoming stuck in the middle of a conflict between a small town and a corporation attempting to destroy it. “U.S.Agent” #1 will be released on November 4.
– AWA Studios announced that they have teamed up with Amazon to offer a 20% discount to the trade paperbacks they are releasing next week: “Year Zero” Volume 1, “Archangel 8” Volume 1, “Hotell,” “The Resistance” Volume 1, and “Red Border.” The promotion will be available up until December 31, 2020. Each collected edition has its own promotional code to be entered at the checkout. Head over to AIPT Comics for the full list of promotional codes.
– Tom Muller, the designer of the X-Men ‘Dawn of X’ relaunch, won the Communication Arts Typography Competition for his ‘Design Variants’ featured on the ‘Dawn of X’ titles, including “Marauders” and “Excalibur.” This success will see the covers included in the Communication Arts’ Typography Annual being published in January. This win comes after the entirety of Muller’s design work on the line won in the Publishing category at the Brand Impact Awards last month.
– Apple TV+ revealed The Snoopy Show, a new series starring Charlie Brown’s pet dog. The teaser trailer, which was released on the 70th anniversary of the first “Peanuts” comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, teases that the “World’s Most Extraordinary Beagle” is back, showing how he can sit, dance, bake, fly, and more. Each episode will be comprised of three seven-minute cartoons, and feature a host of characters from “Peanuts.” The series is scheduled to be released on Apple TV+ on February 5, 2021 and you can watch the trailer here in the meantime.
Continued below– Skybound Entertainment announced three scripted audio projects being released as part of their collaboration with Audible. One of the projects will be an adaptation of Sean Mackiewicz and Niko Walter’s “Gasolina,” which told the story of Randy and Amalia, who are trying to leave their past involvement in the Mexican drug war, only to be pulled back in when Amalia’s nephew is kidnapped. The audio project will be released in both English and Spanish. The projects have not been given release dates at this time.
– Picturestart revealed that they will be adapting Nick Drnaso’s “Beverly” into an animated series, with Sarah DeLappe (The Wolves) set to write and join Drnaso as an executive producer. “Beverly,” which was published in 2016, peels back the facade of an American suburb to explores the sexual anxieties and social insecurities of the teenagers living there. Ryan Lindenberg and Julia Hammer will be overseeing the project, which does not currently have a release date.
– Lastly, actor Billy Crudup was reported to be rejoining the upcoming DC film, The Flash, to play Barry Allen’s father, Henry. Crudup previously played the role in 2017’s Justice League, and was attached to play the role earlier in the film’s development, dating back to 2016, but moved on after a series of changes in the director and writer roles. Kiersey Clemons was signed to portray Iris West at the same time as Crudup joined the project, but it is not clear whether there is interest from both parties and/or the availability for her to return yet. Currently, The Flash is being helmed by director Andy Muschietti, and is set to start filming in London next year.
