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.
With New York Comic Con in full swing this weekend, we’re bringing you extra news. So if you missed it, Marvel Staff Letterer Jim Novak has passed away; Marvel’s Invaders” are returning; the “Wolverine: The Long Night” podcast is getting a comic adaptation, Berger Books announced “The Girl in the Bay;” IDW are giving us a Star Trek crossover; BOOM! Studio’s “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” creative team was announced; and Humanoid’s H1 is a shared superhero universe. Plus, Raina Telgemeier announced “Guts” and “Share Your Smile” at her spotlight panel.
– Writer Charles Soule confirmed the cancellation of Marvel’s “Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith.” The series will be ending with issue #25, which hits stores December 19. However, a five-issue mini-series called “Shadow of Vader,” written by Chuck Wendig (“Darth Vader Annual” #2), was also announced for release in 2019: this will explore Vader’s impact on other characters he met across his entire lifetime.
– More information has come in about the Disney steaming service’s Star Wars show The Mandalorian. Set a couple of years after Return of the Jedi, it will follow the trail of a “lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.” The series will be written and executive produced by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), and episodic directors include Deborah Chow (Jessica Jones), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), Bryce Dallas Howard (Soulmates), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok). Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels) will direct the first episode, and is also an executive producer with Kathleen Kennedy, Colin Wilson and Karen Gilchrist. The look of the show’s lead character was also revealed.
– More Marvel news comes your way with Marvel Comics have revealed “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.” This new title will be written by Tom Taylor (“X-Men Red”) and illustrated by Juann Cabal (“X-23”). The title was announced during Marvel’s Spider-Man panel at New York Comic Con. The book will focus more on Peter Parker’s life. Taylor told Marvel.com, “Peter’s humanity and kindness isn’t ever hidden. He wants to do the right thing by everyone no matter whether he’s on the ground or swinging through the sky,” continuing, “sure he’s a guy who saves the world, but he’s still struggling to pay the bills with his housemates.” “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” #1 hits stores January 2019.
– Black Mask Studios announced a sequel to their limited series “Black,” titled “White.” The creative team of Kwanza Osajyefo, Tim Smith III, Jamal Igle and Khary Randolph will reunite for the sequel, which takes place 400 years into the future. The original “Black” imagined a world where black people have started manifesting superpowers, and has had several spin-offs until the banner name “Black AF.” “White” will begin on August 20, 2019.
– Top Shelf Productions announced “Red Panda & Moon Bear,” an all-ages graphic novel by Cuban-American cartoonist Jarod Roselló. The 176-page book follows the two titular young Latinx superheroes, as they battle “spooks, supervillains, alien invaders, and time warps!” It will be published in March.
– DC Entertainment has released an extended look at the new Aquaman movie, directed by James Wan and starring Jason Momoa as Aquaman. Wan commented about the role stating, “So it was important for me to obviously pay respect to where he was left off in [Justice League], but then allow me the freedom to take him where I want to take him at the end of the movie.”
– The creators of Amazon’s The Boys adaptation hosted a panel at New York Comic Con, and shared more details on the project, namely that Simon Pegg has joined the show as Hughie (Jack Quaid)’s father: Pegg’s face was used as for inspiration for Hughie by artist Darick Robertson in the original comic book. A teaser trailer for The Boys was also shown to audiences. The Boys is about a vigilante group of human agents, tasked by the CIA to bring the world’s superheroes to justice, and also stars Karl Urban (Dredd), Laz Alonso (Detroit), Tomer Kapon (Hostages), and Karen Fukuhara (Suicide Squad). The series will be an eight-episode season and is set for a 2019 release.
– In more DC news, during the Geoff Johns Spotlight panel at New York Comic Con, he gave more details about his upcoming Stargirl series for DC Universe. Former “Starman” writer James Robinson will be joining the writing team, and Johns also commented on the tone of the series, describing it as Back to the Future mixed with The Karate Kid. He said the series will focus on “heroism for a new generation.” He also told the audience that the series is based off of his original comic book “Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E” and will feature new material. Stargirl releases exclusively on DC Universe around September 2019.
– Co-Op Entertainment and Legion M has revealed plans for a female-led western action adventure movie called Girl With No Name, produced by the Co-Op’s Laura Lvey (Walking Out, Ithaca) and directed by Tanya Wexler (Hysteria). Before the movie however, audiences will get a glimpse at the hero via a 40-page comic book published by Legion M. The comic is based off of a screenplay by Alex Ranarvelo, which Wexler helped Dave Elliott (“2000 AD”) adapt. The comic is illustrated by Dani Strips, Jessica Kholnne and Anne Parkhouse. Terri Lubaroff, Chief Operating officer and head of content at Legion M, commented “We are thrilled to bring you Girl With No Name to life,” and “We’re proud to have the franchise star a strong female lead developed by a team of extremely talented women.” Preorder information will be added to Legion M’s website soon, and the comic will be released in Spring 2019.
