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, manga creator Izumi Matsumoto died on October 6, 2020: he was 61. Also, Marvel have announced a four-part ‘King in Black’ miniseries, “Return of the Valkyries;” BOOM! Studios announced “Abbott: 1973;” and we have an exclusive preview of Vault’s “A Dark Interlude” #1.
– Via Syfy Wire, Marvel have announced “King In Black: Thunderbolts.” The three-issue series will be penned by Matthew Rosenberg with art by Juan Ferreyra, and see Wilson Fisk assemble a team of villains and anti-heroes to make a stand against the symbiote god Knull. This time around, the Thunderbolts will consist of Rhino, Taskmaster, Mr. Fear, Star, Batroc the Leaper, and more. “King In Black: Thunderbolts” #1 will debut in January.
– Marvel also announced “King In Black: Black Knight” #1, a standalone issue written by Simon Spurrier featuring art by Jesus Saiz. “King in Black: Black Knight” #1 will take the action to the skies above Shanghai, and ties the event with the fates of two extraordinary Chinese heroes. Spurrier said, “I’ve always had a soft spot for the Black Knight. And who better to shine the spotlight on some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes outside the western hemisphere than a guy who feels like a stranger in his own armor?” “King in Black: Black Knight” #1 will hit comic book stores in January.
– Via The Hollywood Reporter, former BBC employee Max Gadney has launched a new publishing company called Storyworlds. The first titles, launching from February 2021, will consist of “United States of Magic” by Gadney, Julian Parry and Taylor Esposito; “The Sword and the Six-Shooter” by Simon Delafond, Gadney, Antonio Fuso, Stefano Simeone and Taylor Esposito; “Only Hope: Fear Farm” by Gadney, Ksenia Kudryavtseva and Taylor Esposito; and “FAB” by RAMZEE, Stefano Simeone and Taylor Esposito. The comics will be released as 50-60 page graphic novellas, a format Gadney states “will break through in the battle for reader’s attention, as opposed to having to wait for next month’s floppy or floppy collection.”
– Via Newsarama, “2000 AD” have announced the latest winners of the 2000 AD Art Stars. The theme for this round of 2000 AD Art Stars was the company’s character Sláine the Barbarian, originally created in 1983 by Pat Mills and Angie Kincaid. With over 200 entries submitted, the winning entrant was German artist Uwe de Witt, while the runners up were Danny McMullen and Patrick David. De Witt has been submitting to 2000 AD Art Stars for several years now, but this will be his first winning entry. His winning illustration will be published in an upcoming issue of “2000 AD.” You can see all three submissions here. The next round of 2000 AD Art Stars will commence October 16.
– Via ComicBook.com, Los Angeles Comic Con has officially canceled its 2020 event. The convention hopes to return for a new event in 2021, which will occur from September 24-26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. In addition to the cancellation announcement, L.A. Comic Con announced the first wave of guests confirmed for the 2021 event, including Shazam! star Zachary Levi, Smallville star Tom Welling, and Frank Miller. More guests are expected to be announced over the course of the next year.
– Variety reports that under a licensing pact with DC Entertainment, Serial Box is creating original scripted shows based on Batman and Wonder Woman. In Batman: The Blind Cut, the Caped Crusader grapples with the fact that he is actually part of the One Percent. Wonder Woman: Heartless centers on Diana Prince dealing with the consequences of a politically divided public responding to a series of high-profile murders, and finding her belief in the justice system challenged in the process. The writing team for “Wonder Woman: Heartless” includes Natalie C. Parker, Tessa Gratton, Alaya Dawn Johnson and Heidi Heilig, while the writing team for Batman: The Blind Cut is led by bestselling author Catherynne Valente, and includes K Arsenault Rivera and Martin Cahill. The stories will be available in the spring of 2021, and priced at $9.99 for the full seasons.
Continued below– CBR reports that DC will release a series of animated shorts for “Death Metal” with David Hasselhoff will be playing Superman. The rest of the voice cast includes Black Veil Brides lead singer Andy Biersack as Batman, folk/doom metal singer/songwriter Chelsea Wolfe as Wonder Woman, Who Framed Roger Rabbit‘s Charles Fleischer as the Joker and the Batman Who Laughs, The Punisher‘s Jason R. Moore as the Darkest Knight, Cinderella drummer Fred Coury as the Flash, “Death Metal” writer Scott Snyder as Robin King, and “Death Metal” artist Greg Capullo as Sgt. Rock. “Dark Nights: Death Metal” #4, by Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion and FCO Plascencia, is on sale now.
– According to The Hollywood Reporter, AfterShock Media is hiring a raft of new talent to help bring AfterShock IP to other media. The move comes after AfterShock Media was formed last week. Former Parkes + MacDonald VP of Production Wynn Wygal has joined the company as senior vice president, film and television, while Carrie Stein, former head of global scripted television at eOne, will be working as global film & TV consultant, tasked with leading international expansion of co-production opportunities, as well as local language production. Working alongside Stein will be Christina Poray, who moves from Kapital Entertainment to become AfterShock’s director of development, global film & TV. Additionally, Ryan Carroll has been promoted to the position of director, comics/film & TV liaison. Finally, Cara Stechmann has joined the company as a development assistant, working with the film & TV division.
– Finally, CBR also reports that season 2 of Titans and Young Justice: Outsiders will make their HBO Max debut on November 1, 2020, while the CW’s Stargirl will make its HBO Max premiere on December 1, 2020. HBO Max will be the new home for Titans and Young Justice after moving from DC Universe. Stargirl will continue to air on The CW.
