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 we were given an exclusive preview of “Aquaman” #53, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick with pencils from Robson Rocha and Eduardo Pansica. “Aquaman” #53 will be available tomorrow.
– AfterShock Comics have announced in a press release the first 9 members of its AfterShock Army, a team of what will grow to be at least 30 brand ambassadors based in 15 regions across North America. The goal of the AfterShock Army is to one-on-one with comic shops in their communities, to better keep open the lines of communication between publisher and retailer, as well as assist stores in maximizing opportunities to increase sales and build business with the comics, collections and original graphic novels of AfterShock Comics. The ambassadors include: Chris La Torre, Bill Noftz, Stacy Lott, Ben Freeman, Matt Rector, Daniel Kibodeaux, Jean Grey, Tony White, and Ed Catto.
– Comicbook.com reports that “Pocket Monsters,” the long-running manga based on the Pokemon games, has ended after a 23-year run. Launched in 1996, the manga is loosely based on the video games, and follows Red and his Pokemon Clefairy who is unlike any other as it can communicate with humans. The series wrapped with the magazine’s November issue, which came out today in Japan.
– ComiXology and Kodansha Comics announced they will complete the international bestseller “The Drops of God” manga series in English for the first time. The first eleven volumes debut today and can be read digitally as part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive content. “The Drops of God” tells the story of deceased wine critic Kanzaki Yutaka, and his son Kanzaki Shizuku, after it is revealed he was not bequeathed his inheritance. In order to take ownership of his legacy and the inheritance, he must correctly identify and describe thirteen wines, the first twelve Heaven-sent wines known as the “Twelve Apostles,” and the thirteenth known as the “Drops of God.” Today’s release sees the previously published volumes 1-8 re-edited with new cover art and volumes 9-11 appearing today in English for the first time ever. More volumes will be added at a later date.
– Yesterday, Jeff Lemire tweeted that he’d spent the weekend thinking a lot about “Royal City” and feels like the story may be unfinished. All three collections of “Royal City” are available now for purchase.
– The Disney+ Twitter account confirmed that among its plethora of content, X-Men: The Animated Series would be included in the line up of shows available for subscribers viewing pleasure. The account also started a thread revealing even more content, confirming more animated series. Check it out here. Disney+ launches on November 12, 2019.
– Netflix’s Jupiter’s Legacy has a new showrunner after Steven S. DeKnight parted ways with the production. Comicbook.com reports that according to actor Chase Tang, who plays the supervillain Baryon in the show, show writer Sang Kyu Kim is currently spearheading the production on the show. Kim previously worked on series like The Walking Dead, 24, and Designated Survivor.
– Deadline confirmed that actress Samara Weaving will play the role of counter-intelligence officer Scarlett in Paramount’s G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes. Takehiro Hira was also added to the cast today with Weaving, joining Andre Koji (Snake Eyes’s blood brother and foe Storm Shadow), Iko Uwais (Hard Master, Snake Eyes’s sword master), and Ursula Corbero (the evil Cobra agent the Baroness) as well as Henry Golding, who’ll play the title role of the ninja soldier. The film is written by Evan Spiliotopoulos and directed by Robert Schwentke, and due out October 16, 2020.
– Finally, Matt Reeves’s The Batman has found its Catwoman in Zoe Kravitz. She’ll star opposite of Robert Pattinson in Reeves’s grounded and gritty portrayal of the Dark Knight. Jeffery Wright has also been in talks to play Commissioner Gordon, as well as Jonah Hill as an unnamed villain. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the decision came down over the weekend after a rigorous testing process that saw Ana de Armas, Ella Balinska, Eiza Gonzalez, and Kravitz read with Pattinson. Kravitz previously voiced Catwoman in The LEGO Batman Movie. The Batman is set to be released June 25, 2021.
