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, the winners of the 2022 Ringo Awards were announced.
– EEP Universe’s “House of Slay” will be returning for a 5-part second season in November, CBR revealed. The series, which imagined that New York fashion icons, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Laura Kim, Tina Leung, and Ezra J William, were granted superpowers, will see a new host of new creative pairings for each issue, namely writer Amy Chu and artist Fabian Lelay; Barbara Perez Marquez and Dominic Bustamante; Cherish Chen and Ashley Liu; Henry Barajas and Louie Chin; and Deron Bennett and Lynne Yoshii.
Colorist Triona Farrell and letterer AndWorld Design will be working on all of the issues. In the second season, the team of superheroes, known as the House of Slay, will be “exploring the origin of their mysterious powers,” and “meeting new heroes from different cultures around the globe,” with the series aiming to underline the statement that “anyone can be a hero!” “House of Slay” will release weekly on Tapas and Webtoon beginning tomorrow on November 1. You can read more story details about each issue here.
– The second graphic novel in DC Comics’s middle-grade series “Primer,” subtitled “Clashing Colors,” was unveiled, with writers Jennifer Muro and Thomas Krajewski, and artist Gretel Lusky returning. “Primer: Clashing Colors” will see Ashley Rayburn/Primer seeking to achieve her dream of becoming a Teen Titan, all the while meeting her parents’ academic expectations, maintaining her best-friendship, and learning the full extent of her body paint-induced powers. “Primer: Clashing Colors” is set for release on September 5, 2023; in the meantime, you can check out the cover and an unlettered preview page at DC Comics.
– Clover Press announced they will be publishing Arizona Opera’s “Carmen: The Graphic Novel” by writer Alek Shrader, artists P. Craig Russell and Aneke Murillenem, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The graphic novel is an adaptation of Georges Bizet’s opera, in turn an adaptation of Prosper Mérimée’s novella, and will tell the story of the downfall of a soldier called Don José after he is seduced by a woman named Carmen. The graphic novel started its journey to publication as part of Arizona Opera’s OnPitch Business Challenge, before going on to be funded via Kickstarter; Clover Press have scheduled “Carmen: The Graphic Novel” for release on December 13, 2022. You can check out the cover here.
– Z2 Comics announced a third graphic novel with musician Poppy, called “Poppy Presents: Tit Tat,” by writer Ryan Cady and artist Norzine Lama, both of whom have worked on the singer’s previous Z2 publications. “Tit Tat” will follow psionic powered-teenager, Lydia, as she starts to investigate the mysterious disappearances of girls from her town; the description for the graphic novel hints that Lydia’s “growing rage” may “burn all bridges,” including perhaps the one that belongs to her best friend, “amateur rockstar Marigold Sykes.” “Poppy Presents: Tit Tat” is scheduled for publication in June 2023, with Z2 offering a range of different editions on their website.
– The 2022 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature was awarded to “Himawari House” by Harmony Becker. The graphic novel chronicles the fictional experiences of three foreign exchange students, Nao, Hyejung, and Tina, living in Japan. It was selected by judges as the winner for “its remarkable mastery of graphic novel conventions and its perceptive exploration of emotionally resonant, evergreen themes relating to family, friendship, and identity.” There were five finalists in all three Prize categories, all of which were chosen from the 1,436 titles that received a starred Kirkus review in the eligibility window; each winner was awarded $50,000. The full list of finalists and winners can be found at School Journal Library‘s website.
– The third film in the Venom series found its director in Kelly Marcel, who was a writer and producer on the previous two entries. Currently referred to as Venom 3, the film will see Tom Hardy reprise his role as the titular symbiote/Eddie Brock, with further details not yet known, though Deadline refer to the film as the “final chapter” in Venom’s story. Marcel and Hardy devised the story for the film together, with Marcel then setting out to write its screenplay, with sources stating that it then “made sense for Marcel to take over directing duties as well.” Marcel and Hardy will also serve as producers on the film, along with Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, and Hutch Parker. Ruben Fleischer was the director of the series’ first entry, whilst Andy Serkis directed the second. A release date for Venom 3 is not yet known.
– Finally, Netflix revealed the The Witcher will be getting a fourth season, but that Henry Cavill will departing from the show, with Liam Hemsworth set to replace him as its lead, Geralt of Rivia. Cavill’s statement about his departure read, “As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam’s take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men.” A reason for Cavill’s departure has not been stated, although as many fans have pointed out, his leaving comes hot on the heels of the reveal that he will be returning as Superman, suggesting a potential scheduling conflict. Cavill is set to bow out as Geralt in the upcoming third season, which is aiming for a Summer 2023 debut on Netflix. You can read Cavill’s full statement, as well as one from the incoming Hemsworth, at Variety.
