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.
– DC has finally fired Eddie Berganza. It only took years of allegations, a recent exposé on him by Buzzfeed News, and an outpouring of comics industry people speaking out on DC’s decision to initially just suspend him. Berganza was first reported to DC’s HR in 2010, when he was up for a promotion (he still got it), and his only punishment was a demotion back to Group Editor in 2012. Up until recently, DC’s “solution” to the problem was to only have him work with certain creators, causing some to even turn down work.
– In other terrible-human news, Arrowverse stars Melissa Benoist and Emily Bett Rickards have released statements condemning the actions of executive producer Andrew Kreisberg, and showing support for the women who spoke out against him. Benoist’s statement concluded with, “I’ll head back to work on Supergirl even more committed to being a part of changing the norm by listening when people speak up, and refusing to accept an environment that is anything less than a safe, respectful and collaborative space.” Kreisberg was suspended after 19 people came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate physical contact.
– Warner Bros. has moved the release date of Wonder Woman 2 up six weeks, to November 1, 2019. The new release date gives it some space before Star Wars: Episode IV is released on December 20, 2019. The announcement also came with a repudiation of the earlier report that Gal Gadot was refusing to reprise her role unless Brett Ratner’s production company was not involved. Warner Bros’ already severed ties with the director in November, after allegations of sexual harassment were brought against him, and is not renewing the deal with his production company, which will expire in March of next year.
– Sony is expanding its Spider-Man universe with a film based on Morbius the Living Vampire. The project’s script, by Power Rangers writers Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama, was just submitted to the studio after being developed in secret. No other details are known at this time. Morbius is a scientist who gave himself a form of vampirism, after trying to cure himself of a rare blood disease. He first appeared in “Amazing Spider-Man” #101, by Roy Thomas and Gil Kane, and the first issue not written by Stan Lee.
– Star Wars expanded universe favorite Thrawn is coming to comics, in a six-issue adaptation of original creator Timothy Zahn’s novel, Thrawn. The series will be written by Jody Houser (who just finished the Rogue One adaptation) and drawn by Luke Ross. It debuts on February 7, 2018, and will detail the Grand Admiral’s rise in the Empire. Thrawn originally debuted in the old expanded universe, before making his way to the new canon in Star Wars: Rebels in the last couple seasons.
– Marvel has released the full lineup of the returning Jean Grey‘s “X-Men: Red” team. The group includes Wakandan mutant Gentle, Namor, Nightcrawler, Laura Kinney’s Wolverine and her cloned sister Gabby (who will finally get a codename), and new character Trinary. The series, by Tom Taylor and Mahmud Asrar, will spin out of December’s “Phoenix Resurrection: The Return of Jean Grey,” and debut sometime in February.
– Marvel is also teasing “The Wedding of the Century” on June 20, 2018. They released a promotional image, with art by Phil Noto, featuring some of their iconic past weddings: Black Panther & Storm (which was already billed as “The Wedding of the Century”), Ant-Man & the Wasp, Mr. Fantastic & the Invisible Woman, Cyclops & Jean Grey, and Northstar & Kyle Jinadu.
– Dynamite’s previously announced “Sweet Valley High” graphic novel now has a release date and a partial creative team. According to Amazon, the book will be written by “Kim & Kim” editor Katy Rex and Andres Genolet, and will be released on April 3rd.
– And lastly, Filming has begun for Daredevil Season 3, with Iron Fist Season 2 starting next month.
