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 unprecedented news, “March: Book 3” is the first graphic novel to win the National Book Award. The book, written by Congressman John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, and illustrated by Nate Powell, is the third in a series of Lewis’s reflections on a lifetime of fighting for civil rights. The non-fiction series has won many awards, but this one seems especially poignant.
– Though announced at New York Comic Con, there were no real details about the upcoming “Planet of the Apes/Green Lantern” crossover series. Well, now that the details are emerging, the book looks pretty exciting: co-written by Justin Jordan and Robbie Thompson and illustrated by Barnaby Bagenda, the series will run for six issues, starting February 1. Jordan and Bagenda have both worked on Lantern books in the past, specifically those involving Kyle Rayner. Who knows? Maybe he’ll show up.
– Greg Grunberg, best known for tagging along wherever J.J. Abrams goes, has landed a recurring role as a Central City Police Officer on The Flash, starting with the upcoming “Killer Frost” episode, which drops next week.
– As of February’s #7, Philip Tan will be taking over the interior art for “The Hellblazer” from DC, replacing Moritat on the John Constantine-starring series.
– Willem Dafoe, who is playing Vulko in Justice League, will reprise that role in Aquaman, to the surprise of no one.
– To celebrate Image’s 25th anniversary, all three of Robert Kirkman’s books in February will boast a $.25 price tag. All three books – “The Walking Dead,” “Invincible,” and “Outcast” – are all starting new story arcs that month as well.
– Comics Alliance put together a “Guide to Great Comics for Trans and NB Youth,” and their list looks pretty spot-on.
– “Riverdale,” the comic prequel to the new CW series of the same name, will be an ongoing as of February, just a few weeks after the show’s debut.
– Owen Gieni is the new artist on “Rat Queens,” which is relaunching with a new #1 in March.
– And, finally, if you’re a big “4 Kids Walk Into a Bank” fan and want to donate some money to LGBTQ causes, you may be able to read the latest issue a month or so early.
