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, Matt Kindt is reteaming with his “Grass Kings” and “Black Badge” collaborators Tyler and Hilary Jenkins for “Fear Case” from Dark Horse. We also sat down with Joseph P. Illidge to talk all things horror for this week’s Multiversity Coffee Break.
– BOOM! Studios have announced the new fantasy adventure series “Orcs!” from cartoonist Christine Larsen. Via School Library Journal, the six-issue series will run under the publisher’s all-ages KaBOOM! imprint. The story follows the orc Bog and his crew, who were “banished from their Orc village by King Hrograhgah (it was a simple misunderstanding, involving an acorn-related prank!) and must now venture out into the world to seek their fortune and hopefully, one day, find their way back home again.” Larsen said, “‘Orcs!’ is dedicated to everyone who’s taken an arrow from the hero, who wasn’t more than a nameless menace in the story, who didn’t have the looks for the main role—the quirky sidekicks, goofy henchmen, and army of lackeys.” “Orcs!” is due to hit shelves in February 2021.
– The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ of America is drawing attention to a dispute between writer Alan Dean Foster and Disney. Foster, who wrote novelizations for Star Wars as well as Alien, Aliens and Alien 3, has not received royalty payments for the books that Disney acquired through their purchase of Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox. According to the statement from the SFWA, Disney is arguing that they have purchased the rights to Foster’s books but not the obligations of the contract, meaning they are under no obligation to pay royalties on the properties. News of the dispute has sparked backlash on Twitter, where the hashtag #DisneyMustPay has sparked discussions of the implications of Disney’s current stance and the danger it poses to creators. Disney has not responded publicly to either the SFWA or Foster’s allegations.
– The team behind British charity Accumulate’s Art School for the Homeless has compiled the first graphic novel made by homeless creatives. Via It’s Nice That, “The Book of Homelessness” is an anthology of drawings and written works filled with the life stories and experiences of people experiencing homelessness from their own perspectives. The book is made up of works by people who were living in hostels, shelters and temporary accommodation, and who took part in Accumulate’s creative writing, drawing and illustration courses. All profits from “The Book of Homelessness” are shared with its authors and Accumulate so it can continue to provide creative workshops for people who are homeless. “The Book of Homelessness” is available for pre-order now.
– The long-delayed Wonder Woman 1984 will be making its Christmas Day release date despite much speculation, but there’s a catch. Via Variety, the superhero sequel will be debuting in theaters and streaming almost simultaneously, premiering in international theaters on December 16, before releasing on HBO Max — at no additional cost to subscribers — in the U.S. The move effectively removes Wonder Woman 1984 from the domestic box office, a major shift for what was once expected to be one of 2020’s highest-grossing films. Director Patty Jenkins and star Gal Gadot shared their reactions on Twitter, encouraging fans to see the film in theaters where it is safe to do so and expressing joy that the film will finally see release. Wonder Woman 1984 hits HBO Max on December 25.
– After public pressure, Apple will partner with PBS to air ad-free broadcasts of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and A Charlie Brown Christmas this year. Via PBS Newshour, the move comes after the streamer received backlash for sweeping up the rights to the seasonal Charlie Brown specials and made Apple TV+ their exclusive home. Online campaigns and petitions gained traction after It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was not broadcast this year, prompting Apple to relent and announce one-night only events for the remaining two specials — albeit not on the actual holidays. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will air on PBS on November 22, while A Charlie Brown Christmas will air on December 13.
Continued below– The long-running British comic strip “Beano” is heading to a new frontier. Via The Guardian, for the first time in its 82-year history, the strip will be publishing its first comic aimed at adult readers, “BeanOLD.” The one-off comic will appear as a pull-out section this week, and will revolve around the parents of “Beano” characters Dennis the Menace and Walter the Softy. The strip won’t only feature fictional adults, however — Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Dominic Cummings will make appearances, as will Greta Thunberg, Captain Tom Moore, and Marcus Rashford. The strip will still be aimed at an all-ages audience.
– IGN debuted an exclusive new trailer for the upcoming DC Universe movie “Batman: Soul of the Dragon.” The trailer offers the first full look at the 70s-set Elseworlds adventure that finds Batman teaming up with Richard Dragon, Bronze Tiger, and Lady Shiva to battle monsters under the mentorship of O-sensei. The voice cast includes David Giuntoli (Bruce Wayne/Batman), Mark Dacascos (Richard Dragon), Kelly Hu (Lady Shiva), and Michael Jai White (Bronze Tiger). The film will be released on digital platforms starting January 12, 2021, and on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack and Blu-ray beginning January 26.
– The nominees have been announced for the 2020 Game Awards, and several comic adaptations are in the mix. Nadji Jeter earned a nomination for Best Performance for his turn as Miles in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, while Marvel’s Iron Man VR and The Walking Dead: Saints and Sinners picked up nominations for Best VR/AR. You can check out the full list of nominees here. Voting is now open, and the winners will be revealed on Thursday, December 10.
– The digital reading and distribution platform GlobalComix has announced a new subscription-based program, GlobalComix GOLD, as well as another monetization option called the SuperFan Program. Via the company’s press release, the program aims to empower both creators and readers, facilitating direct financial support from the reader to the storyteller. Rather than each subscription going into a lump sum that is divided between all creators on the platform, a user’s subscription is divided between the creators that they actually read over the course of the month. Additionally, GlobalComix is launching the SuperFan Program, a donation-based early access system that allows creators to release content for donors above a certain level that will remain SuperFan exclusive for 30 days. You can read more about the new programs at the GlobalComix blog.
– On Black Friday this year, Mainframe Comic Con will be celebrating the release of the long-delayed “Batman/Catwoman” #1 with a star-studded digital convention, featuring virtual panels, interviews, and a Live Q&A. The event, which they’ve dubbed Bat Friday, will be 100% free and feature appearances from major creators including Tom King, Clay Mann, David Finch, Jock, James Tynion IV, Jason Fabok, Corrina Bechko, Joshua Williamson, Mitch Gerads, Chip Zdarsky, Francis Manapul, DC Daily’s Amy Dallen, and more. Signed posters, art prints, and comics will be for sold at the event, which kicks off at 8:00 PM EST on November 27.
