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, Star Wars will be returning to Dark Horse Comics for a new line of all-ages comics and graphic novels. We also had an exclusive preview of next week’s “X-Force: Killshot Anniversary Special” #1.
– Archie Comics has one for all the lovers out there, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Via Newsarama, the upcoming one-shot “Archie: Love and Heartbreak” promises to track the ups and downs of the romantic happenings of Riverdale’s wholesome cast as they attend a carnival. The pairings of Archie and Veronica, Jughead and Betty, and Kevin and Devon share the book’s pages, with a team of writers and artists collaborating to craft a larger story. The one-shot is written by Thomas Pitilli, Stephanie Cooke, and Sina Grace, with art by Pitilli, Lisa Sterle, and Iolanda Zanfardino. Matt Herms provides colors while Jack Morelli is on lettering duty. “Archie: Love and Heartbreak” swoons its way to shelves on February 9, 2022.
– The webcomic platform Webtoon is starting up a print graphic novel imprint. Via Newsarama, Webtoon Unscrolled will be siloed under Webtoon’s sister company Wattpad Webtoon Book Group. Executive editor Bobbie Chase, a veteran of both DC and Marvel, will spearhead the new line, which plans to release 12 titles per year. The first crop of books are adaptations of some of Webtoon’s hits, including “Tower of God,” “True Beauty,” “Doom Breaker,” “Boyfriends,” “Cursed Princess Club,” and “Everything is Fine.” The new line is set to launch its first books in fall 2022.
– Via The Beat, Oni Press have announced “Season of the Bruja,” a Latinx fantasy series written by Aaron Durán, with art and colors by Sara Soler, and lettering by AndWorld Design’s Jaime Martinez. The five-issue series tells the story of Althalia Cabrera, a 20-year old witch from Portland, who is descended from indigenous Mexican magic users. Althalia was mentored by her abuela, who protected her “from the darkest parts of their practice’s history. But just as Althalia’s inner light and power begin to shine, the darkness of the past finds its way into her world and strikes a tragic blow, testing Althalia in ways she might not be prepared to survive.” “Season of the Bruja” #1 releases Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
– Brian Azzarello and Maria Llovet’s erotic series “Faithless” from BOOM! Studios is returning for its third and final round next year. “Faithless III” will run for six issues, picking up with Faith’s mysterious reappearance nine months after the events of the last series. “Faithless III” will again feature lettering by AndWorld Design, with main covers by Llovet. Each issue will feature an incentive variant as well as a polybagged explicit cover; the first pair of variants come from Jenny Frison and Kris Anka, respectively. “Faithless III” #1 drops in February 2022.
– IDW Publishing have announced the former “Ghostbusters” creative team of writer Erik Burnham, artist Dan Schoening, and colorist Luis Antonio Delgado are turning their attentions to the original G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero cartoon. Via Newsarama, the four-issue series “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero – Saturday Morning Adventures” will see the ’80s incarnation of the team battling against Cobra’s Aladdin Initiative, which involves Cobra’s “most versatile weapon yet” — a genie lamp. The first issue of the affectionate parody goes on sale in February 2022.
– AIPT had the exclusive news of a team-up between publisher Z2 Comics and the podcasting franchise The Last Podcast on the Left. The graphic novel “The Last Comic Book on the Left” will be an anthology of spooky tales that “pay homage to the history of horror comics” like “Eerie” and “Tales from the Crypt.” The anthology has pulled together a murderer’s row (so to speak) of horror comics creators, including James Tynion IV, Tyler Boss, Ryan Cady, Morgan Beem, Noah Van Sciver, and Ryan Veitch. The deluxe edition of the book will be accompanied by a series of prints featuring the macabre subjects and figures The Last Podcast on the Left specializes in like Mothman, the Jersey Devil, and the Black Death. “The Last Comic Book on the Left” is available for preorder ahead of its planned May 2022 ship date.
Continued below– Dark Horse will publish a collection of the sci-fi comic “Errand Boys” from D.J. Kirkbride, Nikos Koutsis, and Frank Cvetkovic. The book was originally published from 2018 to 2019 as single issues by Image Comics. “Errand Boys” follows the “hard-worn scoundrel” Jace, as he takes over as the guardian of his 13-year-old half-alien half-brother. The new collection takes off on April 13, 2022.
– The popular Korean webcomic “Dr. Brain” now has an English-language translation. The translation premiered exclusively on Tapas yesterday, with the localization produced by Kakao Entertainment. “Dr. Brain” was written and drawn by Hongjacga, and follows a genius neuroscientist who connects to the brains of the recently deceased to solve their murders. The English release comes after the success of the Apple TV+ adaptation, which stars Lee Sun-kyun (Parasite) in the main role. The first three episodes are available on Tapas now, with new updates coming every Thursday.
– The planned integration of digital comics platform comiXology into Amazon.com has been postponed. Via Newsarama, comiXology CEO and co-founder David Steinberger attributed the decision to unspecified “feedback we received from our community.” The companies originally announced their plans back at the beginning of September, and included updates to the platform’s technical capabilities as well as the elimination of comiXology.com as a separate domain from Amazon. Steinberger said that the changes are on track to be implemented in early 2022.
– Finally, Universal has released the first trailer for Marry Me, the Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson film based on the webcomic of the same name by Bobby Crosby and Remy “Eisu” Mokhtar. The film follows a Latin pop star who, after learning her partner has been having an affair behind her back, decides to marry a stranger at her concert. The film also stars Sara Silverman, John Bradley, Michelle Buteau, and Colombian singer Maluma. Directed by Kat Coiro from a screenplay by John Rogers, Marry Me is scheduled for a February 11, 2022 release.
