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.
– Via Major Spoilers, Vault Comics have announced “Barbaric: Born In Blood,” written by Michael Moreci, featuring art by Nathan Gooden, with colors by Fabi Marques, letters by Jim Campbell, and designed by Tim Daniel. The next chapter in the series, “Born in Blood” will once again follow Owen, Axe, and Soren as they meet Orrick, a master torturer with ties to Owen’s past. Moreci says, “This is our darkest and most brutal volume of ‘Barbaric’ yet,” adding, “We’re really digging deeper into these characters and what, exactly, it means to be a barbarian.” You can check out some preview pages here. “Barbaric: Born in Blood” #1 will debut on February 14, 2024.
– Publishers Weekly revealed a couple of graphic deals last week. First up, Feiwel and Friends have acquired “Lyra and the Lighthouse,” the debut middle-grade graphic novel from illustrator Maria Fröhlich. The book follows a lonely girl who moves to a haunted light house, and must work with its ghost to defeat a nefarious captain, while making her first real friend. Publication is set for 2025.
Next up, Little, Brown Ink have bought “Bookworms,” from Breena Bard. The book follows a group of middle schoolers who sign up as reading volunteers at their local library, which is haunted. Despite its reputation, the kids’ tutoring sessions soon become entwined with the mysterious ghost haunting the library. Publication is set for 2026.
– Deadline reports that Nicholas Hoult has been cast as Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy. The announcement comes a week after Venezuelan actress María Gabriela de Faría landed the role of Authority member the Engineer in the film. Gunn previously cast David Corenswet in the title role, and Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. Hoult, formerly Beast in the X-Men films, originally tested out for the lead part with Brosnahan, and was also Matt Reeves’s second choice to play Bruce Wayne in The Batman. Superman: Legacy, directed by Gunn from his screenplay, and produced by co-DC Studios boss Peter Safran, releases July 11, 2025.
– Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery have released a new trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The trailer showcases Arthur’s new son, who is seemingly kidnapped by Black Manta, as well as other returning characters like Patrick Wilson’s Orm and Nicole Kidman’s Atlanna. Amber Heard’s Mera, queen of Atlantis and mother to its heir, was noticeably absent again from the trailer. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will hit theaters on December 22, 2023. Tickets are on sale now.
– AMC have released a new teaser for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, offering a premiere date. In the teaser, Andrew Lincoln says “Our ambition is to have some answers” in regards to Rick’s whereabouts between seasons 9 and 11 of the original show. The spin-off will see Rick and Michonne reunite as they continue their lives in the post-apocalyptic world. You can check out the new teaser here. The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live will debut on AMC on February 25, 2024.
– Lastly, Deadline reports that Imagine Entertainment (Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s company) is developing a feature adaptation of “Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell,” a Webtoon comic by Unfins. Cody Blue Snider has been tapped to script the live action adaptation. The comic follows Paul, who mistakenly summons the Great Duke of Hell, Astaroth, and sells his soul to win over the girl next door; the only problem, is that Astaroth is as helpless as he is. “Love Advice from the Great Duke of Hell” has garnered more than 160 million views on Webtoon.
