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.
– We’re kicking things off today with a bit of BOOM! Studios news: the publisher will be bringing webcomics artist Archie Bongiovanni’s “Grease Bats” to comic shops in July as part of their young adult BOOM BOX! Line. The comic, originally published at AutoStraddle, is about “brash, confident Andy, a trans genderqueer individual, and their BFF Scout, who is still exploring their identity and place in the world.” Look for the print edition to come with a combination of new and familiar content.
– Meanwhile, BOOM! Studios editor Whitney Leopard, will be joining Random House’s new Random House Graphic imprint. This follows Leopard’s tenure as editor overseeing the KaBOOM! imprint’s “Steven Universe” and “Rocko’s Modern Life” comics, amongst others. In her new role as Senior Editor of Random House Graphic (reporting to Publishing Director Gina Gagliano), Leopard will be responsible for all aspects of book development, including plans to acquire 15+ new projects each calendar year.
– Following the violation of copyright law, the Tokyo District Court has ordered YouTube to disclose the identifying information (including IP addresses) of accounts responsible for posting images and text from “Ushijima the Loan Shark,” so the publisher can hold the video makers liable. This is a significant legal decision that now shifts precedent by “recogniz[ing] the illegality of posts that had taken only text from speech bubbles.”
– Newsarama is reporting that DC’s promotional magazine DC Nation is cancelled – sort of. The series will be going on hiatus as of issue 6, and the time/format of its return has not been revealed, as of yet.
– The expansion of DC Universe’s original programming block continues at a brisk pace with the announcement of actors Yvette Monreal (Rambo V: Last Blood) and Christopher James Baker (True Detective) brought into the fold as members of the Stargirl cast. They are set to portray parts characterized as “undisclosed DC characters.”
– The Wrap is reporting that DC and WB are currently working on bringing Jaime Reyes’s iteration of the Blue Beetle to the big screen. The character, originally created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner in 2006, may be a relatively recent addition to the DC canon when compared to his fictional forefather Ted Kord, but the fan-favorite character has maintained a loyal following. This popularity has resulted in adaptations for the small screen on shows like Young Justice and Batman: Brave and the Bold, and Reyes’s participation in the Warner Animation Direct-to-DVD universe as a member of the Teen Titans. Writer Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, responsible for the upcoming Miss Bala remake for Sony, will pen the screenplay.
– The latest casualty in the acrimonious Netflix/Disney split has been announced via Deadline: Daredevil has been cancelled after 3 seasons. In the official announcement of Matt Murdock’s small-screen demise, Netflix does seem to offer a silver lining, stating that “the Daredevil character will live on in future projects for Marvel.” For those keeping score, this leaves Jessica Jones and The Punisher as the last two Marvel properties to remain on Netflix.
– The soon-to-be-released Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse has just been dubbed 2018’s “Best Animated Film” by the New York Film Critics Circle. Into the Spider-Verse managed to best this year’s dynamic duo of well-received crime-fighting cartoons, Incredibles 2 and Teen Titans Go! To the Movies for the honor, as well as The Grinch and Ralph Breaks the Internet.
– Meanwhile, in tangentially related Marvel news, the Government Accountability Office will investigate Marvel Entertainment Chairman Ike Perlmutter’s role in the delay and shaping of the digital health records overhaul at the Veterans Administration. Perlmutter, along with West Palm Beach doctor Bruce Moskowitz, are alleged to have used their access to the President via his Mar-A-Lago club “to exert influence on decisions made by the VA.”
– Finally, Gloria Katz, writer of American Graffiti, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and script doctor on Star Wars, has died at age 76. Katz and her husband/writing partner, Willard Huyck, collaborated on numerous films ranging from Lucky Lady to Howard the Duck. At this time, the Multiversity Team’s sincere condolences and thoughts go out to her daughter, Rebecca, and all other surviving family.
