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, Marvel Comics have announced a line-up of titles for the next phase of the X-Men books, ‘Destiny of X.’ We also launched the Multiversity 2021 Holiday Gift Guide.
-Via Newsarama, Deadpool co-creator, Fabian Nicieza will return to the character in “X-Men Unlimited” #13. Nicieza and artist Matt Horak are taking over the series for an eight-part storyline featuring Deadpool and the Juggernaut. This storyline, titled ‘Paradise Lost,’ explores the two characters’ exclusion from the so-called mutant paradise that is Krakoa. The Deadpool/Juggernaut ‘Paradise Lost’ storyline debuts with “X-Men Unlimited” #13, available from today exclusively on Marvel Unlimited, and will run weekly through the final chapter, due out January 24, 2022.
– Via CBR, the second issue of Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlavey’s “Action Activists” comic book was released by the New York City Department of Education. The first issue of “Action Activists” was released in 2020, and was created as part of the Department of Education’s “Civics for All” program. The official description reads, “‘Action Activists #2: Activism in New York’ follows the first ‘Action Activists’ comic released in March 2020, [and] is intended for middle school students.” You can still download the first issue of the series here, while the second issue is available here.
– Publishers Weekly announced a few graphic novel deals last week. First, Knopf has acquired world rights to “Dear Rosie,” a debut middle-grade graphic novel by Meghan Boehman and Rachael Briner. This semi-autobiographical graphic novel follows four middle-school girls as they confront the loss of their friend, banding together to heal their wounds and honor her memory. Publication is planned for summer 2023. Next, Algonquin Young Readers has bought “The Puzzling Fate of Millicent Graves,” a middle-grade graphic novel by Dora M. Mitchell. The story features perfectionist Millicent Graves, who discovers a room of puzzles representing people’s lives, and starts rearranging pieces to improve her family and friends. Publication is scheduled for 2024.
Next up, Henry Holt has bought world rights to Remy Lai’s middle-grade contemporary fantasy graphic novel “Ghost Book,” in which 11-year-old July Chen befriends the wandering soul of a boy, only to find out that their fates are intertwined, and in order for the boy to live, she has to die. Publication is slated for fall 2023. Lastly, Roaring Brook has bought Ruth Chan’s debut middle-grade graphic novel “Uprooted.” This memoir follows eighth grader Ruth as her family moves from Canada to Hong Kong, where Dad has a new job, Mom is closer to family, and Ruth feels lonelier than ever. Publication is set for fall 2023.
– Via Deadline, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton has entered into an exclusive multi-year overall deal with Disney companies Marvel Studios and Hulu’s Onyx Collective. Under the new overall deal, Cretton will develop TV projects for both Marvel Studios for Disney+ and Onyx Collective across all platforms. The filmmaker is already in development with Marvel Studios on a new MCU series for Disney+, and is officially set to direct a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
– Deadline also reports Alcon Television Group has put in a preemptive bid for the rights to “Battle Chasers,” a fantasy comic book series by artist Joe Madureira. Alcon will develop a live-action TV adaptation with John Wick creator Derek Kolstad attached to write and executive produce. Set in an arcane punk world, “Battle Chasers” follows a ragtag group of heroes that must come together, despite their many differences, to stop a dark force rising in the land. Launched in 1998, “Battle Chasers” was one of the initial three comic book series published under the Cliffhanger label, which Madureira founded with fellow artists J. Scott Campbell and Humberto Ramos for Jim Lee’s Image Comics imprint, WildStorm.
– Via CBR, AMC has announced Fear the Walking Dead has been renewed for an eighth season. Additionally, it was revealed that Kim Dickens, who played Madison Clark for seasons 1 through 4, will return as a series regular. Dickens will make her return in the second half of season 7 when it returns on April 17, 2022.
– Variety reports Colin Farrell has officially signed on to star in and executive produce a series spin-off of The Batman, in which he will again play the Penguin. Lauren LeFranc is attached to write the script for the series. Along with Farrell, The Batman director Matt Reeves and producer Dylan Clark will also executive produce. The Batman will be in theaters March 4, 2022.
– Finally, the Critics Choice Association announced the nominees for 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards. Among the nominees, Disney+’s What If? earned a nod for Best Animated Series. WandaVision has four nominations, including Best Actor for Paul Bettany, Best Actress for Elizabeth Olsen, Best Supporting Actress for Kathryn Hahn, and Best Limited Series. The winners will be revealed at the star-studded Critics Choice Awards gala, which will broadcast live on The CW and TBS on Sunday, January 9 from 7:00 – 10:00 pm ET.
