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.
Kicking off, we’re looking at the trailers released over the weekend:
– First we have the Alita: Battle Angel trailer, starring Rosa Salazar as Yukito Kishiro’s manga heroine. The film, directed by Robert Rodriguez, produced by James Cameron, and co-written by Laeta Kalogridis, will be released July 20, 2018. Until then, you can watch the trailer here and read a breakdown with Rodriguez at Empire; if you’re wondering, he mentions it was Cameron’s idea to recreate Alita’s manga eyes with motion capture.
– Sony Pictures Animation unveiled Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the animated film starring Donald Glover as Miles Morales. The film, which is inspired by Dan Slott and Olivier Coipel’s crossover event ‘Spider-Verse,’ will also feature Peter Parker, and is out December 14, 2018.
– Netflix announced Jessica Jones season two will be released March 8, 2018, and released a minute-long announcement trailer set to Heart’s “Barracuda.” There’s a Spider-Man reference in there, though not an in-universe one.
– Jessica Jones and Miles Morales co-creator Brian Michael Bendis revealed he was hospitalized last week after an unexpected MRSA infection. On Twitter, Bendis stated he almost died, and that he was now back at home but it would take months for him to recover. Marvel and DC both agreed to let him put off writing, though he said he “can and need[s] to.” He also thanked fans for brightening his week with their positive reactions to the Into the Spider-Verse and Jessica Jones trailers. We at Multiversity Comics wish Bendis all the best.
– BOOM! Studios announced “Lucy Dreaming,” a five-issue miniseries written by Max Bemis (“Oh, Killstrike“), and drawn by Michael Dialynas (“The Woods“). The comic, which follows a teenage girl who can literally live in her dreams, starts in March.
– BOOM! will also be publishing “Dodo,” an all-ages OGN by Felipe Nunes which follows six-year old Laila, whose parents are divorcing, and the friendship she strikes up with Ralph, a dodo living in her local park. The book, which was originally published in Brazil in 2015, will be printed by BOOM! in English in May 2018.
– Last week it was announced Jack Dylan Grazer (It) will be playing Freddy Freeman in Shazam! In the comics, Freddy is one of Billy Batson’s foster siblings and is capable of sharing his powers, taking on the identity of Captain Marvel Jr. before the character’s name was changed. Shazam! is out April 5, 2019.
– The CW announced Legends of Tomorrow season three will resume on Monday February 12, taking Supergirl‘s time slot. Supergirl season three will go on hiatus until April 16, after the Legends season finale, meaning its third season will conclude on June 18.
– San Diego Comic-Con won their lawsuit against Salt Lake Comic Con for attempting to trademark the phrase “comic con.” Salt Lake Comic Con are seeking the cancelation of SDCC’s claim on the term.
– Patreon, the platform used by many freelance comics creators to receive additional monthly income from fans, recently decided to have fans pay the transaction fees. The decision ostensibly meant artists can receive more money, but it penalizes the many patrons who donate $1 a month to multiple creators. Kate Leth and Ryan North are among those reporting that many of their patrons felt unable to keep donating and thus canceled their pledges. Patreon have thus far signaled no intention of backing down on their decision.
– Lastly, with The Last Jedi out this week, we asked what was your favorite “Star Wars” title of 2017. 32% of you chose “Doctor Aphra,” with IDW’s “Star Wars Adventures” coming in second place with 20% of the vote.
