Welcome back to The Rundown, our daily breakdown on comic news stories we missed from the weekend. Have a link to share? Email our team at rundown@multiversitycomics.com.
– It sounds like the next Wolverine movie is going to be the last for Sir Patrick Stewart. In an interview with iTV, the actor, who you might know from Dune, Death Train, and A Million Ways to Die in the West, said, “This is probably the end of this franchise for me. But the thing about science fiction and fantasy is that you can never, ever say it’s the end, it’s over.” Rumor has it that this might also be the end of Hugh Jackman’s involvement as well.
– Well, the iffy Diamond numbers are in and DC has come out on top (for the first time since 2013, with the New 52’s Villains’ Month. So stores were definitely stocking up on the Rebirth titles. In all fairness, DC usually has a stronger showing on charts that actually measure sales numbers, not store inventory.
– With all these reboots and relaunches, Benjamin Bailey at Nerdist wonders if numbering a mainstream corporately owned superhero comic book even matters.
– Comic artist Scott Fulop is suing Archie Comics and Sega for using characters he created for the Sonic series without paying him royalties. Although he was working freelance when he created these characters, including Mammoth Mogul, he registered them in 2009 and 2010 with the US Copyright Office. Archie Comics did the same thing in 2011.
– Check out this essay about writers who have started branching out into comics.
– Much like March’s Batman v. Superman, Suicide Squad saw a steep drop in box office while still retaining the number one spot. The David Ayer directed film fell over 67% for something like $44 million. If you haven’t read it already, this letter ranting at Warner Bros. executives by an alleged former employee is definitely worth a look.
– Finally, last but certainly not least, Kenny Baker, best known for playing R2-D2 but who’s also fantastic in Time Bandits, passed away at 81. Born in Warwickshire, Baker started out in a theatrical troupe for little people before joining the circus. Eventually he learned to ice skate and started career as an ice performer. Although he didn’t play R2-D2 in 2015’s Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, he was brought on as a consultant.
