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 either david@multiversitycomics.com or brian@multiversitycomics.com.
– It sounds like Dave Bautista might be having an even bigger role than the rest of the Guardians in the third Avengers film, at least according to wrestling site PWMania. They talk about his upcoming Hollywood work and speak to Marvel restructuring his deal for more work on their upcoming films, namely the third Avengers one. This makes sense, as Thanos is set to be the villain in that one, and Drax is a weapon designed to kill him. Bautista was stunningly great in Guardians, and at this point, I’d be all in for more of him. Here’s hoping this is true, and it isn’t an opportunity that passes him by. I doubt it is, as his reflexes are too fast.
– Bleeding Cool reports that Marvel’s “Star Wars” #1 is getting a bunch of exclusive retailer variants (if they order A LOT of copies of the comic) and likely will be working a deal out with LootCrate to include the first issue (like they did with six figures of “Rocket Raccoon” #1 as well). It’s an interesting situation, as it feels like artificial inflation of the first issue of something, but hey, it’s 2014 and that’s where we’re at I suppose.
– Brigid Alverson did a recap of this weekend’s Ignatz Awards at SPX, and first off, that is an awards show. I have no idea what exactly is going on, and I’m ashamed to say I’ve read very few of the winners, but that awards show looks fun. Winners included Jillian and Mariko Tamaki’s excellent graphic novel “This One Summer”, a chapter of Meredith Gran’s “Octopus Pie”, a comic from Sam Alden, and more. Congrats to all the winners, and I hope to be at that awards show someday.
– Guardians of the Galaxy became the first movie to cross $300 million domestically in 2014, which is incredible and once again underlines how it’s been a bad year at the box office. No less, congrats to everyone involved, and I’m happy to say I contributed yet again this weekend. The rare three times in a theater movie for me!
– The Pre New 52 Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) and Booster Gold are returning in the pages of “Justice League 3000” because sure why not.
– Fantagraphics is launching an imprint for their more off-kilter comics (as opposed to their totally straightforward ones, I guess?), and that imprint has a glorious name: FU Press. Because of course.
– Batgirl gets glorious in Cameron Stewart’s hilariously over-the-top variant cover to “Batgirl” #37.
