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.
– While it has been presumed for a long time now, it is now official: Iron Man 4 is in the works, and Robert Downey, Jr. is up for playing Tony Stark again. In addition, Downey would be up for guesting on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and offered some clarification for his “I want Mel Gibson to direct Iron Man 4” comments.
–Update: Well, this didn’t last long: despite otherwise confirming it, Robert Downey Jr. has changed the story and now remarks that there’s no plans for a fourth Iron Man film. Downey Jr. does confirm he still has plans to work with Marvel, but in the meantime — Robert, feel free to call us if Marvel is muscling in on you for spilling the beans. We’re here for you.
– Rich at Bleeding Cool has been, for months, claiming that Marvel has asked its creators not to create new X-book characters, as those characters would then be able to be used in the Fox-owned X-Men film universe, and Chris Claremont seems to have confirmed that position. It appears that, if a character is introduced elsewhere, they could appear in an X-book and still be considered solely a Marvel (and Marvel Studios) character. This is a little strange, however, as the two Bendis X-books (“Uncanny X-Men” and “All-New X-Men”) and Peter David’s “X-Factor” have introduced a number of new characters recently, with Bendis’ books currently revolving around two separate stories of powerful all-new mutants. Unless Bendis and David are just too big of a name to coral with such restrictions, it appears that this is not true for the entire X-line.
– The producers of The Flash claim that they are trying to produce the “most comic book show that has ever been made.” If the pilot is any indication, they have succeeded. Where they have also succeeded is by having the television Captain Cold resemble the version currently appearing in “Justice League,” at least visually.
– Dynamite has added some more images to their #AllHail teasers. Two of these images resemble Mandrake the Magician and the Phantom – perhaps the King Features titles will feature the sort of promotion and overhaul that the Gold Key books underwent last year. As a huge fan of “Flash Gordon” and “Kings Watch,” I’m all in.
– Could we be getting some Dr. Strange news at NYCC? Newsarama seems to think so.
– If you’re as stoked about “Punks: The Comic” coming back as we are, then you’ll definitely want to print out and play the “Punks” card game.
– And, finally, Bleeding Cool has put out their “Rumor Checklist” for NYCC. These are some pretty tame rumors, Rich. Can’t we get something crazier? Dan DiDio to leave DC to host a cooking show? Brian Bendis to write a Aunt May ongoing? Can’t we get something nutty?
