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.
– Well, we still have Will Smith: it appears that Tom Hardy, due to a scheduling conflict, has backed out of Suicide Squad. If reports are to be believed, it appears that Jake Gyllenhaal has been offered the role of Rick Flagg. While Gyllenhaal is a fine actor, this is a major blow to the film, before production has even begun.
– While doing press in China, the Russo Brothers have confirmed a few characters appearing in Captain America: Civil War, specifically that Black Widow would have a major role in the film, as well as Bucky Barnes, in addition to the already announced Falcon, Black Panther, and Iron Man.
– Fans of comics of all kinds, take note: “Shonen Jump,” the weekly manga series, is celebrating its third anniversary as a digital entity by making available its next four issues for free, as well as offering a year’s subscription (a minimum of 48 issues) for only $19.99. At approximately 200 pages a week, this is the best deal in all of comics. Give it a chance, folks.
– The Flash has cast the ‘new’ Trickster, to go along with Mark Hamill’s imprisoned Trickster. Devon Graye, best known as a cast member on Dexter, will be playing Axel Walker, the second Trickster, in the 17th episode.
– In other TV casting news, The Walking Dead has also cast a new character: Ross Marquand has been cast in an unspecified role, but he is rumored to be playing Aaron, one of the more prominent openly gay characters in comics.
– Jason Aaron has announced plans to write an issue of “Thor” completely from the perspective of the recently revealed to be sentient Mjolnir. That sounds like a wacky idea, but in Aaron I trust.
– In what is a long gestating joke, Marvel is poking fun at DC’s aborted “WTF Certified” month from April 2013 with their “WTD Certified” month. My best guess is the “D” is for Deadpool, but we’ll see.
– kaBOOM! will be publishing a new Adventure Time OGN, “Graybles Schmaybles,” come April.
– In what is become a pretty serious trend, Marvel has joined the ranks of the publishers offering $1 special first issue reprints. The first few “True Believers” issues feature titles like “Marvel Zombies,” “The Infinity Gauntlet,” and “Civil War,” among others.
– The first preview images of “Descender,” the new Lemire/Nguyen joint, have emerged. Good lord.
– And, finally, your dreams have finally come true: whether you wanted a Shame from Batman ’66 action figure, or a young Uncle Ben from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man action figure, it is now a reality!
