Welcome to our new feature Comic News Roundup. We are giving you a run down of the news from comic book publishers and other pop culture news that was released throughout this week. We have news from NYCC/Metaverse, Archie Comics, Boom! Studios, Scout Comics, Valiant Entertainment, and Amazon Prime.
Archie Comics
South Side Serpents:
Archie Comics announced a new one-shot comic that comes out in January 2021. It is set in the world of Riverdale and stars Jughead Jones and the South Side Serpents biker gang.
From the press release:
“I’ve known David and Richard a long time and have wanted to work with both of them,” said Archie Comics Co-President Alex Segura. “David’s a pro — a journalist who’s written some great comics. Richard has a clean, memorable line and is an editor’s dream. So, when we knew we wanted to spotlight the South Side Serpents corner of the Riverdale universe, it made sense to pair them together. The end result is a dark, compelling, and unique take on some of fans’ favorite characters — plus plenty of surprises.”
Here is the cover and solicit:
RIVERDALE PRESENTS: SOUTH SIDE SERPENTS ONE-SHOT
FP Jones is worried for the future of the South Side Serpents. The biker gang is getting old and finding it hard to attract fresh blood. But FP has a plan, and it revolves around his son, Jughead. Hunted by the most fearsome biker gangs in the state, an unwilling Jughead has to step up into the role of leader to guide the Serpents on a perilous journey. There will be adventure, there will be thrills, there will be chases, and there will be death in this special one-shot event featuring fan-favorite characters from the CW Riverdale series.
Script: David Barnett
Art: Richard Ortiz, Matt Herms, Jack Morelli
Cover: Richard Ortiz
Variant Cover: Tyler Boss
On Sale Date: 1/27
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
New York Comic Con / Metaverse
This weekend is ReedPop‘s virtual New York Comic Con. As will all comic conventions this year NYCC is not an in person event. Metaverse is hosting the virtual experience that consists of live programming panels, artist alley “booth”. vendor kiosks, and lots of other cool stuff. There is content from the world of comics, anime, film/tv, as well as paid experiences and lots of exclusives. You can find all the fun stuff at https://www.findthemetaverse.com/.
A highlight is the 2020 Harvey Awards Ceremony tonight at 7:50PM EDT.
https://www.findthemetaverse.com/videos/_MW18JGRHko
There was some news that was released regarding a new project by Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore which is sponsored by the Travelers Insurance company. Simone broke the news of this heartwarming project that supports the campaign to reduce distracted driving on Twitter yesterday. Here is the thread to Gail’s storytime, but be warned you may need a tissue, or a box of them.
Okay, I am about to tell a bit of a story.
You’re going to want to be prepared for this, fair warning.
— Gail Simone (@GailSimone) October 8, 2020
Boom! Studios
Power Rangers:
Boom! Studios has announce a few new comics this week. They include a new graphic novel in the Hasbro licenced Power Rangers universe called Power Rangers: Sins of the Future.
From the press release:
“BOOM! Studios, under license by Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), today revealed a brand new look at the original graphic novel POWER RANGERS: SINS OF THE FUTURE, written by Matthew Erman (Bonding), with story by Trey Moore (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), illustrated by Giuseppe Cafaro (Saban’s Power Rangers: Soul of The Dragon), and lettered by Ed Dukeshire. This all-new graphic novel, available on October 28, 2020, features two of the most popular Rangers of all time and what happens to them after the events of the hit Power Rangers: Time Force television series!”
Lumberjanes:
The publisher also announced that animated series rights for hit comic series Lumberjanes has been secured by HBO Max. The animated show will be guided and adapted by creator Noelle Stevenson who also is the showrunner for the fantastic Netflix show She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.
From the press release:
“In a highly competitive bidding war, HBO Max has secured the rights to BOOM! Studios’ Eisner Award-winning graphic novels LUMBERJANES as an animated series, with SHE-RA AND THE PRINCESSES OF POWER creator and showrunner Noelle Stevenson set to adapt and executive produce. The streamer has given the show a script-to-series order and is set to launch the project with an hour-long special, to be written and directed by Stevenson.”
Origins:
Boom! Studios revealed the six-page preview of the new sci-fi series Origins which is coming in November 2020.
From the press release:
“The limited series by creators Arash Amel (A Private War), Joseph Oxford (Me + Her), and Lee Toland Krieger (The Age of Adaline), with acclaimed writer Clay McLeod Chapman (Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety), illustrator Jakub Rebelka (Judas), colorist Patricio Delpeche (Strange Skies Over East Berlin), and letterer Jim Campbell (Alienated) and producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones (Midnight Special, Outside the Wire), presents a stunning view of a future where humanity’s last hope may be the person who brought about its destruction, available in November 2020.”
Here is the preview:
The Last Witch:
The publisher announced a new young adult fantasy comic book limited series coming in January called The Last Witch. The creative team includes Connor McCreery (writer), V.V. Glass (artist), Natalia Nesterenko (colorist), and Jim Campbell (letterer).
From the press release:
“THE LAST WITCH is the perfect story for all the magical humans out there who are on the verge of discovering their destinies,” said Shannon Watters, Senior Editor, BOOM! Studios. “Vengeance, fantasy, and fate all combine in this exciting new adventure series, and we can’t wait for readers to catch a glimpse of the magic Conor, V.V., Natalia, and Jim are brewing!”
Scout Comics
Scout announced a couple of new series. The first is RedShift. The logline for the series is “With humanity struggling to survive on Mars an astronaut crosses into a distant solar system on a hunt for a new world.”
Writer HS Tak has this to say:
“Brent’s work on this book is honestly some the best work I’ve ever seen in comics and with their innovation, team, and guidance SCOUT coming on as our ‘HOUSTON’; there’s no better navigator. I also quickly want to thank Dr. Wesley Traub from the Exoplanet Exploration Program at NASA JPL talking me through this narrative. The men and women there never lost their wonder and that’s what I tried to capture in this saga.”
The second series is Volume, which will debut in 2021. It is a tale of rebellion and superpowered punks from Christof Bogacs and Skylar Patridge.
Editor Nadia Shammas said, “VOLUME is a story that encapsulates the way teen girls are silenced and undervalued, and the way their voices are louder than ever.”
Valiant Entertainment
Classic Collections:
Valiant announced that the are collecting the early adventures of their classic characters with a new line of digital releases called Valiant Classic Collections. The first is Archer & Armstrong: Revival which is available now, and the second is X-O Manowar: Retribution, which will be released on December 9, 2020.
ARCHER & ARMSTRONG: REVIVAL is on sale now at Comixology, DriveThru Comics, Amazon Kindle, and Google Play.
X-O MANOWAR: RETRIBUTION will release on December 9th, 2020, and is currently available to pre-order on ComiXology, Amazon Kindle, and Google Play.
The Harbinger:
Valiant also announced a new series that aims to revitalize the character Harbinger. It will launch next summer.
From the press release:
“Ahead of the feature film that’s in development at Paramount, Valiant Entertainment is incredibly proud to reveal the vivid new direction that will kick off next summer with THE HARBINGER #1. Co-written by JACKSON LANZING and COLLIN KELLY (Green Arrow, Gotham City Garage) and featuring art by ROBBI RODRIGUEZ (Spider-Gwen, Batgirl), the upcoming series introduces new readers to Peter Stanchek, the most powerful telepath on the planet, and the sole being capable of activating powers in others like him. THE HARBINGER will trace Peter’s path from the most feared man in the world to one of its greatest protectors. This character-driven journey will introduce new allies, new villains, new costumes, and a new meaning for the title of Harbinger.”
Amazon Prime
The long-running hit Image Comics series Invincible has been in development for an animated series at Amazon for a while now. Over the summer, there was some still character art revealed, but this week the first trailer for the 2021 new series was release. Check it out below.