Comics Lowdown: Chinese government upset by Danish coronavirus cartoon

Plus: Changes at Kodansha, Cullen Bunn goes ‘Rogue’ and whatever happened to Lion Man?

Editorial Cartoons: A cartoon in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, depicting the Chinese flag with the stars replaced by coronaviruses, has, predictably, angered the Chinese government. (Jyllands-Posten is the same paper whose cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad caused an uproar in 2005.) The Chinese Embassy in Copenhagen has demanded an apology, but Jyllands-Posten editor Jacob Nybroe has refused, and the Danish prime minister is backing him up.

The Biz: Restructuring at Kodansha USA means a promotion for Alvin Lu, previously the general manager of Kodansha Advance Media. Publishers Weekly reports that Kodansha’s subsidiaries, including its digital arm Kodansha Advanced Media and the manga and novel publisher Vertical Inc., will be folded into Kodansha USA. Lu will be the CEO, and Ivan Salazar, former public relations and events specialist at ComiXology, has been hired as senior marketing director.

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Mail Call | Archaia to adapt Roxane Gay story

Plus: a new Shonen Jump series, Skybound’s ‘Fire Power’ plans and a new ‘Clone Wars’ series at IDW.

BOOM! Studios announced a new graphic novel, The Sacrifice of Darkness, based on Gay’s short story “The Sacrifice of Darkness.” In addition to Gay, the creative team includes writer Tracy Lynne Oliver, artist Rebecca Kirby, and colorist James Fenner, and the pub date is October 2020.

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Mail Call | Off and Running

News from Random House, BOOM! Studios, IDW and more.

Mail Call is a roundup of the announcements we received from publishers in our mailboxes recently. Hit the links for more information.

Congratulations to Random House Graphic, which officially launched this week! RH Graphic is a new line of graphic novels for young readers, spearheaded by Gina Gagliano, former marketing director for First Second.

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Transformers collide with the Terminator next March

Robots in disguise collide with robots in disguise in the four-issue miniseries.

The battle of the ‘bots kicks off in earnest next year as the Transformers collide with The Terminator, courtesy of IDW Publishing and Dark Horse Comics, who hold the respective comics licenses for the two properties.

The four-issue miniseries will be written by David Mariotte, Tom Waltz and John Barber, with art by Alex Milne.

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Jennika, the fifth Turtle, gets a miniseries next year

‘Guerillas’ creator Brahm Revel will write and draw the miniseries.

The newest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle is getting her own miniseries, courtesy of Guerillas creator Brahm Revel. IDW announced a three-issue miniseries starring Jennika will kick off next year.

“Jennika has always been a fascinating character, and her story is now moving in directions none of us could have ever anticipated,” Revel said in a press release. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to revisit Jenn’s past and explore how she’s been handling the recent changes in her life, all while being tested by a world that’s changing just as rapidly as she is.”

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Layman, Bradshaw team on ‘Bermuda’ from IDW

New series due out next year, featuring dinosaurs, pirates and more.

Chew scribe John Layman is teaming up with Wolverine and the X-Men artist Nick Bradshaw for a new creator-owned title called Bermuda. The series will be published by IDW in 2020.

Bermuda is a story that’s been rattling around in my head for a while, and the type of book I’ve wanted to write for quite some time: high adventure with a jungle hero in a strange, savage land filled with all kinds of dangers and a world that’s both weird and wonderful,” Layman said. “In addition to Chew, my absolute favorite books I’ve ever done have been with IDW – Scarface, Godzilla and Mars Attacks – so I’m hoping lightning strikes a fourth time with Bermuda!”

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See you in the funny papers: Sunday Press joins IDW

Sunday Press, the publisher of such classic newspaper comics as Krazy Kat and Little Nemo in Slumberland, is now a part of IDW.

Here’s another of the cascade of announcements coming from Comic-Con International: IDW has acquired the small publisher Sunday Press, which specializes in high-quality collections of old newspaper strips. How high is the quality? Sunday Press has racked up 17 Eisner nominations, that’s how high (including this year’s nomination for their Thimble Theatre and the Pre-Popeye Comics of E. C. Segar).

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IDW returns to ‘Vader’s Castle’ for more spooky Star Wars

Cavan Scott and six artists put the spotlight on Star Wars villains this October.

IDW Publishing is heading back to the castle for more chilling Star Wars tales featuring some of the galaxy’s best villains.

Star Wars Adventures: Return to Vader’s Castle is a five-part series that will run in October, featuring writer Cavan Scott and six different artists.

“I am over the moon to be returning to Vader’s Castle for another helping of Halloween horror from a galaxy, far, far away. And what better way to celebrate the scariest time of the year than by focusing on the villains of the Star Wars saga?” says Scott. “The response to our last visit to Mustafar was phenomenal, and I hope fans will join us once again, embracing the dark side in the company of Sith, warlords, and crazed Imperial scientists.”

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‘Star Trek: Voyager’ heads into the Mirror Universe in new one-shot

IDW Publishing will visit the dark side of Star Trek in three upcoming one-shots.

Captain Janeway and the crew of the Voyager are heading into the Mirror Universe in a new one-shot from IDW Publishing. Star Trek: Voyager: Mirrors and Smoke will introduce us to Pirate Queen Janeway in the twisted alternate universe that the Mirror Universe provides.

IDW has beamed up Paul Allor and J.K. Woodward to serve as the creative team.

“As a child, Star Trek taught me about the power of exploration, the value of kindness and empathy, and the triumph of intelligence and logic over violence and anger… and now, I am so excited to throw all of those values out the window and tell the story of the Mirror Universe Voyager crew pillaging and plundering its way across the far reaches of space!” Allor said.

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IDW to publish ‘The Addams Family’ one-shot ahead of the movie

Zoë Quinn and Philip Murphy bring Charles Addams’ creations to the comic page this fall.

The Addams Family, the charmingly creepy family created by Charles Addams in 1938, will return to comics in October courtesy of Zoë Quinn and Philip Murphy.

Timed for release with a CGI movie, The Addams Family: The Bodies Issue features Wednesday Addams attempting to achieve ultimate power by following the “dark rituals” hidden within Eleventeen magazine.

“As a goth who fell in love with The Addams Family at a young age, it’s a dream come true to write for the iconic, loving family of oddballs,” said Quinn. “As a comics creator, I’ve really enjoyed being able to play with visual gags and write the most fun dialogue I’ve ever created, too.”

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IDW brings Mahnke’s ‘Lore’ podcast to comics

‘Wellington’ from IDW Publishing will explore the stories discussed on the podcast.

Aaron Mahnke’s Lore podcast has spawned books and an Amazon series, and starting in December he’s making the jump to comics. Mahnke will collaborate with co-writer Delilah S. Dawson, artist Piotr Kowalski and colorist Brad Simpson on Wellington.

“History and folklore are deep wells, and they are honestly a fiction writer’s dream come true,” said Mahnke. “With an amazing cast of characters just waiting to be called upon, and centuries of belief in the supernatural setting the stage, I’m excited to share these powerful stories in a brand-new way!”

The comic will delve “even deeper into Lore’s dark side of history.” It will introduce the Duke of Wellington, who investigates the mysteries and monsters discussed on the podcast.

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IDW Publishing to adapt Kings’ ‘Sleeping Beauties’

Stephen King and Owen King’s novel about a world without women will be adapted by Rio Youers and Alison Sampson.

Rio Youers and Alison Sampson are bringing Sleeping Beauties, the 2017 novel by Stephen King and Owen King, to comics.

“We are so excited about Rio and Alison’s vision for Sleeping Beauties,” says Owen King, who is Stephen’s son. “We’ve been fans of Rio’s for years and Alison’s artwork is simply extraordinary. IDW couldn’t have found a better pairing.”

The novel is about a strange mystical occurrence that puts all women to sleep, leaving men to fend for themselves.

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