Readers Fighting Back Against AI—Plus More Comics News
Welcome to the last digest edition for November! Let’s take a look at what’s been going on this past month.
News From DC and Marvel
- Let’s get the unpleasant news out of the way first: Jeremy Renner is facing ugly allegations, including sexual harassment, from director Yi Zhou. Renner’s lawyer has denied everything and made counter-allegations, but it’s worth noting that this is not the first time he has been accused of mistreating women.
- A copy of Superman #1 sold at auction for a record-breaking $9.12 million after sitting around in someone’s attic for decades. Sure wish my attic was that interesting.
- In an extremely timely announcement, a TV version of V for Vendetta is in the works.
- You can now stream the Lakota dub of The Avengers on Disney+. Here’s a fascinating interview with the folks who made it all possible!
- If you subscribe to DC Universe Infinite and Marvel Unlimited, you now have access to two special crossover comics: Flash/Fantastic Four and Thor/Shazam.
- Who doesn’t want more talking gorillas? The upcoming show DC Crime will focus on Gorilla Grodd…oh yeah, and Jimmy Olsen too, as Skyler Gisondo reprises his role from Superman.
News From the Wider Comics World
- Louis Small Jr., a comic book artist best known for his appropriately cheesecake-y work on Vampirella, passed away on November 18.
- We’ll be seeing several new cast members join Netflix’s One Piece next season, including Cole Escola as Bon Clay and the Blue Beetle, Xolo Maridueña, as Portgas D. Ace.
- Webtoon platforms are increasingly embracing AI to localize and translate content — and, as Comics Beat reports, readers are not having it.
- TMNT fans got a lot of news recently, with Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the film The Last Ronin both being cancelled and a new live-action film being announced.
- Everyone, say hi to Kodansha Studios! This film studio is owned and operated by manga publisher Kodansha, which apparently wants to try its hand at adapting some of its own properties.
- Speaking of Kodansha, Forbes interviewed the president and CEO of Kodansha USA about the growing (but, compared to Japan, still sluggish) popularity of manga in North America, as well as how the company plans to capitalize on and expand that growth.
- Say what you want about Riverdale, but Lili Reinhart, the former Betty Cooper, has nothing but appreciation for the show that built her career.
- Classic sci-fi hero Dan Dare is getting a new series of graphic novels, and you can help fund it by joining the Kickstarter!
- As Jess Plummer recently covered, the bankruptcy of comics distributor Diamond has left the industry in disarray, but publishers like Diamond are finally finding ways to move forward with new distribution partners.
