Sending good morning vibes your way! It’s another installment from your Friendly Neighbourhood Previously Editor. Last week was nothing short of heavy. Independent political cartoons and comics publisher The Nib announced that they would be closing down. Their final issue, the Future issue, will be their last. They will continue to publish every weekday till August 2023. The Nib has been the launchpad of many a comics career and this will be a loss felt across the industry.
In other comics-related news, Kickstarter got a new Head of Outreach for Comics, Bryce Gold, current publisher and editor of Pyrite Press and formerly of Comixology Originals.
If you’re a comics nerd, you might know that not so long ago, Diamond Comic Distributors had exclusive rights to distribute DC, Marvel, Image Comics, among many others. While DC and Marvel split from Diamond in 2020, Image Comics has now partnered with Lunar Distribution to distribute their single issues direct to market. Things are certainly changing in the comics landscape.
For comics fans in the UK, the Thought Bubble Festival has announced a bunch of guests. The Festival will be held on November 11 and 12, 2023 at the Harrogate Convention Center.
Time for another batch of incredible guests! Each guest will be at our Comic Convention 2023 at Harrogate Convention Centre, alongside 400+ comic creating exhibitors 😍
Find out more: https://t.co/0W6cW24yZW
And get your tickets: https://t.co/hiqK4mNiXz pic.twitter.com/j8R8DUAk3B— Thought Bubble Festival (@ThoughtBubbleUK) May 25, 2023
There was more sad entertainment news last week with the announcement that actor Ray Stevenson had died suddenly at the age of 58. Stevenson appeared in numerous projects, including the first three Thor films, Rome, The Three Musketeers, RRR, and the upcoming Ahsoka series.
In slightly more upbeat news, the series adaptation of Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese arrived on Disney+ last week. If the much-deserved success of Everything Everywhere All At Once warmed the cockles of your heart, this show might be up your alley. A number of cast members from EEAAO make an appearance, including Oscar winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, and Stephanie Hsu, who really should’ve been an Oscar winner IMHO.
American Born Chinese the television show is out TODAY on @DisneyPlus! pic.twitter.com/OQdvgiZrTq
— Gene Luen Yang (@geneluenyang) May 24, 2023
In more adaptation news, Sam Bousma’s Fantasy Sports graphic novel could be headed to Disney+ very soon. The Disney Television Animation team and LeBron James’ production studio, SpringHill Company, are working on the adaptation.
EXCLUSIVE: Fantasy Sports By The Owl House Alumni @sbosma Being Developed As Animated Series By @DisneyTVA & SpringHill Company For @DisneyPlus.
Wiz and Mug are going to do sports magic at the happiest place on earth via @PenguinRandomhttps://t.co/ZEy0bV373W#FantasySports pic.twitter.com/G1Oghh5mL6
— Disney TV Animation News (@DisneyTVANews) May 24, 2023
And another adaptation came to an end. The CW’s The Flash ended after nine seasons, effectively bringing the Arrowverse, or CWVerse, to an end. Following the success of Arrow, The Flash became the first spin-off, spawning the Arrowverse. A bunch of other spin-off shows followed including my personal favourites Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman, the last two of which were unceremoniously cancelled. Technically, Superman and Lois is still part of the universe but their fate is yet to be decided.
Deciding to steal the ring was easy. Deciding when to end #TheFlash? Not so much. When Grant Gustin ended @CW_TheFlash after nine seasons, he unintentionally ended the #Arrowverse with it. Gustin unpacks his decision: https://t.co/Gx5tvZfyXY Story by @SydneyBucksbaum pic.twitter.com/7o8XKXaPBH
— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) May 18, 2023
I can’t end this round-up without mentioning all the discourse around the Eisner Awards and one Thomas Woodruff. If you haven’t already read Joan Zahra Dark’s incredible article, do check it out on WWAC here. Woodruff has now withdrawn his name from consideration and has asked the Eisner Awards to remove his nominations.
The sun’s been shining where I live and I’m trying to get the rays when I can. But the world is still stressful and very scary for many people. Keep yourself safe, reach out to those you care about, take a break when you need it. I’ll try and heed my own advice.