Artist Ivan Reis has exited DC to sign with Ghost Machine. Marvel is renumbering Miles Morales’ title to #300. A dispute over the ownership of Invincible is heading to trial. All on Comic Book Club News for December 4, 2023.
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Episode Transcript:
Ivan Reis exits DC Comics.
Miles Morales hits issue #300.
Invincible ownership dispute headed to trial.
This is Comic Book Club News for December 4, 2023.
Ivan Reis Exits DC, Signs With Ghost Machine:
Back at New York Comic Con, Geoff Johns’s new comics co-op Ghost Machine promised at least one more top-name exclusive to the imprint. And now, they’re delivering, as artist Ivan Reis has signed with the start-up publisher.
In a statement provided to Comic Book Club News, the Ghost Machine creators had this to say. “Continuing our goal to have the most beautiful books on the stands, we at Ghost Machine are proud, privileged and honored to welcome modern-day master, Ivan Reis, to the family. Ivan was at the top of our list for the next creator to join us and we could not be more excited to have him as the newest creator and co-owner.”
Reis has worked for DC Comics for nearly two decades, drawing events like the Sinestro Corps War and Blackest Night… Both for Johns, which probably explains how he snagged that exclusive contract. He is currently working on the Titans: Best World event; presumably, after that, he’ll be off to Ghost Machine.
Reis will work with Johns on his first project, Hyde Street, which will launch Ghost Machine’s horror universe in January’s Ghost Machine #1. The all-new series is described via press release as, “Blackest Night’s fantastic scope with Twilight Zone’s thought-provoking drama.”
Other than the story in January’s one-shot, the exact debut date of Hyde Street is TBA. The Ghost Machine collective, who are all exclusive to the imprint, includes Johns, Jason Fabok, Gary Frank, Bryan Hitch, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, Brad Meltzer, Peter J. Tomasi, Maytal Zchut, and now Reis.
Marvel Renumbers Miles Morales To #300:
Miles Morales might feel like a relatively new addition to Marvel. But he actually took over the title role in Ultimate Spider-Man back in 2011. And as of Miles Morales: Spider-Man #18, the publisher is doing a little creative accounting to announce the character’s three-hundredth issue.
Said writer Cody Ziglar via press release: “To be completely honest it’s very surreal to be able to write Miles’ 300th issue. This is a character I’ve been following and rooting for, for almost 12 years now. There’s so much crammed into this issue and I’m forever grateful that I have been trusted to continue to carry the torch for Miles after Bendis and Ahmed.”
Debuting after the currently running Gang War storyline, the issue will pit Miles against Rabble, a character Marvel is positioning as his arch-enemy. Along for the ride against the villain are The Prowler, and Ms. Marvel. And on the artistic side, the issue will include a bevy of artists including Miles’s co-creator, Sara Pichelli.
You can pick up the issue in stores on March 27, 2024.
Invincible Ownership Dispute Headed To Trial:
A dispute over the ownership of Image Comics’ Invincible is heading to trial.
As reported by ICv2, the suit is between original colorist William Crabtree, who worked on the first fifty issues of the series; and writer Robert Kirkman. Though Crabtree was initially granted a 20% royalty on all sales, and claims he was given a 10% cut of all future media deals, Kirkman disputes that account.
The crux of the suit, though, is that in 2005, about two years into the run of the series, Crabtree signed a Certificate of Authorship stating Kirkman was the sole author of the book. Crabtree claims he was asked to sign because it would be more beneficial in negotiating with movie studios, and in 2022, he alleged he was tricked into signing.
A judge granted that Crabtree could not claim ownership of the property given the time elapsed; however, he is allowed to sue Kirkman for breach of an oral contract. The suit will go before a jury on February 20, 2024.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And I guess he’s vincible? Is that a word?
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