Welcome back to The Beat Digest, a twice-weekly round-up of the biggest comics-related news stories we’ve missed every Tuesday and Friday. Is there a story out there you think we should cover? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
§ FX and Hulu released the main trailer for The Beauty, Ryan Murphy & Matt Hodgson‘s sci-fi body horror series, based on the comic by Jeremy Haun & Jason A. Hurley. The network also released a commercial featuring Ashton Kutcher in-character as “the Corporation,” advertising the eponymous drug at the center of the show.
The series premieres with three (of 11) episodes on Wednesday, January 21, at 9pm ET. The penultimate two episodes will be released together on February 25, and the final two will air on March 4.
§ Via The Hollywood Reporter, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will no longer be released in theaters, and instead go straight to Paramount+. The film continuation of the original show was set to hit theaters on October 9. Additionally, it was revealed Taika Waititi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Peta Sergeant, Freida Pinto, and Ke Huy Quan have joined the cast, alongside returning Appa and Momo voice actor Dee Bradley Baker.
Speaking of Paramount+, Variety reports the series finale of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will feature Thomas Jane as Dr. McCoy, and newcomer Kai Murakami as Sulu. Neither character from the original series had appeared on the prequel show yet. The fifth and final season of Strange New Worlds has wrapped production, while the fourth will be released on the streamer sometime later this year.
§ Alien Books will release Tarzan Beyond, a series created in collaboration with Edgar Rice Burroughs‘s estate sometime this year. Written by Steve Orlando, with art by Renato Guedes, it will follow an older Lord of Apes and Jane, as they come into conflict with the pirate Blackbeard.
§ Dark Horse revealed a new, four-part Groo series by Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, Groo: The Prophecy, kicking off April 1. The book sees Groo and Rufferto visit “the realm of the high priestess Syblia, who has visions of catastrophe after catastrophe hitting her village… and none of them, oddly enough, is that Groo will be there!”
§ Marvel launched Strange Tails Infinity Comic, an Unlimited exclusive starring Scarlet Witch by Preeti Chhibber and Bailie Rosenlund. The book sees Wanda befriend various cute critters who come searching for her aid, like Bats the Ghost Dog and Hellcow. Three chapters are currently available at the time of writing.
§ Via his newsletter, Cavan Scott revealed Godfather of Hell will be released as a graphic novel on August 25. The first issue of the supernatural crime series, created with Pius Bak, was published by Vault in October 2024, before Diamond’s bankruptcy caused the next issues to be canceled. Scott states the move to an OGN format provides an “even better” release for the book.
§ Via IGN, Oni Press announced Cult of the Lamb: Last Sacrament Special, a one-shot by Alex Paknadel and Troy Little coming March 4. It marks the third comic from Oni based on the game, following 2024’s The First Verse, and this year’s Schism Special (also created by Paknadel and Little.)
§ At Portland Tribune, IDW revealed Godzilla vs. America: Portland, a new entry in the series of one-shots, out March 11. It’ll feature contributions from local talent like Mark Russell, Caitlin Yarsky, Eryk Donovan, Colleen Coover, and Cat Farris.
§ Finally, the nominations for the 53rd annual Annie Awards, honoring the year’s best animation, were announced. KPop Demon Hunters and Elio led with ten nominations each, while Asterix and Obelix: The Big Fight was nominated for five, and Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical were shortlisted for three. Other nominees included Marvel Zombies (with two), Star Wars: Visions (also two), Invincible, Eyes of Wakanda, Superman, Captain America: Brave New World, Dog Man, and Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc. The winners will be revealed on Saturday, February 21.
Thanks for picking up on the GODFATHER OF HELL news! We’re really excited and Pius’ pages are off the scale! This is going to be really special.