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.
§ In Kickstarter news, Becky Cloonan is planning to launch Fever Dream: A Cursed Comic Book. Described as “exist[ing] in the liminal space between an art book and graphic novel,” the book features 116 pages of sequential art, sketches and illustrations from an abandoned project of Cloonan’s, which appears to be the erotic tale of a skinchanging warlord and a washerwoman. You can sign up to be notified of when it launches at the link.
Meanwhile, Kyle Starks has launched Louise Sprouse Stole My Heart, a “coming-of-age hitman comic with tons of heart and over-the-top graphic violence.” The book follows an assassin on the run with a precious diamond, who is reunited with his childhood sweetheart after going to hide at the motel where they spent many summers together. The crowdfunder has already surpassed its $12,000 goal ahead of its closing date on October 1.
§ McDonald’s will launch SpongeBob SquarePants x One Piece Happy Meal toys in the United States on Tuesday, September 15. The watery crossover coincides with the LEGO One Piece special releasing on Netflix on September 29, and features 15 toys of SpongeBob characters dressed as One Piece ones, complete with their own little ships. Incidentally, SpongeBob and the One Piece anime both premiered in 1999. In the meantime, Burger King’s Dragon Ball Super menu is available now.
§ Speaking of Nickelodeon cartoons, Animation Magazine shares Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 3, and in a 4K Ultra HD steelbook on February 9. The animated film continuation of the original show was released to critical acclaim on Paramount+ in July, and received a very limited theatrical engagement to qualify for an awards run later this year. An artbook will arrive between the physical releases on November 10.
§ Ahead of Batman Day on Saturday, September 19, Epic Games has launched Knight Shift, a Caped Crusader-themed event for LEGO Fortnite Odyssey. The free update involves Batman villains stealing parts of Gotham City, and hiding them throughout the game mode’s main map. For more details, head to Brick Fanatics.
§ The launch trailer for Insomniac’s Wolverine dropped during Sony’s latest State of Play. The game was also the subject of a CBC story about the use of the Squamish language in its Canadian locales, complete with comments from senior art director (and Vancouver resident) Gavin Goulden. Wolverine releases exclusively (digitally and physically) on the PlayStation 5 on September 15.
§ Finally, Supergirl will be added to HBO Max on Thursday, September 10, before airing on HBO itself two days later. It will be available to watch with ASL. The film, which proved to be a critical and box office disappointment earlier this year, is out now digitally, and will be released on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD beforehand on Sep. 8. In the meantime, episode four of the latest DCU project, Lanterns, will premiere on HBO on Sunday, Sep. 6.
