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.
§ 2000 AD announced Judge Dredd Megazine #500 will feature a story by American heavy metal band Anthrax, created in collaboration with writer John Reppion and artist Kieran McKeown. The double-sized story will introduce the Dark Judge (you guessed it) Anthrax, whose intentions Dredd must uncover. The 100-page comic will released in January, during the 50th anniversary celebrations for 2000 AD and Dredd (who was created by John Wagner and the late Carlos Ezquerra).
§ In Dynamite news, the publisher confirmed Ben 10 Vol 1: Event Arrival will be exclusive to comics retailers for three months. The book, reprinting the first five issues of this year’s series, will arrive in comics shops in hardcover and paperback on November 11. They also revealed a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer trading card set, based on the 1964 Rankin/Bass TV special, which will be available in time for the holidays from Walmart, Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and more.
§ Oni Press launched a Kickstarter for Afterlife with Archie: Mausoleum Edition, an oversized, black-and-white release for Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla‘s horror series. It will reprint the first six issues of the 2013 series, which saw Archie and the Riverdale gang get attacked by zombies. The Kickstarter will run until Friday, December 4, and has already exceeded its $5000 goal, with over $72,000 raised at the time of writing.
§ Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing received a profile in Men’s Health magazine, promoting the pair’s new horror series, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, and capitalizing on Clayface‘s release to discuss 2022’s Batman: One Bad Day: Clayface. The profile delves into mental health instead of physical health, discussing their friendship, its ups and downs, and more. You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive #1 available now, and their Dungeons & Dragons comic will launch at Dark Horse tomorrow.
Oh, did I mention I’m going to be a contestant on Jeopardy on Thursday, November 12th? Please won’t you watch and cheer me on?How to watch: www.jeopardy.com/watch (it streams on Hulu the following day)
§ant on Jeopardy!, on the episode airing Thursday, November 12. She’ll be the second comic book writer to compete on the show this year, after Tini Howard. Sturges’s next book, the YA graphic novel Heart of Fashion, will follow from Maverick on December 8
§ As the world continues to mourn the loss of Sir Patrick Stewart, The Guardian published a piece by Logan co-star Dafne Keen, reflecting on working with him as a child on the 2017 drama. “He had a way of making you feel included, listened to and respected, even when you were just a clueless 11-year-old finding your feet in the pressure-filled adult world of a film set,” says Keen, 21. Stewart passed away last week, following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia, aged 86.
§ Finally, actor John Leeson, who voiced the robotic dog K9 on Doctor Who and its spin-offs, died on Sunday, November 1, following a “summer of illness”. He was 83. Leeson, real name John Ducker, began voicing K9 in 1977, and reprised the role in audio dramas as recently as last year, as well as on The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007-10) and the character’s own show (2009-10). Other work included Rainbow, Blake’s 7, Crossroads, Dad’s Army, and ‘Allo ‘Allo! He is survived by his wife, and their son.
