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.
Annapurna Moomins reveal image§ Annapurna Pictures will produce an animated Moomins movie, written and directed by Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar. It will mark the first American film to star the gentle Finnish trolls, who were created by novelist and comic strip creator Tove Jansson in 1945. Since then, the Moomins have starred in multiple novels, short stories, comics, TV shows, films, and video games, including a 1990s anime series. Roleff Kråkström, CEO of Moomin Characters, said, “We are thrilled to partner with the talented Rebecca Sugar as well as Annapurna for this milestone new film.” No release window was provided for the new movie.
§ Via Collider, Vault announced a second volume of Big Rig, Big Rig, Book 2: Damned, will be released in 2026. The first book in the supernatural adventure, created by Post Malone, Adrian Wassel, and Nathan Gooden, debuted earlier this year, and revolves around a truck sent from the heavens to help humanity stave off a demonic invasion. The second chapter sees the titular Big Rig, Trucker, Edda, and Batu move on “from Lucifer and the Princess of Hell,” but the “bloodshed is far from finished.”
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #5 cover by Patrick Horvath§ Via The Hollywood Reporter, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees creator Patrick Horvath revealed a third installment of the cuddly horror series is on the way. The anthropomorphic IDW comic, which follows a serial killer bear, began in 2023, and issue #4 (of 5) of the second volume, Rite of Spring, is set to release on November 12. Additionally, a tabletop RPG, card game, plushies, and other merchandise are in development, and several movie studios are circling the rights.
§ Via Cosmopolitan, VIZ Media revealed the Nana 25th Anniversary Edition will sport a variant cover, designed in collaboration with Vivienne Westwood. The cover, by creator Ai Yazawa, features the protagonists wearing clothes from the late fashion designer. Nana, a manga that ran from 2000 to 2009, follows the friendship between two similarly named young women pursuing fame and love after moving to Tokyo. The 25th anniversary edition will be released on October 30, while the Vivienne Westwood Edition will be available while stocks last at New York Comic Con, and then exclusively from Books-A-Million and Westwood boutiques.
Detail of the Nana 25th Anniversary Edition Vivienne Westwood Edition’s cover§ Image unveiled a line of 30 Youngblood crossover covers to celebrate the launch of Rob Liefeld‘s new series next month. Titles that’ll receive variant covers include The Walking Dead Deluxe #124, Assorted Crisis Events #6, Geiger #18, Spawn #370, and The Power Fantasy #13. The new Youngblood #1 drops November 5, and the books with the covers will be released from then until December 17.
§ Down the Tubes reports Panini are launching a monthly Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles magazine in the UK tomorrow, featuring original comics by John-Paul Bove (Transformers: Regeneration One), Ed Pirrie (Sonic the Hedgehog), and Kat Cardy (IDW’s TMNT releases). The series coincides with the IDW series based on the show (a Mutant Mayhem spin-off that was released on Paramount+ last year), which’ll begin on October 15. It is unknown if Panini’s comic will receive a US release.
§ Finally, in more Mutant Mayhem news, Variety had a first look at the upcoming short film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 — Lost in New Jersey. The official synopsis for the holiday-themed spin-off reads, “When a mysterious toy company exploits the turtles’ newfound fame, the brothers follow the clues to New Jersey, where they stumble upon a shocking discovery.” It will be attached to The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants when it releases in theaters on December 19. The untitled, feature-length Mutant Mayhem sequel will arrive afterwards on September 17, 2027.
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