May The Fourth Be Your Umbrella

We run through the week’s biggest geek headlines, from DC’s animated Superman comeback to Marvel’s next event and the business moves reshaping how fans watch, play, and collect. We also pause to honor two major creators whose work helped define modern movies and comics. 

• My Adventures with Superman season 3 return date plus why the hiatus happened 
• Reign of the Supermen inspiration and the “what’s Superman” premise 
• Cyborg Superman and a new spin on Superboy plus Lex Luthor’s role 
• Jessica Cruz Green Lantern appearance and the push to support a season 4 renewal 
• Clayface: Celebrity Dirt announcement and its body-horror noir focus on fame and identity 
• Marvel’s DNX event details with X-Men and Fantastic Four facing a forced-transformation plague 
• Blind bag and variant cover collector strategy tied to the DNX rollout 
• Evangeline Lilly’s reaction to Disney layoffs and concerns about AI replacing concept artists 
• Disney and Epic expanding Star Wars experiences in Fortnite for creator-built stories 
• Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew shifting dates and getting a wide theatrical window 
• GameStop’s reported $56B bid for eBay and why it raises red flags 
• Steve Maslow’s career highlights and his impact on film sound 
• Jerry Conway’s legacy across Spider-Man plus the Punisher and more 

Now please be sure to check us out on social media. We're on Blue Sky at Multiverse Tom Threads, Facebook, and Instagram at Multiverse Tonight. If you've gotten some value out of the show and would like to pay it back, please head on over to multiverstonight.com, where you can find our Patreon and Kofi links. Check our show notes, visit our Tea Public store, leave some feedback, and so much more. And if this is your first time listening, thank you. Welcome. Go ahead and hit that subscribe button. Share us with others. Go ahead. I dare you.

Transcript

Cold Open And Welcome

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Tonight, Jack Quaid returns as Clark Kent. Marvel deals with a mutational disease. The return to Narnia has a date. Every member of Steve Maslow and uh legendary comic creator Jerry Conway. All then more on this edition of Multiverse Tonight. Welcome to Multiverse Tonight, your source for Geek News. We dissect films, games, comics, and much more, bringing you entitled commentary on Pop Hom. This is Multiverse Tonight. Now here's your host, Thomas Townley. Well, hello and welcome to episode 264 of Multiverse Tonight, recorded on May the 4th, 2026. May the 4th be with you. I'm, of course, your host, Thomas Townley. And uh, well, it's a wonderful spring day. You know, very nice. It'd be nice if we had you know consistent rain. And that's the biggest problem we have right now. But other than that, things are going pretty well. Uh, let's get on with the DC Comics News. And DC Comics News begins after nearly a two-year hiatus with the animated DC series My Adventures with Superman, starring Jack Quiz Clark Kent, which has officially reset to been set to return. Showrunner Jack Wyatt explained that the delay was due to the lengthy animation process, coupled with a wait and see period following the Warner Brothers Discovery merger after the first season aired. Wyatt clarified that the studio was always supportive, but production required the stars and the bank accounts to align. Now, My Adventures with Superman season three will premiere on Saturday, June 13th at midnight Eastern and Pacific during Adult Swim's Tsunami at Action Block, with the episode streaming on HBO Max the following day. Chuck Quaid thanked fans for their patience and teased that the new season is, quote, really funny, but the stakes are also much higher. It looks like they're going to be doing Rain of the Superman. Wyatt confirmed that the major comic book inspiration for the new season is the Reign of the Superman arc. This classic 1993 story followed the death of the original Superman of Steel, with multiple figures popping up to be claimed to be the original article. Now, Wyatt stressed, the show is not a retread, but uses the premise to ask, what's Superman? The season will feature imposters who share Superman's powers but have different values. The season kicks off with Clark Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Supergirl navigating the aftermath of the Brainiac saga. Clark seeks to settle down with Lois, who is concerned about losing her star reporter status. Meanwhile, Supergirl modeling herself after Clark is looking for an Earthmate and has her sights set on Jimmy, who has become a celebrity journalist. It's during this period of change that the alternate Superman arrive. Now there will be, of course, the Cyborg Superman, who was established at the end of season two as an anti-alien aircraft, astronaut whose aircraft was shot down, will be featured right out of the gate. Superboy. This will be a different spin on the leatherclad hero from the 90s. He is adjusted to being more relevant to the main characters and will, quote, embody the tension between hope in the present and fear in the future. Of course, Lex Luthor will be a huge part of the story embodying the concept of fear and driving the action. John Henry, John Henry Irons, aka Steele, will return, but more be more or less involved as he is less of a foil to Superman than the season one in the season. Green Lantern will also show up with Jessica Cruz playing the role, which is uh the with the part of the spin-off that's actively in development. White noted that while the Superman show is inspired by Dragon Ball Z, the Green Lantern show draws influence from a very different part of the same Toonami block. Regarding the show's future, season four of Mind Adventures with Superman is not technically renewed. White encourages fans to watch the show on Adult Swim, Tunami, and HBO Max to help secure that fourth season. And we'll see after Paramount gets their grubby little claws into it. DC announced Clayface Celebrity Dirt, a new Batman Universe Noir horror comic book miniseries starring Basil Carlo in a twisted tale of fame, transformation, and self-destruction. The six-issue series follows the classic Batman villain as he escapes Arkham Towers ready to stage his comeback, only to discover that someone else has stolen his name, his face, and his lost-long, lifelong lost stardom. Acclaimed horror writer Judd Elson S. Doyle teams with artist Fran Galan, colorist Patricio Del Picci, and literary Tom Napolitano on Clayface Celebrity Dirt for a story that balances body horror, the studio spotlight, and Gotham City Noir. Galan's expressive and unsettling artwork brings Clayface's shape-shifting terror to life, while Doyle explores the fractured psychology of a villain who struggles to become anyone but still struggles to face himself. Clayface Celebrity Dirt blends psychological suspense, body horror, and dark satire into a story only but Basil Carlo could star in: a cinematic nightmare where neon flame curdles even the most carefully sculpted facade. Clayface Clippery Dirt digs into the legacy of the clayfaces and the long shadow of Basil Carlo as cast over the DC universe. As Basil confronts a doppelganger who has achieved everything he ever wanted, the series examines fame for self-reinvention and the price of trying to control the way the world sees you. Doyle explained, quote, Basil Carlo, Basilcarlo, is one of the most beautifully flawed and human characters in the Batman universe. He can become anyone he wants, but he can never escape himself. He looks perfect when the cameras are on him, but he's a disintegrating mess behind the scenes, unquote. Clayface Celebrity Dirt No. 1 features a main cover by Fran Gallan, or the variant covers by Mike Del Mundu and Dave Johnson, Patricio Del Pesci colors the series. This is a 32-page debut issue arriving July 8th, 2026. Priced at$3.99 for the main cover,$4.99 for the cardstock variants. And for readers who crave horror with theatrical flair, this is Clayface as You've Never Seen Him Before, a tale where glamour fractures, monstrosity sparks, and every spotlight casts a darker shadow. I love dark shadows. Different dark shadows. Anyway, let's go on to the Marvel News. This September, the Marvel Universe braces for a seismic shift as the X-Men and the Fantastic Four forge a desperate alliance against a threat that defies their combined intellect and power. DNX, a new five-issue event series from writer Jed McKay and artist Frederico Vicinti, chronicles a nightmare scenario where the White Beast, a misguided Machiavellian Yank McCoy, and his villainous 3K Cabal prepare to unleash a viral plague designed to forcibly transform humanity into a clay warped for reflection of mutant kind. The long-seated plan, a central pillar of McKay's run, hits with repercussions that upset the very balance between human and mutant. The series explores the duality of evolution, a vision of a shared future that curdles into a visceral unsettling horror. Through Vicenti's expressive kinetic artwork, the story pulls between the high-stake terrorism of the Marvel spotlight and the dark psychological shadows of McCoy's betrayal. The conflict centers on two errors of Xavier's dreams, each driven by a different vision for their people. Having witnessed the grim age of revelation, Cyclops and the chairman have returned with conflicting missions. One to prevent dark future, the other to own it. As the X-Men seek the Fantastic Four's aid to save their own, the white beast begins a countdown to infection that threatens to reshape the world in his roman image. According to McKay, quote, DNX is the next big milestone of our run. It's about the impact of a dark future on the present. The collision course between the X-Men and 3K has been set since issue one and the Fantastic Four joining the frayed. The transformation will be dramatic. These sealed editions offer a cinematic surprise for collectors containing artwork not available through regular ordering. And probably even even worth more if you never open the bag. Think about it. Regular variants revealed today include Vicenti's Connecting Covers, A Hidden Gem piece by the legendary Jim Lee, A Terrifying Vision of Magic by Joong Lee, Art German's Spotlight on Temper, and Ken Lashley's Team Up piece will be found exclusively within the blind bags. These visuals ground the story in the war shadows while pushing the characters into a bold new territory. Of course, uh the first part of the story was available on uh free comic book day, which was uh two days ago. So go run by your local comic book store and see if they still have Armageddon X-Men number one for you. Next up, uh Ant-Man star Evangeline Lilly is speaking out against the recent wave of Disney layoffs that have decimated the ranks of Marvel Studios. The upheaval began on April 14th when CEO Josh DeMara issued a memo signaling deep cuts across the company. Sources familiar with the situation told the Hollywood reporter that approximately a thousand positions were eliminated. Marvel Studios was hit particularly hard, losing key members of its visual development team, including 16-year veteran Andy Park, a figure beloved by the fan community for his foundational work on the MCU. In an emotional Instagram video posted Wednesday, Lily shared that she contacted Park directly after hearing the reports. Quote, I reached out to my good friend Andy Park, who was the genius behind creating the original Wasp supersuit and the original Wasp concept drawings for the film Ant-Man and the Wasp, and just said, Is this true? Is this really what's happening? She explained. And he said, Yeah, it's true. I've been let go. And I can't quite believe that Disney has let go of the artists who brought the Marvel Universe to life through their imagination and their genius, unquote. Ark's tenure with Marvel spanned nearly two decades, beginning with 2011's Captain America, the first Avenger, and Thor, as R Street helped define the studio's biggest milestones from Avengers Endgame to the upcoming Avengers Doomsday. Lily expressed shock at the prospect of those creative pioneers being sidelined in favor of emerging technology. Quote, I am stunned that the people who invented these characters, who designed them in the first place, are now being replaced by AI. Although Lily stated, though it remains unconfirmed if Disney intends to use artificial intelligence for feature visual development, the Hollywood reporter reached out to Marvel Studios for comments, but these two did not respond in time for publication. Marvel Lily further criticized the shift towards automation, describing it as, quote, AI that will take their designs and take what those artists created and use it to create iterations of that, unquote. In her caption, the artists directly called out Marvel Studios, tagging Disney's official account, quote, shame on you for turning your back on the people who built the power you are using to throw them away. She wrote, grounding her frustration in the tension between corporate profit and artistic integrity. Quote, where are the laws that remove all human art by from the AI bank? Why do they get to steal our billions and use it to make executives rich while the artists responsible for feeding their robots go hungry? Disgusting. Lily continued, appealing to California lawmakers to intervene in what she described as a theft of creative brilliance. Now let's go on to the Star Tro Star Wars news. Roger, Roger. Star Wars news begins with the Walt Disney and Epic Games intensifying their Fortnite collaboration with a massive influx of Star Wars content, debuting a series of innovative experiences designed to bridge the gap between digital play and the upcoming cinematic return of the Mandalorian and Grogu. While the Force has been a frequent guest in Fortnite through seasonal events, this list expansion represents a foundational shift, providing developers with a comprehensive toolkit to architect their own bespoke Star Wars Odysseys within the platform. Sean Schoptau, executive PVP of Disney Games and Digital Entertainment, told the Hollywood reporter, quote, Storytelling today, it isn't confined to a single screen. It lives in worlds fans can step into and shape together. Our work with Epic reflects this shared belief from the Mandalorian Grogu Watch Party Island to the creator-built experiences launching on May 1st. We're excited to empower the Fortnite creator community to tell their own story, Star Wars stories, for the first time in a safe and authentic way. The combination of cinematic storytelling, social connection, and a passionate creator community is how these worlds can deepen fandom and engage new fans in innovative ways. The rollout commenced on May the 1st with three centerpiece experiences from Lucasfilm and Epic Galactic Siege from Epic Galactic Siege, a massive 10x10 planetary conflict, Escape Vader, a cooperative nightmare for four players, and Droid Tycoon, allowing players to customize their own mechanical companions. New updates will continue to surface throughout the month, pushing the boundaries on the digital spot of the digital spotlight. The true transformation lies in the democratization of the Star Wars sandbox. For the first time, creators can sculpt their own islands and narratives utilizing the Lizard IP's heroes, vehicles, and environments to forage something entirely new. Now I'm sure that that probably means uh they're going to be watching that like a hawk because I don't think they want uh some of the things fans uh can create. So uh I've never been big on Fortnite, but if you are, good on you. Let's go on to the geek news. Geek News begins with the Cinemac Legacy landscape for Netflix's highly anticipated Narnia Revival owned by the visionary Gareta Gerwig and undergoing a dramatic transformation. Originally slated for a Thanksgiving debut, the project has been shifted to February the 12th, 2027. In a pivotal move for the streamer, the film will now receive a full wide theatrical release window, a foundational shift from the grounds from the grounds of project in the traditional spotlight of the big screen. The theatrical rollout commences on February 10th with sneak previews and IMAX, followed by the global wide release on February 12th. Fans can catch the digital drop on Netflix beginning April 2nd, and with the lines between Hollywood's theatrical flair and the metaverse of streaming continues to blur. Now, this marks a significant milestone for Netflix, representing its second wide theatrical endeavor following last August's August K-pop Demon Hunter sing-along that experimental release was bypass which bypassed AMC but hit all other major circuits, delivered the streamer's first number one domestic weekend with a$19 million take, providing that even a digital giant can command the box office spotlight. Sources familiar with the situation suggest that following Netflix's bid for Warner Brothers, the prospect of a wide theatrical release for Narnia became a central pillar of production, as Gerwig has long championed the Cinemac experience, a six-week delay reportedly cast by caused by a cast injury, pushing the film past its initial Thanksgiving IMAX date. However, insiders clarify this was a sudden pivot during CinemaCon, rather a theatrical fallback that was always plan B. Upon its debut, Narnia will navigate the uh the aftermath of a crowded holiday season, facing off against Sony's Nightingale and Paramount's untitled K-pop Odyssey. Entitled Narnia, the Magician's Nephew, the film adapts C.S. Lewis's 1955 novel Exploring the Origins of the Hidden World. The cast features newcomers David McKenna and Beatrice Campbell, alongside Industry Titans, Emma McKay, Carrie Mulgan, Daniel Craig, and Meryl Streep. So uh a brand new Narnia film. Yeah. By the way, they're going to make a lot of these because there are a ton of Narnia films. Just saying Hugh Eat. Yeah. There's a lot of Narnia films, there's a lot of actual uh Wizard of Oz Oz Oz books as well. So there's plenty of of stuff to create with. They've just have never gotten that far. Anyway, uh this is uh kind of breaking news, sorta. GameStop has made an offer to acquire eBay for$56 billion, which comes as part of GameStop CEO's Ryan Cohen's plan to transform the online marketplace into a legit competitor to Amazon.com. He told the Wall Street Journal. In an announcement on Monday, eBay says it will, quote, carefully review, unquote, the unsolicited proposal, adding that it had no discussions with or outreach from GameStop before receiving the bid. GameStop says it will fund the acquisition using$9.4 billion of the company's balance sheet and third-party financing, including up to$20 billion from TD securities. As noted by the Wall Street Journal, the company didn't say how it will fund the rest of the acquisition, but sources tell the outlet that, quote, Cohen could tap outside investors such as Middle Eastern South Sovereign Wealth Funds to back the deal, unquote. The Wall Street Journal reports that Cohen is ready to launch a proxy fight to acquire eBay if the company doesn't accept his offer. Cohen has a pretty big incentive to grow GameStop, which was at the center of the meme stock craze of 2021. Under his new compensation package, Cohen would make as much as$35 billion if the company meets certain financial goals, such as reaching a market capitalization of$100 billion. eBay should be worth and it will be worth a lot more money. I'm thinking about turning eBay into something worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Now over the past year, GameStop has closed more than 700 stores across the U.S. and spend spending on physical games continues to dip. As of January 2026, GameStop is down to 1,598 stores in the United States, even as GameStop's attempts to offset by shifting to focusing on trading cards and collectibles, the company's revenue sank 14% in the first quar fourth quarter of 2025. Yeah, I think just as Paramount, you know Paramount uh buying Warner Brothers, I don't think GameStop should be buying eBay. Yeah. This this cannot go well. This will would probably end with games the new GameStop eBay ending up being acquired by an even larger company like Amazon. Go figure. Yeah. This this could could turn into something completely worse. So uh yeah. Uh I don't know if I have eBay stock, but I do know I have GameStop stock, and I will be voting no. Anyway, uh our last bad news today. There's of course those obituaries of those who've gone before us. Uh Steve Maslow, the legendary re-recording artist mixer who defined the sonic landscape of modern cinema through a prolific half-century career, has died at the age of 81. A foundational pillar of the sound community, Maslow's artistry earned him Academy Awards for The Empire Strikes Back, Rares of the Lost Ark, and Speed, alongside four additional nominations that cemented his status as an industry titan. The Cinema Audio Society confirmed to deadline.com that Maslow passed away on April 27th in West Hills, California, following a battle with cancer. His back to back Oscar wins for the 1980 Star Wars sequel and 1981's Indiana Jones debut were followed by a third win for the 1994 High Octane Thriller Speed. Maslow's celebrated portfolio includes nominations for Dune 1984, Waterworld, Twister, and U571, with hundreds of credits spanning. A grounded emotional core of best picture winner, Ordinary People, to the theatrical flair of Edward Scissorhands, Batman returns the conjuring and the visceral intensity of Mad Max Fairy Road. Every spotlight he touched casts to a more nuanced shadow, bringing life to everything from Gremlins and Ferris Bueller's Day Off to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Maslow's career also showcased a deep affinity for music, beginning with his six-month tenure on Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz. He brought the same cinematic spotlight to iconic rock documentaries and concert films, including The Who's The Kids All Right, Talking Heads Stop Making Sense, and Prince's Sign Over the Times. His mastery of sound even extended to a cultural milestone of Michael Jackson's black or white music video, revealing the toll and triumph of capturing his live performances soul. His work and music-driven narratives continued with uh tales like the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic, The Great Balls of Fire, The Jazz Singer and the Theatrical Horror 1986's Little Shop of Horrors. Born on October 17th, excuse me, October 17th, 1944, in the San Fernando Valley, Maslow's path to the spotlight was improbable as the hidden worlds he helped create. A chance encounter, a birthday party, led to a job as an equipment ruddy for the Intense and Pepperman's band star Intense and Peppermint's band's Strawberry Alarm Clock. Maslow recalled in a 2018 interview, quote, everyone else has a had a goal for but me. I said, sure, why not? When offered a ruddy position, a decision that would ultimately bridge the gap between his education, his destiny, and the music business. Transitioning into a recording engineer, Maslow's brilliance fueled chart toppers like the four seasons, December 1963, Oh, What a Night, a taste of Honey's boogie-woogie-oogie. His work also helped secure a best nod new artist Grammy for the latter, edging out legends like Elvis Costello and the cars. As the music industry began to shift, Maslow secured an IATCSE card and joined Samuel Golden Studios, where he remained for nearly 50 years. This foundational move allowed him to pivot towards cinema, where he would eventually architect the soundscapes for visionary filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, and John Carpenter. Throughout his storied career, Maslow celebrated with a gallery j with a gallery of Titans, including Robert Redford, John Hughes, and Blake Edwards, ensuring that every story he told was a cinematic experience where neon fame and noir shadows met in perfect harmony. He is survived by his wife Ronnie, Rana, and his son Travis. Again, Steve Maslow died dead of cancer at the age of 81. Next up, and finally, Jerry Conway, the legendary Marvel editor-in-chief and foundational comic book writer who defined the landscape of franchises like The Amazing Spider-Man has died at 87, or 73, excuse me. Make him older. A seismic force within the industry, Conway's passing was confirmed by Marvel, marking the end of a prolific career that bribed bridged the gap between classic heroics and modern mature storytelling. During his tenure at Marvel, Conway architected narratives across virtually every major title, from taking the reins of the amazing Spider Man from Stan Lee, the guy in the Fantastic Four Thor, Avengers, and Defenders throughout transformative eras. Conway's artistry was marked by grounded character depictions and a sophisticated approach that explored the visceral consequences of superhero actions. His stories pushed Peter Parker into bold new territory, providing the man, the Mansteel's Marvel counterpart with a nuanced emotional core and a psychological depth that resonated far beyond the comic book spotlight. Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Comics and franchise, shared in a statement, quote, Jerry Conway was a gifted writer. He was thoughtful, deeply attuned to the emotional and moral core of storytelling, and a wonderful and articulate advocate for comics and creators. His writing has inspired all of us at Marvel, and he will continue to inspire generations of writers, readers, and fans to come.

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Unquote.

Closing Thanks And Listener Support

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Marvel's path to the spotlight was improbable, beginning with his professional debut at just 16 years old. His early work or late 60s Marvel titles revealed the theoretical flair and creative brilliance that would define his story journey. By 1971, Conway began a series of innovative runs on Daredevil, Iron Man, and the Incredible Hulk. During this period, he pioneered the integration of overt horror elements into the Marvel universe, grounding his narratives and noir shadows with unsettling psychological tension. At the age of 19, Conway secured a foundational milestone by replacing Stan Lee as a series writer on the publisher's flagship title, The Amazing Spider-Man. Over a three-year span, he crafted pivotal moments that would reshape the very balance of the Marvel spotlight. Under Conway's stewardship, Peter Parker navigated the toll of adulthood and the high-stakes reality of loss. This era was defined by the death of Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin, a cinemat nightmare that proved every spotlight cast a darkest shadow and changed the medium forever. Conway also introduced the Punisher, providing the anti-hero with a tragic backstory that explored the duality between justice and vengeance. He also architected the visual visceral visceral visceral origin story that remains a central pillar of the character's legacy today. His work on Ms. Marvel in the late 60s launched a series that repositioned Carol Danvers as her own cosmic hero. This foundational shift established her as one of the most powerful forces in the universe and laid the groundwork for her eventual transformation into Captain Marvel. By the late 70s, Conway alternated between Marvel and DC, briefly serving as Marvel's editor-in-chief. Ultimately, he chose to return to his writing roots and command and command the spotlight on Spider on Spider-Man. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige shared, quote, Jerry Conway brought real stakes to his writing, able to weave together sensational superheroics with the human and relatable. His writing has been hugely impactful across our comics, but has also inspired so much of what we've done on screen. Jerry was a wonderful collaborator and friend so many and will be dearly missed, unquote. He is survived by his wife, Laura Conway, again, Jerry Conway, has passed away at the age of 73. And that brings us to the end of the of this edition of the show. Now please be sure to check us out on social media. We're on Blue Sky at Multiverse Tom Threads, Facebook, and Instagram at Multiverse Tonight. If you've gotten some value out of the show and would like to pay it back, please head on over to multiverstonight.com, where you can find our Patreon and Kofi links. Check our show notes, visit our Tea Public store, leave some feedback, and so much more. And if this is your first time listening, thank you. Welcome. Go ahead and hit that subscribe button. Share us with others. Go ahead. I dare you. Special thanks to Shane Ivers for the intro music and Lobo Loco for the outro theme music. Thanks for watching this edition of Multiverse Tonight. We'll be back in two weeks with more sci-fi and comic book news. Now please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good night.