Check it out - you just got a fresh mint copy of a new debut issue!

Okay, so you probably won’t be able to auction this email off to a collector, but the Mythic Messenger is still full of value! The team at Mythic Markets knows our community is invested in the fortunes of fandom and geekdom everywhere, so we’re starting this newsletter to help you catch up on anything awesome you might have missed.

And if it helps you to pass the time and find some pure enjoyment while we’re locked inside to hide from the virus, all the better.

WW84 release postponed

Ah, if only every cloud had such a beautiful rainbow lining! Star Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins broke the news this week that their deliciously-retro Wonder Woman sequel will have its release date pushed back to August 14. At least we got the latest in a line of scintillating '80s posters to keep us happy. Seriously, check these out.

In her Twitter announcement, Jenkins pointed out WW84 was intended as a cinematic experience - something neither audiences nor Warner Bros. can really profit from during the current pandemic. Does this mean we should expect all upcoming blockbusters to be postponed until the coronavirus subsides? If it does, we’re going to end up with one hell of a film festival to celebrate with.

Esports taking over in corona's wake

News about coronavirus is inescapable at the moment, so we’re sorry to double down on it here. But not all the consequences of the current upheaval are negative... especially if you’re into esports.

Dedicated gamers and fans of sports series like Madden and Forza already knew that pro gaming had the potential to find a TV audience. But now with everyone forced inside, and almost all real-life sports cancelled to protect the athletes and fans, we’ve seen the reality of that leap forward by years in just the last week. 

Viewership counts for top online leagues of Call of Duty and Counter-Strike spiked by hundreds of thousands as the week began. Then things REALLY got interesting as top level “e-racing” events replaced scheduled F1 Grand Prix and NASCAR events with their video game counterparts - with the real pro drivers behind the wheel! 

The reactions were priceless. Racing fans could barely tell the difference between advanced graphics and the real deal, and the NASCAR Pro Invitational broke 900K viewers on FOX Sports to become the highest rated esports broadcast in history.

For more detail on how and why this situation might mean a new explosion of growth for the expanding esports industry, check out our full blog post.

Fast fandom!

There’s always plenty happening in the online fan-o-sphere; what were some of the other big stories this week?

Vale, Uderzo

Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to legendary French cartoonist Albert Uderzo, co-creator of the lovable Asterix comics. Along with Rene Goscinny, Uderzo debuted the diminutive Gaul and his jolly menhir-carrying friend Obelix back in 1959. Their characters became iconic around the world, carrying the banner for European comics alongside Herge’s The Adventures of Tintin. Dedicated to his creations, Albert Uderzo was still working on Asterix as recently as 2009.

Antiques Roadshow gets Beta tested

Everyone who has collected Magic: The Gathering cards knows how serious the price on some of its big-ticket items can get. Stories of ex-players or relatives stumbling across a box of pristine original cards echo throughout the community, like a dream of winning the Magic lottery. Well, we recently got to see that dream play out on national institution Antiques Roadshow! I bet a lot of doubting parents now suddenly understand why their adult children are so passionate about card games... 

Chinese cinemas announce grand re-opening

Just when you think the coronavirus pandemic can’t get any worse for the film industry… it gets a little better? There’s a lot of reasons for people to take hope from the news that China is starting to slowly recover from the original viral outbreak. But Hollywood will be especially happy to hear that its vanishing profits everywhere else will be offset by a bumper re-opening festival in the world’s largest market for blockbusters. 

Many modern classics are also being re-released to lure in filmgoers, including some with newly-updated HD and 3D editions. Is this a sign of what awaits western audiences when we too are once again allowed to go out and buy movie tickets? We certainly hope so.

Sneak peek!

Wow, thanks for reading our inaugural edition of Mythic Messenger! Trust us, it won’t be the last - we’re committed to bringing you the news you need to keep up with everything geeky.

That includes our own investment opportunities. If you were intrigued by that Antiques Roadshow clip, you’ll definitely want to look at our “1994 Booster Boxes” offering. It's been a long road(show) on the regulatory front, but we've got new assets opening up in the next few weeks (hooray!) and will keep 'em coming.

Thanks for being a friend!

-The Mythic Markets Team