Rippaverse Retail Distribution, Hugo Awards Death, Kickstarter Bans Smut - Fandom Pulse Daily Briefing
Yesterday, we had a really big news day where I found a lot! Today was a little lighter but this content is a lot of stuff you won’t find anywhere else. I think it’s particularly interesting to look at the three title stories today because this is the kind of analysis we strive for.
Now more than ever, Fandom Pulse needs your support! We provide the hardest-hitting journalism on the internet. Please subscribe for about the cost of a Starbucks cup of coffee:
Rippaverse Goes to Retail: The Business Case Behind The Hachette Deal Deserves A Hard Look
Eric July announced on April 29 that Rippaverse Publishing has signed a worldwide sales and distribution deal with Hachette Book Group. Starting July 6, 2026, Hachette will place Rippaverse titles into bookstores, big-box retailers, public libraries, and international wholesale accounts. July called it “the biggest move in the history of the company.”
Only 1,488 People Voted To Decide This Year's Hugo Award Nominees
The 2026 Hugo Award finalists were announced April 21st. Convention chair Joyce Lloyd described the ballot as highlighting works that “challenge us to not only envision, but to work towards, better tomorrows and more inclusive worlds.” That framing does most of the analysis for you, but we’ll break it down anyway as to how bad it’s gotten.
Kickstarter Bans Smut Comics And It’s About Time
Kickstarter sent a message to comic book creators on April 29, 2026, that it can no longer support explicit and suggestive content on its platform. The ban covers nudity, implied nudity, pornographic material, and sexual language. The move is a step in the right direction for a platform that has spent the better part of two years drowning in pornographic comics campaigns.
Naughty Dog’s Canceled Last of Us Online Was 80% Done. The Director Found Out It Was Dead 24 Hours Before the Public Did
Vinit Agarwal spent seven years directing The Last of Us Online. On April 25 he posted that ex-colleagues still message him saying it was the best multiplayer game they ever played. “Never going to let what I work on not see the light of day again,” he wrote.
Jon Favreau Called Kathleen Kennedy a “Mount Rushmore Producer.” His Movie Is Tracking for the Worst Disney-Era Star Wars Opening Ever.
Jon Favreau has been crediting Kathleen Kennedy for years. He did it when The Mandalorian launched in 2019, crediting her support for the StageCraft LED volume technology that made the show possible. He did it in a Season 3 interview in 2023, saying “thanks to Kathy Kennedy it became research and development for Stagecraft.” He did it this week, ahead of