Dark Horse Comics has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in April 2009. Yup, there’s a Buffy title in the list that is sure to sell well for the company.
ALIENS #1 (of 4)
John Arcudi (W), Zach Howard (P/Cover), and Mark Irwin (I)
On sale May 27
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
A group of wildcat planetary prospectors plant their flag on a distant new world, rich in land, resources . . . and mystery. Within this seemingly uninhabited planet lies the greatest archaeological discovery in history, an ancient, abandoned complex of impossible proportions carved deep within the living rock, a mind-numbing labyrinth of passages, ramps, bridges, and galleries that seems to extend limitlessly. But as the exploration of the leviathan dead city proceeds deeper and deeper, the members of the team slowly begin to lose their grip on reality. But madness gives way to fear as the explorers begin to disappear one by one. Something else lives within the necropolis, a faceless horror as deadly and merciless as space itself, a lethal terror that has waited centuries to awake . . . and destroy.
At long last, Dark Horse Comics heralds the return of the heavyweight champion of modern science-fiction/horror, Aliens!
• Aliens #1 is the first act in the relaunch of all three classic Dark Horse/Fox comics series. The release of Aliens #1 will coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Ridley Scott-helmed film masterpiece, Alien, and will be preceded by an Aliens/Predator special for Free Comic Book Day!
• Featuring the top-flight creative team of writer John Arcudi (The Mask, B.P.R.D., Doom Patrol), penciller Zach Howard (Sean of the Dead, Outer Orbit), and inker Mark Irwin (X-Men: Age of Apocalypse, Batman, Amazing Spider-Man).
• Special advance solicitation!
THE AMAZON #2 (of 3)
Steven T. Seagle (W), Tim Sale (A), and Matt Hollingsworth (C)
On sale Apr 8
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Dark Horse’s superior twentieth anniversary re-presentation of acclaimed writer Steven T. Seagle and superstar artist Tim Sale’s eco-series of man, machine, magic, and Mother Nature continues!
Reporter Malcolm Hillard’s journey into the Amazon Jungle takes him deeper into the mystery of a missing American worker and the sabotage of a timber company that followed. The clues lead him to the Jatapu tribe, whose belief in a powerful Amazon spirit may hold the key to the mystery. Drugged and alone in the jungle, Malcolm comes face to face with the answers, but they aren’t the ones he expects.
• This remastered edition is scanned from Tim Sale’s original artwork and recolored by Matt Hollingsworth, with a new cover by Sale and Dave Stewart!
• Featuring a behind-the-scenes conversation between Seagle and Sale about the history of the project and the current state of the Amazon jungle.
BETTIE PAGE LEOPARD MUG
On sale May 27
11 oz. mug
$12.99
We were saddened to learn of the passing of our favorite glamour girl, Bettie Page. Dark Horse has made well over one hundred licensed products using Bettie. While we have always tried to bring the same sense of fun to these items that Bettie herself brought to her photography sessions, we have tried at the same time show our respect for her.
We have taken one of Bunny Yeager’s best photographs of our longtime muse and inspiration, infused it with color, and applied it to a high-quality coffee mug.
What can we say? It’s just another classy item from Dark Horse Deluxe. This joins our stellar array of fine Bettie Page collectibles.
Warning: The material used as colored decorations on the exterior of this product contains lead and/or cadmium, chemicals known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.
B.P.R.D.: THE BLACK GODDESS #4 (of 5)
Mike Mignola (W), John Arcudi (W), Guy Davis (A), Dave Stewart (C), and
Kevin Nowlan (Cover)
On sale Apr 8
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Outside Memnan Saa’s sanctum, two armies of monsters clash over the fate of the world; within, the B.P.R.D. can only watch as Saa’s machinations continue to unfold around them, building up to an apocalyptic climax with Liz at its core.
Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, and drawn by Guy Davis, B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess is the second of three arcs pulling together threads from the beginning of the series—and leaving the B.P.R.D. and the world forever changed.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24
Jim Krueger (W), Cliff Richards (P), Andy Owens (I), Michelle Madsen (C), Jo Chen (Cover), and Georges Jeanty (Cover)
On sale Apr 1
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Faith. Giles. Let’s catch up!
In an amazing one-shot issue, the esteemed Jim Krueger—whose works include Avengers/Invaders, Earth X, Justice, and multiple original series—fleshes out the go-to girl for dirty deeds, Faith, and her new partner, Giles. After her last thankless escapade, where she put a stop to Buffy-hunting Slayer and kindred spirit Lady Gigi, Faith decided that though she’s determined to be finished with bloodshed, she’s not ready to leave misguided Slayers (like Gigi) with nowhere to turn. Fast-forward to the present . . . bloodshed still abounds, and the Faith-and-Giles team is still finding out what it really means to help those chosen to slay . . .
Executive Produced by Joss Whedon!
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS VOLUME 7
Tom Fassbender (W), Jim Pascoe (W), Christopher Golden (W), Cliff Richards (A), Paul Lee (A), Eric Powell (A), and others
On sale June 3
FC, 408 pages
$24.95
TPB, 6″ x 9″
Buffy’s emotions run high after the tragic loss of her mother, but she still fights. She struggles with blood-starved vamps from another dimension and swarms of green demon children with a penchant for nibbling on faces, and, as barriers between alternate realities erode, nightmare versions of friends and long-dead enemies must be dealt with. Then Buffy’s own death—having sacrificed herself for Dawn—takes a toll on the Scoobies, as they deal with demons and crazed forest creatures in a tale by Amber Benson (“Taraâ€) and Christopher Golden. When Buffy is restored to life, she undertakes a secret mission with Angel, and all the loose ends are tied up with Buffy’s trip to hell, bringing an end to an amazing four-year run of Buffy comics.
• The Buffy Omnibus books collect the earliest Buffy comics and are an excellent precursor to Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight series.
• The first four volumes of the Dark Horse Buffy Omnibus series have sold over 100,000 copies!
• “There’s plenty of humor and action here. Lots of strange (and strangely fun) violence. And, for Slayer fans, Omnibus is an opportunity to run down memory lane and relive those early, exciting Slayer days.†— comicbookbin.com
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #10
Timothy Truman (W), Tomás Giorello (P), José Villarrubia (C), and Joseph Michael Linsner (Cover)
On sale Apr 15
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
As the “Black Colossus†story arc continues, this issue focuses on Natohk, as he builds his army of desert tribesmen, bloodthirsty nomads, and demons to begin his invasion of Hyboria! Natohk has his sights set on the border city of Khoraja first, and he sends his fearsome horde to take it and begin their full assault on Koth—a country filled with petty, quarreling rulers. Heading toward Khoraja with the rest of Amalric’s mercenaries, Conan is still learning the ways of military discipline and strategy, impressing his leader while also making some enemies among Amalric’s foot soldiers. Princess Yasmela is Khoraja’s remaining sovereign. Haunted by terrifying apparitions and demonic visits, she prays to Mitra for help as Natohk’s forces near her war-torn country and her near-defenseless city.
• A Wizard magazine “Best New Series of 2008†pick!
CONAN VOLUME 7: CIMMERIA
Timothy Truman (W), Tomás Giorello (P), Richard Corben (P), and José Villarrubia (C)
On sale June 24
FC, 192 pages
$17.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″
On sale June 3
FC, 192 pages
$24.95
HC, 7″ x 10″
Conan volume 7: Cimmeria marks a transitional period in young Conan’s life, as he spurns civilization—with its turncoats and legal trappings—and returns to the beloved, brutal country of Cimmeria, where he was born and raised. The dangers found in the snowy mountain passes of his barbaric homeland are a welcome change from the mind games and treachery Conan encountered in the cities of the East, but there are unfortunate lessons in treachery to be learned here, too. When a tentative truce with the Aesir is threatened by the actions of Caollan, the first woman Conan ever loved, Conan again finds himself at the heart of a larger conflict that will test not only his physical strength and cunning mind—but his passionate heart as well.
• “(Truman) goes back to the same historical and mythical source material Howard must have used and mines it to expand on what Howard already did. Now that’s the way to put your stamp on a Howard tale. As a result, this reeks of Robert E. Howard influence. There is blood and there is fire . . . there is death and despair and indomitable will. Basically, everything you could want from a Conan story.†—ComicsBulletin.com
• The hardcover version is a direct market exclusive of the trade-paperback collection, printed to initial orders only!
CREEPY ARCHIVES VOLUME 4
Various (W/A)
On sale June 24
b&w, 240 pages
$49.95
HC, 8 3/8″ x 10 7/8″
Pulpy, smart, and scary, the stories in Creepy constituted some of the best short-form horror fiction ever told in comics. With legendary comics writer/editor Archie Goodwin both editing the magazine and crafting most of its storytelling, Creepy was at once a newsstand favorite with fright fans, and a vaunted showcase of fine comics art for serious fans of the art form. For decades, the only sources for these stories were the expensive collectible original issues. Now Dark Horse is collecting all of the original material from the history of Creepy magazine into a hardcover archive library that is garnering rave reviews from fans and critics alike!
• “ . . . this superlatively packaged Creepy Archives hardcover is a fine dénouement for fans of EC and comics history.†– Boston Weekly Dig
• Grab your bleeding glasses and crack open this fourth big volume, collecting Creepy issues #16-#20.
DARK HORSE/AMANO MUG
On sale May 27
11 oz. mug
$9.99
Mr. Yoshitaka Amano gave us his interpretation of the Dark Horse logo earlier in the year and it was elegantly applied to a limited poster and lithograph. We have taken this same piece of art and placed it on a new Dark Horse mug, yellow on the outside, black on the inside, with the company logo on the opposite side. The perfect thing to show off your love of comics!
Warning: The material used as colored decorations on the exterior of this product contains lead and/or cadmium, chemicals known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.
DRAGONERO
Luca Enoch (W), Stefano Vietti (W), and Giuseppe Matteoni (A)
On sale June 10
b&w, 296 pages
$19.95
TPB, 6 1/4″ x 8 1/4″
Beyond the civilized lands of Erondà r, the Stone Towers are crumbling. The great monoliths are falling one after another under the wild thrusts of an evil force. The Ancient Prohibition that binds the Abominables inside their dark world is soon to be broken.
Alben the Wizard knows what must be done. He will send for Myrva, a young follower of the powerful Technocrats; he will choose Ecuba, the fighting nun, to protect him; and he will call back Ian Aranill, a former Empire officer—followed by Gmor the Orc, his loyal friend—to use his scouting experience.
Together they will face the Painers, the evil beings who still live in the barren Dragonlands. Can Ian prevail against the last, horrible threat they will be facing?
• Dragonero is a brand-new stand-alone graphic novel in the spirit of Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia.
• Dragonero is published in conjunction with Bonelli Comics, publishers of such hit series as Dylan Dog and Martin Mystery, also available from Dark Horse.
EMPOWERED VOLUME 5
Adam Warren (W/A)
On sale June 3
b&w, 208 pages
$14.95
TPB, 6 1/2″ x 9″
After saving much of the superhero community from certain doom, costumed crime fighter Empowered is dismayed to find that, in the suspicious eyes of her caped colleagues, she’s gone from being merely a “pair of training wheels for supervillains†to possibly being a closeted supervillain herself! Worse yet, she’s wrestling with envy and resentment that her roommate Ninjette and boyfriend Thugboy are now more popular in masks-and-tights circles than she is! Meanwhile, our stressed-out superheroine must also unravel an alien-spawned body-image conspiracy, overcome “cosplay†dress-up disasters at work and in bed, and try to survive a potentially lethal confrontation with her teammate Sistah Spooky!
• Empowered Vol. 1 is already in its fourth printing!
• Adam Warren’s work on The Dirty Pair is well known to U.S. comics readers.
FISTFUL OF ROCK & ROLL: 21ST CENTURY ROCK POSTER ART
Sal Canzonieri (W) and Various (A)
On sale June 10
FC, 400 pages
$29.95
TPB, 8 1/2″ x 11″
Hot on the hellish heels of Sal Canzonieri’s Electric Frankenstein! High Energy Punk Rock & Roll Poster Art comes an even more blasphemous blast of raw poster power, A Fistful of Rock & Roll: 21st Century Rock & Roll Poster Art. A brain-frying collection nearly as big as a Marshall stack, A Fistful of Rock & Roll is an up-to-the-minute
cross-section of today’s booming rock-poster scene, showcasing hundreds of works by top poster artists from every dive, hellhole, dungeon, and landfill from sea to shining sea, creating a deafening visual tribute to just about every goddamn cool band you can imagine!
• Fistful of Rock & Roll includes posters from some of the top live rock acts in the history of popular music, including The Cramps, The Hives, Iggy Pop, Velvet Revolver, James Brown, Ministry, High on Fire, Misfits, Motorhead, Ramones, Rob Zombie, and hundreds more!
• Fistful of Rock & Roll features poster art and other graven images from a virtual who’s-who of the rock art scene, including Johnny Ace, Mark Arminski, R. Black, Guy Burwell, Steven Cerio, Art Chantry, Brian Ewing, Alan Forbes, Derek Hess, Gilbert Hernandez, Lindsay Kuhn, Bob Masse, Tara McPherson, Shepard Fairey, Print Mafia, and Stainboy, to name but a few.
• Includes forewords by underground cartoonist/poster-art legend The Mad Peck and modern psychedelic-art superstar Steven Cerio.
GANTZ VOLUME 6
Hiroya Oku (W/A)
On sale June 24
b&w, 228 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″
Life is complicated for Kei Kurono, possibly the horniest teen in Tokyo. So far he’s had to deal with sleeping next to a sad but excessively cute and endowed girl who asked to be his “petâ€; the fact that he’s apparently really a fax copy of himself—the real version having died in the first volume; and falling out of the sky after being dropped by some sort of alien eagle.
• “Drawn with eye-popping realism, Oku’s scenes range from infanticide to bestiality to painful adolescent awkwardness, raising standard geek fare to a new level of sophistication.†—Entertainment Weekly
• Each volume of Gantz comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.
GRIS GRIMLY JOURNAL
On sale May 27
5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ spiral-bound journal
$9.99
Dark Horse is proud to present an all-new journal from the monstrously talented illustrator Gris Grimly. Originally recognized for his dark, yet humorous, illustrations for young readers, his interpretive visions have now captured attention and recognition for his full resume of work. Recently Gris has teamed up with Neil Gaiman on illustrating the children’s book The Dangerous Alphabet, as well as with Dark Horse, doing the cover art for The Goon #27.
KULL #6 (of 6)
Arvid Nelson (W), Will Conrad (P/Cover), and José Villarrubia (C)
On sale Apr 1
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
At odds with a dangerous Valusian cult, Kull attempts to use guile and diplomacy—instead of brute force—in an attempt to save Pict leader Ka-nu’s life and crush the devious Serpent Cult’s schemes. Another Pict ally, the headstrong, stealthy Brule, infiltrates the Tower of the Great Serpent against Kull’s wishes. Brule is on an assassination mission of his own making, and stealing a powerful, sought-after gem from the stronghold would be an added bonus—and would bring the wrath of the vicious, shape-changing snake-men to Kull’s front door! Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi, Zero Killer), Will Conrad (Serenity, Conan and the Midnight God), and José Villarrubia (Conan the Cimmerian, Ghost Rider) expand upon the events in Robert E. Howard’s short story “The Shadow Kingdom†and conclude Dark Horse’s first Kull series.
“Perfectly depicting the two sides of the Valusian King, Nelson understands that when you bring to life a Howard story you need to keep the feelings that the original tales evoked. Needless to say, a strong story can’t stand alone in the sequential world—Will Conrad’s beautiful style completes this tale . . . I couldn’t be happier with the pairing of Nelson and Conrad on this title. Dark Horse has once again proven to me that they are the kings of Howard’s works.†—comicsbulletin.com
MPD-PSYCHO VOLUME 9
Eiji Otsuka (W) and Sho-u Tajima (A)
On sale June 3
b&w, 208 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″
As the mysteries surrounding the devious Gakuso Society and the “eyeball murderers†continue to unravel, multiple personality detective Kazuhiko Amamiya seems to have returned from the grave, taking control of the Nishizono clone! Or is this just a ploy for young Tetora to negotiate his release and go off on another killing spree? The thickest MPD-Psycho volume yet brings us over two hundred pages of colorful characters, bizarre deaths, and horrific twists and turns. Lucy Monostone’s descendant, a former Gakuso scientist who has a strange, mystical power over people’s minds, joins the Isono Criminal Research staff, enraging the bitter, bumbling police detective Sasayama, but perhaps providing clues that Sasayama needs to solve the new “angel cult†murders. With its main characters evolving—for better or worse—and new faces coming to the forefront, this inventive manga series continues to earn its reputation as one of the most controversial, violent, and engaging modern crime sagas.
• Each volume of MPD-Psycho comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.
NEIL GAIMAN PRESENTS: THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS AND OTHER TALES
Richard Garnett (W) and Henry Keen (A)
On sale June 10
b&w, 288 pages
$12.95
Novel, 5 1/4″ x 8″
The Twilight of the Gods and Other Tales captures, in twenty-eight breathtaking stories, an epic range of adventures. From “Madam Lucifer,†in which the fallen angel Lucifer plays a fateful game of chess for the soul of Man, to the title story of the collection, which details what might have become of Prometheus—chained to the rocky crags of the Caucasus for the theft of the knowledge of fire from Zeus—if he were to be freed from his eternal prison, the stories here are ones of tragedy, humor, and magic.
• The Neil Gaiman Presents program will be devoted to returning to print long-unavailable works in affordable paperback editions personally selected by Gaiman. Each book will carry a new introduction by Gaiman, speaking to the reasons why he selected the book for this line, as well as how the book influenced him over the years.
• The initial six titles in the Neil Gaiman Presents line specifically deal with the subject of gods and mythology and brings back for today’s readers wonderful books that have drifted out of print or been overlooked or forgotten.
NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: THE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT VOLUME 1
Osamu Takahashi (W/A)
On sale June 10
b&w, 184 pages
$9.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″
Stunning, hotheaded Asuka Langley Soryu has been friends with Shinji Ikari since they were little. And she always sort of assumed they’d stay together—until the day the beautiful, brilliant Rei Ayanami showed up in class! When Shinji starts to get curious about Rei, Asuka needs to figure out if she wants to be just friends with Shinji, or something more. But why are so many people keeping an eye on these relationships—people like homeroom teacher Misato, school nurse Ritsuko, and Shinji’s mother—NERV’s chief scientist, Yui Ikari . . . ?
• Since it first hit Japanese TV screens in 1995, the multimedia Neon Genesis Evangelion phenomenon has never faded. The most talked-about anime series of the 1990s, its legend only spread further in the last decade with the North American release of the Evangelion series on DVD and its subsequent airing on Adult Swim. Now Evangelion is in full-fledged revival, with a brand-new tetralogy of movies planned entitled Rebuild of Evangelion. The first film out, Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone, the top-selling anime DVD release of 2008 in Japan, moved 219,000 copies in just its premiere week!
• Each volume of Neon Genesis Evangelion features bonus color pages, your Evangelion fan art and letters, and special reader giveaways!
OH MY GODDESS! VOLUME 12
Kosuke Fujishima (W/A)
On sale June 24
b&w, 200 pages
$10.95
TPB, 5 1/8″ x 7 3/16″
Ever since a cosmic phone call brought the literal young goddess Belldandy into college student Keiichi’s residence, his personal life has been turned upside down, sideways, and sometimes even into strange dimensions!
Maybe you think Peorth couldn’t cause any more trouble—well, think again! Determined to provide Keiichi “better service†than Belldandy, she’s dragging him out on a date . . . having studied human mating customs through shojo manga! But what is the secret slight that truly drives Peorth’s efforts against her rival?
• Features six pages of color, Mini-Goddess strips, a message from creator Kosuke Fujishima, and your fan art and letters!
PLAYBOY’S TRUMP! THE COMPLETE COLLECTION
Harvey Kurtzman (W/A) and Various (W/A)
On sale June 17
FC, 144 pages
$19.95
TPB, 8 1/2″ x 11″
Launched in January 1957 by Harvey Kurtzman and Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, Trump partnered Kurtzman with many of his “usual gang of idiots†from his time at Mad—famous humor artists such as Jack Davis, Al Jaffee, and Wally Wood. They were joined by such dynamic humorists as Arnold Roth, comedians Mel Brooks and Doodles Weaver, and TV writer and novelist Max Shulman (creator of the character Dobie Gillis, who appeared in dozens of stories, a movie, and the popular TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis). Though it lasted only two issues, this first effort after Kurtzman’s historic split from Mad was the breeding ground for the magazines Humbug and Help!—and would ultimately lead to the more than thirty-year run of Kurtzman and Will Elder’s landmark character Little Annie Fanny in the pages of Playboy magazine.
• Trump! reprints the only two issues of the magazine, released in January and March of 1957.
• Trump! features the contributions of the following artists and writers: Harvey Kurtzman, Harry Chester, Jack Davis, Will Elder, Al Jaffee, Wally Wood, Arnold Roth, Russ Heath, Mel Brooks, Doodles Weaver, Max Shulman, and many others.
• A major retrospective on Kurtzman’s career, The Art of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius of Comics, is due for release in April from Abrams ComicArts.
REX MUNDI #17
Arvid Nelson (W) and Juan Ferreyra (A/Cover)
On sale Apr 15
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Genevieve is dead, and Julien is next on Lorraine’s hit list. Once Lorraine kills him, his vengeance will be complete. But at what cost to his own sanity? Julien might think he’s uncovered the deepest mysteries of the Holy Grail, but no one—not even Lorraine himself—is prepared for the shocking truth.
Meanwhile, Moricant has been dead for three days. His lonely grave overlooks the smoking ruins of the village of the Grail . . .
A desperate fight, a tearful reunion, and even a few miracles await!
THE SAGA OF SOLOMON KANE
Robert E. Howard (W), Roy Thomas (W), Don Glut (W), David Wenzel (P), Howard Chaykin (P), Alan Weiss (P), Steve Carr (P), Neal Adams (I), Al Williamson (I), Bill Wray (I), and others
On sale June 3
b&w, 416 pages
$19.95
TPB, 6 5/8″ x 10 3/16″
From his pulp-fiction origins in Weird Tales to his latest Dark Horse incarnation, Robert E. Howard’s sixteenth-century Puritan adventurer has captured the imaginations of readers for decades. Now all of the Savage Sword of Conan short stories from the 1970s are collected for the first time: equal parts comics adaptations of Howard’s formative tales and inspired new chapters from venerable scribes Roy Thomas (Conan the Barbarian) and Don Glut (Kull the Destroyer)! Follow along Kane’s restless travels with pistol and rapier as he is compelled to be a weapon of God, ridding the world of evil wherever it may be found—from the jungles of Africa to the high seas, and whether cannibal, demon, vampire, or pirate!
• A fantastic companion volume to Dark Horse’s best-selling Savage Sword of Conan omnibus series!
• Contains short stories from various Savage Sword of Conan and Conan Saga issues, and from Kull and the Barbarians #2 and #3, Marvel Preview #19, Monsters Unleashed, and Dracula Lives.
SHAMAN WARRIOR VOLUME 7
Park Joong-Ki (W/A)
On sale June 3
b&w, 200 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5 3/4″ x 8 1/4″
The corrupt forces of the Kugai Empire have sworn to destroy all shaman warriors, the mystical, animalistic killing machines who once led their armies. With her hereditary powers still untapped, Yaki holds her own, and her sword-fighting and stealthy assassin skills help her carve a bloody path to the heartless general who ordered the death of her father—the great shaman leader Yarong. Picking up right where our last volume’s cliffhanger left us, Batu’s showdown with Yuda—the Death Lord who defeated Yarong—reaches its explosive conclusion, and Nejo claws his way from the grave to a dangerous desert town in his search for Yaki.
• Visit darkhorse.com for a free extended preview of Shaman Warrior volume 1!
• One of the best-selling manhwa epics of all time, Shaman Warrior won the Korean Culture & Content Agency’s 2006 “Best Manhwa of the Year†award!
SINFEST VOLUME 1
Tatsuya Ishida (W/A)
On sale June 17
b&w, 208 pages
$14.95
TPB, 8 1/4″ x 9 3/4″
AT LAST! “The webcomic to end all webcomics†has landed at Dark Horse, and we’re starting the collections at the beginning! Sinfest is one of the most-read and longest-running webcomics out there, and explores religion, advertising, sex, and politics in a way fleen.com calls “both brutally funny and devastatingly on-target.†In an era when most syndicated newspaper strips are watered down and uninspired, creator Tatsuya Ishida draws on influences ranging from Calvin and Hobbes and Peanuts to manga and pop culture to bring us a breath of fresh air. If your comic-strip craving hasn’t been satisfied since the nineties, deliverance is finally at hand.
• The first volume of Sinfest collects the first six hundred Sinfest strips, introducing the full cast of characters and the opening installments of Ninja Theatre™, beat poetry, calligraphy lessons, and the irresistible Pooch & Percival strips.
• Web traffic on Sinfest.net averages 1.7 million unique visitors per month and 300,000 page hits per day.
• “After seven years and counting, Tatsuya Ishida shows every indication of maturing into a cartoonist on the level of Bill Watterson and Walt Kelly.â€
—The Comics Journal, “50 Excellent Comics from 2007â€
• “The best webcomic out there.â€â€”comicsworthreading.com
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS #5 (of 6)
Henry Gilroy (W), Scott Hepburn (P), Dan Parsons (I), Michael E. Wiggam (C), and
Brian Kalin O’Connell (Cover)
On sale Apr 15
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Anakin Skywalker has become a slave once again! But he’s not just any slave—he’s the personal pet of the beautiful Queen Miraj of Zygerria.
While attempting to prevent the Zygerrian auction of millions of Togruta people into slavery, Jedi Knights Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padawan Ahsoka have been thrown into slavery themselves! In captivity, the Jedi have unearthed the supplier behind this newly revitalized slave trade—Count Dooku and the Separatists!
STAR WARS: DARK TIMES #13—BLUE HARVEST part 1 (of 5)
Mick Harrison (W), Douglas Wheatley (P/Cover), and Dave McCaig (C)
On sale Apr 22
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Picking up where the two-part story on Myspace/DarkHorsePresents leaves off, Dass Jennir begins his first job since the destruction of the Jedi Order only to discover that the job description he was given is not entirely accurate. Facing great odds is all in a day’s work for a Jedi, but Jennir isn’t a Jedi anymore and his lightsaber must stay hidden.
Meanwhile, Darth Vader returns to Coruscant and must face his master—and fallout from the events in the “Vector†crossover!
• What you may not know: To protect his sets from unwanted intruders, George Lucas gave the fake tile Blue Harvest to his production of Return of the Jedi.
Dark Times Returns!
STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #40— DUELING AMBITIONS part 2 (of 3)
John Jackson Miller (W), Brian Ching (P), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Daryl Mandryk (Cover)
On sale Apr 22
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Zayne is entered in the “Dueling Duo†Tandem Open, and he has had a special handicap forced on him by threat of death!
Aubin, the inexperienced, backward son of a veteran warrior-hero will be his partner in the preliminary battles! Zayne must make sure his partner survives the duels until the last round—but he can’t figure out what is behind Aubin’s entrance in the battles. That is, until Jarael discovers that what drives the duel sports is a slavery-based “farm system†that provides the warriors.
Jarael, Gryph, Rohlan, and Zayne must save Aubin and bring exposure to what horrors lie beneath the surface of the duels.
STAR WARS: LEGACY #35—STORMS part 2 (of 2)
John Ostrander (W), Jan Duursema (P), Dan Parsons (I), and Brad Anderson (C)
On sale Apr 29
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
The fallout from the battle on Had Abbadon is being felt throughout the galaxy. On Coruscant, Moffs Nyna Calixte and Morlish Veed contemplate the news and wonder what it means for their plans to rule the Empire; while across the galaxy, deposed Emperor Roan Fel mourns what has been lost.
Meanwhile “Bantha†Rawk aids Cade in a dangerous plan to save a friend.
The conclusion to “Storms†will set a new path for Legacy—the galaxy has been
reborn . . . again!
STAR WARS: VECTOR VOLUME 2—CHAPTERS 3 AND 4
Rob Williams (W), John Ostrander (W), Dustin Weaver (P), Jan Duursema (P), Dan Parsons (I), and others
On sale June 17
FC, 144 pages
$17.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″
Vector is an epic story with repercussions for every era and every hero in the Star Wars galaxy. Told in four chapters, this is the concluding volume.
In Chapter Three (Rebellion Volume 4) Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia have to deal with Vector as it crosses their paths and changes the galaxy! On the dark surface of a desolate moon, Luke meets his first Jedi since Obi-Wan Kenobi, only to realize too late that Celeste Morne is far different than his fallen friend—twisted by a Sith Talisman and enraged by Darth Vader!
Then, over 135 years later, in the final chapter (Legacy Volume 6), Cade Skywalker’s plan to assassinate Emperor Darth Krayt is aided by a “secret weapon†in the form of Celeste Morne—the Jedi Knight of the Old Republic who is in possession of, and possibly possessed by, the powerful Muur Talisman. Cade and Celeste will change the galaxy—for better, or for worse!
• The epic Star Wars: Vector storyline spread over four thousand years of history and crossed over four comic-book series—Rebellion, Knights of the Old Republic, Dark Times, and Legacy!
THUMBELINA: THE POP WONDERLAND SERIES
POP (A) and Michiyo Hayano (W)
On sale June 24
FC, 32 pages
$16.95
HC, 10 1/8″ x 8 1/4″
Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of the smallest girl in the world is brought to life for a new generation!
Thumbelina was a very special girl: no bigger than your thumb, she captivated everyone who met her with her charm and innocence when she emerged from the center of a flower. Soon after, Thumbelina was spotted by a frog, who stole her away to marry his son. Trapped floating on a lily pad, Thumbelina was rescued by a beetle who took her back to his family. Thumbelina’s adventures were just beginning. as she would meet fish, butterflies, moles, and other woodland creatures, all enchanted by the littlest girl in the world. Would she ever find happiness?
• A new line of children’s story books, the POP Wonderland series is rendered in a friendly, pastel palette, with engaging art that brings familiar fairy tales to life in a brand- new way.
• A well-known manga artist and anime designer in Japan, the illustrator known as POP is the creator behind the 2007 educational TV series Moetan. A hit in Japan, Moetan has spawned a line of educational books, CDs, DVDs, and more, all designed to help Japanese children learn English.
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY BUTTON PACK AND COMPOSITION BOOK
On sale June 17
Button Pack #2
Four buttons
$5.99
Composition Book
7.25″ x 10″
$6.99
Dark Horse has gained a legion of fans with The Umbrella Academy, conceived and written by Gerard Way with interior art by Eisner Award-winning artist Gabriel Bá.
We’ve designed a new pack of four buttons, featuring the Umbrella icon from the second miniseries, Dallas; Agent #5 logo; Hazel and Cha Cha; and the Prime-8’s logo. Each button is one inch in diameter and comes pinned to a backing card in a polybag, which hangs for display.
The composition book is a high-quality 120-page notebook designed in the style of those old black-and-white books you carried from class to class, filling with notes and doodles. This one includes a twist of the bizarre and odd that is known as The Umbrella Academy.
THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #6 (of 6)
Gerard Way (W), Gabriel BÃ (P), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale April 29
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
The chaos into which the members of the Umbrella Academy have been thrown in an effort to—what else?—save the world, becomes even more disordered! In the conclusion to the series’ second arc, one of the team commits a bizarre murder, and the brothers and sisters reach their boiling points. Family tensions were high between the siblings when they were a united force, but now they’ve begun to turn on one another . . .
Winner of the 2008 Eisner Award for Best Limited Series, and the 2008 Harvey Award for Best New Series, for the first arc of The Umbrella Academy, “Apocalypse Suiteâ€, “Dallas†continues the excellence teaming Gerard Way, multi-award winning artist Gabriel Bá, and colorist Dave Stewart.
WHO WANTS TO BE A SUPERHERO: THE DEFUSER
Jeremy Barlow (W) and Kajo Baldisimo (P/Cover)
On sale Apr. 1
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
One-shot
Leaping from Stan Lee’s hit Sci Fi Channel TV series Who Wants to be a Superhero? onto the comics page—it’s the Defuser in “Future Imperfect!â€
When traditional police methods fail to stem the ever-growing tide of crime in his home city, Detective Jarrett Crippen takes matters into his own hands.
Devising an astonishing array of nonlethal weapons and a high-tech battle armor that boosts his performance to 110% of human capacity, Jarrett storms the streets as the Defuser! The criminals won’t know what hit them!
• Keep up with the Defuser and all of his heroic adventures at www.thedefuser.net!
1 Comment
What happened to Hellboy the Wild Hunt?