Dark Horse Comics for November 2009

Dark Horse sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in November.  Whedon fans get an extra dose this month with the Dr. Horrible comic book.

AGE OF REPTILES: THE JOURNEY #1 (of 4)

Ricardo Delgado (W/A) and Jim Campbell (C)

On sale Nov 4
32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

Dawn breaks over a sprawling forest in Cretaceous North America—a dawn far colder than its peaceful, forest-dwelling herbivores are used to. The seasons are changing, and it’s time for the able-bodied to migrate south. But the trek is a dangerous one even when massive herds band together, for while there is safety in numbers, numbers also draw attention, and the carnivores are moving in! This journey may not last long when the first hunter arrives, a ferocious tyrannosaurus rex who has her sights set on a young triceratops!

• Ricardo Delgado—a prolific development and storyboard artist who has worked on such hit films as Men in Black, The Incredibles, WALL-E, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the Matrix series—returns once again to his critically acclaimed, Eisner Award–winning comic series, Age of Reptiles!

“Ricardo Delgado once again takes us back to the Age of Reptiles! And I am thrilled to go there.”
—John Landis, filmmaker (An American Werewolf in Paris, Michael Jackson’s Thriller)

ALIENS #4 (of 4)

John Arcudi (W), Zach Howard (P), Mark Irwin (I), Wes Dzioba (C), and Raymond Swanland (Cover)

On sale Nov 25
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

Can an android dream? After waking from what appears to be just that, the android Sereda struggles with the idea that he may be more damaged than he originally thought. Still, whether it’s simply his programming or a newly found free will, Sereda is hell bent on effecting the rescue of the woman whose voice brought him down into the bewildering maze of a seemingly endless necropolis. Most of the surviving planetary prospectors are willing to follow him into the labyrinth, but there are two major obstacles to the rescue mission: a horde of marauding xenomorphs, and the man who shot Sereda, who isn’t about to let a damaged synthetic lead the other survivors anywhere.

From the bleeding edge of terror, Aliens returns to comics featuring the talented creative team of writer John Arcudi (The Mask, B.P.R.D., Doom Patrol), penciller Zach Howard (Shaun of the Dead, Outer Orbit), and inker Mark Irwin (X-Men: Age of Apocalypse, Batman). This all-new Aliens series is but the first stage in the Aliens/Predator/Aliens vs. Predator relaunch.

“Dark Horse’s Aliens might just be back on top of the science-fiction-horror genre.”
—Fangoria online

THE BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH CONAN ARCHIVES VOLUME 1

Roy Thomas (W) and Barry Windsor-Smith (A)

On sale Jan 20
FC, 200 pages
$49.95
HC, 7″ x 10″

In 1970, Barry Windsor-Smith burst onto the comic-book scene with his dynamic portrayal of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian, altering the course of the blue-eyed Cimmerian forever, and cementing himself as one of the greatest artists to touch pencil to paper. Nearly forty years later, Dark Horse Comics, in the tradition of the Dark Horse Archives collections, reprints Barry Windsor-Smith’s entire run on Marvel’s Conan the Barbarian in two fine hardcover volumes!

The first volume of The Barry Windsor-Smith Conan Archives includes such classic tales as Rogues in the House and The Tower of the Elephant, written by Roy Thomas and fully illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith—now presented as they were intended, remastered using the original color palette!

• This volume reprints the first half of Barry Windsor-Smith’s run on Conan the Barbarian.

• The Barry Windsor-Smith Conan Archives are the definitive collections of the historic and influential Conan the Barbarian comics drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith!

BEASTS OF BURDEN #3 (of 4)

Evan Dorkin (W) and Jill Thompson (P)

On sale Nov 25
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

The first feline member of the Wise Dog Society, the Orphan, takes on his first cat-only investigation, searching through the sewer tunnels for a missing, long-thought-dead witch cat. Accompanied by a tough stray, the Getaway Kid, Orphan’s trek into the wet, slime, and filth will bring him more trouble than his Wise Dog hocus-pocus can protect him from—and even if he finds the witch who’s been haunting his dreams, they’ll all still have to escape alive from all the dark horrors that lurk underground . . .

Award-winning comics creators Evan Dorkin (Milk & Cheese) and Jill Thompson (Scary Godmother) first introduced these heroic characters in the anthologies The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, and the other Dark Horse Book of . . . volumes, for which they won coveted Eisner Awards for Best Short Story and Best Painter.

• Check out the earliest Beasts of Burden stories for free at darkhorse.com/beastsofburden.

BERSERK VOLUME 33

Kentaro Miura (W/A)

On sale Jan 27
b&w, 232 pages
$14.95
TPB, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″

Guts the Black Swordsman and his companions brave the open sea, hoping to reach Puck’s homeland, Elfhelm, and its powerful elven king, who might be able to restore the sanity of Guts’s former lover, Casca. But seeking out a sanctuary for Casca means that Guts must postpone his hunt for his ex-friend and leader, Griffith, who has been reborn as a demon lord hell bent on conquest. The winds of change blow fast and hard across the war-torn lands of the Holy See, and if Guts waits too long to exact his vengeance, Griffith might attain his murderous goals before Guts can return to Midland to stop him!

• Dark Horse has sold over half a million copies of Berserk!

• Each volume of Berserk comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.

• “Berserk redefines what is considered a well-written fantasy manga. There are few manga that come anywhere close to creating a complex tale that includes medieval warfare, magic, and horror.” —Pop Culture Shock

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL VOLUME 22: FOOTSTEPS

Hiroaki Samura (W/A)

On sale Jan 13
b&w, 232 pages
$19.95
TPB, 5 3/4″ x 8 1/4″

Hiroaki Samura’s latest Blade of the Immortal volume finds Manji and Rin recovering from their harrowing escape out of Edo’s underground prisons and finally confronting their odd relationship. Döa and Isaku have something important to announce when Anotsu and the Itto-ryu reunite with their missing members, and Habaki Kagimura faces a death sentence! To atone for his failures and sins, Kagimura has one month to destroy Anotsu and his crew—or Kagimura must commit suicide. With his Mugai-ryu assassins disbanded, Kagimura enlists even stranger felons than before, creating the frightening, new Rokki-dan gang. With his colorful cast expanding, Samura’s knack for creating memorable characters and his masterful ability to dovetail multiple plot lines into each other are evident in this new volume, which also packs a powerful surprise ending!

• Hiroaki Samura is the creator of the enchanting Ohikkoshi manga anthology—also published by Dark Horse Manga!

BLOOD+ KOWLOON NIGHTS

Hirotaka Kisaragi (W/A)

On sale Jan 20
b&w, 176 pages
$9.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″

In his years as a Hong Kong police officer, Nishi Tatsuyoshi has never seen murder victims like the ones being found in the abandoned Kowloon Walled City. Bodies completely drained of blood are showing up every few nights, and rumors of vampires are swirling. The closer Nishi gets to the truth, the more obstacles are thrown in his way. Someone doesn’t want him to discover what’s really going on! Forced into an uneasy alliance with the Chiropteran-hunting Red Shield organization, Nishi works with a mysterious cello player named Hagi as they try to find the source of the murders and bring down the Wong family—which peddles a miracle drug they claim will give users immortality!

• Hot on the heels of the wildly successful Blood+ and Blood+ Adagio manga series and Blood+ anime series, Blood+ Kowloon Nights features Saya’s lover, Hagi, in a gripping solo adventure that takes place in the years between Saya’s infamous Vietnam incident and the events in Blood+!

• Dark Horse has sold over 70,000 copies of previous volumes of Blood+!

B.P.R.D.: 1947 #5 (of 5)

Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Joshua Dysart (W), Fábio Moon (A), Gabriel Bá (A), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Nov 11
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

With lots of casualties on both sides, the battle with the vampires is over. Now Broom has to enlist an old friend in a bizarre exorcism to save the soul of one of the soldiers. But the exorcist himself isn’t happy about the little demon Broom has adopted and has a lesson to teach Broom about battling the forces of darkness.

BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD VOLUME 5

Mi-Kyung Yun (W/A)

On sale Jan 13
b&w, 184 pages
$9.95
TPB, 5 3/4″ X 8 1/4″

With a jealous admirer and a bitter, powerful mother plotting behind his back, Habaek’s controversial decision to return Soah to his magical kingdom has the elemental gods and goddesses in an uproar. Habaek, the moody water god who rescued Soah’s village from famine and drought, is also dealing with a curse that turns him into a child during the day and reverts him to his true adult form at night. While some of the inhabitants of his domain are friendly to his human bride—and some are a bit too friendly—Habaek has kept his curse secret from Soah, who’s become completely confused by all the attention and resentment her presence brings! When night falls, Habaek pretends to be the aloof, handsome god Mui, whose irresistible charisma and flirtations with Soah have her thinking that she’s about ready to cheat on her immature spouse. It may be about time for Habaek/Mui to come clean! And who’s really responsible for the death of his previous human bride?

• This volume reproduces four full-color pages and a handful of bonus cartoons, as found in the original Korean edition.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #30: RETREAT part 5 (of 5)

Jane Espenson (W), Georges Jeanty (P/Cover), Andy Owens (I), Michelle Madsen (C), and Adam Hughes (Cover)

On sale Nov 4
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The war between Twilight’s minions and Buffy’s army rages in the Tibetan mountains. Bereft of their magic, the girls—Wiccans and Slayers—face an epic battle in which they have no hope of victory. Buffy has already done the retreat thing once, plus also put herself and her army into hiding . . . What can she do now that there is no magic to help them escape from another losing battle?

Series artist Georges Jeanty, acclaimed television writer Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica), and Executive Producer Joss Whedon conclude Season Eight’s biggest story yet!

• Eisner Award-winning series!

• Executive produced by Joss Whedon!

• Special guest cover artist Adam Hughes!

CHOBITS OMNIBUS EDITION

CLAMP (W/A)

On sale Jan 27
B&w, 720 pages
$24.95
TPB, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″

Some people buy their personal computers based on style . . . and in near-future Japan, the hottest style for your “persocom” is shaped like an attractive android! Poor student Hideki, fresh off the farm and trying to get into a Tokyo university, has neither money nor a girlfriend—then finds a persocom seemingly discarded in an alley. Taking the cute robot home and activating it, Hideki finds her affectionate, but amnesiac, able only to say the word “Chi”—and so he names her.

But who is this strange new persocom in his life? Instead of being his digital assistant, Hideki finds himself having to teach Chi how to get along in the everyday world, even while he and his friends try to solve the mystery of her origins. Is she one of the urban-legendary Chobits—persocoms built to have the riskiest functions of all: real emotions, and free will?

• A crossover hit for both female and male readers, CLAMP’s best-selling manga ever in America is finally available in omnibus form!

• The Chobits Omnibus Edition contains sixteen bonus color pages!

CITIZEN REX #5 (of 6)

Mario Hernandez (W) and Gilbert Hernandez (W/A)

On sale Nov 11
b&w, 24 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

If you think Citizen Rex has been wild so far, you won’t believe what Mario and Gilbert Hernandez have planned next!

Everyone who’s anyone in our fair city is attending the ultra-exclusive Blanc Masque gala, forcing all of the story’s competing interests into one building as plans are put in motion and deals are struck. Sergio becomes a spy, a rebuilt Rex leads a unit of floppy-bots on a frontal assault of high society, and all hell breaks loose in the private meeting room at midnight! Plus, Rex’s motives revealed, and Sergio remembers how he lost his shoes.

“Comics must be hardwired into the Hernandez Family’s DNA.”—Comic Book Resources

CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #16: FREE COMPANIONS part 1 (of 3)

Timothy Truman (W), Tomás Giorello (P), José Villarrubia (C), and Joseph Michael Linsner (Cover)

On sale Nov 18
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

A new story arc begins, leading to Conan’s tumultuous time fighting and looting with the kozaki—a wild group of fellow mercenaries also known as the “Free Companions.” Conan and his fellow warriors, regrouping and recovering from their battle with the wizard Natohk and his desert hordes, find themselves on the verge of having to serve in another war! Timothy Truman begins an original tale that will explore events alluded to in Robert E. Howard’s Conan tales, and he will also share artistic duties with Argentine sensation Tomás Giorello to illustrate a time in Conan’s life when he tries to keep his barbarous nature and hot temper in check in order to prove that he can be a leader of men.

“The latest incarnation of Conan has done nothing but live up to its predecessors.”
—Broken Frontier

CREEPY TRADING CARDS

On sale Jan 27
Boxed in a set of 50 cards (42 cover cards and 8 ad cards)
$14.95

We have kicked open the crypt door with the archival hardcover collections of macabre and unusual stories from Creepy, where the only “shaggy dog tale” to be found involves a werewolf or two.

Long esteemed by comics and horror fans for their deft art and twist endings, perhaps the single most stunning element of any issue of Creepy was its cover. Starting out with a memorable first-issue cover by Jack Davis, the magazine quickly found itself with none other than Frank Frazetta as its main cover artist, which was a move everyone found exciting. But Frazetta wasn’t the only great cover painter—he was followed by a host of others, such as Richard Corben and Ken Kelly, to name just two.

Another fun component to any issue of Creepy was the mail-order ads for odd merchandise from a variety of sources. These goofy ads still give one a nostalgic chuckle.

DEADLOCKE

Arvid Nelson (W), Nick Stakal (A), and Jock (Cover)

On sale Nov 18
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
One-shot

In modern-day New York City, a ragtag group of rebellious teens throws its annual raucous Weimar bash filled with debauchery, booze, and bloody knuckles. Going for the first time is Locke Vinetti, a newcomer to this band of bored rich kids—a loner who usually prefers to escape into the world of his alter ego comic book creation, Deadlocke.  Under the tutelage of the group’s charming but unpredictable ringleader Casey, Locke has learned to express his art, and his angst, in ways he never thought possible.  As the violent energy of Deadlocke continues to storm up inside of him, Locke must learn to control his newfound strength at the risk of losing Renee, the darkly beautiful girl of his dreams. Determined to prove that Deadlocke’s rage will overpower Locke’s love, Casey provokes Locke in a brutal rooftop battle where their lives, and their souls, hang in the balance.

Based on the Simon & Schuster young adult novel Venomous by Christopher Krovatin, Deadlocke teams comic writer Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi, Kull) with Nick Stakal (Criminal Macabre) in a story of a young man coming to terms with his own demons in a search for his true identity.

DR. HORRIBLE

Zack Whedon (W), Joëlle Jones (P), Dan Jackson (C), and Kristian Donaldson (Covers)

On sale Nov 18
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
One-shot

From the Joss Whedon-helmed webmovie Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog comes the origin story of the next greatest supervillain of all time . . . DR. HORRIBLE!

In this one-shot comic, Zack Whedon and artist Joëlle Jones (Token) establish how a young, impressionable, but brilliant Dr. Horrible was drawn into a world of crime. Readers are reacquainted with the charming, brawny, crime-fighting superhero extraordinaire Captain Hammer when Dr. Horrible crosses paths with his greatest enemy in an all-out showdown of immeasurable proportions. Special guest appearances include Dr. Horrible’s love interest, Penny; his sidekick, Moist; and a meter man.

Fans of Joss Whedon and the smash-hit musical Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog will not want to miss this!

• Includes two alternate covers by artist Kristian Donaldson (DMZ, Supermarket) and a pin-up from superstar artist Gene Ha (The 49ers).

EMILY THE STRANGE: THE 13TH HOUR #3

Rob Reger (W), Cosmic Debris (W), and Buzz Parker (A)

On sale Nov 25
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries

When Emily awoke on the morning of her thirteenth birthday, she had no way to predict the insanity that would follow. What was supposed to be a mellow day spent celebrating with her mom and watching the solar eclipse has turned into something else entirely. Now Emily is a stranger in an even stranger land, in hot pursuit of the bizarre beast who stole the powerful heirloom watch her mysterious Aunt LaRue sent. Flying ships, talking creatures, and deadly traps are all just the start of an adventure that started in her own bedroom and now finds her standing on the precipice of her own fate, at the ancestral home of her family. Emily loves when things get weird, but is she ready for what waits for her within the walls of Blackrock?

END LEAGUE #9

Rick Remender (W), Andy MacDonald (P), Matthew Wilson (C), and Eric Canete (Cover)

On sale Nov 4
FC, 40 pages
$3.99
Ongoing

With the hammer of Thor in his possession, the Smiling Man sets out to remake the world in his image, unless Codename Black can stop him. Dead Lexington’s manipulations force Prairie Ghost and Brother Occult to choose between mass murder and the fate of all life on Earth. Zeus sends his only daughter, Divinity, to destroy her former allies and obtain the hammer for Olympus. Soldier American finds himself a POW of Wolfsangel—in 1942. The deck is stacked; there is no possibility of victory—the end draws nigh for the End League. Brought to you by the super champion of America, Rick Remender (Punisher: War Journal, Fear Agent), with art by groundbreaking rising star of comic bookery Andy MacDonald (Punisher: War Journal, Miss America).

Series finale!

FEAR AGENT VOLUME 5: I AGAINST I

Rick Remender (W) and Tony Moore (A)

On sale Jan 13
FC, 120 pages
$14.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″

After being shot through the other side of a black hole, Heath Huston finds himself in a shadow universe, marooned on the desolate Planet Westx. A stranger in a strange place, the last Fear Agent enters a world populated by gun-slinging robots, venomous mutants, and buxom cowgirls in this six-part sci-fi Western shot through the heart. Creators Rick Remender and Tony Moore reunite to bring you the good, the bad, and the ugly days of Heath Huston, outlaw . . . It’s high noon in dead space.

• Collects issues #22-#27.

GANTZ VOLUME 9

Hiroya Oku (W/A)

On sale Jan 27
B&w, 232 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″

Sometimes big things come in small packages. And our Gantz hero, Kei, might want to consider that in this volume of the frantic and weird, angsty and sexy manga by Hiroya Oku.

Gantz’s cross between the real world of teenage complications and the totally sci-fi concept of aliens occupying an unwitting Earth is a hit with a cross section of comics and manga readers. Each volume brings new challenges and frustrations, and plenty of sex and violence.

• Gantz has proven to be one of the most popular adult anime in recent years, with over 190,000 copies sold in the U.S. alone!

• Each volume of Gantz comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.

THE GOON #33

Eric Powell (W/A) and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Nov 25
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
One-shot

The Goon goes to the dentist and finds out that the receptionist has been replaced by a sentient manatee! And the Goon hates manatees! So he punches it! The dentist doesn’t like that so he kicks Goon out. Leaving him with the dilemma of how to eat candy apples with a sore tooth. Then aliens show up.

Not actual synopsis. (But that is the actual cover, so who the $@#%* knows?)

“If this is your first time [reading The Goon], you are in for a treat—if not, you already know how lucky you are.” —David Fincher, Filmmaker (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Fight Club)

THE GOON VOLUME 0: ROUGH STUFF

Eric Powell (W/A)

On sale Dec 30
FC, 104 pages
$13.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″
The Goon’s earliest battles with the undead are mixed with stories of his childhood years, where we’re introduced to his circus performing family, and discover how The Goon became head of a notorious crime family.
Originally a self-published, black-and-white comic series, The Goon: Rough Stuff collects the earliest stories of The Goon and his wise-cracking sidekick Franky. This re-mastered, colored edition also contains an expanded sketchbook section with notes from series creator, Eric Powell, that feature the earliest concept designs of our leading man, The Goon.

“The Goon is a wild ride filled with imagination, intrigue, horror, and laughs.”
—Ain’t It Cool News

GROO: THE HOGS OF HORDER #2 (of 4)

Mark Evanier (W) and Sergio Aragonés (A)

On sale Nov 25
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries

Unemployment is rising . . . debts are swelling . . . and no one can afford to buy anything.

Fortunately, that’s only happening in the world of Groo the Wanderer, not in real life! Breathe a sigh of sweet relief and join Groo as, aided and abetted by the award-winning team of Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, he rambles across the land, adding economic destruction to the many other catastrophes that he usually spreads. Also in this issue, we meet King Huhu and learn what he has to do with the whole mess!

HELLBOY: THE WILD HUNT #8 (of 8)

Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Duncan Fegredo (A), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Nov 11
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

Hellboy finally confronts the truth about his heritage—a moment that the mysterious Osiris Club has been anticipating for over a century, and believes heralds the final days of man!

The conclusion to Wild Hunt!

THE KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE VOLUME 10

Eiji Otsuka (W) and Housui Yamazaki (A)

On sale Jan 13
b&w, 216 pages
$10.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″

The dead don’t walk in Kurosagi—that is, not without a little help . . . and it’s a shock to the system when the delivery service finds out what’s making their clients rise up! Then, for Numata to take off his sunglasses for anyone, it must be a grave matter . . . or, more likely, a matter of someone not yet in their grave . . .

• Each volume comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.

“I was sold by the first few pages . . . it’s a lot of fun. It’s a warped Saturday-morning cartoon for grown-ups.” —David Welsh, Comic World News

RAPTURE #6 (of 6)

Michael Avon Oeming (W/A), Taki Soma (W/Cover), and Val Staples (C)

On sale Nov 25
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

The end of the end is near for Evelyn Town. Cannibals have slain her mother and decimated her city. A corrupted Champion has twisted the heart of the one she sought so valiantly from the beginning—her boyfriend, Gil. Love and power are strong forces which can bring triumph or destruction. Will Evelyn and Gil recognize their gifts in time to save their world and themselves? Or, now that the former flames are reunited, will they fight to the death in the ultimate lovers’ quarrel? Can the world ever recover its former glory, when utopia seemed within grasp as Champions patrolled the skies above? Or will Evelyn’s and Gil’s passion and anger end it all?
The final Earth-shattering issue!

THE SIMPSONS CLASSIC CHARACTER #6: KRUSTY THE CLOWN

On sale Jan 20

Packaged in a special litho-printed, full-color tin box with a vintage-style pin-back button and booklet
Limited edition of 550 numbered pieces
$49.95

Dark Horse is proud to give their unique “primitive but charming” Syroco-style treatment to one of the modern era’s most iconic, if dysfunctional, families—none other than the Simpsons. The sixth and final character in our Simpson’s Classic Character series is kids-TV-show host Krusty the Clown. Springfield’s entrepreneurial funnyman will do anything to make a buck no matter how shameless.

STAR WARS ADVENTURES: LUKE SKYWALKER AND THE TREASURE OF THE DRAGONSNAKES

Tom Taylor (W) and Daxiong (A)

On sale Jan 20
FC, 80 pages
$7.95
TPB, 5 1/4″ x 7 1/2″

The movie The Empire Strikes Back shows us only a small portion of Luke Skywalker’s Jedi training under the tutelage of Master Yoda. In this story, witness a never-before-seen part of that training as Luke is given the task of finding—and retrieving—an object guarded by the deadliest creatures on the swamp world of Dagobah: the monstrous dragonsnakes!

This is the most harrowing, dangerous, and muddiest mission that Luke has ever faced!

• Luke Skywalker trains to become a Jedi Knight with Master Yoda!

• The Star Wars Adventures series are parent friendly and perfect for younger readers as well as longtime Star Wars fans.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS #10—HERO OF THE CONFEDERACY part 1 (of 3)

Henry Gilroy (W), Steven Melching (W), Brian Kolchak (P), Dan Parsons (I), and Michael E. Wiggam (C)

On sale Nov 11
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and hero of the Republic, is challenged by a fledgling hero of the Confederacy!

The Confederacy is being provided with newer and more advanced ships from a world that has claimed neutrality in the Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi fly to Valahari to negotiate with the planet’s rulers, but as events unfold, they find that diplomacy may have to give way to war!

• Obi-Wan and Anakin have dinner with Count Dooku?!

• This series is a complement to Lucasfilm’s The Clone Wars TV show!

STAR WARS: INVASION #5 (of 5)

Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)

On sale Nov 4
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The Yuuzhan Vong invasion of the galaxy is spreading quickly. Prince Finn Galfridian, whose planet of Artorias was taken and his family separated by the Vong, is training as a Jedi with Luke Skywalker to prepare himself to save his family and lead his surviving people.

Not surprisingly, the other members of the royal family have been working to save themselves! Finn’s mother and sister Kaye are fighting against the Vong’s bioengineered killing monsters to escape imprisonment, and if his father, Caled, is still living, he will be leading resistance on Artorias. With hope, Caled lives, and will still be fighting when Finn arrives with aid!

STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #47—DEMON part 1 (of 4)

John Jackson Miller (W), Brian Ching (P), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Benjamin Carré (Cover)

On sale Nov 18
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The trial of Demagol, the twisted Mandalorian researcher, is finally underway on Coruscant—headed by none other than the Jedi Malak, a favorite of fans of the Knights of the Old Republic video game! Malak is going to make sure that Demagol, a specimen of true Mandalorian evil and deception, is made an example of and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

Amidst the trial, Zayne Carrick and his friends are learning a lot about deception in their own ranks—and what they discover will threaten the life of one of their own!

STAR WARS: LEGACY #42—DIVIDED LOYALTIES

John Ostrander (W), Dave Ross (A), Brad Anderson (C), and Chris Scalf (Cover)

On sale Nov 25
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The partnership between the Galactic Alliance and Roan Fel’s Imperials is tried again against the Sith Empire—and this time they’re joined by a group of Jedi who have at last come out of hiding!

Rogue Squadron’s newest member is tested in battle! A traitor lurks aboard the Alliance! An Imperial Knight and a Jedi take on a dangerous retrieval mission! The Jedi, the Galactic Alliance, Fel’s Imperials, and the Sith Imperials all contemplate the changes brought by Darth Krayt’s death!

• Legacy-era Rogue Squadron in action!

• The Jedi return to the war!

STAR WARS OMNIBUS: SHADOWS OF THE EMPIRE

Steve Perry (W), Michael A. Stackpole (W), John Wagner (W), Timothy Zahn (W), Carlos Ezquerra (A), John Nadeau (A), Kilian Plunkett (A), Ron Randall (A), and others

On sale Jan 27
FC, 408 pages
$24.95
TPB, 6″ x 9″

Beginning with Shadows of the Empire, Luke, Leia, and Chewbacca are determined to foil Boba Fett’s plan to deliver carbonite-encased Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt. But these heroes are up against more than they realize. Darth Vader searches for Luke, hoping to turn him to the dark side, and a new threat, Xizor, the ruthless leader of the criminal organization Black Sun, seeks to gain the trust of the Emperor by killing Skywalker and overthrowing Vader! Then, in Shadows of the Empire: Evolution, a beautiful human-droid—previously an assassin for Xizor—searches to find her human side as Luke Skywalker tracks her across the galaxy, determined to bring her to justice! And finally, in Mara Jade: By the Emperor’s Hand, the Emperor’s personal assassin carries out her last mission, determined to succeed despite the death of her Master—even if it costs her life!

• Features all your favorite characters from the original Star Wars trilogy: Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo!

• Includes stories written by acclaimed novelists Timothy Zahn and Steve Perry!

• The latest in the value-packed line of Star Wars Omnibus editions from Dark Horse!

STAR WAR: PURGE—SECONDS TO DIE

John Ostrander (W), TBD (A), and Travis Charest (Cover)

On sale Nov 11
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
One-shot

After Order 66, the Jedi purge led by the dark and fearsome Sith Lord Darth Vader, most of the remaining Jedi are hiding to survive—but not all. Sha Koon, niece of the esteemed Plo Koon, has narrowly escaped the attack on the Jedi Temple, and has been left full of questions about the dark side. Sha Koon will not hide; she will find another way to continue being a Jedi—one that will place her directly in the path of Darth Vader and the Emperor!

• The Jedi purge continues!

• This issue follows events in Revenge of the Sith!

STAR WARS: THE THRAWN TRILOGY

Mike Baron (W), Olivier Vatine (A), Fred Blanchard (A), Terry Dodson (A), Edvin Biukovic (A), Mathieu Laffray (Cover) and others

On sale Jan 6
FC, 420 pages
$34.95
HC, 6″ x 9″

Five years after the fall of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is the first in a new line of Jedi Knights. Han Solo and Princess Leia have married, together assuming many burdens of the New Republic’s government. But across the galaxy lies a dying part of the Empire—all the more dangerous near death—and it has just discovered something that could bring it back to life! The last of the Emperor’s warlords, Admiral Thrawn, is ready to destroy the New Republic—and the odds are stacked heavily against Luke, Leia, and Han!

• Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy collects the adaptations of Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command. This Star Wars hardcover edition is a must have!

TIM BURTON VINYL FIGURES —OYSTER BOY AND TOXIC BOY

On sale Dec 9
$24.99

Oyster Boy
8″ tall

Toxic Boy
7″ tall

Working under the personal supervision of Tim Burton, we have created a trio of large-size vinyl figures that reflect all of the nuance and detail of our past smaller models.

Stain Boy led the way. This month we bring you Oyster Boy and Toxic Boy, two extremely popular characters from Burton’s The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories.

Packaged in full-color window boxes, these figures are sure to command a prominent place on the shelves of both serious toy collectors and more casual Tim Burton fans.

• The original sculpts for our Tim Burton vinyl figures will be on display at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC in November!

TIM BURTON PVC SETS

On sale Oct 14

Tim Burton PVC Set – Toxic Boy
Toxic Boy, Mummy Boy, and Penguin Boy
$17.99

Tim Burton PVC Set – Stain Boy
Stain Boy, Robot Boy, and The Girl with Many Eyes
$17.99

Tim Burton PVC Set – Oyster Boy
Oyster Boy, Junk Girl, and The Boy with Nails in His Eyes
$17.99

Tim Burton PVC Set – Pin Cushion Queen
Pin Cushion Queen, Brie Boy, and Staring Girl
$17.99

Dark Horse is refreshing the packaging of the original PVC boxed sets, giving the packaging a new design and, in a reluctant bow to the increased cost of just about everything, a new suggested retail price.

All of our three-piece PVC sets feature characters from Tim Burton’s The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories. All original characters were created by Tim Burton. Each set features three fully painted PVC figures designed by Burton and packaged in a full-color window box.

UNCLE SCROOGE CLASSIC CHARACTER #6: BEAGLE BOY

On sale Jan 20

Packaged in a special litho-printed, full-color tin box with a vintage-style pin-back button and booklet
Limited edition of 650 numbered pieces
$49.95

We’re giving one of the comic-book medium’s most revered casts of characters the Syroco-style treatment in this series of statuettes based on the classic Uncle Scrooge comics. Our sixth and final character in this series is Beagle Boy. The Beagle Boys were a gang of buffoonish criminals, only identifiable by the prison number plates on their chests. They were a constant threat to Scrooge’s riches, and are probably still trying to pull the perfect heist to this very day.

USAGI YOJIMBO #124: A TOWN CALLED HELL part 1 (of 2)

Stan Sakai (W/A)

On sale Nov 25
b&w, 24 pages
$3.50
Ongoing

Of all the towns in all the provinces in all Japan, Usagi’s wanderings have to bring him to this one . . .

Boss Higa has controlled his town with a stone fist for as long as anyone can remember. But a new gang has arrived intent on driving him out, and as backup they’ve brought along the best swordsman money can buy. All Higa’s got on his side is some puny, long-eared ronin as a bodyguard. If this new gang can’t be beaten through force, it may be time to resort to trickery.

• 2009 Eisner Award nominee for Best Continuing Series

“Honestly, Usagi Yojimbo is almost hard to review at times because it’s near-perfect.”
—Comic Book Resources

WITCHFINDER: IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS #5 (of 5)

Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Ben Stenbeck (A), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Nov 4
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

Deep inside an asylum, Edward Grey faces a final confrontation with the mysterious beast that has been terrorizing the streets of Victorian London. Grey learns that sometimes you must use the Devil’s own tools to fight him, when he meets up with the young Memnan Saa, the villain from B.P.R.D.: The Warning and The Black Goddess!
Mike Mignola and Ben Stenbeck (B.P.R.D.: The Ectoplasmic Man) team up for this long-awaited glimpse into one of the Hellboy universe’s greatest enigmas: nineteenth-century occult investigator Edward Grey!
• Cover art by Eisner Award-winning Hellboy creator Mike Mignola!

via Dark Horse Comics