Archaia sent Major Spoilers a sneak peek of three books arriving in stores on February 27, 2013. Take the jump for a look at Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Creation Myths Volume 2, Pantalones, TX: Don’t Chicken Out, and Spera Volume 2.
JIM HENSON’S THE DARK CRYSTAL: CREATION MYTHS VOLUME 2
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $19.95 U.S.
Page Count: 104 pages
Format: hardcover, 7.25” x 11.25”, full color
Genre: Fantasy
On-Sale Date: February 27 in comic shops, March 12 in bookstores
Rating: T – TEEN (12 and up, may contain mild violence or mild profanity)
Written by Joshua Dysart
Illustrated by Alex Sheikman and Lizzy John
Concept, Character Designs, and Cover by Brian Froud
The Great Conjunction is at hand in this dramatic second volume of Archaia and The Jim Henson Company’s prequel graphic novels that tell the origin of the Dark Crystal. Aughra, the beloved guardian of Thra, has gone into hiding, while her son, Raunip, leads a team of emissaries to the Crystal Castle. There they will bear witness as the visiting Urskeks attempt to use the Conjunction to power their voyage home. But pain and mistrust fostered by the group leads to events that will corrupt the world to its very core and transform the Urskeks into two distinct races: the gentle urRu and the terrifying Skeksis. Brian Froud, legendary fantasy artist and conceptual designer of Jim Henson’s “The Dark Crystal” film, returns to oversee this crucial chapter that reveals the tragic events that caused the Bright Crystal to darken and shatter. This book also includes an Afterword written by David Odell (screenwriter for “The Dark Crystal”), never-before-seen production stills from the film, and a Brian Froud concept sketch gallery!
PANTALONES, TX: DON’T CHICKEN OUT
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $19.95 U.S.
Page Count: 120 pages
Format: hardcover, 9” x 7” (landscape), full color
Genre: Humor/Children’s Adventure
On-Sale Date: February 27 in comic shops, March 12 in bookstores
Rating: E – EVERYONE (all ages, may contain minimal violence)
Written by Yehudi Mercado
Illustrated by Yehudi Mercado
Cover by Yehudi Mercado
Animator Yehudi Mercado brings the zaniness of Saturday-morning cartoons to this wacky graphic novel! Appealing to fans of Adventure Time, The Simpsons, and Captain Underpants, Pantalones, TX follows the adventures of a band of misfit kids in a rural Texas town as they try to outwit, outrun, and outprank the ever-vigilant, food truck-riding sheriff and his giant chicken. Featuring spoof ads and an eye-popping orange casewrap in landscape trim, this book will appeal to boys and girls 5-15…and their Adult Swim-watching parents!
SPERA VOLUME 2
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $24.95 U.S.
Page Count: 168 pages
Format: Hardcover, 6” x 9”, full color
Genre: Fantasy
On-Sale Date: February 27 in comic shops, March 12 in bookstores
Rating: E – EVERYONE (all ages, may contain minimal violence)
Written by Josh Tierney
Illustrated by Giannis Milonogiannis, Kyla Vanderklugt, Timothy Weaver, and Afu Chan
Cover by Afu Chan
In this sequel to the critically acclaimed first volume of Spera, exiled princesses Pira and Lono travel to the bustling city of Kotequog to avoid the clutches of Pira’s mother, the Evil Queen. Obtaining jobs as adventurers, the two best friends set out on a series of quests that land them in perhaps more excitement than they’d bargained for. Told in four chapters and a series of stand-alone shorts, each drawn by a different rising talent in comics, Spera: Volume 2 brings the same gorgeous artistry as its debut installment. The series, based off the original webcomic experiment, brings artists together from around the globe to showcase their talents as some of the premier fantasy artists in the industry. Spera will appeal to art lovers and children of all ages, especially fans of The Legend of Korra, Patricia Wrede’s Dealing with Dragons, Disney’s Tangled, and the Flight series.
