Dark Horse Comics for December 2008

Dark Horse Comics has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in December 2008. This month features the return of Beanworld in print, and Harmony’s return in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

ALIENS OMNIBUS VOLUME 6
Mark Schultz (W), Chuck Dixon (W), Ian Edginton (W), Jay Stephens (W), Doug Wheatley (A), Gene Colan (A), Eduardo Risso (A), and others

On sale Feb 4
FC, 376 pages
$24.95
TPB, 6″ x 9″

Mankind has always struggled to balance exploration and exploitation when stepping into new lands. In the era of the colonization of space, the discovery of new wonders is countered by the awful realities when species once separated by light years of airless void are suddenly thrown together, and the heady intoxication of discovery becomes the feral nightmare of a battle for supremacy. Humanity’s arrogance and greed have helped the Alien plague spread, and now men and women must step forward to ensure that the future of the galaxy does not become the age of the Alien!

• Featuring the talents of Mark Schultz, Chuck Dixon, Ian Edginton, Doug Wheatley, Gene Colan, Phil Hester, Eduardo Risso, and many more.

AMANO LIMITED EDITION PRINT

On sale Jan 28
18″ x 24″, signed and numbered, limited to 250 pieces
$200.00

We celebrated our 20th year of publishing manga with a specially commissioned in-store poster featuring a calligraphy-style illustration by renowned artist Yoshitaka Amano. This has been one of our most talked-about promotional items—its simple artistry captures the elusive spirit of creativity.

We asked Mr. Amano if we could produce a special collector’s edition of the piece as a lithograph for collectors. He agreed, and we present this frameable edition of this artwork while supplies last.

BEANWORLD HOLIDAY SPECIAL
Larry Marder (W/A)

On sale December 17
FC, 24 pages
$3.50
One-shot

The first new Beanworld story in print in over a decade, the Beanworld Holiday Special is the perfect introduction to Larry Marder’s inimitable creation!

As enjoyable for children as it is enlightening for adults, Beanworld is a grand adventure that explores social dynamics, culture creation, and ecological networks—all in great fun! Take a tour of this magical world, from Proffy’s Fix-It Shop to a Fabulous Look-See Show, in this issue that introduces toys to the baby Cuties and plunges readers into one of the most original and brilliant comic-book universes ever created!

You’ve never seen anything like it—unless you’re a longtime fan of Marder’s, in which case you’ll be thrilled by the return of this wonderful and peculiar comic-book experience!

“Larry Marder’s Beanworld is a vegetarian update on Krazy Kat with a world and lingo unto itself.”
—Smithsonian Studies of American Art

“One doesn’t read Beanworld at all, one lives it. Beanworld draws you into its world and plays out in your mind. This is a rare feat in any medium, and a treasure in comics.”
—Feature Magazine

BLOOD+ VOLUME 5
Asuka Katsura (W/A)

On sale Feb 11
b&w, 208 pages
$10.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″

Chiropterans run wild—and Saya comes into her own as a single-minded killing machine!

Three months after the demolition of Red Shield headquarters, Saya is more intent than ever to rid the globe of all Chiropterans, and she travels to New York for a bloody showdown with Diva. When Diva sings, her supernatural sounds turn humans into hellish, bloodthirsty beasts . . . and what better place to start a Chiropteran apocalypse than Carnegie Hall? Desperate to kill these monsters and put a stop to the Chiropteran threat once and for all, Saya’s willing to kill her loved ones and herself to achieve this goal, and her rage will not be quenched by Hagi’s presence or Kai’s pleas—or by a strange declaration of love.

• Asuka Katsura’s thrilling finale to the Blood+ manga series races to a violent and heartbreaking conclusion, with her rapid-fire adaptation successfully expanding upon the original Production I.G/Aniplex anime hit!

• The first Dark Horse volume of Blood+ manga has sold over 20,000 copies in less than four months!

• Look for the Blood and Blood+ novels—also released by Dark Horse!

B.P.R.D.: WAR ON FROGS #2 (of 4)
Mike Mignola (Cover), John Arcudi (W), John Severin (A), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Dec 10
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

Legendary artist John Severin (Two-Fisted Tales) lends his pen to the second of four one-shots set during the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense’s fight against the frog monsters.

Series writer John Arcudi and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola take B.P.R.D. back to its roots with a classic horror story: a squadron of B.P.R.D. soldiers hunts down a nest of frog monsters on an abandoned battleship—only to become their quarry’s prey.

“[Severin’s] work is detailed, fresh, lively, and emotional. It’s done in a classic style, yet never feels stagnant.” –Ain’t It Cool News

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21
Jane Espenson (W), Georges Jeanty (P/Cover), Andy Owens (I), Michelle Madsen (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)

On sale Dec 3
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

Television writer Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Battlestar Galactica) returns to Buffy the Vampire Slayer in Season Eight. Espenson is the first of five acclaimed writers that tackle this groundbreaking story arc—where Buffy fans are introduced to a new world where vampires are in and Slayers are out.
Cue Harmony, the bubblegum cheerleader from Sunnydale High whose ambitions include blood sucking and stardom.
Espenson teams with series artist Georges Jeanty and Executive Producer Joss Whedon, in “Harmonic Divergence.”

2008 Eisner Award winner—Best New Series.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS VOLUME 6
Christopher Golden (W), Daniel Brereton (W), Andi Watson (W/A), Doug Petrie (W), Cliff Richards (A), Joe Bennett (A), Ryan Sook (A), Rick Ketcham (A), and others

On sale Feb 11
FC, 368 pages
$24.95
TPB, 6″ x 9″

The Buffy Omnibus series continues with Volume Six—delving further into Season Four of the acclaimed television series, and launching readers into the heart of Season Five.

Buffy and Angel, who’s now a resident of Los Angeles, must reunite to fight new foes, but Buffy’s current flame, Riley Finn, isn’t too keen on the former lovers reuniting under any circumstances.

Meanwhile, things begin to heat up between Willow and Tara.

• Dark Horse has completely revitalized the Buffy franchise with their Buffy Season Eight series, selling over 135,000 copies of the first two Season Eight graphic novels!

“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 #6
Timothy Truman (W), Tomás Giorello (P), Richard Corben (P), José Villarrubia (C), and Frank Cho (Cover)

On sale Dec 17
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

Richard Corben illustrates another gripping Connacht flashback, as we witness how Conan’s grandfather returned to Cimmeria, found a bride, and tamed his wanderlust in order to become an integral part of his tribe. In Conan’s present, Conan has overcome impossible odds and trials to return to the Cimmerian village he grew up in—only to find that much has changed in the years he’s been away. With Brecan and his men closing in on the fugitive Caollan, will Conan’s reunion with his former Cimmerian lover get cut short?

With moody interiors by both Richard Corben and Tomás Giorello, Conan the Cimmerian continues Dark Horse Comics’ exciting exploration of Robert E. Howard’s beloved barbarian hero.

“Beautifully rendering Robert E. Howard’s poem, ‘Cimmeria,’ Truman and Giorello do an outstanding job of setting the grandiose tone for their upcoming reboot by telling a simple, yet poignant story.” —IGN.com

“Tomás Giorello…has the Conan formula down to a science.” —WeeklyComicBookReview.com

EDEN: IT’S AN ENDLESS WORLD! VOLUME 11
Hiroki Endo (W/A)

On sale Feb 4
b&w, 240 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″

The Closure Virus fails to destroy humanity, but the mysterious Propater organization uses the ensuing chaos to take over governments across the globe. Years later, the Closure Virus has mutated and begins to spread in a strange way, with the enigmatic being who calls himself “Maya” possibly at the center of its proliferation. While Maya may also hold the key to freeing Elijah’s kidnapped sister, Elijah finds himself enmeshed in another complicated Propater debacle, and it’s clear that the greedy, scheming organization wants him dead. Befriending Aletheia, a strange cyborg girl, Elijah travels to Australia—where Miriam (the policewoman from Eden Volume 10) is following clues on her former partner’s death, where Propater may be holding some of its prisoners of war, and where dozens of pilgrims are giving themselves up to the expanding threat of the new Disclosure Virus!

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

“Eden is a fascinating dystopian series like none other. The superb artwork, the intricate and taut storytelling are arresting in every aspect.” —ActiveAnime.com

EERIE ARCHIVES VOLUME 1
Various (W/A)

On sale Mar 18
FC w/b&w, 240 pages
$49.95
HC, 8 3/8″ x 10 7/8″

Slithering upon the heels of Dark Horse’s archive collections of the seminal horror comics magazine Creepy comes its terror-filled cousin publication Eerie! Collected for fans for the first time ever, and packaged in the same amazing oversized format as our Creepy Archives, Dark Horse Comics has taken great, gruesome care in presenting this groundbreaking material to readers who have been waiting decades to get their claws on it. Eerie magazine, like its killer kin Creepy, features work from many of the masters of comics storytelling. For fans of spectacular spookiness, mind-bending sci-fi, and astonishing artwork, the Eerie Archives library is a must have.

• Includes the work of Gray Morrow, Frank Frazetta, Alex Toth, Neal Adams, Joe Orlando, and others!

• The first Dark Horse volume of the Creepy Archives enjoyed initial orders of over 4,000 books, proving there is much demand for these classic Warren magazine reprints!

GANTZ VOLUME 4
Hiroya Oku (W/A)

On sale Feb 25
b&w, 224 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/16″

A new game begins! The masochistic orb Gantz has gathered a new crew of ordinary citizens to play within its dangerous plot. The new draft picks and returning survivors are thrown headfirst into a new game promising a far more lethal prey. This time their target is a strange robot in the guise of famed Japanese folk singer Tanaka Seijin, but what monstrous alien form lurks beneath this crooning façade?

Kei, Masaru, and Kishimoto, now seasoned pros of this diabolical death match, have to decide whether it’s in their best interest to let this new batch of recruits in on the details and pitfalls of the game, or use their previous assignment’s scars to their advantage.

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

“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

GIGANTIC #2 (of 5)
Rick Remender (W), Eric Nguyen (P), and John Rauch (C)

On sale Dec 10
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

You are an actor on a planet-sized stage. You don’t know it, but Gigantic does, and he’s willing to risk your life to open your eyes. With the universe- controlling network known as the UBC hot on his tail, Gigantic makes a desperate plea to the citizens of his homeworld to discontinue their support of the evil corporation that rules them. In a fight for the life of his brother, the mystery society at the core of the Earth is revealed.

THE GOON #31
Eric Powell (W/A) and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Dec 31
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

Goon Year concludes!
A brutal betrayal, and Goon’s world is forever changed. Lonely Street will never be the same again, and that stands true for its longtime patrons—some will live, and some will die.

2008 Eisner Award winner for Best Painter and Best Writer/Artist (Humor).

HALO 3

On sale Mar 25

Halo 3 is the third game in the award-winning science fiction Halo trilogy and will provide the thrilling conclusion to the events that began in Halo: Combat Evolved and continued in Halo 2. Weta Collectibles has been working for nearly a year to produce a line of limited-edition sculptures from Halo 3 and this month we offer the first in this line of stunning pieces.

Weta Collectibles: Halo 3—Cortana Statue

8″ W x 17.5″ H x 8″ D, limited edition
$250.00

An UNSC Artificial Intelligence and one of the greatest assets in humanity’s war of survival, Cortana is as close to a person as a computer program could become, though she has no true physical form. Recovered by the Master Chief from the Flood-infested Covenant warship High Charity, Cortana is the Chief’s companion and confidant, the closest thing to a friend he has.

Weta Collectibles: Halo 3—Master Chief and Arbiter Statue

12.5″ W x 10″ H x 8″ D, limited edition
$250.00

Unlikely allies, the Master Chief and his former Covenant nemesis, the Arbiter, must fight alongside one another. Once the most respected warrior in the Covenant, the Arbiter was stripped of rank and betrayed by the Prophets, while the Master Chief has always been a man alone, even among his own kind.

HELLBOY: THE WILD HUNT #1 (of 8)
Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Duncan Fegredo (A), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Dec 3
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

When ancient giants begin to rise from their graves across England, Hellboy is invited to join a mysterious group called the Wild Hunt and help bring them down. But the hunt leads to betrayal, and Hellboy finds himself up against enemies as angry about what he is as what he’s done. “The fading children of the earth” gather in the shadows, waiting for the promised return of the Queen of Blood, and a chance to once again “shake the trees, crack mountains, and make the daytime world weep in fear.”

• Hot on the heels of the 2008 summer film release Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo reunite with the follow-up to events set in motion in their 2007 Hellboy miniseries Darkness Calls.

INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS: THE FURTHER ADVENTURES VOLUME 1
Walt Simonson (W), John Byrne (W/A), Denny O’Neil (W), David Michelinie (W), Archie Goodwin (W), John Buscema (A), Howard Chaykin (A), Klaus Janson (A), Terry Austin (A), and others

On sale Feb 18
FC, 368 pages
$24.95
TPB, 6″ x 9″

Join comics luminaries Walt Simonson, John Byrne, Archie Goodwin, and Howard Chaykin, among others, in the very first appearances of the esteemed professor on the comic-book page! Weighing in at a hefty three hundred and sixty-eight pages, this tome collects the first twelve issues of the 1980s ongoing series—along with the adaptation of Raiders of the Lost Ark—for the very first time. And David Michelinie, the writer who would go on to pen most of Indy’s four-color adventures, begins his imaginative run here! Fans of the films won’t want to miss these classic tales that extend the Indiana Jones mythos beyond the silver screen.

• Indiana Jones Omnibus: The Further Adventures Vol. 1 is the first modern collection of material originally published by Marvel!

• The first two Dark Horse Indiana Jones Omnibus editions have combined to sell over 43,000 copies!

• A fantastic value— 368 BIG pages for only $24.95!

INDIANA JONES AND THE TOMB OF THE GODS
Rob Williams (W), Steve Scott (P), Nathan Massengill (I), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Tony Harris (Cover)

On sale Feb 11
FC, 120 pages
$14.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″

When a group of preeminent archaeologists discovers a prehistoric map to an ancient tomb, they have no idea that they will spend the rest of their lives making sure that it does not fall into the wrong hands. Now, with Nazis hot on their trail, they entrust Indiana Jones with the map and a cryptic warning: “Some mysteries are best left undiscovered.” Indy knows that he has to keep the artifact out of the hands of the Nazis, but are his motivations truly altruistic or has he let his curiosity cloud his perspective?

It’s a race around the globe as Indiana Jones attempts to stop a group of Hitler’s Nazi elite from harnessing an ancient power of unrivaled destructive force that has been hidden for millennia in the mysterious Tomb of the Gods!

“. . . plenty of mystery and fast-paced action and adventure to keep me salivating for more.” —Comicsbulletin.com

KICKASS KUTIES: THE ART OF LISA PETRUCCI
Lisa Petrucci (W/A)

On sale Feb 18
FC, 112 pages
$22.95
HC, 8 1/2″ x 11″

Walk through a sparkling world of make-believe, a cotton-candy-colored  dream world of hearts, flowers, and switchblades, of dewy-eyed cartoon pinup gals, kutie-pie kowgirls, leopard-skinned sweeties, hatchet-wielding honeys, and the cuddliest devil kitties Hell has to offer. The art of Lisa Petrucci is a honey-coated maelstrom of contradictions—the innocence of lost Americana, childhood nostalgia, and traditional feminine iconography all presented with a rebellious spirit. Kickass Kuties: The Art of Lisa Petrucci is the first collection of the artist’s remarkable catalog, a hallucinatory tour through an emporium of cultural chaos, a bipolar gallery of imagery both sacred and profane.

• Lisa’s work has been featured in a wide array of national and international books and magazines and her work has been shown in galleries across the U.S. and Europe.

• Dark Horse Deluxe offers a line of Petrucci products, including stationery, journals, and vinyl toys.

KULL #2 (of 6)
Arvid Nelson (W), Will Conrad (P), José Villarrubia (C), and Andy Brase (Cover)

On sale Dec 3
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

Before the blood from his last battle has a chance to soak into Valusian soil, Kull faces new threats to his throne. As representatives from all corners of his kingdom seek his counsel, the new warrior-king accepts a strange invitation from a hotheaded Pict emissary. Kull will need to discard ancient prejudices and find allies in former foes if he’s to save the newly united Valusian empire from a clandestine enemy that once threatened to enslave and exterminate mankind!

With critically acclaimed writer Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi, Joker’s Asylum) fan-favorite artist Will Conrad (Conan, Serenity), and coloring maestro José Villarrubia (Conan the Cimmerian) at the helm, Kull is a welcome addition to Dark Horse’s Robert E. Howard comic book line—and one of the smartest new adventure series of 2008!

Praise for Arvid Nelson:

“Truly original ideas are worth their weight in gold, but a truly original idea executed with as much intelligence and obvious passion as Rex Mundi is priceless. A top-of-the-stack comic, month after month.”  —Brian K. Vaughn

“Nelson compellingly stretches the medium.”
–– Entertainment Weekly

LARRY MARDER’S BEANWORLD BOOK 1: WAHOOLAZUMA!
Larry Marder (W/A)

On sale Feb 4
b&w, 272 pages
$19.95
HC, 6″ x 9″

Beanworld is a peculiar fantasy that operates under its own rules and laws. Series creator Larry Marder says, “Beanworld is about the affinity of life. It’s like A Bug’s Life meets Mutts, as told by Dr. Seuss and Joseph Campbell.” Meet Mr. Spook, Professor Garbanzo, Beanish, and the Chow Sol’jer Army as they experience adventures that prove, whether friends or adversaries, we all ultimately depend on each other for survival. Beanworld reflects deep truths about our world, including themes of ecology, advertising, culture, and art, making the experiences of these fanciful creatures feel as true, funny, moving, and relatable as anything in our own reality.

• Rescanned from the original artwork, this deluxe hardcover collects the long-out-of-print first nine issues of the original acclaimed comic-book series in an affordable single volume for the first time!

• Suggested for readers aged seven to adult.

• For a fascinating look into Beanworld, go to  HYPERLINK “http://larrymarder.blogspot.com/” http://larrymarder.blogspot.com/!

MISTER X: CONDEMNED #1 (of 4)
Dean Motter (W/A)

On sale Dec 24
FC, 24 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

Twenty-five years ago, Mister X debuted with a concept so clever and a character so captivating that it influenced an entire generation of comics fans and creators. Today, Motter reclaims the reins and sets out to inspire a whole new generation with Mister X: Condemned, a completely fresh introduction to the elusive Mister X and his dystopian home—Somnopolis, the City of Nightmares.

With influences from Film Noir to German Expressionism, this story of a city gone mad and the never-sleeping man who’s obsessed with saving it will amaze anyone interested in masterpiece storytelling born from the vision of a single iconoclastic creator.

• One of the most iconic characters of alternative comics—Mister X—is reborn in a new four-part series by his original creator, legendary designer Dean Motter!

“Perhaps the first legitimate combination of science fiction and German Expressionism seen in comics.” —Frank Miller

“A sharp mixture of Raymond Chandler, Blade Runner, Peyton Place, and a post-punk Dante’s Inferno.” —Blitz magazine

MPD-PSYCHO VOLUME 8
Eiji Otsuka (W) and Sho-u Tajima (A)

On sale Mar 4
b&w, 208 pages
$12.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″

MPD-Psycho has earned praise for its complex, shocking story arcs and artist Sho-u Tajima’s stark, arresting art style—that draws comparison with artist Charles Burns’ work. Adult fans of the Death Note and Paranoia Agent anime series, the Takashi Miike MPD-Psycho television adaptation, and nihilistic parables like the Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, Monster, and Death Note manga will be surprised by the inventive murders, mysterious sci-fi touches, and surprisingly humorous moments in this smart series. Step onto this crazy ride, as even more strange deviants are introduced and writer Eiji Otsuka continues to astound with his inventive plot twists and atrocities.

• Named one of Publishers Weekly’s best reads of 2007!

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

“Attention to detail makes the horror of this psychological detective series creepier.” —Publishers Weekly

MYSPACE DARK HORSE PRESENTS VOLUME 2
Zach Whedon (W), Gerard Way (W), Steve Niles (W), John Arcudi (W), Guy Davis (A), Gabriel Bá (A), Kyle Hotz (A), Eric Canete (A), and various

On sale Feb 18
FC, 176 pages
$19.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″

In this volume you’ll find: The premiere of Zack and Joss Whedon’s superhero creation Captain Hammer; an untold tale of the Umbrella Academy from Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá featuring the Kraken and Vanya as two rebellious teens, a unique look at Conan creator Robert E. Howard’s famous creations; the agents of Mike Mignola’s B.P.R.D. as they face off against a terrifying new foe; and a pair of smart and creepy passages from the ongoing tales of occult detective Cal McDonald via Steve Niles.

• This volume also features great stories from creators like Tara McPherson, Evan Dorkin, Fábio Moon, Gilbert Hernandez, and Francisco Ruiz Velasco.

OH MY GODDESS! VOLUME 11
Kosuke Fujishima (W/A)

On sale Feb 25
b&w, 200 pages
$10.95
TPB, 5″ x 7″

If three goddesses are good, surely four must be better? Not for Keiichi, whose strange power to attract divine trouble has just dialed “P” for Peorth—Belldandy’s rival in the helping-humans-out-by-phone biz. But Peorth wonders why Belldandy’s still hanging around Keiichi if she’s really fulfilled his wishes, and is determined to provide him better “service”—no matter how fast he tries to run! Plus six pages of color, twelve Mini-Goddess strips, a message from creator Kosuke Fujishima, and your fan art and letters!

• Oh My Goddess! is the longest-running manga on the U.S. market (since 1994!) and inspired the new novel from Dark Horse, Oh My Goddess!—First End, and two recent anime TV series from Media Blasters and ADV Films, as well as the import Belldandy figure from Kotobukiya!

“Oh My Goddess! is an eternally charming manga series with magical humor and a big heart.” —ActiveAnime.com

REELART STUDIOS BUCK ROGERS STATUE

On sale Jan 15
16″ tall x 8″ wide x 8″ deep
Limited to 500 units worldwide
$189.00

ReelArt Studios is proud to present Buck Rogers, Philip Francis Nowlan’s
seminal hero who first appeared in the novella Armageddon 2419 A.D. in the 1928 issue of Amazing Stories. This 1950’s version of Buck is sculpted by
Tony Cipriano and paint mastered by Joy & Tom Studios. It depicts Buck in action with blazing guns and rising on a cloud of smoke from his jet pack.

REX MUNDI #15
Arvid Nelson (W), Juan Ferreyra (P), and Gerard Way (Cover)

On sale Dec 17
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

Genevieve arrives at the Castle of the Holy Grail, little knowing the danger that lurks within. She finally lays eyes on the grisly horror of the true Holy Grail, unaware Lorraine’s Imperial Guard have captured Julien the night before. Her days as a duchess might be coming to a very abrupt and unpleasant end!

Isabelle has escaped her father’s men, but she is weak and desperate. Can she rally to save Julien and take on her father? She has a plan . . . and the duke, at the height of his power, surrounded by the might and majesty of the Castle of the Holy Grail, might not be as safe as he thinks!

• Special guest cover by Umbrella Academy creator Gerard Way!

The stage is set for the final showdown!

THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOLUME 5
Roy Thomas (W/A) and Various (A)

On sale Feb 18
b&w, 544 pages
$17.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″

This volume contains some of the most ambitious adaptations of Conan material to date, reprinting the epic battle that leads to Conan becoming the king of Aquilonia in “Conan the Liberator,” the sword-and-sorcery classic “Sword of Skelos,” and the exhilarating “Conan and the Sorcerer.” Collecting selections from The Savage Sword of Conan the Barbarian issues 49 through 60, this volume also includes the frontispieces and pinups from each issue, drawn by such amazing talent as Ernie Chan, Carl Potts, and Neal Adams! As a special bonus, you’ll find a companion piece to Savage Sword Volume 1’s “A Witch Shall Be Born” story—that hasn’t seen print since its original publication in 1980!

• For the first time ever, these classic, uncensored tales are being collected in a series of omnibus-style books, with over 500 pages of sword-and-sorcery adventure in each volume—for the complete Conan collector!

SOLOMON KANE #4 (of 5)
Scott Allie (W), Mario Guevara (P), Dave Stewart (C), and John Cassaday (Cover)

On sale Dec 24
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

An action-filled frenzy! With his host wounded—and bodies piling up in both the Black Forest and the Castle of the Devil—Solomon Kane tries to keep himself and his deceptively simple companion, John Silent, from quick deaths on the gallows. The lovely, scheming Mahasti is missing, supernatural horrors lurk in the forest, and Baron von Staler becomes a bit unhinged. Expanding upon Robert E. Howard’s unfinished “Castle of the Devil” story, writer Scott Allie (Devil’s Footprints, Star Wars: Empire), newcomer Mario Guevara (The Lone Ranger and Tonto), and coloring visionary Dave Stewart (Umbrella Academy, Hellboy) deliver a compelling, horror-filled adventure that is faithful to Howard’s original Solomon Kane work.

“Solomon Kane is one of the toughest Robert E. Howard heroes to adapt to the comics page, but Scott Allie and Mario Guevara have done a stunning job. Unsettling, moody, and eerily beautiful, their Kane is absolutely worthy of his creator.” –Kurt Busiek

THE SPIRIT MOVIE BUST AND JOURNAL

On sale Jan 28

Mini-Bust
4.30″W  X  3.15″D  X  6.00″H
numbered limited edition of only 750 pieces for worldwide distribution
$59.99

On sale Dec 3
Journal
HC, concealed spiral bound light-up, 128pg, FC, 5.5″ x 8.5″
$14.99

Dark Horse is happy to celebrate the forthcoming motion picture of Will Eisner’s The Spirit, as directed by Frank Miller, with some very sophisticated limited-edition pieces based on the characters as they appear in the film.

Miller is infusing this classic property with a look and feel that is cutting-edge modern, while retaining the period look and feel of Eisner’s pages.

We have enlisted two of the finest digital sculptors around to create this first piece. Hot on the heels of their stunning statues of the characters taken from Batman, Kolby Jukes and Oluf Hartvigson have created this limited-edition bust. They have done a spectacular job, infusing the figures with realism, personality, and drama.

Fans have raved about our Tim Burton Light-Up Journal for a while now. We have been waiting for just the right property to follow up with, and have found it with The Spirit. A moody silhouette of the hero stands against a snow-speckled night sky. When a small button is pressed, a sequence of LED lighting elements concealed in the cover illuminate various snowflakes.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS #3 (of 6)
Henry Gilroy (W), Lucas Marangon (P/Cover), and Dan Parsons (I)

One sale Dec 10
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

Eighty million Togruta from the planet of Kiros have suddenly disappeared! It’s up to Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Togruta Padawan Ahsoka Tano to find the lost population . . .

A clue leads the Jedi to the Zygerria system: massive slave auctions have been held there in the past, and will be taking place again soon—with the unfortunate Togruta on the auction block!

• This new series  is a complement to Lucasfilm’s highly anticipated CGI-animated The Clone Wars television series!

STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #36—PROPHET MOTIVE part 1 (of 2)
John Jackson Miller (W), Bong Dazo (I), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Dan Scott (Cover)

On sale Dec 24
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The beginning of a whole new era for loner Jedi Zayne Carrick launches our clever, clumsy hero, his con-artist best friend Gryph, and the bold Jarael into the kind of seat-of-your-pants adventure only Star Wars can provide!

The perfect starting point for new readers, this story kicks off the next phase in Zayne’s life with a long-shot swindle gone wrong! Gryph’s got a plan to part some shady-dealing Chev from their unjustly earned credits, but he’ll need more than a disguise to protect him when they catch on to his game!

A New Era for the Old Republic!

STAR WARS: LEGACY #31—VECTOR part 12 (of 12)
John Ostrander (W), Jan Duursema (P/Cover), Dan Parsons (I), and Brad Anderson (C)

On sale Dec 31
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

It is Jedi vs. Sith, and Sith vs. Sith in this, the conclusion to “Vector”—the year-long event that has shaken the galaxy, shattered lives, and brought about new beginnings ends here!

Darth Krayt may finally be captured and defeated in the trap set by Cade Skywalker and Jedi Master of old Celeste Morne. But Emperor Krayt might no longer be the most powerful Sith lord in the galaxy. Will Cade and Celeste have another Sith to defeat . . . or join?

The final chapter of Vector is here!

STAR WARS: LEGACY VOLUME 5
John Ostrander (W), Jan Duursema (P/cover), Dan Parsons (I), and Brad Anderson (C)

On sale Feb 25
FC, 104 pages
$15.95
TPB, 7″ x 10″

Cade Skywalker just wants to be left alone. But when you and your friends have just blown up half of the Sith Temple, cut down two of Emperor Darth Krayt’s most trusted minions, and you happen to be the last known heir of the Skywalker legacy, people—bad people, and lots of them—are going to come knocking.

The Empire’s retaliatory genocide on Mon Calamari is just the icing on the cake. Cade and his bounty-hunter band realize that something must be done! If only there was somebody to help Cade save the galaxy and get the Sith off his back. Maybe a bunch of Jedi?

The secrets of the Hidden Temple are revealed—along with a spy who was once a friend!

• This is the future of Star Wars, the continuation of the story that started in the original trilogy, and none of it has been seen before.

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #2 (of 6)
Gerard Way (W), Gabriel Bá (A/Cover), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale Dec 24
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

While Spaceboy watches reality TV and Number Five lies low in a seedy motel, a threat against the Umbrella Academy begins to rouse the team, who’ve been rather uninspired since the catastrophic events from 2007’s best-selling Apocalypse Suite. Only one member of the team understands the danger that lies ahead—the massacre in Costello’s Diner has raised some suspicions of what’s happened, and what’s to come. At the heart of this, the Umbrella Academy feels the loss of Pogo, the chimp that had held them together since childhood, and resort to remedies that won’t help, and, sadly, won’t cure boredom.
2008 Eisner Award winner—Best Limited Series and Best Cover Artist!

USAGI YOJIMBO #116
Stan Sakai (W/A)

On sale Dec 24
b&w, 24 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The outlaw Taniguchi is the bounty of the day, and hunters Gen and Stray Dog once again find themselves joining forces to better their chances of catching their common prey. Agreeing that the first to capture Taniguchi should receive the lion’s share of the reward, the two part ways in an attempt to cover as much territory as possible.

Yet when Gen is the first to find the outlaw, he discovers that—much to his dismay—Taniguchi is essentially a decent guy, undeserving of death! What will this money-loving, sentimental cutthroat do?

VAMPIRE HUNTER D BUST MONO VARIANT

On sale Jan 28
8.5″ tall, monochromatic style paint
Limited edition, packaged in a deluxe full-color box
$74.99

In a move inspired by the manga genre, and as a special treat for art lovers and statue collectors, Dark Horse has commissioned a special rare variant companion piece to the Vampire Hunter D bust as sculpted by Tim Bruckner. This version highlights the nuance of the monochromatic art style of Amano, as recreated by master prototype painter Kat Sapene.

via Dark Horse Comics