Comics / Comics News

Darkhorse Comics For September 2006

By The Editor
June 10, 2006 - 17:51

APOCALYPSE NERD #4 (of 6)

PETER BAGGE (W/A)

On sale September 6, b&w, 22pg, $2.99

Behold, the fourth installment of Peter Bagge’s Apocalypse Nerd!

Our “heroes” have stumbled across a self-sustaining community of seemingly well-organized scientists and engineers. What luck! The encampment also has food and computers, and the only news that the pair have heard since Seattle went up in a cloud of nuclear smoke. But just when our neurotic, geeky protagonist Perry starts to feel he’s sittin’ pretty, all hell breaks loose! This could be a permanent rift between him and his best friend, Gordo . . . what’s happened now?!

Also, in “Founding Fathers Funnies,” those wacky Bean Towners John Hancock, Paul Revere, and Sam and John Adams raise a little terrorist-style hell of their own.

• From the fan-favorite author of Hate.



BERSERK VOLUME 14 TPB

KENTARO MIURA (W/A)

On sale November 29, SC, 240pg, b&w, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4", $13.95

The once unbeatable Band of the Hawk is smashed, and their former leader, Griffith, has made an unholy pact with the demon lords of the Godhand, sacrificing his former troops to resurrect his crippled body and ascend to stand in power beside these profane gods. The Invocation of Doom has unleashed a plague of unspeakable horrors upon the earth, and the first battle not only shatters the Hawks, but the hand of their champion, Guts, and the mind of their captain and Guts’ lover, Casca. And while time may heal some of Guts’ wounds, it will not heal his desire for vengeance. And his discovery of a gigantic, dragon-slaying sword might be just the ticket to deal out some king-sized payback!

Also included in this volume: “Berserk Prototype,” the very first Berserk story, created during Kentaro Miura’s college days as his audition that sold the series!

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

• The first ten volumes of Berserk have sold over 175,000 copies!



BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #117: ON THE PERFECTION OF ANATOMY part 6 (of 6)

HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A)

On sale September 13, b&w, 32pg, $2.99

The conclusion of the “On the Perfection of Anatomy” story arc, and. . .the return of Giichi!

Monthly readers will be surprised to see the state Giichi in! Rin and Hyakurin have found one of their missing friends, but do they really want to know what he’s been up to since the Mugai-ryü disbanded? Will he still be the warrior he once was, especially after the injuries he sustained in Samura’s “Trickster” storyline? Rin, tortured over Manji’s disappearance, is determined to check every clue and look into every lead, but disturbing Edo Castle is tantamount to suicide. This issue also continues Hiroaki Samura’s hilarious “Biography” piece, accompanied by hard-to-find Samura pinups—extras found only in this monthly series!

FOR MATURE READERS



CONAN #32

KURT BUSIEK (W) and GREG RUTH (A/Cover)

On sale September 20, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Kurt Busiek and Greg Ruth return to Conan with another blood-stirring installment of “Born on the Battlefield,” a series of stand-alone stories chronicling Conan’s portentous formative years. Spring has come to the hard hills of Cimmeria and life is eventful for Conan—the robust youth earning the affection of more than one young woman. Yet gentle days are not long-lived in this land. A storm comes on the horizon. When it breaks, Conan will discover the consequences of his choices, determining not only his own fate, but that of his entire village—featuring the formative event from Robert E. Howard’s account of Conan’s youth: the boy vs. the bull!

• The Conan ongoing series was a Wizard Magazine  Book of the Month for  March 2005!

• “Conan has an endearing earnestness that hearkens back to the golden age of pulp fiction.” —Publisher’s Weekly




CONAN AND THE SONGS OF THE DEAD #3 (of 5)

JOE R. LANSDALE (W), TIMOTHY TRUMAN (A), and  DAVE STEWART (C)

On sale September 20, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Conan lays waste to sorcerous abominations birthed from the wretched desert as famous horror and western writer Joe R. Lansdale continues to give Timothy Truman the most hard-hided sword-and-sorcery scenes ever drawn. Amidst the burning desolation of Stygia, Conan has acquired a camel, a drunken companion, and objects of great power coveted by a wizard whose greed is only rivaled by his hate. What Conan seeks is profit, but he will take a fight—especially if it means teaching a dark sorcerer about the merciless ways of Cimmerian steel.



THE DARK HORSE BOOK OF MONSTERS HC

MIKE MIGNOLA (W/A), KURT BUSIEK (W), EVAN DORKIN (W), SARAH DYER (W), LEAH MOORE (W), JOHN REPPION (W), SCOTT ALLIE (W), WILLIAM HOPE HODGSON (W), KEITH GIFFEN (A), TIMOTHY GREEN II (A), JILL THOMPSON (A), PAUL LEE (A), GARY GIANNI (A), ARVID NELSON (W), JUAN FERREYRA (A), and BRIAN HORTON (A)

On sale November 22, HC, 96pg, FC, 6" x 9", $15.95

Mike Mignola takes Hellboy on a monster-crunching mission and Gary Gianni provides illustrations for a classic tale of South Seas horror by William Hope Hodgson in this fourth addition to Dark Horse’s Eisner-nominated books of Hauntings, Witchcraft, and The Dead.

Along with Mignola and Gianni, Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson—who won Eisners in both 2004 and 2005 for their stories in Hauntings and Witchcraft—return to unveil a new painted story starring everyone’s favorite evil-fighting strays. Also included is an homage to the great creature comics of Jack Kirby, by Kurt Busiek and Keith Giffen, and many more terrifying yarns by some of the most talented folks in comics!

• Anthology of original material featuring the award-winning talents of Mike Mignola, Evan Dorkin, Jill Thompson, Dave Stewart, and more!



DWIGHT T. ALBATROSS’S THE GOON NOIR #1 (of 3)

PATTON OSWALT (W), STEVE NILES (W), TOM SNIEGOSKI (W), ERIC POWELL (P/Cover), MARK FARMER (I), MIKE PLOOG (A), BILL MORRISON (W/A), and RYAN SOOK (A)

On sale September 20, b&w, 32pg, $2.99

A few of the most famousest funnymen in film and television join forces with comics’ best and brightest to bring you a hilarious new perspective on the world of Eric Powell’s The Goon, in this new three-part, black-and-white anthology series.

In this issue, humor expert Patton Oswalt (Comedy Central’s Comedians of Comedy and Mr. Show) who’s no stranger to comics (Bizarro Comics, JLA), scribes a short story of Goon’s sidekick Franky, while legendary artist Mike Ploog (Werewolf by Night, Ghost Rider) provides the art.

And that’s just fer starters! Also included is a gooey helping of other short stories by the likes of Steve Niles and Ryan Sook, Bongo Comics’ own Bill Morrison, and the first in a string of serialized shorts from series creator Eric Powell and frequent co-conspirators Tom Sniegoski and Mark Farmer.

That’s right kids, akters from the tee vee box and all yer favorite funny book creators! It’s The Goon like you’ve never seen it!

• Creators appearing in subsequent issues are Brian Posehn, Tony Moore, Hilary Barta, Arvid Nelson, Guy Davis, Thomas Lennon, Tom Sniegoski, Mark Farmer, Roger Langridge, and more!



EDEN: IT’S AN ENDLESS WORLD! VOLUME 5 TPB

HIROKI ENDO (W/A)

On sale November 1, SC, 216pg, b&w, 5" x 7", $12.95

Backed by their military might and mutated Aeon soldiers, Propater forces continue to seek possession of our planet. They also seek to maintain possession of a body stuck in suspended animation—a body whose consciousness has just been downloaded into outlaw Sophia’s sophisticated, cyber-enhanced system. Sophia lost her body years ago, with only her brain surviving the flesh-destroying plague that decimated the world. Will she risk her own existence for a chance to reunite Maya’s body with his mind? To make matters worse, Elijah enlists the aid of an old friend and plans an ambush at a Gnosian airport. Desperate, young Elijah seeks a reunion of a different sort . . . and he’ll kill anyone who stands in his way!

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




THE ESCAPISTS #3 (of 6)

BRIAN K. VAUGHAN (W), STEVE ROLSTON (A), JASON ALEXANDER (A), and JOHN CASSADAY (Cover)

On sale September 13, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Fan-favorite, Wizard Top Ten, and quintuple Eisner Award nominee Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man; Ex Machina; Runaways) returns with sensational artists Steve Rolston (Queen & Country, MEK) and Jason Alexander (Damn Nation, Gotham Central) to present the third part of this captivating Escapist miniseries!

Case Weaver is getting reckless after Denny’s costume-clad punch-out made the national news. This time, she and Max break into the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s office in the middle of the night, in an attempt to give their new Escapist title as much press as the publicity stunt. But with the night watchman closing in via their only route out, the only pressing they might get from the Plain Dealer could be charges!

Also in this issue, the relationship between Max and Case develops alongside the pages of their relaunch, as Luna Moth leads our intrepid hero on a steamy chase in the rain. There’s good and bad news as the creative team reads their first review and gets back numbers on issue one . . . will this make them or break them?

• With cover art by Eisner award-winning Best Penciller John Cassaday!

• Inspired by The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.



GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX VOLUME 3—WHITE MAZE (novel)

JUNICHI FUJISAKU (W)

On sale November 8, SC, 276pg,  5" x 7", $8.95

The year is 2030. Advances in robotics and cyberbrain technology have transformed the world into a miraculous place where almost anything is possible—even the melding of humans and machines. In this not-too-distant future, the crimes of flesh and metal are investigated by Section 9, an elite counterterrorist squad headed by Chief Aramaki and his cyborg sidekick, Major Motoko Kusanagi. When dead bodies, drained of blood and with two bite marks on their necks, start turning up on the streets of Tokyo, it isn’t long before the entire city is in a panic. As Major Kusanagi and the other members of Section 9 investigate the killings they begin to wonder—is the killer a real vampire or something much worse? In a dark world of murder, where cyberbrain hacks and treacherous conspiracies reach to the furthest heights of government, Section 9 is all that stands between the people and anarchy. DH PRESS

• Manga is the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. publishing industry, and these novels will appeal to the same audience.

• Shirow Masamune's original manga inspired a highly influential film and one of the most popular shows on the Cartoon Network.




HARLAN ELLISON’S DREAM CORRIDOR VOLUME 2 TPB

HARLAN ELLISON (W), ERIC SHANOWER (A),  BRIAN BOLAND (C), and more!

On sale November 22, SC, 152pg, FC, 7" x 10", $19.95

Ten years! Ten years of pain and gnashing of teeth!  Ten years of deprivation and desolation!  But the wait is over—at last! Yes, it is the ultimate, spectacular, senses-shattering, clobbering-time final damn volume of the Dream Corridor, hosted by the ever charming and irascible Harlan Ellison, and you can finally kiss those ten years of torment good-bye!  At long last, see Harlan crucified!  See Harlan disemboweled!  See Harlan used as target practice and served up in stew! Pour yourself an otherworldly cocktail, with a pinch of Geritol for all those years, and snuggle down into the Dream Corridor!

Your host for this amazing final volume is of course HE himself, not just the most award-winningest author on the planet but now his very own registered trademark! Aiding and abetting Harlan in his own destruction is the Eisner-winning Best Artist Eric Shanower, as they introduce each of ten fabulist tales in this volume with a fabulous tale of their own.  Too cranky to go down without a fight, the man who needs no introduction presents this brand-new collection of his own stories, written and drawn by the likes of Mark Waid, Gene Ha, Steve Rude, Steve Niles, Paul Chadwick, Gene Colan, and more, including the very last work ever by Superman artist Curt Swan. Come on in, throw a few knives, pull up alongside Hemingway and Einstein for a game of poker, and gamble on enjoying your stay in the Dream Corridor . . . because you may never return!

• Named Grand Master at this year’s Nebula Awards, Harlan Ellison now officially joins the ranks of literary legends such as Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clark, and Ray Bradbury in being honored for lifetime achievement in science fiction and fantasy.

• Collecting the final stories from the landmark fiction series Harlan Ellison’s Dream Corridor—with gobs of new material!

• Cover by Brian Boland!



“HOT LUNCH” LUNCH BOXES

On sale December 6
Each lunch box measures 8" x 7" x 3 3/4", $14.99


Shag “My First Cocktail” Lunch Box
Gary Baseman “Lunch of Unearthly Delights” Lunch Box
Amanda Visell “A Robot Wants My Lunch box” Lunch Box
Niagara “Baby Doll” Lunch Box
Greg Simkins “Wanna Sammich” Lunch Box
Kii Arens “La-La Lunch” Lunch Box
Joe Ledbetter “Dragon Tongue” Lunch Box
Coop Lunch Box

In the fall of 2005 La-La Land Gallery in Los Angeles held a custom lunch box exhibit featuring over 30 artists. Visitors to the gallery’s website, lalalandgallery.com, voted on their favorite design from the exhibit. Dark Horse is proud to offer the top designs from the Hot Lunch exhibit as the newest additions to our current lunch box line. If only you had one of these lunch boxes when you were a kid!



HOT STUFF CHARMER FIGURE

On sale June 14,  3 1/2" tall, hand-painted resin figure, $24.99

Hot Stuff is back, this time as a “pitchfork charmer”!

This 3 1/2" tall,  hand-painted resin figurine is imported from France and sculpted of the highest quality by Demons and Merveilles. Our Hot Stuff line continues to bring praise from customers and we are pleased to have the addition of Hot Stuff Charmer.   


KOTOBUKIYA LUKE SKYWALKER SOFT VINYL MODEL KIT

On sale October 11, 11", easy-to-assemble parts, $99.99

Dark Horse continues its exciting import program of the award-winning large vinyl Star Wars figures. Consisting of a few easy-to-assemble parts, Luke Skywalker stands eleven inches tall.  

This image of Luke is taken from the climactic light saber battle on the Cloud City of Bespin, where Luke must face Darth Vader and learn the truth about his lineage. By defying Yoda’s orders and choosing to help his friends, Luke has flung himself into a trap of  disproportionate danger. Little does he know, the penultimate moment of his life as a Jedi Knight is about to commence. The shocking finale to The Empire Strikes Back is incredibly memorable and emotionally intense, not only for Luke Skywalker, but for the audience as well!

Owning this finely crafted vinyl model kit is like owning a little part of cinematic and pop-culture history.


LONELY HEART: THE ART OF TARA MCPHERSON HC

TARA MCPHERSON (W/A)

Now Available!, HC, 112pg, FC w/illustrations throughout, 8 1/2" x 11", $19.95

The compelling paintings and posters of Tara McPherson are a tour-de-force of creative tension, at once heartfelt and heartbreaking. Creating art about people and their odd ways, recalling many issues from childhood and adult life experience, McPherson creates images that are thought-provoking and seductive. Tara’s array of work includes numerous gig posters for rock bands, including Green Day, Modest Mouse, and Death Cab for Cutie, and advertising and editorial illustrations for a diverse group of clients. Her prints and paintings have been exhibited in galleries all over the world. Lonely Heart is the first printed collection of McPherson’s work. DH PRESS

• Foreword by Frank Kozik!

• This collection features full color illustrations throughout.



MAIL VOLUME 2 TPB

HOUSUI YAMAZAKI (W/A)

On sale November 15, SC, 208pg, b&w, 5" x 7", $10.95

In Volume Two, detective Akiba comes to the aid of a terrorized man who is being stalked by what appears to be a possessed doll. But possessed by whom? Does the “victim” know more than he is letting on? Akiba’s job is never done, however, as his travels introduce him to a tormented young bride whose new husband has a mysterious past; a woman trapped in a haunted elevator; the lone survivor of a landslide whose not-so-lucky friends are trying to lure her to the afterlife; and more tales of ghostly terror by up-and-coming creator Housui Yamazaki!

• Mail was recently made into a live-action Japanese horror movie starring Chiaki Kuriyama—“Go-Go Yubari” from Kill Bill.

• From the artist of Dark Horse’s The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service.

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



THE MUMMY: DARK RESURRECTION (novel)

MICHAEL PAINE (W)

On sale October 11, SC, 275pg, 4" x 6", $6.99

Josh and Stephanie Brandt’s father and grandfather disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Each went to Egypt in search of the lost crypt of the fabled priestess Ankh-es-en-Amun. And each man went missing—forever.

When news arrives that a dig Josh is financing has uncovered the sealed tomb, it sets off a chain of events that brings him up against the mysterious Ardath Bey, a mystic with secret knowledge about the fates of all those who would pursue the priestess. Bey’s remarkable powers seem almost supernatural, and for good reason: they are. Bey is the living Mummy Imhotep, cursed to eternal life for daring to love Ankh-es-en-Amun. Now the tomb is open and unexplainable deaths begin to occur. Can Josh and his sister stop Imhotep before he implements a plan of almost unspeakable horror? Chills and adventure abound in this luridly entertaining thriller, which continues a saga that has thrilled audiences since 1932. DH PRESS



THE RETURN OF THE GREMLINS #1 (of 3)

MIKE RICHARDSON (W) and DEAN YEAGLE (A)

On sale September 27, FC, 32pg, $2.99

The mischievous gremlins are back! Based on the landmark creation of beloved children’s author Roald Dahl, these playful (and occasionally exasperating) creatures have been in the public eye since WWII, disassembling fighter planes and causing roguish havoc wherever they go.

Our story opens on Gus, a man visiting England from the States. His grandfather’s house is part of his inheritance, and he plans to sell it as soon as he can. Even though the locals think the house is haunted—something Gus immediately dismisses—a slick man named Mr. Snide promptly appears with his “associates” and makes an offer. But when Gus declines to sign over the house right then and there, Snide reveals that his arrangement with the mayor will seal the deal soon enough!

Left to explore the place, Gus experiences a series of very odd events. How did his folded clothes end up in knots? Who on earth would drill a hole in a coffee cup? Certainly not ghosts, but for a former fighter pilot’s abandoned old home, it sure is clean . . .

When the house’s tiny residents decide to take extreme measures, Gus will meet the gremlins up close and personal—just like his grandfather, who first discovered them sixty years ago!

• Based on the classic Disney characters created by world-renowned author Roald Dahl!

• Look for the release of new Gremlins figures in next months Previews!



REX MUNDI VOLUME 1: THE GUARDIAN OF THE TEMPLE TPB

ARVID NELSON (W), ERIC J (P/I), JEROMY COX (C),  AND JUAN FERREYRA (Cover)

On sale November 8, SC, 176pg, FC, 7" x 10", $16.95

A quest for the Holy Grail unlike any you’ve ever seen begins here—in a world where the American Civil War ended in a stalemate, the Catholic Church controls Europe, and sorcery determines political power!

When a medieval scroll disappears from a Paris church, Doctor Julien Saunière investigates, uncovering a series of horrific ritual murders and an ancient secret society. Julien cannot let these shadowy figures retreat into the darkness, lest they take up their killing once again. His investigation turns into a one-man quest into the bizarre secrets of the Catholic Church.

• Mystery, fantasy, history, and horror combine to create this critically acclaimed comic. This is the volume where it all begins for anyone interested in a literary adventure that’ll challenge their mind as much as it chills their bones!

• Rex Mundi is the first part of a Dark Horse program being launched with writer Arvid Nelson.

• Collects issues 0-5 of the Image Comics series.

• “. . . 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 (Y: The Last Man; Runaways: The Hood; Ex Machina)



ROMAN ALBUM: SAMURAI CHAMPLOO TPB

Edited by TOKUMA CHAMPLOOS

On sale November 22, SC, 104pg, FC, 8 1/4" x 11 1/4", $17.95

This hip-hop anime sensation from the creators of the phenomenal Cowboy Bebop series took Cartoon Network’s [Adult Swim] audience by storm. Dark Horse is pleased to present the very first Samurai Champloo art book to English-reading fans as directly translated from the original Roman Album edition—a volume published in a prestigious line of Japanese art books! Main characters Mugen, Jin, and Fuu are each profiled at length, all twenty-six episodes are summarized and illustrated with screen captures, and the “Backstage Champloo” chapter features interviews with famed director Shinichiro Watanabe, character designer and chief animator Kazuto Nakazawa, and art director Takeshi Waki.

• Samurai Champloo is currently in heavy rotation on The Cartoon Network’s [Adult Swim]!




SAFFRON AND BRIMSTONE: STRANGE STORIES (novel)

ELIZABETH HAND (W)

On sale October 11, SC, 325pg, 5" x 8", $14.95

Widely praised and widely read, Elizabeth Hand is regarded as one of America’s leading literary fantasists. This new collection (an expansion of the limited-release Bibliomancy, which won the World Fantasy Award in 2005) showcases a wildly inventive author at the height of her powers. Included in this collection are “The Least Trumps,” in which a lonely women reaches out to the world through symbols, tattooing, and the Tarot, and “Pavane for a Prince of the Air,” where neo-pagan rituals bring a recently departed soul to something very different than eternal rest. Written in the author’s characteristic poetic prose and rich with the details of traumatic lives that are luminously transformed,  Saffron and Brimstone is a worthy addition to an outstanding career. M PRESS
• By the author of Maze of Deception and Hunted (over 110,000 combined sales)

• Elizabeth Hand’s work has been selected as a Washington Post Notable Book and a New York Times Notable Book, and she has been awarded a Nebula Award and two World Fantasy Awards.




SCARLET TRACES: THE GREAT GAME #3 (of 4)

IAN EDGINTON (W) and D’ISRAELI (A)

On sale September 13, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Gifted photographer Charlotte Hemming has crash-landed on Mars . . . in the middle of a war! On a covert mission to discover the British government’s activities on the red planet, Hemming, A.K.A. “Catherine Prosper” of Ministry Intelligence, escaped the attack on her transport shuttle only by the ejection of her life pod. What is it about this battle that has consumed the lives of so many soldiers, and what does Prime Minister Spry have up his nasty little sleeve? As the last great battle in the War of the Worlds rages around her, and the Martians close in, she stumbles across the secret history of the planet . . . and an even greater revelation that could spell the extinction of all human life on Earth!

• From the creative team that brough you the critically acclaimed Kingdom of the Wicked!



SHAMAN WARRIOR VOLUME 1 TPB

PARK JOONG-KI (W/A)

On sale November 29, SC, 208pg, b&w, 5" x 7 3/8", $12.95

Presented in the original Korean format, Shaman Warrior is a dramatic fantasy series with a kinetic style that will appeal to fans of Blade of the Immortal and Vagabond! From the desert wastelands emerge two mysterious warriors, master wizard Yarong and his faithful servant Batu. On a grave mission from their king, they have yet to realize the whirlwind of political movements and secret plots which will soon engulf them and change their lives forever. When Yarong is mortally injured, Batu must fulfill a secret promise to leave Yarong’s side and protect his master's child. As Batu seeks to find and hide the infant, Yarong reveals another secret to those who have tracked him down to finish him off—the deadly, hidden power of a Shaman Warrior! Translated by the mother/son team of Anna Kirk and Derek Kirk Kim.

• One of the top five bestselling manwha of all time!

• Often compared to Blade of the Immortal in scope.

• Translated by the mother/son team of Anna Kirk and Derek Kirk Kim.




SOCK MONKEY: THE “INCHES” INCIDENT #1 (of 4)

TONY MILLIONAIRE (W/A)

On sale September 20, b&w, 24pg, $2.99

Tony Millionaire returns to his original style with this new four-issue Sock Monkey series.

Uncle Gabby and Mr. Crow find themselves aboard a whaling ship at sea, and attempt to build a raft to escape the insane captain. Unfortunately, the captain gets wise and furiously rows after them in his whale boat. A giant sea serpent swirls into the mix, resulting in an old-fashioned Nantucket sleigh ride! If you have any hatches, batten them down, there's a storm a-brewin’!

• See Sock Monkey’s world library tour at www.libraries.darkhorse.com.

• “[Tony Millionaire’s]  artistic chops and black humor shine best in his Sock Monkey adventures, the funniest slices of grim Victoriana since Edward Gorey was at his kiddie-eviscerating peak.”    —GiantMag.com

• “Tony Millionaire strikes gold with a bizarre, surreal, and completely original cast of characters that continue to yield both treasures of joyful wit and veins of surprising pathos.”     —Comics Buyers Guide



SPIDER KISS (novel)

HARLAN ELLISON (W)

On sale October 11, SC, 275pg, $8.95

He claims he’s not a fan of rock-and-roll, but somehow Harlan Ellison’s seminal novel based on the career of Jerry Lee Lewis ended up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. One of the first—and still one of the best—dissections of the wildly destructive rock-and-roll lifestyle, Spider Kiss isn’t about giant cockroaches that attack Detroit or space invaders that smell like chicken soup. Instead, it’s the story of Luther Sellers, a poor kid from Louisville with a voice like an angel who’s renamed Stag Preston by a ruthless promoter. Preston’s meteoric rise on the music scene is matched only by the rise in his enormous appetites—and not just for home cooking—and soon the invisible monkey named Success is riding him straight to hell. This raucous early novel reinforces Ellison’s reputation as one of America’s most dynamic writers. MPRESS

• Originally published in 1961 as Rockabilly, this is the novel’s first appearance as a single volume in more than twenty years.



STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #9

JOHN JACKSON MILLER (W), DUSTIN WEAVER (P), MICHAEL ATIYEH (C), and BRIAN CHING (Cover)

On sale September 27, FC, 32pg, $2.99

The “Flashpoint” storyline reaches its explosive conclusion as fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick and his unlikely shipmates from the Last Resort undertake their most dangerous mission yet—traveling deep inside Mandalorian space to rescue one of their own! With a little help from the most unexpected of allies, Zayne and the gang must find an isolated space outpost, once a Republic research station, now in the hands of a Mandalorian scientist with wholly evil intentions. To think they can pull this off with both themselves and their friend intact, they’d have to be insane—luckily they are!

• “The Star Wars universe has never looked so good…” —Wizard Magazine



STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC VOLUME 1—COMMENCEMENT TPB

JOHN JACKSON MILLER (W), BRIAN CHING (P), TRAVEL FOREMAN (P), MICHAEL ATIYEH (C), AND TRAVIS CHAREST (Cover)

On sale November 22, SC, 152pg, FC, 7" x 10", $18.95

Thousands of years before Luke Skywalker would destroy the Death Star in that fateful battle above Yavin 4, one lone Padawan would become a fugitive hunted by his own Masters, charged with murdering every one of his fellow Jedi-in-training!

From criminals hiding out in the treacherous under-city of the planet Taris, to a burly, mysterious droid recovered from the desolate landscape of a cratered moon, Padawan Zayne Carrick will find unexpected allies in his desperate race to clear his name before the unmerciful authorities enact swift retribution upon him!

• The flagship series of Dark Horse’s exciting relaunch of its Star Wars publishing line, celebrating the company’s twentieth anniversary.

• Set during the era of the smash-hit videogames, Knights of the Old Republic features all-new characters in an action-packed adventure essential to any serious Star Wars devotee and the perfect introduction for anyone interested in exploring the universe beyond the movies!



STAR WARS LEGACY #4

JOHN OSTRANDER (W), JAN DUURSEMA (P), DAN PARSONS (I), BRAD ANDERSON (C), and ADAM HUGHES (Cover)

On sale September 6, FC, 32pg, $2.99

A galaxy-shaking secret is revealed in the heat of battle! Old friendships will be strained to the breaking point, unlikely new alliances will be formed, and the relentless forces of evil will pursue their dark ends with even greater vigor and purpose. In a universe on the brink of either destruction or salvation, it is the actions of an unexpected few that will determine the fates of all. The previously uncharted future of Star Wars takes a surprising turn in this latest issue of Legacy—be there!

• The start of a brand new ongoing series, with all new characters, this is an excellent place for new readers to start.

• “[Legacy] offers Star Wars fans a brave new galaxy, blending the interplanetary intrigue and adventure on an epic scale as iconic heroes and villains are cast in new roles and caught in surprising new situations. This one has everything fans love about Star Wars, yet nothing is predictable.”     — Dialogue



STAR WARS: TAG & BINK WERE HERE TPB

KEVIN RUBIO (W), LUCAS MARANGON (P), MICHELLE MADSEN (C), and DAN JACKSON (C)

On sale November 8, SC, 104pg, FC, 7" x 10", $14.95

The infamous exploits of this hapless Rebel pair are now collected in one single, attractive, and highly portable volume!

Officers Tag Greenley and Bink Otauna were minding their own business aboard a familiar, princess-harboring freighter when they suddenly found themselves under siege. Now under attack by the Empire, they will choose life over a noble death and “borrow” the armor off a pair of deceased stormtroopers. Their new disguises might get them off the freighter alive, but they’ll also lead Tag and Bink on an adventure neither could have predicted!

Chock-full of appearances by everyone’s favorite Star Wars characters, Tag & Bink cleverly weaves the pair’s misadventures into the movies themselves. No setting is safe as they traverse the galaxy from the Death Star to the Sarlacc pit to Cloud City to Endor!

• Written by fan-favorite writer Kevin Rubio (creator of the internet film sensation Troops and hilarious short stories from Star Wars Tales) and illustrated by Star Wars stalwart Lucas Marangon, find out why Tag & Bink is a favorite of many Dark Horse employees.



TRIGUN MAXIMUM VOLUME 11: ZERO HOUR TPB

YASUHIRO NIGHTOW (W/A)

On sale November 1, SC, 192pg, b&w, 5" x 7", $9.95

With so many intense scenes and watershed moments taking place in volume eleven of Trigun Maximum, it’s next to impossible to write descriptive solicitation text. But readers have come to expect excellent action coupled with dramatic tension and timely comic relief from Yasuhiro Nightow, and volume eleven exceeds expectations. This volume is titled “Zero Hour.” That means everything is climbng steadily to a crescendo, and you won’t want to miss what lies in store for the people of the planet Gunsmoke.

• Presented in a fashion directly approved by Nightow himself, Trigun Maximum is so authentic that . . . well, it can hardly be more so. Includes facetious inner cover art and Nightow’s hilarious back page commentary, as always.

• Sales of the Dark Horse Trigun series are approaching one-half million copies!




UNDERDOG ORNAMENT

On sale November 15,  4 1/2" tall, fully painted polyresin, $15.99

Continuing our line of collectible ornaments, Dark Horse presents Underdog. Since 1964, when he first burst onto the animation scene, Underdog has been a hero for all. Disguised as a “humble and loveable” Shoeshine Boy, Underdog may not have natural super powers like other super heroes, but he keeps an “Underdog Super Energy Vitamin Pill” inside his special ring at all times, which he takes to ignite his powers. These powers were most often used to save his true love, Sweet Polly Purebred, from the dastardly clutches of villains.



USAGI YOJIMBO #97

STAN SAKAI (W/A)

On sale September 27, b&w, 24pg, $2.99

Discover the secret of “Hamanaka’s Treasure” in this conclusion to the two-part adventure presented by internationally acclaimed storyteller Stan Sakai!

All hell has broken loose in a small town after the death of crime boss Hamanaka. The two remaining factions of his gang are vying for control of the community, but it’s the townspeople who are suffering the most. The tension comes to a head just as our favorite rabbit bodyguard, Usagi Yojimbo, arrives upon the scene!

• Master storyteller Stan Sakai has won many industry awards over the past twenty years of Usagi, including a Parents’ Choice Award, an Inkpot Award, multiple Eisner Awards, a 2004 Young Adult Library Services Association award, and the prestigious National Cartoonists Society Comic Book Division Award.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12