The Beat » Dark Horse

Blacksad is back in BLACKSAD: A SILENT HELL

The Beat — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:35:14 +0000

BLACKSAD by Juan Díaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido is a famous comic in Europe, but the recent Dark Horse collection has created an American audience, as well: there are more than 20,000 copies of the book in print and a fourth printing is planned. Blacksad’s success isn’t horribly puzzling: a stylish noir storyline by Canales, and some of the most gorgeous anthropomorphic art ever by Guarnido make the tale universal. And the US setting doesn’t hurt.

Blacksad is back with a new adventure from Dark Horse: BLACKSAD: A SILENT HELL, due in July. The story takes panther-headed detective John Blacksad to New Orleans in the ’50s to discover the fate of a celebrated pianist. Drugs, voodoo, the rollicking atmosphere of Mardi Gras, and danger await him. The book includes two never before reprinted Blacksad short stories, and an extensive making-of section, with preliminary sketches and watercolor studies, written by Eisner Award-winner Guarnido.

Dark Horse pacts with Radical Entertainment for PROTOTYPE 2 web series

The Beat — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:31:15 +0000

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The video game company behind the popular PROTOTYPE series — NOT the comics company. Dark Horse will create a three-part story bridging the gap between the original Prototype and PROTOTYPE 2 which comes out this year. The series will be released digitally, starting February 15th.

Creators include Paco Díaz, Chris Staggs, and Victor Drujiniu.

Radical Entertainment, the creators behind one of 2012’s most anticipated open-world/action games – PROTOTYPE 2 – and Dark Horse Comics, the leading publisher of gaming comics and graphic novels, have joined forces to create an all-new comic series set in the PROTOTYPE universe. With the game due out April 24, 2012 from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), fans looking for a jumpstart at getting a deeper look into the world of PROTOTYPE 2 should keep an eye out for this exciting collaboration launching February 15, 2012.

The all-new digital comic series will be broken into three original stories that bridge the gap between the original blockbuster game and the highly anticipated sequel, PROTOTYPE 2. The first entry, “The Anchor,” illustrated by Paco Díaz, continues the story of Alex Mercer, the protagonist from the first game, while the second story, “The Survivors,” illustrated by Chris Staggs, follows a small group of residents of New York trying to escape the city after it has been transformed into NYZ with the outbreak of the Blacklight virus. The third and final story, illustrated by Victor Drujiniu, is “The Labyrinth” and provides fans a deeper look into the backstory of PROTOTYPE 2’s new protagonist, Sgt. James Heller. Each comic in the series will be available at Digital.Darkhorse.com every other week beginning February 15, 2012.

“We’re always looking for meaningful ways to expand the PROTOTYPE universe, and Dark Horse Comics is an industry-leading creative powerhouse delivering best-in-class graphic storytelling that integrates deeply to the core of our IP,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment. “With this partnership, our fans will finally be given answers to some dramatic loose ends from the first PROTOTYPE game, as well as the truth behind Alex Mercer’s descent and evolution into a twisted shadow of his former self for PROTOTYPE 2.”

“Sgt. James Heller’s heart wrenching backstory meshed with the sheer amount of over-the-top shape-shifting action in PROTOTYPE 2 lend themselves perfectly to a comic book series,” said Dave Marshall, Editor, Dark Horse Comics. “We worked extremely close with Radical Entertainment’s story team for PROTOTYPE 2, and can’t wait to visually walk fans through the many dark secrets strewn throughout the tattered world of New York Zero!”

The sequel to Radical Entertainment’s best-selling open-world action game of 2009, PROTOTYPE 2 takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon. As the game’s all-new infected protagonist, Sgt. James Heller, players will cut a bloody swathe through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero with unparalleled locomotion, building up a vast genetic arsenal of deadly, biological weapons and abilities as they hunt, kill and consume their way toward the ultimate goal – to kill…Alex…Mercer!

To find out more about PROTOTYPE 2, follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/radical_ent or check out www.prototypegame.com for the latest trailers, screenshots, special promotions and more! And for the truly dedicated, go to www.facebook.com/prototype and join the PROTOTYPE Army – a community of over 360,000 (and growing) fans that receive constant updates from the team at Radical, and early sneak peeks at new information and assets.

PROTOTYPE 2 is currently in development for Xbox® 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. The game is currently rated “RP” (Rating Pending) by the ESRB, with an expected “M” (Mature – Content that may be suitable for persons 17 and older) rating.

Coming Attractions: January 2012: Image, IDW, Dark Horse

Torsten Adair — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:01:23 +0000

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The show-and-tell continues!

In this post, new titles from Dark Horse, Image, and IDW!

So, here’s what caught my eye. Please comment below, and please feel free to mention titles I may have marginalized or overlooked. My tastes are eclectic, but there’s stuff which doesn’t interest me, or doesn’t evoke much of a response. I respect everyone who manages to publish something, but with some 400 graphic novel titles a month, I have to be selective.

CAVEAT: As I discovered while doing the publisher posts, that some titles have been canceled or postponed. The titles below, the information is subject to change. Some may already be out and on sale, some may be vaporous. All descriptions are from the publishers.

Oh, and the advisory: I am employed as a bookseller. Nothing I say here or anywhere else online has any connection to my employer. I know my employer can take umbrage at any association people may make between my private and professional activities, so I’m careful to let ninja cows be.

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One Model Nation

Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Jim Rugg

Hardcover, $24.95

9780857687265, 0857687263

Author Bio: Courtney Taylor-Taylor is the lead-singer and songwriter of the hugely popular Portland, Oregon band The Dandy Warhols. The band has released six albums to date and have had huge critical and commercial successes on both sides of the Atlantic. One Model Nation is Taylor’s first original graphic novel.

Jim Rugg is the co-writer and artist of the critically acclaimed Street Angel series. He has also contributed inks to DC/Vertigo’s American Virgin.

Summary: In 1977, four young men were the voice of their generation.

In 1978, they disappeared.

This is the epic journey of art noise band One Model Nation, the final dark days of the Baader-Meinoff Gang, and the band’s mysterious disappearance only months later.

This original graphic novel comes from the mind of Dandy Warhols frontman Courtney Taylor-Taylor, with art by indie super star Jim Rugg, and features a host of bonus extras; sketches, director’s commentary, deleted scenes and more!

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain, Eric Powell

Hardcover, $19.99

978-1-61377-086-3

The classic novel by celebrated American author Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells of a teenage misfit accompanied by an escaping slave, Jim, as the two float down the Mississippi River by raft. As their journey unfolds, Huck and Jim encounter adventure, danger, and a deftly scribed cast of characters that are by turns both menacing and hilarious. This special edition is illustrated by comics industry star Eric Powell (The Goon, Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters), and presents the material as Twain intended.
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Brooklyn Dreams

J.M. DeMatteis, Glenn Barr

Hardcover, $39.99

978-1-61377-080-1

The complete critically acclaimed saga is re-collected in hardcover for this collection of J.M. DeMatteis and Glenn Barr’s Brooklyn Dreams. Celebrated by fans and critics alike, and long out of print, don’t miss this chance to own a book that many say will change your life.
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Mark Twain’s Tales of Mystery

Mark Twain, Menton3

ISBN: 1-61377-124-X
ISBN 13: 978-1-61377-124-2
Trade Cloth, $16.99

Sherlock Holmes in America? Mark Twain a character in his own stories? Can it be true? True indeed, dear reader, as Mark Twain makes his mark on the mystery genre with this collection of short stories by the grand master himself. Including “A Double Barreled Detective Story,” “Tom Sawyer, Detective,” “A Murder, a Mystery, and a Marriage,” and “The Stolen White Elephant,” delight as Twain breaks convention and bends cherished characters to tell stories that are wholly his own. Illustrations provided by Menton3 (The Lovecraft Library, Classics Multilated, Monocyte).
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50 Girls 50 Shakedown, Volume 1

Doug Murray, Frank Cho, Axel Medellin

ISBN: 1-60706-469-3
ISBN 13: 978-1-60706-469-5
Trade Paper, $14.99

OLD SCHOOL SCI-FI EXPLORES THE WORLDS OF TOMORROW!
This complete edition of FRANK CHO (X-Men: Schism), DOUG MURRAY (The ‘Nam) & AXEL MEDELLIN’s (ELEPHANTMEN) contains all four issues of their space-faring epic featuring the galaxy-lost ESS Savannah’s search for home! If that’s not enough, it’s also packed with bonus pieces written by MURRAY further exploring the worlds of 50 GIRLS 50 and a gallery of art by both MEDELLIN and CHO!

Collects 50 GIRLS 50 #1-4
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Infestation

Erik Burnham, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Mike Raicht, Scott Tipton, David Messina, Gary Erskine, Kyle Hotz, Casey Maloney, Nick Roche, Giovanni Timpano, David Tipton, Ashley Wood

ISBN: 1-61377-106-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-61377-106-8
Trade Cloth, $34.99

IDW’s first-ever mega event is collected in this hard cover collection as something goes horribly awry in the IDW universe: a dimensions-spanning zombie outbreak of epic proportions, which threatens to tear many of IDW’s biggest realities asunder! The infestation spreads through the TRANSFORMERS, G.I. JOE, STAR TREK, and GHOSTBUSTERS universes. Zombie apocalypse looms and the remaining members of CVO are running out of options…

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Crawl to Me

Alan Robert

ISBN: 1-61377-118-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-61377-118-1
Trade Paper, $17.99

Wire Hangers creator/hard-rock musician, Alan Robert, is back for blood with this all-new horror tale, Crawl to Me. The story centers on Ryan, as he struggles to protect his family from what appears to be an evil entity living within their basement’s crawl space.

It is only after a series of violent events occur, that Ryan realizes he must set aside all he believes to be true in order to face his shocking and inevitable reality. This intense thriller will keep you guessing every step of the way.

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Danger Girl: The DANGER-SIZED Treasury Edition

J. Scott Campbell, Andy Hartnel, Alex Garner

Danger Girl was a smash hit when it was released in 1998 and helped solidify J. Scott Campbell as one of the premier artists working in comics-period. Now you can thrill to the exploits of Abbey Chase, Sydney Savage, Johnny Barracuda and all the rest, in this ultra-cool, super-sexy, Danger-Sized Edition of DANGER GIRL. Collecting the Danger Girl 8-page preview story that introduced Abbey Chase, the oversized first issue, and issue #2–You just can’t get more DANGER for your money!

FC Cardstock $9.99 64 pages 9.25″ x 14.25″

[No, this is not a book, but how often do you see a treasury-sized comic book?]

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Womanthology: Heroic

Annie Nocenti, Anya Martin, Barbara Kesel, Kimberly Komatsu, Gail Simone, Trina Robbins, Samantha Newark, and many more (w) Camille d’Errico, Renae DeLiz, Ming Doyle, Colleen Doran, Fiona Staples, Stephanie Buscema, and more!

Hardcover, $50.00

ISBN: 978-1-61377-147-1

Womanthology is a large-scale anthology showcasing the works of women in comics. It is created entirely by over 140 women of all experience levels, from young girls who love to create comics all the way up to top industry professionals. All of the short stories will center around our theme for this volume; Heroic. There will also be features, such as Professional How-Tos, a Kids/Teens section showcasing their works and giving tips, as well as a section dedicated to some Iconic female comic creators of the past, such as Nell Brinkley, and much more. Profits of this book will go towards the Charities of GlobalGiving.org.
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Steve Canyon, Volume 1: 1947-1948

Milton Caniff

Hardcover, $49.99

ISBN 978-1-61377-125-9

Steve Canyon like you’ve never seen it before-reproduced directly from Milton Caniff’s personal set of syndicate proofs! For the first time: the definitive edition of the Steve Canyon newspaper strip by Milton Caniff featuring every Sunday in color and the daily strips in their original, uncropped versions.

Caniff quit Terry and the Pirates in 1946 to begin Steve Canyon and it became his biggest-selling work. Forever known as the Rembrandt of the Comic Strip, Caniff is at the absolute peak of his artistic prowess in these strips. Your passport is stamped for Adventure, Intrigue, and Danger on your expedition to exotic locales with your pilot, the one and only Steve Canyon! The Caniff women are also on display, as Steve Canyon Volume 1 features steely yet sexy “Copper” Calhoun; the beautiful schemer, Delta; that modern-day Mata Hari, Madame Lynx; Dr. Deen Wilderness, who is as capable as she is lovely; plus Captain Shark, Convoy, and the footloose Fancy.

Edited and designed by Dean Mullaney, with historical essays by Bruce Canwell, Steve Canyon is presented in a matching hardcover set to the Library of American Comics’s Eisner Award-winning Terry and the Pirates. Everyone who enjoyed Terry won’t want to miss this sequel in which the horizons are truly unlimited!
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Popbot Big Beautiful Book

Ashley Wood

Hardcover, $95.00

[No ISBN discovered. Click link above for IDW store.]

Originally only available from IDW during San Diego Comic-Con, we uncovered a small stash of Ashley Wood’s POPBOT BIG BEAUTIFUL BOOK. This striking edition collects the long sold-out POPBOT volumes 1 to 8 in a huge 11″ x 14″ hardcover format, showcasing over 400 pages of Ashley Wood art. Ships with a slipcase. Strictly limited to stock on hand.

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G.I. JOE: Renegades, Volume 1

Marty Isenberg

Trade Paperback $7.99

ISBN: 978-1-60010-835-8

G.I. JOE is the world’s best and last defense against the dark forces that haunt our planet. They are highly trained, highly skilled, highly effective, and highly motivated. In short, they are the best at what they do. But for the first time ever, in order to fight evil, our heroes have to become RENEGADES! Join DUKE, SCARLETT, ROADBLOCK, TUNNEL RAT, RIPCORD, and SNAKE EYES as they lead a lone charge against COBRA, becoming fugitives of justice in the process! High-octane action, unbelievable stories, and action-packed battles set this G.I. JOE tour de force on high ground! It’s G.I. JOE like you’ve never seen it before!

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Inkshot

[see below]

ISBN: 1-61377-108-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-61377-108-2
Trade Paper, $24.99

A shot of ink, an ink gunshot, ink-made! Inkshot is a new anthology of ideas in small doses – three to five pages – small universes you can dive into and get lost in many different genres. Featuring never-before-seen stories by Danilo Beyruth [Necronaut], Jose Aguiar [Ernie Adams], Milton & Felipe Sobreiro [Cthulhu Tales], Bruno Stahl [Heavy Metal Magazine], Gabriel Goes [Samba Magazine], Pablo Mayer [The Next House], Davi Calil [MAD Magazine], Pablo Casado [Duo], Felipe Cunha [Jesus Hates Zombies], Hector Lima [The Major], and many others, Inkshot is a showcase of some of the best Brazilian comics of the new Century.

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Art of Joe Jusko

Joe Jusko

ISBN: 1-61377-096-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-61377-096-2
Trade Cloth, $49.99

For the first time ever, a volume devoted to one of the more popular fantasy/sci fi painters of the past 25 years. This book offers readers and fans a chance to witness his immense and phenomenal career from start to present, offering glimpses of previously never-before-seen material from his files and sketchbooks, his enormously popular comic work, covers and illustrations from his book publishing career, as well as beautifully reproduced images of his personal favorites and insights into his life and creative process. Brought to you by the publishing house responsible for THE ART OF BRIAN BOLLAND and THE ART OF P. CRAIG RUSSELL.
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Elephantmen: Armed Forces, Volume 0

Boo Cook, David Hine

ISBN: 1-60706-468-5
ISBN 13: 978-1-60706-468-8
Trade Cloth, $34.99

Collecting the sold out WAR TOYS trade paperback, now in full color for the first time, and the sequel, ENEMY SPECIES, this highly anticipated ELEPHANTMEN, VOL. 0 is packed with extras, including MORITAT and BOO COOK sketchbooks and unseen work by LADR?NN, MARIAN CHURCHLAND, MARLEY ZARCONE and a new prologue by AXEL MEDELLIN!

Collects ELEPHANTMEN: WAR TOYS, VOL. 1: NO SURRENDER; ELEPHANTMEN: YVETTE ONE SHOT and ELEPHANTMEN #34-35

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Firebreather Vs Dragon Prince (One-Shot)

Phil Hester, Ron Marz, Saumin Patel, Andy Kuhn

ISBN: 1-60706-332-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-60706-332-2
Trade Paper, $7.99

Something monstrous is killing visitors at an isolated mountain lake, and only the combined might of Firebreather and Dragon Prince can hope to overcome it! But when the strange being’s plans for our young heroes are revealed, can their newfound friendship withstand its deadly siren call?
Features an all-new, 40-page story, plus reprints of the classic origins of Firebreather and Dragon Prince by their original creators.

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King Aroo, Volume 2

Jack Kent

ISBN: 1-60010-782-6
ISBN 13: 978-1-60010-782-5
Trade Cloth, $39.99

The peaceable little kingdom of Myopia rocks with laughter in the second collection of Jack Kent’s King Aroo. Colorful visitors come and go while Professor Yorgle pontificates, faithful Yupyop frets, and Mr. Elephant forgets everything but his own name! Kindly King Aroo presides over all the outlandish slapstick and witty wordplay in over seven hundred daily and Sunday comic strips from 1953-1954, edited and designed by Eisner Award-winner Dean Mullaney. Bruce Canwell continues his groundbreaking biography of Jack Kent, featuring rare photos and never-before-seen artwork. This classic comic is a treat for readers of all ages.

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Officer Downe: Bigger Better Bastard Edition

Joe Casey, Chris Burnham

ISBN: 1-60706-477-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-60706-477-0
Trade Cloth, $17.99

The Badass With A Badge returns in a glorious oversized hardcover! Brought to you JOE CASEY (BUTCHER BAKER) and CHRIS BURNHAM (Batman, Inc.) – now with ADDED PAGES of over-the-top sex and violence – experience OFFICER DOWNE as it was meant to be experienced! You’ve never felt “command presence” quite like this! This is the cop that’ll keep coming back for more… even from beyond the grave! Now with all-new bonus features!

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Shaky Kane’s Monster Truck

Shaky Kane

ISBN: 1-60706-470-7
ISBN 13: 978-1-60706-470-1
Trade Paper, $14.99

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Ratfist

Doug Tennapel, Katherine Garner

ISBN: 1-60706-478-2
ISBN 13: 978-1-60706-478-7

Trade Paper, $19.99

Earthworm Jim creator DOUG TENNAPEL is publishing his Webcomic RATFIST, a vigilante-in-tights that satirizes comics, politics, philosophy, and even TENNAPEL himself! Featuring a forward written by MST3K/RiffTraxx’s MICHAEL J. NELSON, and pinups by RYAN OTTLEY, SCOTT KURTZ, CHRISTOPHER HASTINGS and ETHAN NICOLLE!

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Brothers of the Spear Archives, Volume 1

Gaylord DuBois, Russ Manning, Jesse Marsh

ISBN: 1-59582-821-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-59582-821-7

Trade Cloth, $49.99

Young Natongo and his adopted brother Dan-El share a bond much stronger than blood, so when they learn of Dan-El’s true father and his lost people, they pledge to discover the secret of his birthright together. Their journey across Africa reveals danger at every turn, but nothing to match the shock of finding Dan-El’s home enslaved by an evil witch doctor. With only each other to fall back on, can the brothers of the spear survive battle, exile, shipwreck, and more to overthrow the usurper so Dan-El can take his rightful place as king? Collecting the backup stories from Tarzan #25-#67! Featuring art by comics masters Jesse Marsh and Russ Manning!

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NOT A HOAX: Conan and Groo crossover

The Beat — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:02:57 +0000

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After a look week, we’ll leave you with a smile and this announcement of a Conan/Groo crossover in a four-issue miniseries brought to you by the Eisner Award–winning team of Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés, Thomas Yeates, and colorist Tom Luth. Groo was created as a parody of the sword-and-sorcery genre as exemplified by the lamentation-loving Cimmerian, so this is a natural.

The first issue goes on sale on April 18, 2012.

Bagge hits RESET at Dark Horse in April

The Beat — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:25:59 +0000

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This was alluded to in our 2011 Survey, but now it’s official: the great Peter Bagge has a new series coming out from Dark Horse in April. Called RESET, it’s about a man who has a second chance at living his life. Will it get better or worse?

AWESOME BONUS SAUCE: Variant covers by Matt Kindt!

Dark Horse Comics is pleased to announce a brand-new project from multiple Harvey and Eagle Award winner Peter Bagge (Apocalypse Nerd): Reset!
If you could relive major events in your life, would you take a stab at making things better—and would your best attempts only make things worse? Or would you use your second chance to put your most twisted, perverted fantasies in motion? These are questions washed-up actor and comedian Guy Krause asks himself after he signs up to be the main research subject for a virtual-reality experiment.

“I originally envisioned Reset mostly taking place in the virtual fantasy world of protagonist Guy Krause’s imagination, but soon discovered that the events occurring simultaneously in his real life were far more interesting, and so I wound up focusing more on that instead. I guess truth is stranger than fiction—and that’s why I’m generally not a fantasy writer!” says Peter Bagge.

In addition, fellow Dark Horse Originals creator Matt Kindt (3 Story) will be drawing the exclusive variant cover for issue #1.
Reset #1 is on sale April 18, 2012!

Matt Parkinson upped at Dark Horse

The Beat — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:56:09 +0000

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Following the departure of VP of Marketing Micha Hershman, Dark Horse has promoted former director of online marketing Matt Parkinson to the post of senior director of marketing. Parkinson, a six-year DH vet, will take over the duties of overseeing DH’s marketing efforts.

In his time at Dark Horse, Parkinson has been an instrumental part of the brand’s growth online, through the development and execution of advertising, cross promotions, and social-media strategies.

Along with Dark Horse’s senior managing editor, Scott Allie, and director of public relations, Jeremy Atkins, Parkinson helped to develop the company’s first foray into original online content with MySpace Dark Horse Presents. Following that, he managed and developed the DH:HD program, showcasing original eight-page stories from top Dark Horse properties on the USA Today comics web page. Additionally, he had a big hand in the development of the Dark Horse Digital comics strategy and website, and has acted as the company’s spokesperson for the initiative thus far.

“My time at Dark Horse has been one of the most satisfying experiences both personally and professionally,” said Matt Parkinson. “I have enjoyed working with Mike Richardson and the entire Dark Horse team, and look forward to new challenges and opportunities. I am truly proud to have played a part in the company’s rich history, and look forward to having a larger role in carrying Dark Horse’s message to the world.”

“We’re very excited by the vision Matt brings to his new position,” said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. “With his experience, leadership ability, and knowledge of the comics market, he’s uniquely qualified to make an immediate impact on our marketing efforts.”

Richardson also praised the efforts of former VP of Marketing Micha Hershman, who leaves after a two-year stint to pursue opportunities in the field of animation. Richardson was quick to wish Hershman well in his new endeavor.

Please join us in congratulating Matt Parkinson on his past accomplishments, and wishing him luck in his new role in the company.

Gantz to end in 2012

The Beat — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:00:24 +0000

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Gantz, Hiroya Oku’s popular, super-violent manga about a team of operatives and their mysterious missions, is ending its run in Young Jump next year, it’s being reported. More than 30 volumes of the manga have appeared in Japan — in the US, Dark Horse is up to volume 20. It’s also been adapted into a TV series and two movies.

NEXUS is back in DHP this May

The Beat — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:15:26 +0000

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In an emailed newsletter, artist Steve Rude reports that his rough year is ending on an up note, and he’ll be re-teaming with writer Mike Baron for a new Nexus story starting in DARK HORSE PRESENTS #12 in May. The three installments of the story will then be collected into a standalone 30-page book. The story deals with the “nature of evil”.

Nexus, the spacefaring tale of a superhero who kills mass-murderers — has had a long run with multiple publishers since the early ’80s. Baron and Rude self-published an issue a few years ago but the series has been hit with delays since then.

Nice art: Francesco Francavilla’s BLACK BEETLE in DARK HORSE PRESENTS

The Beat — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:16:35 +0000

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Add another art all-star to the new DHP lineup: Francesco Francavilla is drawing a three part BLACK BEETLE story that will start in issues #11 in April. Black Beetle is Francavilla’s own pulp tribute character, previously published online and in a scarce ashcan. ANd as you can see from the art, it’s a perfect fit for Franvavilla’s retro style.

“I’m working on a 24-page story, titled ‘Night Shift’ that will be spread over three issues of Dark Horse Presents,”said Francavilla in a statement. “I am hugely influenced by pulp stories of the ‘30s and ‘40s, and wanted to develop a series that used that influence as a jumping-off point to explore some modern storytelling with fun twists. I think this will be a great introduction to readers who are new to this character and universe, but will also be an exciting new adventure for those who’ve been reading the online stories over the years.”

“As a huge fan of pulp and noir, working on my own characters and stories really gives me free reign to explore this world and create lots of fun scenarios and thrilling situations,” he continued. “The stories are definitely full of mystery and intrigue, plus I get to give The Black Beetle lots of cool and funky gadgets. ‘Night Shift’ promises to be full of action, excitement, danger, and double-crosses, so I am overjoyed to see this new tale in print, and hope this is the first of many more to come in Dark Horse Presents.”

Dark Horse to reprint the complete CHANNEL ZERO

The Beat — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:39:57 +0000

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CHANNEL ZERO, Brian Wood’s mash-up of cyber imagery, sloganeering, and popular dissent, is getting a new edition from Dark Horse. This marks its third edition: it debuted as a miniseries from Image in 1997, with a collection following. Then it moved to AIT/PlanetLar, where it has been OOP for a while.

The new book will reprint the original GN and its sequel, JENNIE ONE (with art by Becky Cloonan), two volumes of related design, and various and sundry other rarities.

CHANNEL ZERO is something of a classic of the “WEF Era” of creator driven publishing — it’s nice to see it coming back in a definitive collection. And with Wood’s oeuvre now moving over to Dark Horse, it makes a lot of sense to get a new edition out.

Out of print and unavailable to readers for more than three years, Dark Horse Comics is giving new life to a critically acclaimed classic with the complete collection of Brian Wood’s Channel Zero!

DMZ and The Massive creator Brian Wood launched an all-out assault on the comics medium in 1997 with Channel Zero, an influential, forward-thinking series that combined art, politics, and graphic design in a unique way. Hitting on themes of freedom of expression, hacking, cutting-edge media manipulation, and police surveillance, it remains as relevant today as it did back then.

The Channel Zero collection contains the original series; the prequel graphic novel, Jennie One (illustrated by Becky Cloonan); the best of the two Public Domain design books; and almost fifteen years of extras, rarities, short stories, and unused art. Also featuring the now-classic Warren Ellis introduction and an all-new cover by Wood, this is the must-have edition. A blistering take on media control in a repressive future America!

“Channel Zero is literally the start of my comics career, the first proper comic I ever made, and as such as informed everything that’s come after it, especially DMZ and the upcoming THE MASSIVE.” Tells Brian Wood. “It also put me and Becky Cloonan together, helping build a creative partnership that has lasted a decade. This edition here is the definitive one, including everything worth printing, including a color section that includes the original covers to the single issues.”

Dark Horse clarifies day and date policy

The Beat — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:00:07 +0000

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Evidently, due to some misunderstandings, Dark Horse CEO Mike Richardson has released a statement regarding the publisher’s imminent switch to simultaneous print and digital release: digital comics will be priced at $2.99 for the first month, dropping to the standard price of $1.99 after that.

You can read the statement below. While it’s obvious that keeping DH’s retail partners from mutiny is part of these decisions — DH also has a jacked-up digital price for a one-month window — it presupposes that the print and digital audiences are the same. There isn’t really any evidence that this is the case right now.

However, in the short term, digital sales will continue to be seen as a direct competitor to print. Like we said, we understand the concerns on both sides…it just doesn’t seem feasible for the unknowable, unseen future.

Dark Horse retail partners and fans,

You may have been surprised by our recent announcement regarding digital pricing.

We apologize for the confusion and concern surrounding Dark Horse’s recent announcement of simultaneous release in print and digital. We want to make it clear that nowhere in our announcement (see below) did we indicate that our same-day digital pricing would be less than that of our physical books. Due to some miscommunication, there has been widespread speculation based on our current pricing model.

To clarify: We have chosen to release all new single-issue comics digitally for the price of $2.99 for the first month, dropping to our standard digital pricing of $1.99 after that.

Dark Horse values our retail partners and is grateful for the twenty-five years of business we’ve done together. We have considered the retail community in all of our digital decisions and look at direct-market shops as crucial to our continued success. With that in mind, Dark Horse will make every effort to keep our comics retailers strong in a changing market.

We continue to value everyone who both buys and sells Dark Horse products, and thank you for your support. All of you are the reason we are here today.

Mike Richardson

New House of Fun from Evan Dorkin in DARK HORSE PRESENTS

The Beat — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:27:24 +0000

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Damn! Does the new DARK HORSE PRESENTS have to have all the cool stuff? And also…how much have you missed Evan Dorkin’s short comic strips? If the above art of THE MURDER FAMILY didn’t make your funny bone twitch in recognition, it soon will. According to the PR, all the great characters from MILK & CHEESE and DORK will now be released under the HOUSE OF FUN banner — Dorkin is producing 24 pages of material which will run in 3 issues. Eltingville! Fisher-Price Theater! Devil Puppet!

ARE WE DREAMING? No — it is happening.

With Dark Horse Presents continually adding new and awesome stories to the lineup, Evan Dorkin wants to tell you about House of Fun!

“While we were working on the Milk and Cheese collection with Scott Allie and Daniel Chabon, I pitched the idea to do new material for Dark Horse so I could revive some of my old characters. This dovetailed nicely with the revival of Dark Horse Presents, since most of my humor comics originally ran in various anthologies including several from DHC like Instant Piano, Deadline USA, and the first run of Dark Horse Presents.

“The idea was to bring back as many of my old characters and concepts from Milk and Cheese and Dork as possible, grouping it all under the new House of Fun name. I decided not to use Dork as a catchall title for these comics. I got sick of the name a long time ago and this relaunch felt a good opportunity to finally retire it.

“So, what I’m doing is twenty-four pages of comics to be spread over three issues of DHP, with each eight-page anchored by a new Milk and Cheese strip. The other features will include a new Murder Family episode; several pages of Fun gag strips, as well as the return of The Eltingville Comic Book, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and Role-Playing Club. If all goes according to plan I’ll also be doing a one-page Fisher-Price Theater adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 and a short Devil Puppet story.

“Also, the comics will all be colored by my longtime collaborator and long-suffering wife, Sarah Dyer.

“This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now. The last issue of Dork came out in 2006 and it’s been even longer since I worked on an Eltingville or Murder Family strip. I’m excited to be working on my own stuff again, I’m having a lot of fun making these comics, and I hope folks will have fun reading them. If not they can go suck an egg.”

House of Fun will premiere in Dark Horse Presents #10, on sale March 21, 2011.

Nice art: Becky Cloonan’s CONAN

The Beat — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 20:37:02 +0000

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A nice preview of the Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan version of the Cimmerian brawler.

All kinds of new comics: UXB, Alabaster, Dark Matter, Brandon Graham and Warlords of Mars

The Beat — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:20:00 +0000

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A bunch of new comics project have just been announced, and many feature some pretty nice artwork so let’s dig in!

§ Dark Horse Presents will publish UXB by Colin Lorimer (Earp: Saints for Sinners) in DARK HORSE PRESENTS #10. More of the tale is posted at Lorimer’s site.

In a shattered future postwar London, powerful experimental “life suits” that permanently graft to human bodies are created to counter the threat of terrorism. Given to three brothers, the suits could make the trio the saviors of mankind—if they can ever get past their obsessions for film, violent video games, and porn. Following in the dark footsteps of dystopian visions such as The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, DMZ, and Give Me Liberty, Lorimer’s UXB is challenging, thought provoking, laced with gallows humor, and illustrated with consummate skill.

§ Also at Dark Horse, fantasy author Caitlín R. Kiernan, best known in comics circles for her stint on THE DREAMING, is back in comics with ALABASTER, set in the world of her Dancy Flammarion series which focuses on a teenage girl who fights monsters, demons and dark things. The series, which is billed as “part continuation, part reimagining”, debuts in DARK HORSE PRESENTS #9 and continues in a five-issue miniseries called ALABASTER: WOLVES. Interior art is by Steve Lieber, while Greg Ruth does the covers.

§ One more from Dark Horse: DARK MATTER, a four-issue miniseries by Stargate writers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mulliewith art by newcomer Garry Brown. First issue is on sale in January.

A derelict ship floating in space. Its troubled crew awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got onboard. Their search for answers triggering the vessel’s deadly security system, awakening a relentless android bent on their destruction. Facing threats at every turn, they will have to work together to survive a dangerous voyage charged with vengeance, redemption, betrayals, and, ultimately, hidden secrets best left unknown.

§ Over at Image Comics they teased something new by Brandon Graham with this image and the heading: LANDING ON ITS FEET IN 2012.

§ Dynamite has had much success with their John Carter and Dejah Thoris comics. Now they’re launching a new WARLORDS OF MARS series, featuring another pulp hero, Lt. Gullivar Jones. The series is written by Robert Napton, drawn by Jack Jadson, with covers by Joe Jusko and debuts in February.

Jones was created by Edwin Lester Arnold in 1905 and features similar themes of Martian swashbuckling and princesses. Like the Edgar Rice Burroughs Mars books, he’s in the public domain, so why not team them up?

“Gullivar was written first, but Carter cornered the market and became a legend,” says writer Robert Napton. “It’s Gullivar Vs. John Carter-let the battle begin! It’s a thrill to bring these two southern gents together on the same stretch of red turf and let them have at it. But it won’t be all blood and guts. There’s a story to be told. Many have heard of Gullivar of Mars, but don’t know who he is and how he’s a different sort of man from Carter despite being caught in the same otherworldly circumstances. This is one mash-up fans of pulp won’t want to miss.” 
“We’ve found a smart and clever way to tie these two pulp heroes together and rescue Gullivar from relative obscurity and place him up on the dais among the greats,” adds Dynamite Editor Joe Rybandt. “We’re going to explore more of the eras of Mars with Gullivar, the past, present and future and Robert Napton has proven himself more than capable of spinning some excellent Barsoomian tales and we’ve paired him with a great new artistic find in Jack Jadson.”

Coming Attractions: Fall 2011: Dark Horse Comics

Torsten Adair — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0000

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So, What can we expect from Dark Horse? Lots of great creator-owned properties, some fun fan-favorites, and the occasional archival gem. (And even more coming next year!) Many titles listed below have previews, so click the title to go to the page on DarkHorse.com!

Let’s see…

I generally avoid continuing series, since most readers already know about the previous volumes, so I won’t feature the numerous manga titles (which don’t really appeal to me, although DH does have a strong history of publishing major titles). Nor will I remark on most of the archives, like Archie, or Gold Key, or Warren, or Little Lulu. (Of course, feel free to mention your favorites in the comments!)

So what’s left? Lots of good, original work!