usagi yojimbo #150 Columns 

Soliciting Multiversity: Dark Horse’s Top 10 In November 2015

By | August 24th, 2015
Posted in Columns | % Comments

Welcome back to Soliciting Multiversity! Every month, I take a look at the Dark Horse solicitations and tell you what you need to pre-order. November is a big month for the publisher with a really nice mix of great jumping on points, collectibles and must have collected editions. Let’s jump into the picks.

10. Sometimes The Best Stories Have No Words

“Age of Reptiles” is a beautiful story about dinosaurs in which no one ever talks. Some may call this boring, but Delgado is an effective storyteller. This is a beautiful book and very much worth pre-ordering.

Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians TP
Ricardo Delgado (W/A/Cover) and Ryan Hill (C)
On sale Jan 6
FC, 120 pages
$14.99
TP, 7″ x 10″
Ricardo Delgado’s Age of Reptiles series returns and marks a bold, new direction in wordless storytelling! The steaming swamps of Cretaceous Africa teem with prehistoric life and primordial danger in a tale filled with villains, victims, and one of the most dangerous and unpredictable protagonists ever created—the lone, lonely antihero Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. Collects Age of Reptiles: Ancient Egyptians #1-#4.

9. Larry Hama Writes A New Kind of War

Larry Hama is one of the most prolific comic writers of all time and you’ll know him best from his work on “G.I.Joe.” The man knows war comics and he’ll now be tackling a different kind of warfare with “Call of Duty: Black Ops III”. I don’t know much about this video game franchise because I’ve never played any of it, but with this being a prequel, it could be quite accessible.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III #1 (of 6)
Larry Hama (W), Marcelo Ferreira (A), Dan Jackson (C), and Benjamin Carré (Cover)
On sale Nov 4
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
The hit game franchise comes to comics! A prequel to the highly anticipated game, the Call of Duty®: Black Ops III comic book series follows an elite group of soldiers as they wage a secret war across a futuristic, war-torn world transformed by technology. In the bullet-ridden first issue, the team infiltrates Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to take down a double agent . . . but as they close in, they uncover something much more sinister at hand.
• Written by decorated comics veteran Larry Hama!

8. Your Horror Comic Might Be Good but “Colder” Is Better

No surprise that “Colder” is on this list again. I love it and you should too. The first two volumes are out now and easy to get. Juan Ferreyra is a madman who should draw all the scary comics, and I seriously can’t wait for this miniseries to get started.

Colder: Toss the Bones #3 (of 5)
Paul Tobin (W) and Juan Ferreyra (A/Cover)
On sale Nov 25
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
When Nimble Jack becomes your roommate, there’s no telling what kind of insanity will pay the rent. The Eisner-nominated series continues!
“Visually, this book is leaps and bounds above 99% of the other books on the stands.” —IGN

7. The Goon Has Never Been This Cuddly

I love comic book merchandise that isn’t clothing. Toys, bags, keychains, I want it all. This is an early solicitation but for fans of “The Goon” it’s a must have. Look how little and cute he is!

The Goon Plush (advance solicit)
On sale Dec 9
Doll measures 7″ tall, packaged in non-sealed polybag with hang tag
$19.99
Goon fans don’t need to hide anymore! Cuddle up to this cutified version of Eric Powell’s minion of mayhem, and you’re admitting how sick you really are.
Embrace it!

6. Another David Mack Masterpiece Can Be Yours

David Mack is a creator who’s work is deeply complex, nuanced and full of symbolism. This new printing of “Dream Logic” will take you deeper into his work with process articles, sketches and commentary on all of his work. It’s perfect for art nerds and comic book fans who want to learn more behind the scenes stuff.

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Dream Logic TP(advance solicit)
David Mack (W/A/Cover)
On sale Jan 6
FC, 240 pages
$19.99
TP, 7″ x 10″
Collecting the entire series of Dream Logic by David Mack, this softcover includes further stories, as well as a gallery of artwork, sketches, step-by-step art processes with commentary on Mack’s cover work, the series Kabuki, and other extras.
• Eisner and Harvey Award winner.

5. Even Kids Can Read Hellboy

The Itty Bitty universe has been around for quite some time, and its Hellboy series is probably the most popular. As someone who worked in a comic shop, I can tell you that kids love this. It’s great for all ages and there are plenty of inside jokes for longtime fans of the characters. It’s a ton of fun and perfect for kids who aren’t drawn to superhero comics.

Itty Bitty Hellboy: The Search for the Were-Jaguar #1 (of 4)
Art Baltazar (W/A) and Franco (W)
On sale Nov 25
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Aw yeah! Art Baltazar and Franco return to Itty Bitty Hellboy! This time, Hellboy, Abe, Liz, and friends are on a very special quest . . . to deliver underwear to the Island of Rogers! But their mission is suddenly interrupted by the discovery of the strange, mysterious beast known as the were-jaguar!
“Itty Bitty Hellboy is bite-sized, adorable Hellboy fun for all ages.”—Comic Vine

4. Magic Meets The Old West

Greg Pak is a really great writer who doesn’t get enough credit. Pak successfully Kickstarted a few all ages books, which will launch a new creator owned project at Dark Horse. “Kingsway West” is a western series (which there aren’t nearly enough of) with a twist – magic and monsters. This is the kind of new work that deserves extra attention and personally, I can’t wait to read this.

Kingsway West #1 (of 4)
Greg Pak (W), Mirko Colak (A/Cover), and Wil Quintana (C)
On sale Nov 11
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
After thirteen years in prison, a Chinese gunslinger named Kingsway Law just wants to find his wife. But in a fantastical American Old West crackling with magic, monsters, and racist vigilantes, trouble just won’t leave him be. And in this case, trouble is a woman with a magic sword who needs his help.
• Greg Pak and Mirko Colak (Turok) team up for a magical western!

3. As Close To Real Dragon Eggs As We’ll Ever Get

High priced collectibles are a very tough sell for someone like me who’s on a strict budget. I’ve got to love the source material but function is definitely an added bonus. These bookends aren’t the first dragon egg collectibles from Game of Thrones but they are the coolest. I’d love to have these on my bookshelves.

Game of Thrones Dragon Egg Bookends(advance solicit)
On sale Feb 24
$149.99
Daenerys Targaryen is given three petrified dragon eggs as a gift for her wedding to Khal Drogo. Dark Horse has skillfully replicated all three dragon eggs into a deluxe set of triple bookends! Each dragon egg stands 7″ tall on its decorative base, and placed together they are just over 13″ wide. Use them as bookends, or proudly display them in all of their statuesque glory!

2. A Magical Girl Group To Rival Sailor Moon

By now I’ve had the chance to read the first issue of “Zodiac Starforce.” For fans of Sailor Moon and other “magical girl” stories are going to adore this series. It’s got super likable characters and Ganucheau’s art is adorable. It would be a shame for it not to go past this fourth and final issue, so pre-order this and pick up the first three starting this Wednesday.

Zodiac Starforce #4 (of 4)
Kevin Panetta (W), Paulina Ganucheau (A), and Babs Tarr (Cover)
On sale Nov 25
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
Evil mean girl Diana, powered by the malevolent goddess Cimmeria, is about to overrun the remaining members of the Zodiac Starforce. Can they put their differences aside and unite to free team leader Emma and save the day? It’s gonna mean so much detention for them if they don’t!
• A brand-new series from Kevin Panetta (Bravest Warriors) and Paulina Ganucheau (TMNT: New Animated Adventures, Bravest Warriors) for fans of Sailor Moon, Buffy, and Lumberjanes!
• Cover art by Babs Tarr (Batgirl).
“Your new favorite magical girl team.”—ComicsAlliance

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1. A Very Important Milestone

“Usagi Yojimbo” #150 is a very big deal. It’s a beloved series that has remained a creator owned work and outlasted so many other legendary series. Sakai has crafted a sprawling, damn near perfect samurai story that everyone can connect with. If you’ve never read it, this issue is being publicized as a perfect jumping on point and for that reason, it becomes the must read single issue of November.

Usagi Yojimbo #150
Stan Sakai (W/A/Cover)
On sale Nov 18
$3.50
b&w, 24 pages
Ongoing
Usagi meets a European swordsman for the first time, a traveler who makes his mark by defeating Lord Odo’s best samurai! But when the stranger demands to witness a ritualized-suicide ceremony and chooses Tomoe’s old tea master as the victim, the rabbit ronin is caught between honorable tradition and compassion!
• 24 pages, no ads!
• Perfect jumping-on point for new readers!

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments! And don’t forget to go over to CBR for the full solicitations.


//TAGS | Soliciting Multiversity

Jess Camacho

Jess is from New Jersey. She loves comic books, pizza, wrestling and the Mets. She can be seen talking comics here and at Geeked Out Nation. Follow her on Twitter @JessCamNJ for the hottest pro wrestling takes.

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