Dark Horse’s May 2019 is one that’s full of an eclectic mix of things with a slight emphasis on “Hellboy” given the big movie that’s about to come out. There are also some fun collections up for pre-order and Stranger Things gets a prequel. Let’s jump into this month’s picks!
10. Sci-Fi For Our Times
I super dug the first two issues of “LaGuardia” and I really want more science fiction like this in comics. It’s not about the far unimaginable future or an apocalypse. It’s today and it’s issues we’re dealing with right now with a brilliant sci-fic angle. I want more of this.
LaGuardia TP (advance solicit)
Nnedi Okorafor (W) and Tana Ford (A/Cover)
On sale July 17
In an alternate world where aliens have integrated with society, pregnant Nigerian- American doctor Future Nwafor Chukwuebuka, has just smuggled an illegal alien plant named Letme Live through LaGuardia International and Interstellar Airport . . . and that’s not the only thing she’s hiding.
She and Letme become part of a community of human and alien immigrants; but as their crusade for equality continues and the birth of her child nears, Future—and her entire world—begins to change.
Written by Nnedi Okorafor, Hugo and Nebula award- winning author and the writer of Marvel’s Shuri, this deluxe trade paperback collects issues #1–#4 of the miniseries and includes artist sketches and afterword from the author.
9. Blind Finale
I have not read “Girl in the Bay” #1 yet but I mentioned the first issue a couple of months back and I’m still really sold on the idea. I’m really excited to read this as it comes out because the premise is extremely intriguing to me. I also like a lot of DeMatteis old work and am usually interested in what he’s up to these days.
Girl in the Bay #4
J.M. DeMatteis (W), James Devlin (C), and Corin Howell (A/Cover)
On sale May 1
In the thrilling finale, Kathy Sartori comes face-to-face with the man who murdered her fifty years ago, discovering that Hugh Lansky is just a pawn in the hands of a dark entity that’s determined to erase her from existence. Will Kathy ultimately learn the reason for her mysterious rebirth—or will she be destined to die again?
8. Goofy Van Helsing
GOOFY VAN HELSING
Do I really need to say more than that? I don’t think so.
Disney Dracula, starring Mickey Mouse TP (advance solicit)
Bruno Enna (W), Fabio Celoni (A), and Mirka Andolfo (C)
On sale July 17
The bizarre and frightening rise up in this adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula! Trapped in Dracula’s castle, Jonathan Ratker (Mickey Mouse) must find a way to escape and return to his love, Minnina. Meanwhile, Minnina and Doctor Goofy Van Helsing are dealing with the supernatural themselves . . . Could Dracula be after the one Jonathan Ratker loves most?
7. The Light Of Day
A while back there was some drama with “Beasts of Burden” and it seemed like we would never actually see anymore of this. I still really feel for Evan Dorkin and what he’s dealt with to get this out there but I’m glad that May will bring us more of the series and I hope that everything works out for him in the end.
Beasts of Burden: The Presence of Others, Part One (of Two)
Evan Dorkin (W) and Jill Thompson (A/Cover)
On sale May 1
A team of paranormal investigators poking around Burden Hill disturb the graveyard where the “Master” lies, setting off a chain of events that will have serious consequences for the animal defenders of the haunted town.
6. What Timing
Maybe most people don’t read solicitations but it’s kind of perfect timing that as the Netflix adaptation hits, you can pre-order the trade paperback of the third volume of “The Umbrella Academy.” I love this story, I loved this volume and I really, really hope we’re getting more sooner rather than later.
Continued belowThe Umbrella Academy Volume 3: Hotel Oblivion TP (advance solicit)
Gerard Way (W), Gabriel Bá (A/Cover), and Nick Filardi (C)
On sale July 30
With a new Netflix series, the award-winning graphic novels are back!
Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance, Doom Patrol) and Gabriel Bá (Two Brothers, Casanova) have earned accolades on separate projects, and finally return for the latest chapter in the bizarre lives of their former teen superhero team.
Faced with an increasing number of lunatics with superpowers eager to fight his wunderkind brood, Sir Reginald Hargreeves developed the ultimate solution . . .
But their past is coming back to hunt them. Collects issues #1-#7.
5. I Feel Targeted
I write the Face Value column for Multiversity Comics. I am a huge fan of cover art because with comics it can really sell someone on something they maybe didn’t want. Covers can tell a story all on their own too and so I’m really excited to be able to get a book of just “Hellboy” covers that span 25 years. It’ll be a great piece of comics history to look at.
Hellboy: 25 Years of Covers HC (advance solicit)
Mike Mignola (W/A/Cover) and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale July 3
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the first issue of Hellboy, this deluxe art collection includes more than 150 full-page cover pieces from Mike Mignola, Richard Corben, Duncan Fegredo, and more!
This oversized 8” x 12” hardcover is sure to appeal to Mignola fans and comics enthusiasts alike, featuring an introduction by colorist Dave Stewart and a foreword by Mignola himself.
– Featuring Hellboy covers from the original series, one-shots, collections, and more!
4. Movie Hype Time
In all fairness, these kinds of one shots get made all the time but between this, the covers book and a few other little things that appear in the solicitations, it’s clear that Dark Horse is getting ready to keep going bigger as the year goes on thanks to the new movie, and that’s good for fans old and new alike.
Hellboy vs. Lobster Johnson: The Ring of Death One-shot
Mike Mignola (W), Chris Roberson (W), Mike Norton (A), Paul Grist (A), Dave Stewart (C), Bill Crabtree (C), and Paolo Rivera (Cover)
On sale May 29
Two legends meet face to face! Who will survive when Hellboy and Lobster Johnson meet . . . in the RING OF DEATH?
Hellboy’s infamous misadventures in Mexico are revealed in this double-barreled one-shot! Mike Norton draws Hellboy’s ill-fated turn as foe to Lobster Johnson in a luchador movie, while Paul Grist returns to draw the Visitor as he lurks in the shadows with troubling doubts about his decision to spare Hellboy.
3. My Brand
I’m super into very dark crime dramas. I think this premise could be a little risky but it’s a brand new story unattached to any of Dark Horse’s licensed stuff and that gives me reason to root for it.
Last Stop on the Red Line #1
Paul Maybury (W), Sam Lotfi (A/Cover), and John Rauch (C)
On sale May 8
Detective Migdalia Torres investigates a vicious strangling on a Boston subway car with no feasible leads. As potential evidence produces dead ends, Migdalia inadvertently takes in a vagrant named Yusef who may have a supernatural connection to the crime at hand.
– Writer Paul Maybury and illustrator Sam Lotfi bring a horrific murder mystery to Dark Horse!
2. A Princess For Our Times
As a kid, I grew up with lots of princess stories. A lot of them weren’t great and I wish I had something like this as a kid. I really, really can’t wait to buy this and maybe pass it on to some of the kids in my life.
Continued belowExtraordinary: A Story of an Ordinary Princess TP (advance solicit)
Cassie Anderson (W/A/Cover)
On sale July 24
While her sisters were blessed at birth with exceptional skills, Princess Basil’s “gift” is to be ordinary.
After escaping an unconventional kidnapping, Princess Basil finds herself far from her castle and must take fate into her own hands. She tracks down the fairy godmother who “blessed” her, and finds the solution to her ordinariness might be as simple as finding a magic ring. With an unlikely ally in tow, she takes on gnomes, a badger, and a couple of snarky foxes in her quest for a less ordinary life.
– All-ages reading fun.
– From the co-creator of Lifeformed: Cleo Makes Contact.
1. It Begins
You know something has become a thing when it gets a comic book tie in and you know something has really become a thing when it gets comics that start going way over and beyond what the show has given us. I have a suspicion that this is going to directly relate to something we’ll get in this upcoming season and this isn’t just coming out of nowhere. I really enjoyed the first miniseries and I’m excited that Jody Houser is getting to do more in this universe.
Stranger Things: Six #1
Jody Houser (W), Edgar Salazar (P), Keith Champagne (I), Triona Farrell (C), and Aleksi Briclot (Cover), Lyle Lambert (Variant Cover), TBD (Variant Cover), and Patrick Satterfield (Photo Variant)
On sale May 29
A teenage girl with precognitive abilities, has struggled through a lifetime of exploitation only to end up the pawn of a government agency that wants to harness her powers for its own ends.
You’ve seen the show Stranger Things, but this is your first glimpse of the strangeness that happened before the series began!
– The first prequel comic series for Stranger Things.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below and check out the whole solicitations at Comics Continuum.
