Another month in the books, another batch of solicitations to look at! As usual we kick things off by looking at what Dark Horse is delivering. September is a big month for the publisher as far as new series launching. In this list alone, about half are brand new series which is very rare for a publisher that isn’t the size of Marvel or DC. Let’s jump into this!
10. For The Zelda Fans
I don’t own a Switch yet but I know that this game absolutely blew most people away. I know that some of the Multiversity staff really loved it as well so this is also for them. These books are always a treat from the quality of the book itself to the stories told within. I love behind the scenes stuff so if you’re into Zelda, this is for you.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild—Creating a Champion HC (advance solicit)
Nintendo (W/A)
On sale Nov 20
FC, 424 pages
$39.99
HC, 9” x 12”
This oversized hardcover is the ultimate companion to the award-winning video game The Legend of Zelda™: Breath of the Wild and includes material from both of its DLC packs. This book features nearly fifty pages of sketches and official illustrations from Takumi Wada, two-hundred and ninety-six pages of design artwork and commentary about the making of the game from the creators, a fifty-five-page historical section that divulges the history of Hyrule as it is known in-game, and interviews with key members of the development team—Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Satoru Takizawa, Takumi Wada, and Eiji Aonuma. Witness the making of a champion!
An in-depth history of the Hyrule of Breath of the Wild.
Insights from the creators on the making of the game.
Three-hundred and fifty pages of illustrations and designs.
9. “Moby Dick” But With Ducks
By this point there have been a million adaptations of “Moby Dick” but there have never been any with cartoon ducks and I think that’s enough of a reason to buy this. Donald Duck is going to try and catch the most legendary whale in existence. That just sounds amazing to me and something I have to read for myself.
Disney Moby Dick, starring Donald Duck TP (advance solicit)
Francesco Artibani (W), Paolo Mottura (A/Cover), and Mirka Andolfo (C)
On sale Nov 21
FC, 80 pages
$10.99
TP, 6” x 8 1/2”
In an adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic, Scrooge McDuck, Donald, and nephews venture out on the high seas in pursuit of the white whale Moby Dick who stole Captain Quackhab’s lucky dime. As Quackhab scours the ocean in pursuit of his nemesis, facing other dangers of the sea, the crew begins to wonder: how far will their captain go for revenge?
8. “Get Away From Her, You B****”
Okay so this story has a son instead of a daughter but you get what I’m going with here. I think Gabriel Hardman is one of comic book’s most undervalued creators and I waited on this so I could get the whole trade at once and now, my time has come. I’m excited!
Aliens: Dust to Dust TPB (advance solicit)
Gabriel Hardman (W/A/Cover) and Rain Beredo (C)
On sale Nov 14
FC, 96 pages
$17.99
TPB, 7” x 10”
A mother and son bound by a shared terror—separated by an implacable alien force! A spaceship that should carry them away from the fear becomes a death trap from which escape seems impossible! The Trono colony on LV-871 is under attack. Emergency evacuations are ordered. Twelve-year-old Maxon and his mom face the most terrifying creatures in the galaxy . . . Aliens! A blood-curdling coming-of-age story by master storyteller Gabriel Hardman. Collects issues #1–#4 of the series.
“Aliens: Dust to Dust is solid comics storytelling that reminds us how much Aliens has always played on our primal fears.” – Monkeys Fighting Robots
7. Grand Finale?
I mentioned this when the first issue solicit hit but this all seems very, very final. I think we might see “Buffy” go away for a little bit and maybe that’s for the best. The series has enjoyed a lot of success in comics but at some point, the story has to end…right?
Continued belowBuffy the Vampire Slayer Season 12: The Reckoning #4 (of 4)
Christos Gage (W), Joss Whedon (W), Georges Jeanty (P/Variant cover), Karl Story (I), Dan Jackson (C), Stephanie Hans (Cover), and Steve Morris (Ultra variant cover)
On sale Sept 19
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
Buffy, Fray, the Scoobies, and the Slayers are in an epic battle against Harth, and his army of baddies. His attempt to steal the power of the Slayers has brought Buffy and her crew to the turning point that they have been trying desperately to avoid. With all other options spent, it is only Buffy and her sacrifice that can save the world . . .
The entire Buffyverse is united here in the culmination of all Buffy seasons!
The return of Fray!
6. Finally, Altogether
Fans of this video game series maybe knew there were a ton of comics to pick up that enhance the story but Dark Horse is now finally starting to collect it all in affordable omnibus editions. I have a friends who’s super into this and swears by these comics so they might be worth picking up if you’re a Halo fan.
Halo Omnibus Volume 1 TPB (advance solicit)
Brian Reed (W), Chris Schlerf (W), Duffy Boudreau (W), Sergio Ariño (P), Ricardo Sánchez (P), Marco Castiello (A), Douglas Franchin (P), Michael Atiyeh (C), Jean-Sébastien Rossbach (Cover), and others
On sale Nov 28
FC, 368 pages
$24.99
TPB, 7” x 10”
Showcasing chapters written by Halo® 5: Guardians lead writer Brian Reed and Halo 4 senior writer Chris Schlerf, this convenient paperback collects Halo: Initiation #1–#3 and Halo: Escalation #1–#12, and features a complete cover gallery and process pages.
5. End Of The Road
I don’t know what the future holds for “Ether” but Kindt and Rubin have made for an amazing team with this great, magical story. I can’t wait to see how this ends and I really hope we get more of this world in the future.
Ether: The Copper Golems #5 (of 5)
Matt Kindt (W), David Rubín (A/Cover), and Jen Bartel (Variant cover)
On sale Sept 19
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
From New York Times best-selling Mind MGMT creator Matt Kindt and Black Hammer’s David Rubín comes this fantasy adventure about a science-minded hero intent on keeping the balance between Earth and a magic world!
With the final portal within their grasp, Boone, Grander, and team are on the cusp of saving both the Ether and Earth. However, victory won’t be sweet, as Ubel holds more power than once thought. This conclusion of book two packs in action while also pulling your heartstrings!
4. Punch More Nazis
Nazis are trash. They are scum and should be punched often. Margaret Atwood makes another trip into the wild world of comic books with this three part series that honestly sounds great. I love historical fiction and there’s barely any of that in comics so I’m here for this.
War Bears #1 (of 3)
Margaret Atwood (W) and Ken Steacy (A/Cover)
On sale Sept 5
FC, 32 pages
$4.99
Miniseries
From the Booker Prize-winning author of The Handmaid’s Tale, comes this historical fiction graphic novel tracing the Golden Age of comic books.
Oursonette, a fictional Nazi-fighting superheroine, is created at the peak of World War II by comic book creator Al Zurakowski who dreams of making it big in the early world of comics publishing.
A story that follows the early days of comics in Toronto, a brutal war that greatly strains Al personally and professionally, and how the rise of post-war American comics puts an end to his dreams.
International and New York Times best-selling novelist Margaret Atwood and acclaimed artist Ken Steacy collaborate for one of the most highly anticipated comic book and literary events!
3. A Twist On “Twist”
See what I did there? Like the already mentioned “Moby Dick,” adaptations of these classics books exist in every medium but this is adding something new to it and I’m definitely intrigued. I trust Karen Berger’s eye for good stories and talent so I’m giving this a shot.
Continued belowOlivia Twist #1
Darin Strauss (W), Adam Dalva (W), and Emma Vieceli (A/Cover)
On sale Sept 19
FC, 32 pages
$4.99
Miniseries
To save a boy she barely knows, teenage orphan Olivia Twist joins the Esthers, a rag-tag girl gang of thieves running free in a dangerous future. Olivia’s life in this London of internment camps and dark technology gets even more complicated when she discovers that she has more power and wealth than she’s ever dreamed of. But it comes at a great cost.
Debut comic by internationally best-selling author Darin Strauss.
Art by Vampire Academy and The Adventures of Supergirl artist Emma Vieceli.
The Dickens classic reimagined!
The latest from the Berger Books imprint!
2. How Does This Work?
I will admit, I do not know very much about “Mystery Science” but I understand the premise of it. I’m intrigued by how that would work with a comic book. I don’t know if this will remove any spontaneity or humor but we’ll see!
Mystery Science Theater 3000 #1
Joel Hodgson (W), Harold Buchholz (W), Matt McGinnis (W), Mary Robinson (W), Seth Robinson (W), Sharyl Volpe (W), Todd Nauck (A/Cover), Mike Manly (A/C), Wes Dzioba (C), and Steve Vance (Variant cover)
On sale Sept 5
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
The riffing hilarity of Mystery Science Theater 3000 comes to comics when Kinga Forrester pairs her Kingachrome Liquid Medium with her latest invention—the Bubbulat-R! Jonah Heston, Crow T. Robot, and Tom Servo find themselves thrust into the 2-D world of public domain comics, with riffing as their only defense!
Created for comics by Joel Hodgson!
The hit Netflix show has come to comics!
Variant cover by longtime MST3K DVD artist Steve Vance!
1. Obviously A Great Idea
I like Stranger Things but I don’t like it as much as the rest of the world. A lot of it really works but other parts of it don’t. Eleven and Max not liking each other over a boy when Eleven was raised in a lab without social constructs??? Come on now. Anyway, it’s honestly a no brainer that this makes its way to comic books. I especially like that Jody Houser is writing it because she’s incredibly good and she’s also not another white dude. Exploring what happens to Will in the Upside Down is a great idea that will allow an interesting story despite us knowing how it turns out. I’m actually really hyped for this one.
Stranger Things #1
Jody Houser (W), Stefano Martino (P), Keith Champagne (I), Lauren Affe (C), Aleksi Briclot (Cover), Rafael Albuquerque (Variant cover), Kyle Lambert (Variant cover), and Patrick Satterfield (Photo variant)
On sale Sept 26
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
The nostalgia-igniting hit Netflix original series comes to comic shelves. Follow Will Byers into a dimension of decay and destruction where he must use his wits and resolve to dodge the pursuit of the Demogorgon and escape the Upside Down.
Written by award-winning comics veteran Jody Houser (Faith, Orphan Black, Mother Panic).
Based on Will’s unseen journey during season 1 of hit Netflix show Stranger Things.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments and check out the full solicitations over at CBR.
