Unlike May, Dark Horse has a very robust line up to compete with the mega events that will dominate the summer. Lots of new series, new trades and a couple of endings are featured on this list so without further rambling, let’s jump into this.
10. This Cover
I’m starting the list off with this mostly because I really wanted to share this cover. This is actually unsettling and I love it so much. It’s a shame “Creepy Comics” is ending (for now I hope) because this has featured some quality horror comic booking.
Creepy Comics #24
Peter Bagge (W), Dan Braun (W), Rhiannon Rasmussen-Silverstein (W), Richard Corben (A), Ricardo Cabral (A), Peter Bagge (A), Tony Guaraldi-Brown (A), Glenn Fabry (A), Ryan Brown (Cover), and others
On sale June 22
b&w, 40 pages
$3.99
Ongoing
Before Uncle Creepy goes into hibernation, we’re bringing Richard Corben back to the pages of Creepy! Regular contributor Dan Braun will collaborate with Corben on an all-new story, writer Rhiannon Rasmussen-Silverstein joins forces with Portuguese artist Ricardo Cabral, and Peter Bagge revisits the Creepy Family Tree! Tony Guaraldi-Brown delivers a killer Monster Gallery piece, Glenn Fabry provides a disturbing color pinup, and more surprises fill this final foray into fright!
9. By The Power Of Greyskull….You Will Buy This Book
I wasn’t old enough to see He-Man when the show was first coming out but I did catch it in reruns during my childhood. This book is a companion to the series and will have lots of stories, art, storyboards and more that’ll cater to the nostalgic superfan.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: A Complete Guide to the Classic Animated Adventures HC (advance solicit)
James Eatock (W)
On sale Aug 17
FC, 592 pages
$39.99
HC, 9″ x 12″
He-Man and She-Ra entranced boys and girls everywhere with their animated adventures that offered cartoon excitement and moral guidance. Now, Dark Horse Books is proud to present the official companion to He-Man and the Masters of the Universe and She-Ra: Princess of Power, featuring story synopses, animation processes, and trivia for every episode!
• Written by animator and He-Man expert James Eatock!
8. Y’all Like Video Games Right?
I do not know what Fire Emblem is but I see a lot of my friends tweeting about it so I’m going to assume this is something you’ll all enjoy. Video games have a ton of art in them (obviously) so a book like this that lets you see all the behind the scenes in regards to the art is going to be a lot of fun for big fans.
The Art of Fire Emblem Awakening HC (advance solicit)
Nintendo (W/A)
On sale Aug 17
FC, 320 pages
$39.99
HC, 9″ x 12″
The Art of Fire Emblem Awakening™ contains an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the smash-hit Nintendo 3DS™ game, from beautifully illustrated renditions of your favorite characters to storyboards for in-game events, character designs, weapon designs, character profiles, and the entirety of the script with every possible branch of dialogue!
• The full script — including every possible outcome!
• Surprising character information!
7. A Fine Sendoff
I’ve only read the first volume of this series but Santos’ art is simply breathtaking. This is a pulpy, crime noir that fans of Brubaker/Phillips will enjoy a lot. It’s definitely worth catching up on.
Continued belowPolar Volume 3: No Mercy for Sister Maria HC(advance solicit)
Victor Santos (W/A/Cover)
On sale Aug 17
FC, 168 pages
$17.99
HC, 9″ x 6 3/4″
A mob boss discovers his young wife, Maria — seeking an escape from a life of organized crime — has been hiding in a nunnery in rural Europe. Sullivan, a mobster who’s been tasked with bringing the woman back home, is actually an undercover FBI agent seeking Maria as a star witness in his case against the don. But when Maria’s whereabouts leak and mobsters, mercenaries, and hit men converge on the convent in the hopes of collecting a reward for Maria, they turn holy ground into a battleground.
• Victor Santos (Black Market, Sleepy Hollow) closes out his silent web comic trilogy Polar with this third action-packed season.
6. This Happened
I had no idea until writing this that a DC/Dark Horse crossover with Superman happened. The creative team is a huge mixed bag but I sort of want this out of curiosity.
The Dark Horse Comics/DC: Superman TP(advance solicit)
Chuck Dixon (W), Dan Jurgens (W), Kevin Nowlan (A/Cover), Carlos Meglia (A), Jon Bogdanove (P/Cover), Mike Allred (P), Dave Stewart (C), Greg Wright (C), Laura Allred (C)
On sale Aug 3
FC, 416 pages
$24.99
TP, 7″ x 10″
In the first ever collection of the DC/Dark Horse Superman crossover stories, the Man of Steel faces the universe’s deadliest foe, but is he truly strong enough to defeat the xenomorph? Follow the Last Son of Krypton through the world of Madman and explore the jungles of East Africa with him alongside Tarzan, son of the jungle. Collects Superman vs. Aliens Volume 1, Superman vs. Aliens Volume 2: God War, Superman/Tarzan: Sons of the Jungle, and The Superman/Madman Hullabaloo.
• Over 400 pages of material contains four full Superman arcs from Dan Jurgens, Chuck Dixon, and Mike Allred, original covers, and pinup and sketchbook art from the original creative teams.
• In this 30th-anniversary year of Aliens, fans can rediscover the Man of Steel combating the xenomorph — for the first time since 2002.
5. Lovecraft Via Comics
Flat out, Lovecraft was problematic, however a lot of the elements of his stories were very good. This isn’t a comic book but a prose anthology, however, this is an all star line up and it does allow for some improvement upon the problematic things in Lovecraft’s writing.
Children of Lovecraft TP(advance solicit)
Various (W) and Mike Mignola (Cover)
On sale Aug 31
384 pages
$19.99
TP, 5 1/4″ x 8″
Howard Phillips Lovecraft’s stories shaped modern horror more than any other author’s in the last two centuries: Cthulhu, the Old Ones, Herbert West: Reanimator, and more terrifying nightmares emerged from the mythos of this legendary writer.
Dark Horse teams up with Hugo and Bram Stoker Award–winning editor Ellen Datlow to bring you this anthology of original prose stories that are inspired by Lovecraft’s mythos. Features work by Richard Kadrey, Brian Hodge, A. C. Wise, Siobhan Carroll, Orrin Grey, and many more, with a stunning cover by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.
4. Was This Created Just For Me?
That’s obviously not a real question but the description of this book sounds like it was made just for me. This has been adapted as a film in Sweden and let’s be honest, Hollywood has stopped knowing how to make horror movies, Europe and Japan especially, have still got horror on lock. I’m all in on this book and maybe there will be a chance for me to see the film.
Alena TP(advance solicit)
Kim W. Andersson (W/A/Cover)
On sale Aug 24
FC, 136 pages
$17.99
TP, 7″ x 10″
Alena’s life is a living hell. Since she arrived at a snobbish boarding school, she’s been harassed every day by Philippa and the girls on the lacrosse team. But Alena’s best friend Josephine is not going to accept that anymore. Not from the counselor or the principal, not from Philippa, and not from anyone else at that horrid school. If Alena does not fight back, then Josephine will take matters into her own hands. There’s just one problem… Josephine has been dead for a year.
• Now a major-motion picture!
• Kim W. Andersson (The Complete Love Hurts) is the winner of the Swedish Comics Academy’s Adamson statue — Sweden’s most prestigious comics award!
“Kim W. Andersson’s graphic novel Alena has unsurprisingly been described as Let the Right One In meets Show Me Love set in a boarding school. Count on vengeance, violence and broken teenage hearts.” — Stockholm Film Festival
3. Shadowy Organizations Never Go Out Of Style
As someone who loves The X-Files, I really gravitate towards stories that feature wild “behind the scenes” conspiracies. If done right, “Cryptocracy” could be really great.
Continued belowCryptocracy #1
Van Jensen (W) and Pete Woods (A/Cover)
On sale June 29
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Ongoing
For time beyond memory, the Nine Families watched from the shadows, believing themselves shepherds and manipulating whole societies as they saw fit. Nothing happened that they didn’t observe or control. Outsiders knew naught of the Families, much less threatened them. Until now.
• A blend of The X-Files and Marvel’s A.I.M.!
• Featuring art by Pete Woods (Deadpool, Catwoman, Superman, Action Comics).
2. True Detective But With Monsters
Cop dramas are a genre that a lot of people weirdly find themselves really into. They often times don’t do a lot of new things but “Weird Detective” is going to try something new and if it has a sense of humor, it’ll be a worthwhile miniseries to check out.
Weird Detective #1 (of 5)
Fred Van Lente (W), Guiu Vilanova (A/Cover), and Mauricio Wallace (C)
On sale June 15
FC, 48 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
The streets of New York have been plagued by a pattern of crimes too weird and bizarre for the average detective. Lurking in the evidence are shadows of loathsome horrors from beyond space and time, seeking to usher in the unimaginable evil of the Old Ones. And the only man capable of fighting against the unspeakable terrors isn’t a man at all. Detective Sebastian Greene is one of them — it takes a monster to catch a monster.
• Fred Van Lente’s newest original comic series!
1. A Grand Finale
Hellboy has literally be in Hell for the last couple of years and that story is coming to an end in June. Mike Mignola has handled all the writing and art on this series and it’s been a critical darling since it launched. There’s been talk that the Hellboy universe is near it’s end and this definitely feels like the start of that.
Hellboy in Hell #10
Mike Mignola (W/A/Cover) and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale June 1
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Hellboy transforms into what he was always meant to be.
“This review is really just an excuse to gush over Mignola to be honest, don’t just buy this, buy everything with his name on it.” — Comic Crusaders
“The saga of Hellboy continues to move in interesting directions and entertain me wildly.” — Comicosity
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below and check out the full solicitations over at CBR.
