Yesterday, Brian gave you an analysis of DC’s August offerings. Today I turn the tables to the creator-owned with a look at what Dark Horse will be throwing your way come August. Lots of good stuff to get excited for here, people, so I hope you’ve got a savings account ready.
If you’d like to take a look at the full solicits, you can see them all right here.
Alabaster Comes To A Close
“Alabaster: Wolves” has been a pleasant series so far, and it has only had two issues! Telling the story of young Dancy Flammarion as she hunts various beasts at the behest of a violent angel that haunts her (so to say), the book has been a very solid entry into Dark Horse’s original line-up of horror-based comics. With August we see the finale of the first mini, but you can be sure that we’ll see Dancy again. If you haven’t been buying before now, you might want to get on this.
Not convinced by that blurb? Fine. Just scope out Greg Ruth’s cover and tell me honestly you don’t want to see what’s inside. Go on. I dare you.
The Art of Portal 2
I don’t know how much there is to behold in this 184 page artbook, but I do know this: 1) Dark Horse’s previous Valve collection was awesome, and 2) Portal 2 was awesome. Seems to me that a behind the scenes look could be equally as intriguing.
New Beasts of Burden! … Kind Of! (But Not Really)
The three short stories from “Dark Horse Presents” are being re-printed into a one-shot comic for those of you who (foolishly) don’t buy “DHP.” Considering I’ve been collecting the tales of the Beasts in single issues myself, I’m excited to add this to my longbox, even though I technically already own it.
And hey, with a new “Beasts” one-shot, one might assume that another series could be on the way, eh?
New BPRD! Or, The Gang’s Back Together Again
Mignola, Arcudi, Crook and Stewart are, for all intents and purposes, the BPRD team, and while from right now through July there will be a plethora of BPRD minis from a variety of talents , this is assumedly where they all coalesce and reconvene — in “The Return of the Master.”
Who is the Master? I don’t know. But you’re damn right that I, and all of you, should be right there alongside the BPRD team to find out.
And to keep the Mignolaverse train rolling…
Lobster Johnson Gets An Extra Story
Did you enjoy “Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand?” I sure did. I love Lobster Johnson stories, and I’m not even worried about admitting that bias.
Now Mignola and Arcudi are back for a Lobster Johnson one-shot with “the Prayer of Neferu.” ‘Nuff said. Get it.
Oh, and speaking of Arcudi…
The Creep Hops Out Of DHP
There is currently a Creep story being serialized in “Dark Horse Presents,”, but come August he’ll be hopping out of the pages of “DHP” for his own mini-series, written by BPRD’s John Arcudi and illustrated by Jonathan Case of “Dear Creature” and “Green River Killer.” Slap on a Frank Miller cover and a personal recommendation from Mike Mignola, and you’ve got a new mini to pick up in August from Dark Horse. (They really know how to get you, huh?)
Spike Gets His Own Story
We’ve got a “Buffy” title, and we’ve got an “Angel and Faith” title, but that’s been it so far. There was supposed to be a Drusila book, but it was oddly cancelled out of the blue and replaced with two prospective titles: a Willow book, and a Spike book. That Spike book launches in August, with Victor Gischler at the writer’s seat (having penned all that Marvel vampire stuff you might remember) and Paul Lee and Andy Owens in the art department.
If you’ve been reading “Buffy Season 9”, you probably won’t want to miss this. Heck, even if you haven’t, you might not want to miss this.
Continued belowBecky Cloonan Returns!
Our favorite Ms. Cloonan took a short pause from “Conan” for three issues so that James Harren could come in and wow the socks off everyone, but as that arc ends and a new one begins Becky has returned just in time to send Conan off to Cimmeria, where Conan was born. As far as I know, Wood is completely off the reservation at this point and telling original Conan stories now, so now is a great time to jump in if you haven’t already been reading.
The Fear Agent Omnibus Is Coming
We’ve written a lot about “Fear Agent” on this site before, but if you’ve somehow missed all of it then lets reiterate short and sweet: this is one of the best comics ever written, and should be a staple in every collection. It’s a perfect blend of sci-fi, mystery and heart, and it’s jam-packed to every corner with excellence.
If you somehow haven’t gotten into it at this point, then hey, in August there’s a special deluxe hardcover omnibus coming out with the first half of the series inside for $50. Maybe put in a pre-order?
I Still Don’t Know Which Massive Cover To Pre-Order
Here is the regular cover to “The Massive” #3 by JP Leon:
Here is the variant cover to “The Massive” #3 by Rafael Grampa:
I love JP Leon’s covers. I love Rafael Grampa’s covers too. This is a dilemma.
I Love Matt Kindt’s Mind MGMT Covers
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Matt Kindt is awesome, and the covers to his new book are repeatedly great. Just stare at it for a while. Soak it all in.
Mike Oeming Launches The Victories
Post-modern superhero stories are getting a bit humdrum all things considered, now that pretty much everyone feels the need to come in and add “their version” into the mix. The market is full of off-kilter superhero stories that twist archetypes and satirize the entire genre. It takes something really special to get me to check out another story like that.
What’s that you say? There’s a new story in that genre? I dunno, man. Wait, what? Mike Oeming wrote and drew it? Ok. Yeah, this I will definitely take a look at.
Truth be told, I’ve had a sneak peek at “The Victories.” If you like Oeming, and you like “Powers” or “the Boys” (to an extent), you’re going to like this.
One More Obligatory “You Should Be Reading Dark Horse Presents” Comment
Cosby and Shaner’s “Buddy Cops,” Kelly Sue Deconnick and Phil Noto’s “Ghost” reboot alongside the “Aliens” reboot by John Layman and Sam Kieth, a Mike Oeming cover and story, more “Finder” by Carla Speed McNeil…
…Yeah. You should be reading “Dark Horse Presents.”
