Greetings and Solicitations!
The month of December 2013 for Dark Horse Comics has us getting all hot and bothered for Mike Mignolaverse comics before the end of the year. We’ll also take a look a couple of gorgeous HC collections that would look good on your shelf, as well as standards from Kelly Sue DeConnick and Joe Casey. Enough of the jibber jabber – let’s do this!
10. Presenting the best anthology series in comics:
Mick McMahon drawing another “Hellboy in Mexico”, people. Sure, you’ll probably get that story in some trade somewhere else later, but why not support the best anthology series running?
Dark Horse Presents #31
Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Jamie S. Rich (W), Matt Kindt (W/A), Caitlín R. Kiernan (W), Mike Baron (W), Steve Horton (W), Phil Stanford (W), Fred Van Lente (W), Bryan J. L. Glass (W), Chad Lambert (W), Mick McMahon (A), Brent Schoonover (A), Steve Lieber (A), Steve Rude (A), Ryan Cody (A), Patric Reynolds (A), Reilly Brown (A), Victor Santos (A), and Christine Larsen (A)
On sale Dec 18
FC, 80 pages
$7.99
Ongoing
In a direct follow-up to the uberpopular Hellboy in Mexico, Mike Mignola and Mick McMahon tell another tale set south of the border, in which . . . Hellboy gets married! First of two parts!
Gain some insight into the next arc of Matt Kindt’s runaway hit MIND MGMT as we meet . . . the Magician! Bryan J. L. Glass and Victor Santos reveal the brutal new heroine of their new creator-owned series, Furious! And Chad Lambert and Christine Larsen give new meaning to the phrase “Kill me!” in the new story of the same name.
Plus, new installments of Integer City, Alabaster, Nexus, Monstrous, City of Roses, and Saint George!
• Preview the new creator-owned series Furious with an original tale by Bryan J. L. Glass (Mice Templar) and Victor Santos (Polar, Mice Templar)!
• Features a new tale from Matt Kindt’s hit MIND MGMT!
• Hellboy gets married!
9. Dark Horse’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” releases make the kids jump up and down, share candy and stuff:
I’m a huge fan of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” To say I devoured that show would be an understatement. DiMartino brings the animated series’ same sense of warmth, wonder, and mythology to the world of comic books. I would go so far as to say that this is essential stuff for true fans of the show. The HC package is sure to be gorgeous, as Dark Horse Hardcovers usually are.
Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Search Library Edition HC
Michael Dante DiMartino (W), Bryan Konietzko (W), Gene Luen Yang (W), and Gurihiru (A/C/Cover)
On sale Feb 5
FC, 240 pages
$39.99
HC, 9″ x 12″
The biggest mystery of Avatar—the fate of Fire Lord Zuko’s mother—is revealed in this remarkable oversized hardcover collecting parts 1–3 of The Search, from Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko!
Featuring annotations by Eisner Award–winning writer Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) and artistic team Gurihiru (Thor and the Warriors Four), and a brand-new sketchbook, this is a story that Avatar fans need in an edition they will love!
• The official continuation of Airbender from its creators and best-selling writer Gene Luen Yang!
• Collecting The Search Parts 1–3, with tons of extras!
8. A classic story, told in a classic fashion:
I was head-over-heels for Mike Richardson and Stan Sakai’s “47 Ronin.” Fans of Sakai’s “Usagi Yojimbo” will find that same gorgeous technique applied to a very human world. His visual take on the classic samurai tale features the exact amount of care and familiarity that we would expect and should please both fans of the legend and the uninitiated.
Continued below47 Ronin HC
Mike Richardson (W), Stan Sakai (A/Cover), and Lovern Kindzierski (C)
On sale Feb 19
FC, 144 pages
$19.99
HC, 6˝ x 9˝
Japan’s enduring national legend comes to comics! The tale of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master epitomizes the samurai code of honor, and creators Mike Richardson and Stan Sakai have done justice to their story! Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this collection of the acclaimed miniseries recounts this sweeping saga of honor and violence in all its grandeur. Opening with the tragic incident that sealed the fate of Lord Asano, 47 Ronin follows a dedicated group of Asano’s vassals on their years-long path of vengeance!
• From Mike Richardson (Star Wars: Crimson Empire) and Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)!
• Tons of bonus art and behind-the-scenes extras!
7. Joe Casey annihilates the “event comic”:
“Catalyst Comix” may not contain classic characters that “matter.” You may never see these guys on the movie screen. Nonetheless, this is an incredibly far-reaching event comic from Joe Casey. He gets away with stuff that he otherwise couldn’t, were he using more beloved characters. He and his wonderful team of artists (Dan McDaid, Paul Maybury, Ulises Farines? Come on!) get funky and experimental all over this thing. “Catalyst Comix” is no less than comics’ most exciting and fulfilling jam session.
Catalyst Comix #6 (of 9)
Joe Casey (W), Paul Maybury (A), Ulises Farinas (A), Dan McDaid (A), Brad Simpson (C), and Brendan McCarthy (Cover)
On sale Dec 4
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
The hits come harder and faster, with 28 big pages of modern-age madness! In this earth-shattering issue, Amazing Grace goes galactic, Frank Wells practices transcendental annihilation, and the Agents of Change stick it to reality!
• Joe Casey (Sex, Gødland) rewrites the rules of supercomics!
• Artists Dan McDaid (Doctor Who), Ulises Farinas (Gamma), and Paul Maybury (Aqua Leung) tear it up!
• Cover by Brendan McCarthy (The Zaucer of Zilk)!
• 28 pages of story at only $2.99!
6. Back to Brain Boy’s Beginning:
We loved the first issue of “Brain Boy” so much that we made it our pick of the week! Van Lente keeps things charming and witty, while R.B. Silva runs wild with visual invention and slick storytelling. We couldn’t recommend this one more highly, and a #0 issue seems like the perfect place to catch on, if you missed it.
Brain Boy #0
Fred Van Lente (W), Freddie Williams II (P), Ego (C), and Ariel Olivetti (Cover)
On sale Dec 11
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
One-shot
When the United States Secret Service needs to make sure a location is safe for the president, they call Matt Price, a.k.a. Brain Boy, the world’s most powerful telepath. Raised by his parents’ employer after their deaths, Matt studied and honed his incredible psychic abilities under the tutelage of Albright Industries. Jump back in time to one of Brain Boy’s first missions with this #0 issue. He may have a powerful mind, but he’s in over his head! Collects the Brain Boy run from Dark Horse Presents!
• Fred Van Lente (Archer & Armstrong) and Freddie Williams II (Green Arrow, Captain Atom) team up!
• A great jumping-on point for new readers!
5. The ghost with the most (amazing creative team):
It’s safe to say that Kelly Sue DeConnick is one of our favorite talents in the business, right? We pretty much love and recommend everything that she does. “Ghost”, however, may have flown a little further under the radar when compared to everything else she’s been doing. Not anymore. I loved “Ghost” when the initial miniseries was running, but now Dark Horse seems to have doubled down on it. We’ve got the sharp-witted Christopher Sebela on board as co-writer and Ryan Sook on interiors. Damn, people – this could be the best creative team in comics, if they’re not careful.
Ghost #2
Kelly Sue DeConnick (W), Chris Sebela (W), Ryan Sook (A), Dave McCaig (C), and Terry Dodson (Cover)
On sale Dec 4
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
An unlikely ally sneaks Ghost into a secret meeting, where a legion of disguised demons gather around Dr. October—until her cover is blown! Meanwhile, the very human serial killer prowling the streets of Chicago takes a personal interest in Sloane and Tommy!
• The return of Ghost’s archnemesis!
• Chaos reigns in the White City!
• Stunning art from Ryan Sook (Action Comics Vol. 2 Annual)
4. We say “Bye Bye” to Itty Bitty Hellboy:
Like almost everything Art and Franco do, “Itty Bitty Hellboy” charmed the pants off of us. We actually all lost our pants over this miniseries. Can you believe it? It’s funny, it’s cute, it’s reverent. It’s comics that make you want to say “Aw yeah!”
Continued belowItty Bitty Hellboy #5
Art Baltazar (W/A/C/Cover) and Franco (W)
On sale Dec 18
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
It had to happen. It was unavoidable. Sooner or later, we all end up there. That’s right! It’s time to visit our friend who lives underwater! Let’s go hang out with Abe Sapien! Are Hellboy and his pals underwater by choice? Or did something more sinister send them to the cold, lagoony depths? We know one thing: Abe does not mind the company! And where is Lobster Johnson during this visit? When all is said and done, sometimes a beach party is the best way to go . . . even if you happen to be in the swamp.
• The creators of Tiny Titans, Superman Family Adventures, and Aw Yeah Comics come to Dark Horse!!!!
• Mike Mignola’s characters, drawn by Art Baltazar and Franco!
3. Brother Blue in Hell:
Here at Multiversity Comics, we love the world that Mike Mignola and his band of rotating artists and co-writers have been building for decades now with “Hellboy” and “BPRD.” I think we like it so much because it’s the perfect example of what an expanded universe can be when a commitment to quality is made and a real collaboration between everyone involved happens. “Abe Sapien” is only additive to that premise.
Abe Sapien #8
Mike Mignola (W), Scott Allie (W), Michael Avon Oeming (A/Variant), Dave Stewart (C), and Max Fiumara (Cover)
On sale Dec 11
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
Abe dives into a horrific cavern believed to be a portal to the Mayan version of Hell!
• Ties in to Hellboy in Mexico!
• A complete story in one issue—a perfect jumping-on point for the ongoing series!
2. The most consistent long-running series in comics:
I’ve been catching flack for not giving BPRD more love around these parts. In truth, it’s just been so darn consistent for so long that I find it difficult to say anything about it that we don’t cover with our Mignolaversity guys. Anyway, here it is – BPRD: a book that should always be on your monthly pull list for the foreseeable future.
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #114
Mike Mignola (W), John Arcudi (W), Tyler Crook (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Rafael Albuquerque (Cover)
On sale Dec 18FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
Liz Sherman brings a fiery assault to the mad doctor’s hospital and his army of mutant monsters, while the B.P.R.D. plans a sneak attack on Manhattan—now under the Black Flame’s control.
• Art by Eisner winner Tyler Crook (The Sixth Gun).
• Leads right into “The Reign of the Black Flame,” a five-issue arc by James Harren!
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque (American Vampire, Animal Man)!
1. Mike Mignola is the main event:
So while BPRD and Abe Sapien hold down the fort by bringing you consistently good comics each month, the main event is “Hellboy.” No doubt about it – the longer this goes on, and the closer he gets to finishing his entire ongoing “Hellboy” story, Mike Mignola’s writer/artist title will be the talk of the town. He deserves it all too, because there’s nothing in comics quite like “Hellboy” when he’s coming straight out of the mind of his creator.
Hellboy in Hell #5
Mike Mignola (W/A/Cover) and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Dec 4
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Hellboy helps a confused man who sold his soul for a magic whip—a story inspired by one of the stranger Grimm’s fairy tales.
• Written and drawn by Mignola!
• This is what it’s all been building to since 1994!
