Greetings and Solicitations!
This month, Dark Horse Comics solicited a couple of high-profile reprints in omnibus editions, Van Lente’s “Conan” ongoing finally begins in earnest, and we recognize Dark Horse for their work with the “Star Wars” property. In case you missed it, “Star Wars” will be transferring to Marvel Comics in the near future.
All that and much more to look forward to in April. Let’s go to it:
10. New Usagi Yojimbo?
New Usagi Yojimbo. That is all.
Dark Horse Presents #35
Stan Sakai (W/A), Justin Aclin (W), Chad Lambert (W), Dean Motter (W/A/Cover), Mike Richardson (W), Michael T. Gilbert (W/A), Dennis Culver (W/A), Christopher Sebela (W), Darrin Grimwood (W), Brendan McCarthy (W/A), Jamie S. Rich (W), Nicolás Daniel Selma (A), Apri Kusbiantoro (A), Ron Chan (A), Brian Churilla (A), and Brent Schoonover (A)
On sale Apr 16
FC, 80 pages
$7.99
Ongoing
Stan Sakai’s rabbit ronin returns to Dark Horse Presents with a full-color story! Chad Lambert and Apri Kusbiantoro tell another tale of the backstage world behind life in radio! A new chapter in the secret lives of teddy bears is revealed! And long-running serial Integer City comes to its exciting conclusion!
Plus, new installments of Cruel Biology, S.H.O.O.T. First, The Deleted, Davey Jones, Mister X, and Mr. Monster!
9. Mandatory Mignola Capsule
As consistent as “B.P.R.D.” certainly is, there comes a time where a book becomes under appreciated when it’s so good for so long. I’ve admitted before that I often fail to mention this title, because it should just be a regular on your pull list at this point. I do realize, however, that that approach does nothing for anyone who is still on the fence. Well, how about James Harren art? Even on a crazy good title like “B.P.R.D.”, Harren’s art is jump-starting that title into something that everyone’s talking about right now. Don’t miss it. Issue #115 is the perfect time to jump on.
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #118
Mike Mignola (W), John Arcudi (W), James Harren (A), Dave Stewart (C), Rafael Albuquerque (Cover), and Ryan Sook (Variant Cover)
On sale Apr 16
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
With the Russian bureau director on the brink of death, the B.P.R.D. somehow manages to stand their ground against Zinco’s forces, while Liz Sherman and the Black Flame fight fire against fire in the skies of New York, Akira style.
• Art by James Harren (Conan the Barbarian).
• From the pages of Hellboy!
• 4 of 5 special variant covers celebrating 20 years of Hellboy!
8. Underrated Superheroics
Just ask our own Brian Salvatore – he’ll tell you. “Captain Midnight” is a severely underrated title in a Dark Horse Superhero line that is already flying far under the radar. While I prefer the ‘Comics Greatest World’ stuff that Joe Casey is doing, Williamson deserves mention in his own right for taking a character like “Captain Midnight” and making it relevant again.
Captain Midnight #10
Joshua Williamson (W), Fernando Dagnino (A), Ego (C), and Felipe Massafera (Cover)
On sale Apr 30
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Captain Midnight’s search for his old sidekick, Chuck Ramsey, comes to an end—but, thanks to the teleporting assassin Helios, the meeting might not be the friendly reunion he expected.
One of Captain Midnight’s closest friends is about to die! Can he save them?
• Written by Joshua Williamson (Ghosted, Masks and Mobsters, Uncharted)!
7. Van Lente’s Conan Ongoing Begins
There are now so many “Avengers” books that Dark Horse Comics has to house one of them. Makes sense, since Nick Fury shows up at the end of Van Lente’s “People of the Black Circle” miniseries. Just wait until you see Conan butt heads with Thor – it’s hilarious. These “Conan as an Avenger” jokes doing anything for you?
Continued belowConan the Avenger #1
Fred Van Lente (W), Brian Ching (A), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Iain McCaig (Cover)
On sale Apr 23
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
Nursing his broken heart, Conan drinks himself into a stupor in the troubled city of Shumballa—until a brazen act of thievery launches the Cimmerian into a wild hunt and a supernatural adventure!
• A perfect jumping-on point for new readers!
• Cover by Star Wars and The Avengers concept artist Iain McCaig!
6. Revenge of the Dorkin
If you’ve ever been in a gaming/role-playing club, you know what an ordeal it can sometimes be. This comic hits a very specific crowd, but it’s super accurate. Plus, I always like to take the chance to recommend some Evan Dorkin comics. If you like chuckling while reading your comics, and have any affinity for deeper levels of geek culture, check this out.
The Eltingville Club #1
Evan Dorkin (W/A/Cover)
On sale Apr 23
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
One-shot
After twenty years, three Eisner Awards, and a smattering of hate mail, the Eltingville Comic Book, Science-Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Role-Playing Club is finally breaking up. When Bill’s dream job in a comic shop turns into a nightmare for the club, more than bridges and membership cards are burned in a fiery, fan-tastic finale!
• From the creator of Beasts of Burden and Milk & Cheese.
5. All-New Lone Wolf and Cub Point One
I’m not sure how, but “New Lone Wolf and Cub” has eluded me all these years. I’ve never read the “sequel”, nor heard much about it. I’m guessing it’s not as influential or good, but I’m certainly going to be picking it up. These value omnibus digests are too good of a deal to ignore.
New Lone Wolf & Cub Volume 1 TP
Kazuo Koike (W) and Hideki Mori (A/Cover)
On sale June 4
b&w, 216 pages
$13.99
TP, 5” x 7 1/8”
Kazuo Koike returns to Lone Wolf and Cub with an epic sequel, New Lone Wolf and Cub. Ogami Itto, the Lone Wolf, and his nemesis, Yagyu Retsudo, lie dead after their titanic duel. Ogami’s young son, Daigoro, stays at his father’s side, and none dares help the child—save Togo Shigetada, a samurai on a desperate and deadly mission of his own!
• Over one million copies sold of the original Dark Horse editions.
• Lone Wolf and Cub omnibus program is collecting the entirety of the original series in value-priced editions.
• Presented uncut and in authentic right-to-left reading format.
A NEW LONE WOLF from Kazuo Koike!
4. Multi-Genre Car Crash
Samurai steampunk horror. Those three words don’t look like they belong anywhere near one another, but here they are. Jai Nitz impressed us over and over with all the different places he took the main character in his “Dream Thief” miniseries in just 5 regular issues. “Toshiro” looks to contain the same sense of myriad adventure.
Toshiro TP
Jai Nitz (W) and Janusz Pawlak (A/Cover)
On sale June 4
FC, 168 pages
$19.99
TP, 7” x 10”
The mechano-samurai Toshiro travels a Victorian clockwork world, battling horrors too dark for mankind. With his mysterious partner, the world-famous adventurer Quicksilver Bob, Toshiro must face Earth’s greatest foe yet: the soul-stealing, zombie-creating jellyfish from beyond.
• Genres collide in this adventure where steam-powered tanks clash with katanas!
• Janusz Pawlak’s jagged inks and moody watercolors create a world of dread and mystery.
• From the critically acclaimed writer of Dream Thief!
3. Who’s scruffy-looking?
Matt Kindt writing “Star Wars.” A Han Solo-featuring story. Marco Castiello art. Seems like plenty of reason to pick this one up. One other reason – let’s support Dark Horse Comics for the job they’ve done with the Star Wars franchise. They’ve done a lot of good for a real long time. Since the end is nigh and Marvel will soon have the property, I feel like recognizing them.
Continued belowStar Wars: Rebel Heist #1 (of 4)
Matt Kindt (W/Cover), Marco Castiello (P), Dan Parsons (I), Gabe Eltaeb (C), and Adam Hughes (Cover/Sketch Cover)
On sale Apr 30
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
A young Rebel meets one of the Alliance’s best for his first mission. But the young man’s hero worship is crushed by the reality of Han Solo. A botched escape, a ship that doesn’t work—could it be that Solo is just a lucky bumbler whose luck has run out?
• Han Solo–the truth behind the myth!
• Covers by Adam Hughes!
2. Required reading from a master artist
Have you been reading these Corben Poe books? My word. If you have, then you don’t need me to tell you how masterful they are. If you haven’t, take a flip through one of them at your local comic shop. If you’re a person that appreciates great comic art, you won’t be able to put it back on the rack. These are pitch-perfect Poe and gorgeous all over.
Edgar Allan Poe’s The Premature Burial
Richard Corben (W/A/Cover)
On sale Apr 2
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
One-shot
The fear of being buried alive is presented in two horrifying Poe adaptations by Eisner Hall of Fame inductee Richard Corben—“The Premature Burial” and “The Cask of Amontillado.”
1. I don’t know about you, but I’m havin’ a ball
You can debate the merits of Frank Miller’s “Sin City.” We could talk about the positives and negatives of the work and examine whether there are some regressive ideas within and we’d certainly have a good conversation. At the end of the day, even I can’t deny that at it’s best moments, “Sin City” is wonderfully compelling noir storytelling. While I may have a deep desire for superhero comics to lighten up, “Sin City” is as dark and gritty as it gets, and that’s exactly how it should be.
Frank Miller’s Big Damn Sin City HC
Frank Miller (W/A/Cover) and Lynn Varley (C)
On sale June 25
b&w/FC, 1,360 pages
$100.00
HC, 8” x 12 3/16”
The biggest, baddest Sin City ever is here, just in time for fall’s Sin City: A Dame to Kill For! This imposing volume, suitable for home defense, contains all seven of Frank Miller’s landmark Sin City yarns! In these tales of Marv, Dwight, Gail, Miho, Hartigan, Nancy, and the Yellow Bastard, no corner of Basin City is left unturned, and no bloody deed is left undone. Written with unmatched intensity and drawn in the starkest black-and-white imaginable, with blood-red bits of color, among others, the Sin City books make up the greatest crime saga in comics history, and Big Damn Sin City is the best way to rediscover the whole darn shootin’ match!
• Every blood-soaked page of Sin City to date!
• Over one million Sin City books in print!
So there you have it. If we snubbed anything you like, mention it in the comments! If you want to see everything on tap for April 2014 from Dark Horse, CBR’s got everything right here.
