Welcome to another month of the Dark Horse portion of Soliciting Multiversity! April for Dark Horse is full of some amazing material including new art books, the launch of The Legend of Korra books and more. Let’s jump into the picks!
10. Are You A Kid or a Squid?
I played this game once at a friend’s house and it is pretty fun. Dark Horse has put out a ton of excellent art books and this game was kind of mega popular before Overwatch blew up. Any one who likes this game will find a lot to enjoy in these pages.
The Art of Splatoon HC (advance solicit)
THE MOST AMAZE-INK ART BOOK!
Nintendo (W/A)
On sale June 13 • FC, 320 pages • $39.99 • HC, 8 1/2″ x 12”
The Art of Splatoon contains 320 inkredible pages of artwork from Nintendo’s splash-hit video game, including 2D and 3D illustrations of your favorite characters, maps, concept art, weapon and gear design, storyboards, sketches, hand-drawn comics . . . and that’s only an inkling of what’s inside. We’re not squidding around: this is a must-have for all fans of Splatoon!
Character illustrations!
Concept art!
Featuring artwork from Nintendo’s hit game!
9. More Of This Please
There are like no real ongoing superhero comic books for kids at either Marvel or DC so thankfully the smaller publishers are here to put out stuff like this. I have not read this before but Faith Erin Hicks is really one of the more underrated creators in comics today. I have little doubt in this book.
The Adventures of Superhero Girl (Expanded Edition) HC(advance solicit)
EISNER AWARD WINNER FOR BEST PUBLICATION FOR KIDS!
Faith Erin Hicks (W/A/Cover) and Cris Peter (C)
On sale June 14 • FC, 128 pages • $16.99 • HC, 10” x 7”
What if you can leap tall buildings and defeat alien monsters with your bare hands, but you buy your capes at secondhand stores and have a weakness for kittens? Cartoonist Faith Erin Hicks brings charming humor to the trials and tribulations of a young female superhero, battling monsters both supernatural and mundane in an all-too-ordinary world.
The expanded edition collects the original comic, two new stories, and new art from creators including Tyler Crook, Ron Chan, Jake Wyatt, Paulina Ganucheau, and more!
Foreword by Kurt Busiek!
8. Being Queen Ain’t Easy
The first issue of this isn’t out yet but I believe in this creative team and wanted to signal boost it in this month’s installment of this column. This series looks great and the solicit for the second issue makes even more eager to get my hands on this.
The Once and Future Queen #2 (of 5)
Adam P. Knave (W), D.J. Kirkbride (W), and Nickolas Brokenshire (A/Cover)
On sale Apr 12 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Miniseries
Battles are fought, weapons are bestowed, and romance begins to blossom! The new queen puts together her own Round Table as Merlin reveals what set the fae war off in the first place, the King in Shadow plots the defeat of humanity, and a devious third party is revealed . . . Are they friend or foe?
7. More Early Adventures
I haven’t had the chance to read any of these standalone “Buffy” books yet but the fact that they’ve steadily come out bodes well. For a lot of longtime fans, the show was never better than when Buffy was in high school and these stories take place in those early days. These are geared towards a YA audience and I would assume that this is a perfect comics gateway for that age group.
Continued belowBuffy: The High School Years—Parental Parasite TP (advance solicit)
Kel McDonald (W), Yishan Li (A), and Scott Fischer (Cover)
On sale June 28 • FC, 80 pages • $10.99 • TP, 6” x 9”
Buffy struggles to deal with her mom Joyce’s newfound interest in spending time with her. Balancing that with her schoolwork, her friends, and her regular vampire-slaying duties is a challenge. However, when Joyce becomes hypnotized by a childlike demon that craves motherly care, Buffy experiences a new kind of sibling rivalry—except in Buffy’s case, her “sibling” is actually a monster!
Writer Kel McDonald (Misfits of Avalon, Sorcery 101, Angel & Faith), and artist Yishan Li return to Buffy!
Set during Season 1 of the television series.
6. A Western Classic Returns
“Shaolin Cowboy” is one of those things I’ve heard plenty about but have never actually read. The return of the series in a brand new mini is definitely a big deal and maybe this will be the perfect chance to give it a shot.
The Shaolin Cowboy: Who’ll Stop the Reign? #1 (of 4)
Geof Darrow (W/A/Cover), Frank Miller (Variant cover), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Apr 19 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Miniseries
Who doesn’t like Surf and Turf? Well, what do you do when Surf and Turf doesn’t like YOU?????????
The Eisner Award–losing and winning drawing-room talkfest The Shaolin Cowboy returns and will try to answer those questions as the titular hero of the series finds that his road to hell is paved not with good intentions but old nemeses hell bent on bloody revenge . . . AGAIN!!!!
Three-time Eisner Award winner Geof Darrow returns to the series Paste called “mind blowing” and io9 called “100% amazing.”
“There’s a lot to like about The Shaolin Cowboy. It’s whacky, over-the-top, and at points laugh-out-loud funny . . . If you don’t enjoy this book, you’re already dead.”—Comic Bastards
Frank Miller variant cover!
5. Do You Believe In Magic?
“Spell on Wheels”, while not perfect, has been really fun. It has playful art and really speaks to an underrepresented fan group in comics. If you’re a fan of anything Kate Leth has written or enjoy shows like Buffy The Vampire Slayer or even Sabrina The Teenage Witch, this is for you.
Spell on Wheels TP (advance solicit)
Kate Leth (W), Megan Levens (A), Marissa Louise (C), and Jen Bartel (Cover)
On sale June 7 • FC, 136 pages • $14.99 • TP, 7” x 10”
Three young witches head out on an East Coast road trip to retrieve their stolen belongings and track down the mysterious thief before he can do any damage to—or with—their possessions. Collects Spell on Wheels #1–#5.
Supernatural meets Buffy and The Craft!
“A lively book that focuses on the strength of relationships that also promises a fun road trip along the way.”—Multiversity Comics
4. All The Hype
“Black Hammer” ended the year winning a ton of reader polls and websites threw heaps of praise upon it on year end lists, including us. This is the real deal and this new story arc is a good spot to jump in.
Black Hammer #8
BRAND-NEW STORY ARC!
Jeff Lemire (W/Variant cover), Dean Ormston (A/Cover), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Apr 19 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Ongoing
There’s something unusual about the sleepy farming community of Rockwood: it’s now the home of Spiral City’s mysteriously vanished superheroes. But not by choice: they were banished to the town after a battle with the Anti-God, and now they’re stuck within its boundaries. Lately, a new arrival in town has started asking questions, and she’s discovering that its superpowered residents aren’t the only strange thing about Rockwood . . .
Voted one of the best comics of 2016 by IGN!
3. It Comes To This
I have enjoyed “Dead Inside” so much. It approaches the genre in such a different way from the writing to the art. As of now, two issues are out and I could not pin who our killer is because, again, this is nothing like anything else I’ve ever read. I’m excited to see how this all ends.
Continued belowDead Inside #5 (of 5)
John Arcudi (W), Toni Fejzula (A), André May (C), and Dave Johnson (Cover)
On sale Apr 19 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Miniseries
What started as a simple murder investigation ended in a prison riot. But it’s not quite over yet—Detective Caruso is betting that if she can get a little closer to the case, she’ll be able to find the missing piece that pulls it all together. But in this case, getting closer means hostage negotiation with an armed convict.
“An intriguing set-up to a compelling mystery, well-executed by the consistently great John Arcudi. And with fantastic-looking art to boot!”—John Layman (Chew)
2. The Legend Continues
“Relishing their new relationship”. RELATIONSHIP! I’m so, so hyped about “The Legend of Korra” comic books especially since they are going for the trade paperback format. This will allow more stores to sell it which will get it into the hands of the fans of the television series. This is going to make bank for Dark Horse just like “Avatar” has and kids are going to love it.
The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part One TP (advance solicit)
The official continuation of The Legend of Korra!
Michael Dante DiMartino (W), Irene Koh (A/Cover), Jane Bak (C), Vivian Ng (C), and Heather Campbell (Cover)
On sale June 7 • FC, 80 pages • $10.99 • TP, 6” x 9”
Relishing their new relationship, Korra and Asami leave the spirit world . . . but find nothing in Republic City but political high jinks and human vs. spirit conflict!
A pompous developer plans to turn the new spirit portal into an amusement park, potentially severing an already tumultuous connection with the spirits. What’s more, the triads have realigned and are in a brutal all-out brawl at the city’s borders—where hundreds of evacuees have relocated!
Written by series cocreator Michael Dante DiMartino and drawn by Irene Koh (Secret Origins: Batgirl, Afrina and the Glass Coffin), with consultation by Bryan Konietzko, this is the official continuation of The Legend of Korra!
1. Stokoe On “Aliens”. ‘Nuff Said
James Stokoe is an unbelievable artist. Did you see his work on “Godzilla”? No? Do that. Stokoe on “Aliens” is going to be something else. It’ll easily be the most visually stunning comic book series of the year. I’ll call that now.
Aliens: Dead Orbit #1 (of 4)
JAMES STOKOE’S ALIENS!
James Stokoe (W/A/Cover) and Geof Darrow (Variant cover)
On sale Apr 26 • FC, 32 pages • $3.99 • Miniseries
After a horrific accident strikes a space station, an engineering officer must use all available tools—a timer, utility kit, and his wits—to survive an attack from the deadliest creature known to man.
Orc Stain creator James Stokoe pens a thrilling and claustrophobic Aliens story: Dead Orbit!
On sale on Alien Day: 4/26/17!
GEOF DARROW VARIANT!
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below and check out the full solicitations over at CBR.
