Greetings and Solicitations! (okay, I didn’t come up with that, but it’s a goody, so I’m keeping it)
The month of August brings a couple new Hellboy projects, good jumping on points to a few different series, and the return of one of our very favorite, underrated titles from the year 2012. Let’s take a look:
10. Nitz and Smallwood are Thick as Thieves
Jai Nitz and Greg Smallwood really grabbed our attention with the first issue of their “Dream Thief” miniseries. The familiarity and trust of their collaboration and friendship showed in the pages, as the terrific art played off of the clever, well-paced script. We’ve no reason to think it’ll be any different as the series goes on. They’ve been working on this one for a while.
DREAM THIEF #4 (of 5)
Jai Nitz (W), Greg Smallwood (A), and Dan Brereton (Cover)
On sale Aug 21
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
A murdered gambler, a dead hit man, and a priest who knows too much put John Lincoln in a lethal position. Pinched between the Dixie Mafia and La Cosa Nostra, the Dream Thief finds himself in a Memphis card game where the stakes are his life!
9. Gamers Get Their Due
Dark Horse has been doing well with their Star Wars line of comics, but that license doesn’t look like it’s going to stick around with the Disney/Marvel/Lucasfilm juggernaut coming to call. Good thing they have something like Halo that they can play around with. Hopefully they can bring the same gusto to the expanded universe of the popular video game franchise – the possibilities are literally endless.
HALO: INITIATION #1 (of 3)
Brian Reed (W), Marco Castiello (A), Michael Atiyeh (C), John Liberto (Cover), and Terry Dodson (Variant cover)
On sale Aug 14
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
Halo—one of the largest video game franchises—comes to Dark Horse!
Before she was a supersoldier defending humanity as part of the Spartan IV program, Sarah Palmer was an ODST—Orbital Drop Shock Trooper—carrying out the most dangerous missions behind enemy lines!
• The origin of Sarah Palmer—and the Spartan IV program!
• The Halo franchise has sales eclipsing $3 billion over its lifetime.
• From one of the writers on Halo 4—comics veteran Brian Reed!
8. Cover Your Kids’ Eyes for a Second
As all responsible and adventurous adults know, erotica can be a legitimate and enjoyable art form. And when it comes to erotica, you can’t do better than Milo Manara. The Dark Horse Hardcover volumes have been gorgeous presentations of the man’s work and a necessity for anyone with an interest in the subject matter. The art looks as good as it ever has and the volumes look classy on your shelf. Just how you plan to enjoy them is entirely up to you.
MANARA EROTICA VOLUME 3: BUTTERSCOTCH AND OTHER STORIES
Milo Manara (W/A)
On sale Oct 9
b&w, 288 pages
$59.99
HC, 8 3/8″ x 10 7/8″
Dark Horse’s complete presentation of Milo Manara’s internationally acclaimed erotic work concludes on a high note, with this deluxe, archival volume featuring one of his best-loved stories, “Butterscotch”! A physicist discovers a way to become invisible, but a curious ballerina easily tracks him by the smell of butterscotch! This volume also includes “Candid Camera,” “Gulliveriana,” “Three Girls on the Internet,” and more, all newly translated by Kim Thompson, as well as an essay by comics scholar Ben Saunders of the University of Oregon on the relationship between art and pornography.
• The concluding volume of Manara’s erotic masterworks!
• Includes “Butterscotch,” one of Manara’s most famous stories!
• Introduction by Dr. Ben Saunders!
7. Mind Manage Your Pull List
If you’re not reading “Mind MGMT”, then you don’t know what you’re missing. If you are reading “Mind MGMT”, well, you might find you still are missing something! These issues are so densely packed. Without a doubt, Matt Kindt is giving you the best bang for your buck in comic books right now, because you’ll want to read these 2 or 3 times to get everything. If that’s not craftsmanship you can feel good about putting your hard earned dollar toward, I don’t know what is. The solicit says that this is a good jumping on point. I’m going to recommend you read all the other issues too anyway.
Continued belowMIND MGMT #14
Matt Kindt (W/A)
On sale Aug 28
FC, 24 pages
$3.99
Ongoing
What you don’t know about Meru could just about fit in this issue!
• From the creator of 3 Story and Super Spy and cowriter of JLA!
• A single-part story perfect for new readers!
6. Casey is the Catalyst
Joe Casey doesn’t get around to writing for the big two much any more. Could it be because his big ideas are too much for those brands to bear? Whenever Casey has a new book out, it’s something of an event. Dark Horse sounds really excited for their big superhero push, as well. You can feel it in the air. The solicitations alone are packed with so many teaser lines that Casey fans are probably frothing at the mouth at this point.
CATALYST COMIX #2 (of 9)
Joe Casey (W), Dan McDaid (A), Ulises Farinas (A), Paul Maybury (A), Brad Simpson (C), and Paul Pope (Cover)
On sale Aug 7
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Frank Wells saved the world, but now what?! Amazing Grace fights for life in a cosmic coma! And the Agents of Change have a superhero encounter session! Don’t miss the second smash issue of the baddest comic on the stands!
• Masterminded by Joe Casey (Sex, Gødland) with art team Dan McDaid, Ulises Farinas, and Paul Maybury!
5. Season 9 Takes A Bow
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the final issue in what has technically been part of the “Season 9” Buffyverse comics. “Angel & Faith” may have been the strongest of the Buffy comics over the last few years and it sure looks like it’s coming to a thrilling conclusion.
ANGEL & FAITH #25
Christos Gage (W), Rebekah Isaacs (A/Variant cover), Dan Jackson (C), and Steve Morris (Cover)
On sale Aug 28
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Millions of lives hang in the balance, and Angel and Faith just might be on the losing end of this battle. It’s times like these that call for drastic measures . . . How far will they go to save the world?
Lives are lost, heroes are born, and as one chapter ends, another begins.
4. Conan, What is Best in Comics?
Those who have been following Brian Wood’s run on “Conan the Barbarian” have been getting a rather refreshing and, at times, offbeat Conan & Bêlit story. (Well, as offbeat as Conan can get, anyway.) Paul Azaceta lends his considerable talents to Conan and has a history of making great looking Brian Wood-written comic books. A new arc starts here and it’s a fine place to jump on.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #19
Brian Wood (W), Paul Azaceta (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Massimo Carnevale (Cover)
On sale Aug 21
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
Conan and Bêlit find themselves the unlikely couriers to a mysterious and ancient religious relic. They are soon beset on all sides by the feuding factions that wish to exploit the artifact’s power. Can they reach their destination while keeping their prize—and themselves—intact?
• From Brian Wood (Star Wars, The Massive), and Paul Azaceta (Amazing Spider-Man, B.P.R.D.).
• The most-talked-about Conan comic in years!
3. Hellboy and Circus Freaks – Sounds like a match made in Hell
We nabbed the news on this one from this year’s C2E2. We’ve heard tremendous (and disturbing!) things from Mike Mignola about Duncan Fegredo and Dave Stewart’s art on this original graphic novel. This one has the makings of an early Christmas gift for comic fans. I know I’ll be gifting myself one.
Continued belowHELLBOY: THE MIDNIGHT CIRCUS HC
Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Duncan Fegredo (A), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Oct 23
FC, 56 pages
$14.99
HC, 7″ x 10″
Young Hellboy runs away from the B.P.R.D. only to stumble upon a weird and fantastical circus and the few demons from Hell who inhabit it.
• Cover and story by Mike Mignola!
• Duncan Fegredo returns!
• An original graphic novel in hardcover!
2. Awww, Isn’t Wittle Hellboy so Cute?
We were deeply saddened by the cancellation of “Superman Family Adventures.” So saddened, that our Editor-in-Chief wrote an editorial partially based on that bit of news. But while they may no longer be bringing their particular brand of chibi-ification to the DC Comics characters anymore (though we’ll be watching their work writing “Green Team: Teen Trillionaires”), it looks like they got the go ahead to make Hellboy look totally adorable. The playful art is the highlight, but their work on these books is slyly hilarious, as well.
ITTY BITTY HELLBOY #1 (of 3)
Art Baltazar (W/A/Cover) and Franco (W)
On sale Aug 28
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
A ghost named Rasputin has been spotted! And Hellboy and the B.P.R.D. are going to find out what he’s up to.
Who is Hellboy anyway? Why does he have such a big hand and what is it used for? Who’s weirder, him or his friends? What is the B.P.R.D.? And what does chicken soup have to do with all of it? This and more answered in the debut issue, where BIG things happen to itty bitty Hellboy!
• The creators of Tiny Titans, Superman Family Adventures, and Aw Yeah Comics comes to Dark Horse!
• A new kids’ comic with Mike Mignola’s characters reimagined by Art Baltazar and Franco!
1. Aliens Among Us – Again
“Resident Alien” was one of the most pleasant surprises in comics in 2012. The original 4 issue mini landed at #5 on our best of 2012 list. Needless to say, we’re all looking forward to this one very much. Peter Hogan wrote a low key comic that managed to ignite our imaginations and cull razor-sharp dramatic tension with just a slight suspension of disbelief. Steve Parkhouse’s handsome art was a total pleasure as well. We can’t wait to see what the good doctor gets himself into this time.
Resident Alien: The Suicide Blonde #0
Peter Hogan (W), Steve Parkhouse (A/C/Cover)
On sale Aug 14
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
Stranded on Earth, the alien living undercover as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle continues his practice in the small town of Patience, USA! Assisted by Native American nurse Asta—the only person who suspects that he’s from another planet—Harry finds himself enmeshed in another murder mystery. Also: the feds are on to Harry!
• From the writer of Tom Strong and the artist of the classic Bojeffries Saga!
“A pitch-perfect narrative from two of my favourite creators.” —Alan Moore
Those were our picks for Dark Horse’s August 2013. Need to see more? The full solicitations can be found over at CBR.
