We’re getting closer and closer to the year 2015, and it’s beginning to distress me. It’s looking more and more like we’re not getting those flying cars and mandatory nutrient regimen tablets. But one thing I’m not worried about it getting a brand new slew of great comics from Dark Horse in February. Let’s dive in for some “Goon”, Miognolaverse goodness, beautiful hardcover collections, and more:
10. Hellboy puts on his tux for a Dark Horse milestone
If you read this column regularly, you might be sick of seeing “Dark Horse Presents” show up on this list every single month. I stump for this anthology title constantly because I think it’s the best monthly bang for your buck in comics. You like “Hellboy”? Well, this month we get to revisit Hellboy in Mexico again. You like Brendan McCarthy’s colorful, psychedelic art? Well, he’s been doing a story since issue #1 that is an acid-trip for your eyeballs. Did you like Gone Girl? Gillian Flynn inexplicably has a story in this one, drawn by the great Dave Gibbons. There’s so much to like here, every month.
Dark Horse Presents #7
Mike Mignola (W), Fred Van Lente (W), Alex de Campi (W), Damon Gentry (W), Ed Brisson (W), Matt Kindt (W/A), Brendan McCarthy (W/A), Mark Evanier (W), Gustavo Duarte (W/A), Gillian Flynn (W), Dave Gibbons (A), Fábio Moon (A), Miguel Sepulveda (A), Jerry Ordway (A), Aaron Conley (A), Michael Walsh (A), Sergio Aragonés (A), Gabriel Bá (Cover), and Eric Powell (Variant cover)On sale Feb 18
FC, 80 pages
$4.99
Ongoing
In this 80-page, two hundredth issue of the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award–winning anthology, Mike Mignola and Fábio Moon revisit Hellboy’s time in Mexico with a follow-up to their story “The Coffin Man.” Fred Van Lente delivers a story about the telepathic cyborg gorilla Ape-X! Brendan McCarthy’s Dream Gang returns! And Sergio Aragonés delivers the first chapter of a new Groo tale with writer Mark Evanier!
• Features a story from Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) and Dave Gibbons (Watchmen)!
80 pages! 3 Eisners! 3 Harveys! Five bucks!
9. Richard Corben-brand nightmare fuel
Holy crap, that cover. “Rat God” looks like it’s going to give “Colder” a run for its money when it comes to producing horrifying covers. Richard Corben is a horror master who is so good at delivering honest-to-goodness creepiness on a comic page. Corben looks to mix Lovecraft and Native American legend with this one. In his hands, that sounds like a recipe for nightmare fuel.
Rat God #1 (of 5)
Richard Corben (W/A/Cover) and Beth Corben Reed (C)On sale Feb 4
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
Terrible things stalk the forests outside Arkham in this chilling original tale from comics master Richard Corben! An arrogant city slicker on a quest to uncover the background of a young woman from the backwoods finds horrors beyond imagining, combining Lovecraftian mutations with Native American legends.
• New from the Eisner Award Hall of Fame inductee!
• The gold standard in horror comics for over 40 years!
• An original tale of backwoods terror inspired by Lovecraft.
“He is the mainstay in my collection of original art and one of the most precise and admirable storytellers in the medium.”—Guillermo del Toro
8. Girlfriend is Better
Aside from their work on “Grendel”, I’m not sure I’ve ever read something by the Pander Brothers. I’m going to correct that with “Girlfriend.” The cover grabbed my eye – I just love that dynamic, cartoony style. I have a feeling the story is going to be bonkers fun, which I’m totally down for.
Continued belowGirlfiend TP
Arnold and Jacob Pander (W/A/Cover)On sale Apr 1
b&w, 280 pages
$19.99
TP, 7″ x 10″
The Pander brothers are back and bloodthirsty with Girlfiend—their new vampire crime thriller! This meaty graphic novel finds the brothers doing what they do best: Taking comics to the edge. Sink your teeth into this pulp-infused thriller, as a human and his vampire girlfriend must hunt the criminal underworld to keep their love alive!
• A thrilling tale of lust, sacrifice, and rock ’n’ roll!
• The Eisner Award–nominated duo returns to comics!
7. Between a goon and a hard place
“Goon” is a mainstay in this column and on my pull list. Quietly, it’s consistently one of the highest quality, entertaining, most jam-packed, slyly cerebral comics on the stand. It’s interesting that Powell has seemingly switched to the “ongoing-via-miniseries” method for releasing it, arc-by-arc. Hey, not that I’m complaining – it makes it easier for me to recommend to new readers.
The Goon: Once upon a Hard Time #1 (of 4)
Eric Powell (W/A/Cover/Variant cover)On sale Feb 4
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
After the tragic events of Occasion of Revenge, the witch coven believes that control of the unnamed town will soon be in their grasp and the Goon’s tragic soul will contribute to the curse that increases their power. But has their plot destroyed the Goon or created a monster too savage for them to withstand?
Once upon a Hard Time is a climactic miniseries that has major consequences for the Goon and his supporting cast. If you’re a Goon fan, you can’t miss this.
“Powell’s story is sweet when it needs to be, warm and touching when it wants to be, and brutal and gruesome when it has to be.”—Bloody Disgusting
6. Drop dead gorgeous
“Brides of Helheim” is really cementing my feeling that Joëlle Jones is one of the most dynamic and versatile artists in comics. She can nail the sweet, emotional aspects while simultaneously delivering you one of the most brutal comics on the stands. That’s why “Lady Killer” sounds like a slam sunk for her, as well. And a great opportunity to see what she can do on the scripting side of things, as well. Something tells me she’s going to rise to the challenge.
Lady Killer #2 (of 5)
Joëlle Jones (W/A/Cover) and Jamie S. Rich (W)On sale Feb 4
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Josie’s life grows more complicated than ever. Between the demands of her family life (including her disapproving mother-in-law), the challenges of performing as a ruthless assassin, and being underestimated by the men she works for, how can she do it all—and make it look so good?
• A new original series!
“Lady Killer is a killer cool book with one of my favorite artist/writer teams at the top of their game. It’s an exciting and unique take on the whole midcentury-modern vibe, with one great surprise after another! And the colors are really nifty too!”—Mike Allred
5. Get sucked in to “Polar’s” vortex
I’ve enjoyed watching Victor Santos’ art evolve over the last couple of years. From “The Mice Templar” to the fun and frenzied “Furious” to the dark and desperate feel of “Black Market”, Santos’ cartooning has shown tremendous growth. So I’m excited to check out the 2nd year of his “web comic”, “Polar.” I look to see the same growth and enjoy more work from an underrated artist that is still on the rise.
Polar Volume 2: Eye for an Eye HC
Victor Santos (W/A/Cover)On sale Apr 15
FC, 168 pages
$17.99
HC, 9″ x 6 3/4″
Left adrift in arctic waters with a gunshot wound to the head, Christy White was rescued from an icy death by a mysterious man. She craved retribution, and he taught her how to get it—how to make sense of her past and how to kill. They tried to freeze her out, but they should have finished the job, because now she’s back with a vengeance! Collects the second year of the bloody and beautiful silent web comic by Victor Santos (The Mice Templar, Furious).
• A tale of vengeance à la Kill Bill!
4. Still the best Dark Horse book
I’m constantly calling “BPRD” the best Dark Horse comic on the stands from month to month, and it is. Aside from having a great rotating cadre of artists and an ensemble of characters that is unmatched anywhere else, “BPRD” continues to subvert expectations and surprise us at readers. It’s never cookie-cutter. There’s no formula. The heroes don’t always come out unscathed. It’s great comics.
Continued belowB.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #128
Mike Mignola (W), John Arcudi (W), James Harren (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Laurence Campbell (Cover)On sale Feb 18
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
The BPRD’s attempts to kill the monster terrorizing a snowy mountainside have failed. While the team tries desperately to escape, one man stands against the monster . . . the mysterious Agent Howards. Will this warrior from the past be able to kill the beast or be crushed in its path?
“Moody, tense and a joy to read. Bring on the next issue.”—Bloody Disgusting
3. Another Matt Kindt mystery for your mind
If you love “Mind MGMT” like I do, you’ll be itching to get familiar with his earliest works in comics. “Pistolwhip” is his published debut from over a decade ago. I’m sure his craft has evolved since then, but I’m excited to see where it all began. I’m sure the brilliance was evident from the beginning, on some level.
The Complete Pistolwhip HC
Jason Hall (W), Matt Kindt (W/A/Cover), and Marie Enger (C)On sale Apr 15
FC, 336 pages
$27.99
HC, 8 1/4″ x 10 1/4″
Matt Kindt and Jason Hall’s breakout crime series returns! This deluxe hardcover edition includes both of Kindt and Hall’s elaborate mystery graphic novels, in color for the first time, along with the Pistolwhip one-shot and a story from Dark Horse Maverick: Happy Endings!
• Deluxe hardcover edition collecting every Pistolwhip story, in color for the first time!
“Good storytelling; strong, distinctive (and visually pleasing) graphics; and cool names like Charlie Minks and Jack Peril! What more could you ask for?”—Jeff Smith
• Matt Kindt’s 2001 debut!
2. “EI8HT” is enough
Image Comics is becoming the go-to destination for sci-fi comics of both the hard and soft variety. With that said, “EI8HT” looks like it would fit in snuggly among them. “EI8HT” looks like proof that Dark Horse Comics can be a destination for any type of comic book, and that there might not be a better destination for finding prestige artists doing their thing. Rafael Albuquerque’s art on this looks gorgeous. If you’re a fan of what he does, take a chance on this one.
EI8HT #1 (of 5)
Rafael Albuquerque (W/A/Cover) and Mike Johnson (W)On sale Feb 18
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Welcome to the Meld, an inhospitable dimension in time where Joshua, a chrononaut, finds himself trapped. With no memory or feedback from the team of scientists that sent him, he can’t count on anything but his heart and a stranger’s voice to guide him to his destiny.
• From the artist of American Vampire!
• Cowritten with Mike Johnson (Supergirl)!
• Traverse the past, the present, the future . . . and welcome to the Meld!
1. “Bandette” stole my heart
“Bandette” is absolutely wonderful and everybody knows it. “Bandette” won an Eisner right off the bat, and you better believe that Paul Tobin and the incomparable Colleen Coover deserved it. The art is playful and dynamic. The general feel of the comic is stylish and clean. The design of the hardcover editions is handsome and eye-catching. There’s nothing not to like here. And for $15, I would consider it absolutely essential.
Bandette Volume 2: Stealers, Keepers! HC
Paul Tobin (W), Colleen Coover (A/Cover), Jonathan Hill (A), Lucy Bellwood (A), and Sheli Hay (A)On sale Apr 15
FC, 128 pages
$14.99
HC, 6″ x 9″
The Eisner Award–winning digital series is back to steal readers’ hearts once again! The Great Thieving Race is on, as Bandette and rival Monsieur compete to steal priceless artifacts from a criminal organization. But its response could make this Bandette’s final crime spree! Collects Bandette #6–#9, plus bonus stories!
• First time in print!
• Includes “Urchin Stories” by guest artists and new extras!
“Tobin and Coover make the world of Bandette one that you’d want to live in.”—Comic Book Resources
Did we miss anything you like? Tell us about it! And check out the full solicitations from our friends at Comic Book Resources to find out more.
