Welcome to another month of the Dark Horse portion of Soliciting Multiversity! 2016 comes to a merciful end this week but we are deep into looking at what 2017 has to offer us. In March, Dark Horse will launch a few promising new series and continues to offer some choice manga. It’s a much stronger month than February so let’s jump into the picks.
10. Swinging Into Those Damn Dirty Apes
I read the first issue of this miniseries and really dug what changes were made to fit this story. I think this is something that will read much better as a full single sit story. The talent behind this make it something you can’t look past.
Tarzan on the Planet of the Apes TP (advance solicit)
Tim Seeley (W), David Walker (W), Fernando Dagnino (A), Sandra Molina (C), and Duncan Fegredo (Cover)
On sale May 17
FC, 144 pages
$19.99
TP, 7” x 10”
Caesar’s birth in the original Planet of the Apes films was a result of the time travel at the core of that story. Tim Seeley (Revival) and David Walker (Power Man and Iron Fist) relocate that birth to nineteenth-century Africa, where Caesar crosses paths with Tarzan, leading to a much different fate for man and ape.
Drawing deeply from the Tarzan novels and the Apes films, Seeley and Walker run Caesar and the Lord of the Jungle through the enslavement of the apes, through a century of war, and through the center of the earth. Collects issues #1–#5 of the series.
“Seeley, Walker, Dagnino, Molina, and Piekos have crafted a fitting, adventurous tribute to two historical franchises that celebrates their differences and revels in their similarities.”—Comicosity
9. By The Power Of Greyskull!
So He-Man is a little outside of the window of when I was a kid but I know that it was a big deal for a lot of folks a little older than me. I love super focused encyclopedias like this. I have the WWE one and two Star Wars ones because there’s so much cool information in them. This is a massive book so it’ll be a worthy collectors item for any fan of this series.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: A Character Guide and World Compendium HC (advance solicit)
Val Staples (W), Josh de Lioncourt (W), James Eatock (W), and Danielle Gelehrter (W)
On sale May 3
FC, 680 pages
$49.99
HC, 9” x 12”
The universe of He-Man and She-Ra is full of mystery. And thanks to over four thousand individual entries covering characters, beasts, vehicles, locations, weapons, and magic, you can learn the secrets of this entire universe! This is the most comprehensive MOTU guide ever published, covering all things Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power from 1982 through today!
A complete guide to the characters and world of He-Man and She-Ra!
8. Escort The Payload…Shinji??
I wanted to get an Overwatch reference in this column this month and somehow it came during the solicit for a new “Neon Genesis Evangelion” book. I love “Evangelion” and am completely fascinated by all the sanctioned parodies that exist of it. It’s such an extremely serious story but I guess that’s what makes it easy to parody. This new book is a video game centric parody featuring the main characters of “Evangelion”. I don’t know if this is something I’ll definitely buy but it does intrigue me.
Continued belowNeon Genesis Evangelion: Legend of the Piko Piko Middle School Students Volume 1 TP (advance solicit)
Yushi Kawata (W) and Yukito (A/Cover)
On sale May 10
b&w, 152 pages
$11.99
TP, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″
Mysterious invaders are threatening Earth . . . so recruit a group of elite school kids to play video games that secretly train them for the real fight that lies ahead! Does this plan sound familiar? Well, they’d better get a new plan, because the elite school kids are Shinji, Rei, Asuka, and Kaworu, and they’re too busy playing games to ever get in the fricking robot!
Full of video game parodies—it’s Evangelion meets Let’s Play!
The most famous anime franchise of the last 20 years!
7. Hellboy Travels To The Far East
I’ve really enjoyed these “Hellboy” miniseries set in the early days of the B.P.R.D.. They’re great standalone stories that add a lot to the bigger mythos of the character and this organization. I’m excited to see Churilla’s art on this story.
Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: 1954—Ghost Moon #1 (of 2)
Mike Mignola (W), Chris Roberson (W), Brian Churilla (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Mike Huddleston (Cover)
On sale Mar 8
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
Hellboy hunts ancient Chinese demons in the Walled City of Hong Kong when an old friend of Bruttenholm’s calls in a favor.
A heavily researched look into the early days of the British spy network in the Far East, combined with Mignola’s unique brand of supernatural adventure.
Brian Churilla (The Secret History of D. B. Cooper) joins the Mignolaverse!
6. Secrets Always Come Back To The Surface
I adore “Psycho – Pass” and the ideas it explores. The first volume of this Kogami centric prequel wasn’t bad but it only touched the surface of the bigger themes it wanted to explore. I have high hopes for the second volume and can’t wait to read this.
Psycho-Pass: Inspector Shinya Kogami Volume 2 TP (advance solicit)
Midori Gotou (W) and Natsuo Sai (A/Cover)
On sale May 24
b&w, 176 pages
$11.99
TP, 5 1/8” x 7 1/4″
The manga prequel to the acclaimed anime series! Kogami’s team have learned that the hospital where patients have died due to a genetic timer set in them decades ago was a “privileged” residence for the emotionally unfit. In searching for clues, they discover just how their society perfected itself by pushing some things into the shadows . . . and the underground network dedicated to keeping those things alive!
The prequel to the hit anime series Psycho-Pass!
From star creator Gen Urobuchi (Fate/Zero, Puella Magi Madoka Magica).
5. Some Answers At Last?
“Black Hammer” was named to our best new series list and with good reason. I adore it. I think it is the most interesting take on the superhero genre in years. The story is a slow burn but this issue seems to finally get the heart of things by showing us the origin of the Black Hammer himself.
Black Hammer #7
Jeff Lemire (W/Variant cover), Dean Ormston (A/Cover), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Mar 22
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Ongoing
Joe Weber: the Black Hammer. A hero from the Spiral Slums. A husband. A father. Gone without a trace.
A visitor from the outside world arrives on the farm, looking for the Black Hammer and bringing news of Spiral City to its Golden Age heroes. Her arrival stirs up old memories and awakens new hope in the marooned heroes.
“One of the best superhero books on the stands.”—IGN
4. There Can Be Only One Dimension
“Ether” is still early on in its run but I’ve been really taken with the series so far. I adore Rubin’s art and Kindt’s story is thrilling. Kindt has found a good home at Dark Horse and “Ether” has been just as great as a lot of the other original work he’s done here. It ends in March but take this as a chance to let your LCS know you want the trade.
Continued belowEther #5 (of 5)
Matt Kindt (W) and David Rubín (A/Cover)
On sale Mar 15
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
When a dangerous magical force finds its way to Earth, Boone is the only man equipped to protect his home from the dangers of the Ether. But he hardly recognizes his home anymore—every week he spends in the Ether is a full year on Earth. Maybe one man can’t live in two dimensions, after all.
From New York Times best-selling author Matt Kindt (MIND MGMT, Past Aways, Super Spy, Dept. H), with artwork from David Rubín (Battling Boy).
3. The Hype Machine Gets Turned Up
“American Gods” by Neil Gaiman has sold millions and won lots of awards. It’ll finally become a TV series in 2017 and I can’t wait. I loved this novel and plan on re-reading it before the series starts. What’s interesting is that with Gaiman’s history in comics, this is the first time this book has been adapted to a comic book. I honestly assumed this had happened and I just missed it. I don’t know if this will be good but it’ll be worth a shot given how much I enjoyed the book.
American Gods: Shadows #1
Neil Gaiman (W), P. Craig Russell (W/A), Scott Hampton (A/C), Glenn Fabry (Cover), David Mack (Variant cover), and Dave McKean (Variant cover)
On sale Mar 15
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Ongoing
Shadow Moon just got out of jail, only to discover his wife is dead. Defeated, broke, and uncertain as to where to go from here, he meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who employs him to serve as his bodyguard—thrusting Shadow into a deadly world of the supernatural, where ghosts of the past come back from the dead, and a brewing war between old and new gods hits a boiling point.
The Hugo, Bram Stoker, Locus, World Fantasy, and Nebula award–winning novel and upcoming Starz television series by Neil Gaiman is adapted as a comic series for the first time!
NEIL GAIMAN! P. CRAIG RUSSELL! SCOTT HAMPTON!
2. A True Comics Story
I’m not entirely sure why something like this wasn’t put out by DC but I’m glad it exists. I am still a big fan of the Joker despite the growing opinion that he’s “over”. Comic books have some great behind the scenes stories but they don’t always get put out as memoirs we can buy. I like that this seems to feature Robinson’s art a lot as well. I’ll be pre-ordering this one for myself.
Jerry and the Joker: Adventures and Comic Art HC (advance solicit)
Jerry Robinson (W/A/Cover)
On sale May 31
FC, 192 pages
$34.99
HC, 9” x 12”
In this art-infused memoir by the late Jerry Robinson, learn how a seventeen-year-old became the artist on Detective Comics and Batman—and created one of the most famous villains of all time: the Joker. This volume includes never-before-published full-page artwork from Detective Comics and Batman, covers featuring Batman, Robin, and the Joker, and much more.
Never-before-published artwork featuring Batman, Robin, the Joker, and more!
1. A Modern Myth
“Amelia Cole” ran for years as a digital first series and featured amazing long term storytelling. A few months ago, it ended and I wondered what the team behind it would do next. I wonder no more as the “Amelia Cole” team is back with a brand new miniseries that reimagines the King Arthur tale for a modern audience. It’s a tale that’s been told before but with the right angle, there’s a ton in there to still explore. With a female lead, diverse cast and very talented creative team, I have no doubt that this will be a big hit with fans.
The Once and Future Queen #1 (of 5)
Matt Kindt (W) and David Rubín (A/Cover)
Adam P. Knave (W), D.J. Kirkbride (W), and Nick Brokenshire (A/C/Cover)
On sale Mar 1
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
It’s out with the old myths and in with the new as a nineteen-year-old chess prodigy pulls Excalibur from the stone and becomes queen. Now, magic, romance, Fae, Merlin, and more await her! Lend her your axe as the creators of Amelia Cole start a new age of adventure!
The legend of King Arthur is reimagined for today, featuring a team of characters with East Asian, African, and British heritage and diverse sexual orientations.
From the team who created Amelia Cole, which ran for six arcs at Monkeybrain and IDW.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments below and check out the full March solicits over at CBR.
