Dark Horse Press Releases
The quest for true love continues in an all-new Samurai: Heaven and Earth II series!
Returning for a sequel to last year’s acclaimed series, Ron Marz and artist Luke Ross continue the story of Shiro, his lost love Yoshiko, and the distance that only makes them closer. In this series, Shiro chases Yoshiko across Western Europe, through the Mediterranean Sea and finally to the sands of Egypt. But will they be reunited again?
“Ron and Luke really delivered with the first series and they’re upping the ante this time around,” Dave Land, editor of the series, says. “Besides delivering a first rate adventure story Ron and Luke have covered that hard-to-fill niche for people who want to see various historical figures get sliced up by samurai swords. It truly is a feat of epic proportions.”
Samurai: Heaven and Earth II features story by Ron Marz and art by Luke Ross.
Strange to the max! Maxwell Strangewell arrives at Dark Horse.
Anna Gilmour’s life takes a turn for the weird the day Max, an alien with amnesia, falls from the sky and into her life. Like a cosmic alarm clock ticking a countdown to oblivion, Max’s arrival on Earth sets an intergalactic struggle into motion. Alien empires want to control him. Space pirates want to sell him. The Man in the Moon wants to kill him . . . and Anna just wants to help him.
A galactic free-for-all is about to go down and Earth is ground zero. Can the universe survive megalomaniacal alien accountants, a psychotic F.B.I. agent, transcendental Tibetan monks, foretold prophecies, time travel, and what could possibly be the meaning of life? Pack your bags, hold the phones, and buckle up tight. It’s the end of the world as we know it . . . but don’t worry, everything’s under control.
“This is a really fun read,” said Maxwell Strangewell editor Dave Land. “If you liked Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy then this story is for you!”
Maxwell Strangewell features art and story by the Fillbach Brothers and will arrive on sale in 2007.
Ron Marz delivers urban robot tales in Pantheon City!
Ron Marz, the brains behind Green Lantern vs. Aliens, the Batman/Tarzan series and, most recently, Samurai: Heaven and Earth, brings an all-new story of life in the first machine-made civilization in Pantheon City.
Pantheon City follows the story of Sam, a smart young girl looking for a fresh start, who finds herself in danger within minutes of her arrival in Pantheon City. Through the series, Marz weaves a riveting story of corruption, power and survival in the strange, mechanical city.
“I’ve always dreamed of living in a city built by robots. It was only recently that I found out that that was something that wasn’t going to happen,” Dave Land, editor of Pantheon City, says. “I think a lot of people are gonna be blown away by Pantheon City and I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an outcry for robot cities to be built all over the world. Perhaps my dream WILL come true!”
Pantheon City features story by Ron Marz and art by Clement Sauve.
Shift into excitement with Gear School!
In the future, Earth’s dreams of empire have brought them into conflict with a mysterious and warlike alien race. To fight these aliens, humanity has created giant fighting machines called Gear.
Being a Gear driver is the dream of most of society. But drivers aren’t born, they are madeâ€â€training at elite military academies begins at a young age. The most prestigious school, The E. D. Swinton Academy, known to its teachers and students as Gear School, is exacting, rigorous, and unforgiving. Into this harsh world comes Teresa Gottlieb, a thirteen-year-old prodigy from an old military family. At Gear School she finds all of the travails/challenges/tribulations of any middleschoolerâ€â€mountains of homework, byzantine social cliques, and the opposite sexâ€â€but she also has to contend with crazed military instructors, dangerous equipment, and imminent alien attack!
If she can survive her first week at Gear School, Teresa may just become humanity’s best chance at survival . . .
“Gear School is an idea that has been kicking around in my head for a while, so I’m happy to finally have the chance to do it,” said creator Adam Gallardo. “It combines two of my favorite thingsâ€â€teen angst and giant fighting robots! What’s not to love? Then there’s Núria Peris’s awesome robot designs and beautiful illustrations. To sweeten the deal, I get to work with Dave Land and Dark Horse Comics again and that makes Gear School a dream project.”
Gear School features story by Adam Gallardo and art by Núria Peris and will arrive in 2007.
Superhero entertainment reaches a new low in the all-new Empowered!
Who says superheroes need to have self-esteem? In this all-new series of graphic novels, “Empowered” is a spandex-wrapped supergirl with body-image insecurities, unreliable powers, and a horrendously lame reputation within the superhuman community. Despite the flaws of her cruelly revealing and often-defective “supersuit,” Empowered bravely stumbles her way through the ordeals of her C-list superheroic life with the help of her “thugalicious” boyfriend and hard-drinking, female-ninja best friend.
Adam Warren, writer and artist of the English-language Dirty Pair comics, brings you this all-new comic that wipes away every rule of the superhero genre!
“Adam Warren basically invented Original English-Language manga, and he’s still the best,” Chris Warner, editor of Empowered, says. “Empowered is Adam at his absolute wildest, and that’s saying something. Keep your other superhero books away from Empowered, unless you want to collect a pile of ashes and melted mylar.”
Empowered features art and story by Adam Warren and will arrive on sale in 2007.
A comic based on an animated movie, that’s based on a comic: it’s Hellboy like you’ve never seen him before!
In conjunction with the upcoming, groundbreaking Hellboy Animated series, directed by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and Guillermo del Toro, Dark Horse Comics announces the release of a line of all-new graphic novels, products, and custom publishing projects.
Dark Horse is creating a 32-page custom comic that will be packed in an estimated 500,000 Hellboy Animated: Sword of Storms DVDs in early 2007. The custom comic features story by Jim Bascoe (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and art by Rick Lacy (Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures).
“Jim got to work these stories out with Mike [Mignola], so Mike’s stamp is visible here tooâ€â€and with Tad, Mignola’s co-producer on the animated shows, writing backups, we’re fleshing out the world of the two slated animated films, bringing some great stuff from Mike’s comics into that parallel world,” Scott Allie, editor of Hellboy and the Hellboy Animated comics, says.
Beginning in late 2006, Dark Horse will release a series of products, including polyresin statues, mini-busts, PVC figures, magnets, rubber stamps, stationery, journals, and flip flop sandals. The line will kick off with the release of two Hellboy Animated statues-Hellboy and Abe Sapien-sculpted by the gifted hands of Tony Cipriano. Dark Horse will partner with Tim Bruckner, Gentle Giant Studios, and IDT on these projects.
“All in all, we’ve assembled a world-class team that is delivering the goodsâ€â€and then some,” David Scroggy, Dark Horse’s Vice President of Product Development, says.
The Hellboy and Abe Sapien statues arrive in stores in late 2006 with a retail price of $150.
Finally back in print! Matt Wagner’s Grendel as few have seen him before!
For twenty-five years, the true origin of Matt Wagner’s Eisner award-winning anti-hero Grendel has remained largely unseen. Until now, these early issues were only available for top dollar prices in online auctions or bag and board collector shops.
A successful novelist by day, Hunter Rose becomes the unstoppable assassin Grendel by night. Containing Primer #2 and Grendel #1-3 originally published by Comico, this new collection is an essential piece of comics history, and represents the earliest work of Matt Wagner, the legendary creator behind such acclaimed projects as Mage, Sandman Mystery Theater, and Batman: The Monster Men among many others.
With new cover art by Wagner, The Original Grendel is a must-have for all who count themselves among the legion of Grendel fans and the ultimate starting point for those interested in one of the most influential independent comics of the last quarter century!
Matt Wagner’s Original Grendel arrives in stores in early 2007 with a cover price of $14.95.
Dark Horse to produce comic book for the winner of SCI FI Channel’s new reality show, Who Wants to Be a Superhero?
Dark Horse Comics has agreed to produce the comic book based on the winning contestant’s character in the SCI FI Channel’s new reality TV show Who Want to Be a Superhero? SCI FI Channel, teamed with Bruce Nash’s Nash Entertainment (Meet My Folks, For Love or Money, Who Wants to Marry My Dad?) and legendary comic book creator Stan Lee (Spider-Man, Hulk, The Fantastic Four, X-Men), will produce a six-episode, one-hour weekly competition reality series that will challenge a lucky few to create their very own superhero. The winner of this six-week competition will walk away with their superhero immortalized in a new comic book created by Stan Lee himself!
Dark Horse president Mike Richardson commented, “Dark Horse is honored to partner with SCI FI Channel to make what will no doubt be an entertaining new comic. Stan Lee’s genius will bring the contestant’s character to life in something that any comic fan will appreciate. After all, who hasn’t dreamt of such an opportunity?”
Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, and comics legend Will Eisner, their highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton, Trigun, and The Incredibles. Today Dark Horse Comics is the third largest comic-book publisher in the U.S. and is recognized as the world’s leading publisher of licensed comics material.
SCI FI Channel is a television network where “what if” is what’s on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com
One of the most anticipated video game releases in the world makes its debut in a new Dark Horse Comic!
Few video games have enjoyed such a frenetic buzz around their release as the upcoming Hellgate: London, and with good reasonâ€â€they haven’t had the awesome talent of former Diablo developers and executives working on an inaugural release! Now together as Flagship Studios, these formidable creative minds have developed a groundbreaking game that’s guaranteed to become another bestselling franchise.
Ian Edginton, the critically acclaimed author of Scarlet Traces and the recent War of the Worlds webcomic adaptation, teams with Superman and Preacher artist Steve Pugh to explore this demon-ravaged metropolis in comics form. Hellgate fans will eat up the realistic flavor that both UK creators bring to the work, and Flagship has had hands-on approval every step of the way.
“Dark Horse is the perfect partner to bring the world of Hellgate: London into the world of comics,” said Bill Roper, CEO and co-founder of Flagship Studios. “Their focus on melding stellar artwork with a gripping story line has made working with them on these books incredibly gratifying.”
In the year 2038, humanity is at war against invading demonic forces. Emerging from a swirling and chaotic Hellgate, they have quickly overtaken humanitiy’s defenses. Hell has indeed arrived on earth! Men of arms and magic have sought to bring to an end the reign of terror the demons have brought to the once proud city of London. Humanity’s last hope lies in discerning the true nature of an arcane symbol known as the SIGIL. Inscribed somewhere upon the very face of the city, the sigil’s focal points are marked by potent artifacts of unearthly energy. If it is to survive, the surviving humans must discover the true nature of the sigil or be damned to oblivion!
Hellgate features writing by Ian Edginton and art by Steve Pugh. The first issue arrives on sale in October for the price of $2.99.
For more info on the upcoming video game, visit www.hellgatelondon.com!
Dark Horse announces upcoming projects from the mind of Robert E. Howard!
Dark Horse Comics, together with Paradox Entertainment is pleased to announce that in addition to the critically acclaimed Conan ongoing series, there will be upcoming new and ongoing titles based on classic tales from master storyteller, Robert E. Howard!
Kull of Atlantis- Magic, intrigue, and horror abound with Kull of Atlantis, the warrior who becomes a gladiator, and the gladiator who seizes a magnificent kingdom and crowns himself king. In the pre-cataclysmic world of 100,000 years ago, Kull holds his throne against conspirators, murderous rivals, and deadliest of all, the snake-headed Serpent Men. He broods over the mysteries of eternity, shatters unjust laws, and answers his enemies’ threats with razor-edged steel as his blood-brother Brule the Spear-slayer fights at his side. This new ongoing series will debut in 2007.
Pigeons from Hell- Deep in the piney woods, the ruined Blassenville plantation house hides a secret from the cruel days of slavery. Two travelers awaken the horror when they camp out in the old house, but only one survives to seek help from the local sheriff. To clear his name of murder he must go back into the house at sunset, when the demons of the past are released from a torturous hell. But can he prove he isn’t a killer and survive the deadly hatchet of the Zuvembie once again? Dramatized on Boris Karloff’s classic “Thriller” television series and called “one of the finest horror stories of the 20th century” by Stephen King, this new graphic novel arrives in 2007 with master horror writer Joe Lansdale at the helm of this terrifying classic!
Robert E. Howard’s Savage Tales- Each issue of this new, ongoing series will feature one of Howard’s masterful stories, with characters only he could create and in genres he helped define! Included will be tales such as Skull-Face, when shell-shocked war veteran, Stephen Costigan, meets the titular Master of Doom who plots to resurrect an evil empire…Vultures, where somber violence is paired with dark satire in this western thriller that focuses on gunslinger Steve Corcoran encountering conspiracy in a mining boomtown overrun by a gang known only as The Vultures…King of the Forgotten People has adventurer Jim Brill come face to face with a scientist who proves that there are those who will do anything — even create monstrous beings — to bring forth the ancient evil of Genghis Khan…Three-Bladed Doom, the name of a mystic dagger and weapon of choice for a group of mystical assassins who come face to face with the famed El Borak as he fights to stop them from reviving their terrifying, medieval cult…Worms of the Earth, a tale in which Bran Mak Morn sees the gates of time unlocked and savage beings let loose upon an ancient earth…and Sword Woman, whose instinctive fighting skills are honed and put to the test in 16th century France as this woman warrior foils evil plots and battles those seeking vengeance. Whatever the tale, each issue will reveal new characters, high adventure, and excitement with every turn of the page!
“The collected works of Robert E.Howard represent a vast publishing opportunity and we have carefully selected the first stories and characters for comic book treatment” says Fredrik Malmberg, Head of Licensing & Creative Affairs for Paradox Entertainment. “The Conan project with Dark Horse naturally led to growing our relationship and we are thrilled to start working on these exciting new series.”
“Howard’s work, all of his work, translates to comics better than just about any other literary medium. The raw energy and innovative imagery of his work is just what comics needs, and the incredible variety of his characters gives us endless possibilities” says Scott Allie, Dark Horse Managing Editor. “Any sort of adventure fiction you might want to see brought to life in comics, you can start with Howard, and it’ll take you someplace interesting.”
Additional title information, release dates, and pricing will be forthcoming via press announcements through the coming year.
