Thursday, August 16, 2001

DARK HORSE FOR NOVEMBER

Following are Dark Horse Comics' solicitations for November, with information coming from the company.

3X3 EYES: FLIGHT OF THE DEMON TPB

By Yuzo Takada, translated by: Studio Proteus, cover by Yuzo Takada.

The collected editions of the manga horror/action epic finally continue. From a hidden world in the Tibetan highlands comes Pai, a strange and beautiful girl with a difference: three eyes and three hundred birthdays behind her. Sent to Tokyo by a dying anthropologist, Pai must find his son, Yakumo, to help her in her quest -- to become human. But when Pai merges Yakumo's soul with that of her immortal supernatural familiar to save his life, the urgency of their mission becomes even greater as Yakumo fights to reclaim his own humanity. Pai and Yakumo discover the existence of a statue that may help end their quest, but to obtain it they'll have to take on the dwellers in the dark, who need the statue to revive a dread demonic lord and bring about an inhuman kingdom of immortal evil.

208 pages, black and white, $16.95, ships on Nov. 7.

JOSS WHEDON'S FRAY #5

By Joss Whedon, Karl Moline and Andy Owens, cover by Moline and Owens.

Melaka's been keeping up the good fight. But, now that she knows the horrible truth about the vampire that's been stalking her, can she keep it up? No matter what she does, Melaka is not going to like it. Meanwhile, she's on the run from the thugs and the police. This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence.

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 7.

OH MY GODDESS!: PART XI #3

By Kosuke Fujishima, cover by Kosuke Fujishima.

Mystery Child (Part 1 of 8). It's not every day you get a call from the creator of the universe! But when the Almighty calls to summon Belldandy's goddess sisters, Urd and Skuld, back home to investigate a problem with the universe's time management program, it can only mean one thing: Keiichi's alone with Belldandy at last. But don't get your hopes up, buddy. Who's this little boy who just appeared out of nowhere in the garden? And why is he treating Belldandy like his long-lost -- lover?

32 pages, black and white, $2.99, ships on Nov. 7.

PLANET OF THE APES #3

By Ian Edginton, Pop Mhan, Norman Lee and Guy Major, cover by Derek Thompson.

The heroic trio of Esau, Seneca, and Attar take the fight to the savage apes who have been besieging the remote, embattled township. They successfully follow them through the jungle back to their lair, but they're not prepared for what they find. The savage apes' home is, in fact, the lost ruins of the first Ape City abandoned centuries ago! While a hidden chapter from the history of the Planet of the Apes has been uncovered, another mystery is discovered: who or what were the Old Gods?

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 7.

SCATTERBRAIN HARDCOVER

Cover by Craig Thompson.

The American Illustration Award-winning anthology is now finally collected as a deluxe hardcover book. This anthology features the monocular adventures of Steve Guarnaccia's award-winning Kid Cyclops, along with tales from Jim Woodring, Sergio Aragones, Steve Parkhouse, Killian Plunkett, Evan Dorkin, Jay Stephens, Dave Cooper, and more. Plus, the whole jolly, head-spinning affair is headlined by "Abu Gung" from perennial award-winner Mike Mignola, and wrapped in a new cover by Craig Thompson.

128 pages, $19.95, ships on Nov. 7.

SOCK MONKEY: A CHILDREN'S BOOK TPB

By Tony Millionaire.

Sock Monkey returns in his first-ever full-length book. A mix of comics and illustrated text, this book tells the origin tale of Uncle Gabby the Sock Monkey and how he came to live with the little girl, Ann-Louise. Ever wondered why Sock Monkey seems so creepy and lovable at the same time? Here's the answer. From the darkest jungles of Borneo into the tall mansions of Massachussetts comes the woolen monkey, bringing nightmares and cuddly dreams to everyone he encounters. There are stories to be told of musty smells from sea chests in the attic, creaking stairs, and something in the solarium where the orchids grow under their dewy glass jars.

90 pages, $9.95, black and white, ships on Nov. 7.

STAR WARS: TAG AND BINK ARE DEAD #2

By Kevin Rubio and Lucas Marangon, cover by Marangon.

Tag Greenly and Bink Otauna are dead. The two rebel soldiers chose to disguise themselves as Stormtroopers to escape the icy clutch of death. Eventually they found their way onto the Death Star where they (along with everyone else on the battle station) were blown to smithereens. That's how issue #1 of Tag and Bink Are Dead ended. So, if they're dead -- how exciting is the second issue going to be? Plenty! And it's hilarious to boot. Make sure not to miss this final chapter in the lives of Tag & Bink.

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 7.

ANGEL VOL.2 #3

By Brett Matthews, Joss Whedon, Mel Rubi and Chris Dreier, cover by Rubi.

The onslaught continues as the unknown evil that has been menacing Angel and his friends finally reveals itself. Can Angel, Wesley, Cordelia, and Gunn put the pieces together in time or will Angel's past put an end to their future?

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 14.

BIRD: THE TATTOO HARDCOVER

By Carlos Trillo and Juan Bobillo, cover by Bobillo.

Jobeth Nightengale Bensen, a beautiful young heiress, has been locked in a brutal asylum by her brother, who wants the family fortune for himself. Brutalized and addicted to drugs as part of her "treatment," Jobeth nonetheless counts the minutes for her chance to escape. When the opportunity comes at last, she flees to New York City, hiding among the lost and forgotten, just another apparent homeless lunatic. On the run from her brother, she reinvents herself by concealing her identity under the name of Bird and drastically changing her appearance, one which catches the eye of the fashion world. Her dramatic look catapults Bird into the dazzling world of the supermodel, but with her face on the covers of magazines, this Bird will not be able to fly for long.

48 pages, $9.95, ships on Nov. 14.

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #62

By Hiroaki Samura, translated by: Studio Proteus.

Hyakurin's gone, and that's perfect for the recovering Manji. He's been waiting for a chance to ask Master Sori an important question -- where did Sori, a spy for the Shogunate, meet the blonde killer in the first place? And what's the real story about Hyakurin's Mugai-ryu assassins? Some curious light is shed at last on this mystery lady.

32 pages, black and white, $2.99.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: TALES OF THE SLAYER TPB

Cover by Tim Sale.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the latest in a long tradition of young women who've been trained to give their lives in the war against vampires. Readers have gotten glimpses of these other women over the years on T.V., in comics, and in books. Now for the first time, the writers from the television series, including the show's creator, Joss Whedon, and one of its stars, Amber "Tara" Benson, present the tales of these girls, with the help of comics' greatest artists. Gene Colan, co-creator of Marvel's Blade and Tomb of Dracula, returns to Dark Horse for the story of a young girl in 1970s New York, battling vampires. Tim Sale, artist of recent epics Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman for All Seasons teams with Whedon for a grim tale of a medieval slayer. P. Craig Russell and international rising star Mira Friedmann also join the lineup.

96 pages, $14.95, ships on Nov. 14.

DIABLO: TALES OF SANCTUARY

By Phil Amara, Dave Land and Francisco Ruiz Velasco.

Collecting three stories of horror, adventure and action featuring characters and creatures from the video game Diablo. Follow the Barbarian Renit and Necromancer Cairo as they search the fabled "Hand of Naz" in order to overcome a demon horde. Meet a Paladin named Hale as he fights an evil that will cause him to question the very nature of his existence. Witness the Druid Azgar as he fights to defend his village and the demons that lie deep within him.

64 pages, $5.95, ships on Nov. 14.

STAR WARS: JEDI QUEST #3

By Ryder Windham, Pop Mhan and Norman Lee, cover by Mhan.

Captured by Krayn, a ruthless pirate and slave trader, Anakin Skywalker is bound into servitude and thrust into the dangerous spice factories of Nar Shaddaa. Obi-Wan Kenobi prepares to infiltrate Krayn's operations to rescue his beloved Padawan. Anakin, without his lightsaber, must again fight for freedom and help his fellow slaves. Bridging the events between Episodes I and II, this series continues to expand on the young boy who will one day grow to be Dark Lord of the Sith.

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 14.

CANNON GOD EXAXXION: STAGE 1 #1

By Kenichi Sonada, translated by Studio Proteus.

The new ongoing series by Gunsmith Cats creator Kenichi Sonoda is here at last, with a bargain price and super-sized 48-page kickoff issue. It's a typical school day for Hoichi. He's skipping class and beating the stuffing out of a bunch of upperclassmen, which makes him about the only person on the whole planet who isn't glued to the television -- today's the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Space Elevator, a gigantic earth-to-orbit elevator built by those lovable aliens, the Riofaldians, who arrived on Earth ten years ago. Today, the mass media is proud to report, tens of thousands of Riofaldians are working side by side with humanity, as good neighbors on the march to global prosperity. Hoichi's ultra-rich, ultra-brilliant, and ultra-eccentric grandfather (the author of a loony book claiming the Riofalds are out to take over the Earth) doesn't agree and this has driven a wedge between him and his equally eccentric grandson. But that -- and the history of mankind -- is about to change forever. Don't dare miss the series that's redefining the giant-robot story for the 21st century -- Cannon God Exaxxion. Features a wraparound cover.

48 pages, black and white, $2.99, ships on Nov. 21.

GRENDEL: THE DEVIL INSIDE #3

By Matt Wagner and Bernie Mireault.

His spirit corrupted, eyes red with anger, Brian Li Sung is in the clutches of Grendel. It tears at his brain, taking the place of his sense of reason, turning him into a cold-hearted killer. And now the stage manager who once loved the "granddaughter" of Hunter Rose will meet his end. But it won't come easy. Inspector Wiggins, with his electronic eye and swaggering patience, must pass through a gauntlet of murderous mayhem to face Li Sung in a final shoot-out with only one survivor. Bernie Mireault's engaging lines and Joe Matt's inventive colors cement the darkness of Matt Wagner's winter tragedy. Features an all-new cover painting by Wagner.

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 21.

HARLEQUIN VALENTINE HC

By Neil Gaiman and John Bolton, cover by Bolton.

In this modern hardcover retelling of a classic commedia dell' arte legend of tomfoolery and hopeless, fawning love, creators Neil Gaiman (Sandman) and John Bolton (Manbat) update the relation of Harlequin and Columbine. A buffoon burdened with a brimming heart, Harlequin chases his sensible, oblivious Columbine around the city streets, having given his heart freely. Consumed with love, the impulsive clown sees his heart dragged about town, with a charming surprise to bend the tale in a modern direction. Gaiman's writing is poetic and as heartfelt as the subject matter. Bolton's art, a combination of digitally enhanced photorealism and dynamic painting provides sensational depth with bright characters over fittingly muted backgrounds.

40 pages, $10.95, ships on Nov. 21.

SUPERMAN/TARZAN: SONS OF THE JUNGLE #2

By Chuck Dixon, Carlos Meglia and Dave Stewart, cover by Humberto Ramos.

The paths of Kal-El of the Apes and Lord Greystoke finally converge in the wilds of Kal-El's jungle kingdom. They can both provide pieces to the puzzles of each others' destinies, but odd evils are stirring, waiting patiently to reveal themselves and wreak havoc. Our heroes must make the trek to the Lost City of Opar, where they'll have more action than they can handle. And what will happen when the latest jewel in the crown of the seductive La turns out to be kryptonite?

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 21.

ANCIENT JOE #2

By C. Scott Morse.

The surly saga of Ancient Joe continues. Fearing his wife may be residing in Hell as retribution for a trick he played on the devil, Joe hopes to find a medium to communicate with damned souls under El Diablo's watch. The trick is, a promise from a barroom boxing buddy puts Joe in a back country tenement in Cuba, caught amidst the family squabbles of a strained father/daughter relationship. But is Joe really so far from his goal? Ancient Joe brings the flavor of rum and Cuban cigars to a completely new twist on mythology and sentiment, setting the scene for a unique new hero of our (or any) age.

24 pages, black and white, $2.99, ships on Nov. 28.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #39

By Tom Fassbender, Jim Pascoe, Cliff Richards and Joe Pimentel, cover by Richards.

"Night of a Thousand Vampires." Don't you hate it when you go to a funeral and unwittingly open an ancient portal to a prison dimension and summon forth a rampaging horde of blood-starved vampires? In this issue, that's exactly what happens to Buffy. These extra dimensional nasties have got only one thing in mind -- dinner. And Sunnydale is on the menu -- literally. It's just one of those days.

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 28.

LONE WOLF AND CUB VOL. 15: BROTHERS OF THE GRASS TPB

By Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima, cover by Bill Sienkiewicz.

The legendary saga of Lone Wolf and Cub passes the halfway mark with this stunning volume. Watch as Ogami Itto, the Lone Wolf, comes face-to-face with his arch-enemy, Yagyu Retsudo, in a tale of dark ambition and political intrigue. Witness the tragic tale of the Women of Sodeshi. Stalk alongside a deep-cover ninja as he chases his brother who has fled his station, while a group of shadow warriors prepare for a suicide mission to find a secret gold mine -- guarded by the Lone Wolf. America's best-selling graphic novel series continues to gain legions of fans. Don't miss the largest volume of LW&C yet, for the same low price.

352 pages, black and white, $9.95, ships on Nov. 28.

OUTLAW 7 #4

By Logan Lubera, Kris Feric and Craig Yeung, cover by Lubera.

Driven against their will to Mana City, our heroes prepare to make a last stand against Artimis Chill and his fearsome horde of Warhulks. As the towering brutes breach the impenetrable city walls, the Outlaws take the battle to the streets. Facing off against Viggen, bounty hunters, demonic surprises, and even Artimis himself, our heroes fight to save not just the city but the whole world in a final climactic battle. Will Bayman Ford's scant training be enough to stand against the might of Artimis? Even if Chill is defeated, will the Outlaws be able to stop his army of devastating Warhulks without the help of Runecrusher and Kade?

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 28.

SERAPHIC FEATHER TPB

By Hiroyuki Utatane and Yo Morimoto, translated by Studio Proteus, cover by Yuzo Takada.

In the not-too-distant future, an intact alien starship has been discovered buried beneath the moon's surface, a vessel with awesome technology somehow connected to three powerful "Emblem Seeds" found on Earth. Sunao Oumi, a young man stuck on the moon and trying to work up the funds to return to Earth, takes an assignment to escort two visiting U.N. investigators and is drawn into a web of violence and intrigue as dark operatives try to purloin the Emblem Seeds the investigators have brought with them. But the investigators are more than they seem: Attim M-Zak, a beautiful and mysterious woman with deadly augmented abilities, and Kei, a starry-eyed dreamboat from Sunao's past...whose death brought Sunao to the moon in the first place.

232 pages, $16.96, black and white, ships on Nov. 28.

STAR WARS #36

By John Ostrander, Davide Fabri and Christina Dalla Vecchia, cover by Jon Foster.

"The Stark Hyperspace," Part 1 of 4. During a time of conflict, the galaxy's supply of bacta, used to treat the sick and injured, runs dangerously low making the existing supply highly valuable. The charismatic and bold Iaco Stark brings together a conglomeration of pirates and smugglers to form the Stark Commercial Collective. Their goal: liberate the existing supplies of bacta for the Outer Rim colonies. Intrigue and treachery abound until Senator Valorum arranges to bring in the Jedi to negotiate peace between the Republic, the Trade Federation, and the Stark Collective. Before talks can begin double-crosses are already being planned. But what exactly is the trap and who will fall victim? The first issue in a new story arc which tells how Plo Koon became a permanent member of the Jedi Council.

32 pages, $2.99, ships on Nov. 28.

STAR WARS: TWILIGHT TPB

By John Ostrander, Jan Duursema and Rick Magyar, cover by Andrew Robinson.

Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos has lost his memory. Not only must he fight to rediscover his past, he must also track down his Padawan, Aayla Secura, who has mysteriously disappeared. With only his lightsaber and a scheming Devaronian named Villie to help him, Quin must face off against deadly gamblers, false Jedi, corrupt officials, and the pull of the dark side if he is to survive. Twilight collects issues 19-22 of the ongoing Star Wars comics series and is Jedi Quinlan Vos' introduction to the Star Wars comics.

96 pages, $12.95, ships on Nov. 28.

SUPER MANGA BLAST! #18

By Mohiro Kitoh, Makoto Kobayashi, Yuzo Takada, Hiroyuki Utatane and Yo Morimoto, translated by Studio Proteus.

Club 9 turns up the heat as Haruo sets her favorite cartoonist on fire. But that's not the only flame she's lit: after just one day, the country girl is lighting a lot of fires in the hearts of the patrons of Club 9. Things aren't exactly cooling off in Seraphic Feather either: the flirting between Apep and Fawn is hot, but the battle between the murderous guardian and the good guys is simply relentless! In Shadow Star, Shiina and the shy Akira have to team up to find that cruel shadow dragon-keeper Shiina encountered weeks ago...and they're getting warmer! In 3x3 Eyes, Pai and Yakumo continue their search in China and end up in serious hot water. And in What's Michael?, our curious cat is living a life of metropolitan leisure, which has little to do with our "heat" theme, but how far can we drag this concept anyway?

128 pages, black and white, $5.99.