Friday, March 14, 2003
DARK HORSE COMICS FOR JUNE
Following are Dark Horse Comics' solicitations for June, with information coming from the company.
AL CAPP'S LI'L ABNER: THE FRAZETTA SUNDAYS VOLUME 2 (1956-57) TPB
By Frank Frazetta.
A super-sexy Marilyn Monroe leads off Volume 2-drawn as only Frank Frazetta could draw her. Monroe appears in all 12 panels of the first 1956 Sunday, setting the pace for the next two sizzling years. Highlights for Volume 2 include: Al Capp's legendary parody of busybody "Mary Worm" led "Mary Worth" creator Allan Saunders to reciprocate, casting Capp as a drunken and loutish cartoonist in his strip. Others skewered are gay pianist Liberace (Loverboynik), bald actor Yul Brynner (Errol Skinn), actress Jayne Mansfield (Jayne Cornfield), and actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly (supplanted here by Daisy Mae Yokum) marrying the Prince of Monte Carload. Regular cast members with plot time include Evil Eye Fleegle (with his powerful whammy), Hairless Joe and Lonesome Polecat, Moonbeam McSwine (who prefers the company of pigs to men) and über-capitalist General Bullmoose. Each volume will contain an introduction and extensive annotations by Li'l Abner expert Denis Kitchen, who provided the incisive text and annotations for Dark Horse's popular Little Annie Fanny books.
128 pages, $18.95, in stores on July 30.
ASTRO BOY VOLUME 17 TPB
By Osamu Tezuka.
From the boundless imagination of Osamu Tezuka, arguably history's most important- and inarguably its most prolific-creator of graphic fiction, comes Astro Boy, the singular archetype for the exploding anime and manga industries. A timeless all-ages masterpiece of action, fun, and humanity-and plenty of robots- Astro Boy packs more excitement and entertainment into each value-priced volume than most comics do in a year.
96 pages, black and white, $9.95, in stores on July 30.
BLACKBURNE COVENANT #3
By Fabian Nicieza and Stefano Raffaele.
A secret that's been kept for more than six hundred years has been revealed, but is this shocking "truth" to be believed? Does a five-hundred-year-old document-the Blackburne Covenant-prevent the creation of a better world? That's what nouveau riche and on-the-run Manhattan author Richard Kaine is trying to figure out. But the closer he gets to his answer, the weirder things get-vengeful nuns, murderous Eurotrash hardbodies, ancient documents, and psychedelic mushrooms are just the tip of this mind-bending iceberg. But it's that whole "Second Coming" bit that has Kaine really concerned
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 4.
BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #79
By Hiroaki Samura.
The Wind and the Crane. And now a return to romance. Ah, the wind in the trees, the white heron of love flitting through the branches, the...setup for what's looking to be a deadly trap! It's back to Anotsu and Hisoka, fresh from their romantic walk in the woods, and back into the lion's den that is the Shingyötö ryü. Anotsu might still have to compete for control of the ryü, but now there's a surprise element that could change the game for good.
32 pages, black and white, $2.99, in stores on June 11.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #58
By Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza and Cliff Richards, cover by Paul Lee and Brian Horton.
Slayer, Interrupted, part 3 of 4. Most people would find life in a mental institution unsettling enough, but for the Slayer things are even worse. She assumed the girls who said they were brides to the demon Rakagore were just crazy-but when Rakagore actually shows up, the only thing more bizarre than his appearance is who he was hiding behind. Can a medicated Buffy deal with a demon with a taste for hospitalized young women, or will she have to call on help from outside?
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 25.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: CHAOS BLEEDS
By Christopher Golden, Tom Sniegoski and Cliff Richards, cover by J. Scott Campbell.
Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski, writers of the upcoming videogame Buffy: Chaos Bleeds, bring the story straight to comics in this look into the twisted world of the game. The barriers between alternate realities have begun to erode around Sunnydale, and Buffy and the gang face nightmare versions of friends and allies, as well as enemies thought long dead. Featuring the return of the vampiric Gorch clan, Sid the Dummy, Faith and more. Pinup art by Arthur Adams and covers by J. Scott Campbell.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 11.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: VIVA LAS BUFFY TPB
By Scott Lobdell, Fabian Nicieza and Cliff Richards, cover by Paul Lee and Brian Horton.
The Buffy saga takes a bold new direction. It's 1996, and Buffy Summers has just accepted her role as the Vampire Slayer. After the destruction of her high school, she flees to Las Vegas to sort out her life, but there's more than Wayne Newton and hookers in the city of sin. A twisted coven den of vampires has big plans for the strip. Dark Horse takes you where the TV show never did, back to Buffy's roots, in the summer before she arrived in Sunnydale. And there's a tall, dark, and handsome stranger keeping an eye on her during those dangerous nights in Vegas.
96 pages, $12.95, in stores on July 2.
CANNON GOD EXAXXION #11
By Kenichi Sonoda.
For a while it seemed like Hoichi was out of the hero business, but now he's back, and it's trouble for the Riofaldian colonizers. But wait! Hoichi isn't the only hero on the block. Poor Akane has been imprisoned at alien headquarters and there's only one person who can save her...Hoichi's mom! It looks like she's got a little something up her sleeve, too. If you like incredible action, imaginative sci-fi, giant robots, and good looking ladies, Cannon God Exaxxion is a natural choice, and a nice, fat hunk of comics for the money.
40 pages, black and white, $3.50, on sale on June 4.
CRIMINAL MACABRE #2
By Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith.
Cal McDonald has a lot of problems. He's got a drinking problem, he's got a drug problem, and the police have a big problem with him. And he's the only thing standing between Los Angeles and a wave of vampires, werewolves, and every other kind of freak in this ultramodern free-for-all.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 11.
THE DEVIL'S FOOTPRINTS #4
By Scott Allie, Paul Lee, Brian Horton and Dave Stewart.
The series that jump-started Dark Horse's re-entry into the world of horror comics culminates with a shocking conclusion in June. Brandon, bloodied for his troubles but finally understanding the diabolical task before him, sets out for a showdown with the ancient demon who destroyed his father's life and now seeks to claim his entire family. Now an angry mob from town has shown up, believing they've caught Brandon in a Satanic ritual-but what they witness will leave them all wishing that a little run-of-the-mill devil worship was all they had to worry about. Hell comes to Earth for the entire town in a do-or-die brawl you won't believe.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 25.
FRAY #8
By Joss Whedon, Karl Moline and Andy Owens.
The Slayer's brother has led a vampire war to not only overtake Manhattan, but bring to earth a demonic dragon-but the harshest threat to Fray remains unseen and unnamed. The creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer wraps up his comics masterpiece with just the right balance of twists and turns and intense drama that you've come to expect from his shows, with the epic action and fantastic creatures that you just can't fit on the small screen. Be here for a conclusion readers didn't see coming.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 18.
THE GOON #1
By Eric Powell.
This summer Dark Horse Comics welcomes creator Eric Powell to the horror line-up. The Goon is a hilarious blend of pulpy horror and slapstick comedy following the ongoing misadventures of the man they call the Goon and his spastic sidekick Franky as they battle the legions of the undead.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 18.
THE GOON VOLUME 1: NOTHIN' BUT MISERY TPB
By Eric Powell.
Bones will be broken and heads will roll. The Goon is a laugh-out-loud, action-packed romp through the streets of a town infested with zombies. An insane priest is building himself an army of the undead, and there's only one man who can put them in their place: the man they call Goon. Dark Horse celebrates the launch of our new Goon bi-monthly series with this collection of last year's Goon series and The Goon Color Special, originally published by Albatross Exploding Funny Books; presented here for the first time in full-color.
136 pages, $16.95, in stores on July 23.
GRENDEL: GOD AND THE DEVIL #5
By Matt Wagner, Jay Geldhof, John K. Snyder III.
In the 26th century, all hell is breaking loose as an unholy trinity of corrupt religious officials, a stalwart corporate investigator, and a maniacal vigilante clash over the construction of a new church tower. It's not the tower itself that's the focus of this fight, but the powerful and deadly secret that festers behind its holy façade. In the days of Pope Innocent XLII, the toll of a church bell is a death-knell to its followers-and the entire world!-unless Orion Assante can put a stop to the Church's horrifying plan. But Confederacy of Police officer Pellon Cross is on a mission to put a stop to Assante, and the Pope has declared an Inquistion into his efforts.
32 pages, $3.50, in stores on June 11.
HELLBOY: WEIRD TALES #3
By Alex Maleev, Matt Hollingsworth, Sara Ryan, Steve Lieber, William Stout and others, cover by Maleev.
Dark Horse continues its run of some of the wildest and most harrowing Hellboy stories ever told in this all-star tribute to comics' greatest demonic hero. Alex Maleev and Matt Hollingsworth tell the scariest devil-child story since Rosemary's Baby. Sara Ryan and Steve Lieber follow suit with a terrific tale of a family with the worst kind of unwanted guest. Featuring a pin-up from William Stout, the most star-studded series in comics spins out the most bizarre stories yet.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 25.
LONE WOLF 2100 #10
By Mike Kennedy and Francisco Ruiz Velasco. The conclusion of "Pattern Storm." Disentangling himself from Belladonna's evil machinations and mental snares is one thing. Escaping the clutches of the rest of his former companions on Cygnat Owari's Inner Security Team is quite another, as Itto discovers. But in some ways, the fight is easier now: Terasawa's plot is exposed; Daisy Ogami's secret is revealed; and the battle lines are more clearly drawn. And maybe, just maybe, Itto will now find allies in unexpected places
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 11.
LOST WORLD TPB
By Osamu Tezuka.
From the creator of Astro Boy and Metropolis, comes Lost World, the first of Osamu Tezuka's cycle of original science-fiction graphic novels-including Metropolis and Future World-published in the late 1940s and early 1950s. When a rogue planet approaches Earth, a team of scientists voyage to the world and discover a land out of the ancient past-a planet populated by dinosaurs! But a group of crooks has stowed away aboard the spacecraft, and the scientists must fight for their survival against both crooks and hungry monsters! A dazzling work of imagination-and guest-starring some friends you may recognize from Astro Boy-Lost World is timeless graphic fiction from one of the medium's true masters, available for the first time in an English-language edition.
248 pages, black and white, $17.95, in stores on July 2.
MAC RABOY'S FLASH GORDON VOLUME 3
By Mac Raboy.
Ming the Merciless, the traitorous Klag, a mysterious creature known as "The Mind," and a host of villains and dangers oppose the hardy, heroic Flash in a reprint series that marks the first time that Mac Raboy's run on this acclaimed strip has ever been collected. From Alex Raymond to Reed Crandall to Al Williamson, stellar artists have long contributed to the success of Flash Gordon, and Mac Raboy is in the same class of top talent. Beginning his comics career in 1940, Emanuel "Mac" Raboy is known for his work on Captain Marvel, Jr. and the Green Lama in the 1940s. In the Spring of 1948, he signed on with King Features to illustrate the Flash Gordon Sunday page.
256 pages, black and white, $19.95, in stores on July 30.
THE NEVERMEN: STREETS OF BLOOD TPB
By Phil Amara, Guy Davis and Dan Jackson.
After saving Midnight City from the twisted machinations of mutant villains, the Nevermen return to their lives as everyday citizens, unaware that an even greater threat stirs far below the city streets. He calls himself Winterbone, and he has something catastrophic in store for the city's goggled gangbusters. To end Winterbone's icy reign of terror, our Nevermen have got to find out who this creep is and how he knows so much about their past. But they ain't going to like what they find out. Streets of Blood, the follow-up to last year's critically acclaimed, existential thriller, answers questions and reveals secrets about the enigmatic protectors of the innocent. Guy Davis and Phil Amara continue to delight both fans and critics as the bizarre origins of the Nevermen and the strange menagerie of creatures that populate Midnight City unfold.
80 pages, $9.95, in stores on July 30.
OH MY GODDESS! #98
By Kosuke Fujishima.
The Phantom Race, part 3 of 4. Get ready for some spooky, full-throttle excitement as Megumi, the heavenly little speed-demon, tests her motorcycle mettle against the mysterious apparition known only as the Phantom Racer. It's ghoul-injected wraith-track action.
32 pages, black and white, $2.99, in stores on June 4.
SPYBOY 13.3 : THE M.A.N.G.A. AFFAIR
By Peter David, Pop Mhan and Norman Lee.
Poisoned by the evil Dreamboat and seeing monsters where there are civilians, a completely deranged SpyGirl has become a danger to herself and to Tokyo. It seems that the only one who can possibly stop her is the American super-spy she has a crush on-SpyBoy. But will SpyBoy save Yukio or have to kill her? This issue features the single most shocking revelation of SpyGirl's entire life. Peter David and Pop Mhan send the action into overdrive in this final issue of a three-part excursion into madness, action, and high-tech hijinks.
24 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 25.
STAR WARS: A LONG TIME AGO
VOLUME 7: FAR FAR AWAY TPB
By Al Williamson, Archie Goodwin, Jo Duffy, Sal Buscema, Cynthia Martin and others.
This final volume of Star Wars: A Long Time Ago... features classic Star Wars stories previously out-of-print and hard to find for nearly two decades! Originally printed by Marvel Comics, these stories have been meticulously re-colored by Digital Chameleon, using the original 1980s comics as reference. Far, Far Away collects issues 96 to 107 of the original series, taking place after the classic Star Wars trilogy, as our beloved Star Wars heroes continue to fight remaining Imperial Forces and new evils following the Battle of Endor. "Supply And Demand" is a gem of a story, with comics legends Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson whisking Han Solo and co-pilot Nien Nunb off on a mission to a former Imperial prison planet. Jo Duffy and Sal Buscema offer an excellent underwater adventure in "School Spirit!" as Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian return to the water-planet Iskalon and are reunited with old allies. Nine of these stories feature the unique art style of Cynthia Martin, who worked with writer Jo Duffy to tie up loose plot lines and bring an uplifting end to the series. Each volume in this Star Wars: A Long Time Ago set is sure to please both new and old Star Wars and science fiction fans, and the entire set is a great companion to and expansion of the classic Star Wars trilogy.
312 pages, $29.95, in stores on July 16.
STAR WARS: EMPIRE VOLUME 1 TPB
By Scott Allie, Ryan Benjamin.
In the weeks before the events in Star Wars: A New Hope, as the Death Star is readied for its fateful first mission, a power-hungry cabal of Grand Mofs and Imperial Officers embark on a dangerous plan to kill Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader and seize control of the Empire. When word that a "Jedi" has made an appearance on a backwater world lures Vader away from his master, the cabal makes its move. But even the galaxy isn't enough of a prize to sate the ambitions of some of the conspirators, and before long the would-be assassins are turning on one another. Their plans are further complicated by the actions of bounty hunter Boba Fett. And, of course, they may have fatally underestimated the cunning of their primary target: Emperor Palpatine. This is the first in a new line of graphic novels set during the early days of the Rebellion, when the Empire controlled the galaxy.
104 pages, $12.95, in stores on July 23.
STAR WARS: EMPIRE #10
By Paul Chadwick and Tomas Giorello, cover by Kilian Plunkett.
"Yavin Base" part 1 of 2. General Dodonna was one of the Old Republic's most brilliant strategists. Now he must use all of his knowledge and all of his tricks to outwit the commanders of the Imperial fleet-many of whom were trained with his own tactics. To give the fledgling Rebel Alliance time to consolidate its forces, Dodonna chooses as a base an ancient, deserted temple on a moon orbiting a gaseous planet. But setting up Yavin Base is complicated by the need to raid Imperial convoys, internal squabbles among the Rebel leaders, and by the monstrous creatures who have also laid claim to the temple. This two-issue story reveals little-known secrets about the early Rebellion. The "Darklighter" story line returns in issue #12.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 11.
STAR WARS: REPUBLIC #55
By Haden Blackman and Brian Ching, cover by Kev Walker.
The Battle of Jabiim part 1 of 4. General Kenobi and his First Lieutenant, Anakin Skywalker, find themselves transferred to a post on the rain-soaked planet Jabiim. The fighting is fierce, and the vast majority of the locals have sided with the Separatists-leaving the Republic's outposts isolated and vulnerable. In the face of mounting casualties and shrinking resources, Obi-Wan leads what he hopes will be a crippling attack on the enemy. But the environment is against the Jedi and his clone troops-the rain won't let up, their war machines bog down in the mud, and air support is non-existent. This might be Obi-Wan's final mission. A pivotal battle in the Clone Wars, it sets the stage for a young Jedi to become a hero, for others to become martyrs, and for a decision that will affect the next generation of the Skywalker family.
32 pages, $2.99, in stores on June 18.
STAR WARS TALES #16
By Ashley Wood, Brian Horton, Paul Lee, Jason Hall, Tod Parkhill, Joey Mason, Howard Shum and more.
As hard as it is to believe, Yoda wasn't always a wise old Jedi. At one time he was a wise young Jedi. Now for the first time ever, Star Wars Tales is proud to present a story from Yoda's past, telling of a near fatal brush with the dark side during his first journey to the swamp planet Dagobah. Don't miss this stellar issue of Tales featuring Darth Vader, Han Solo, Jabba the Hutt, and a cast of hundreds.
64 pages, $5.99, in stores on June 23.
SUPER MANGA BLAST! #33
By Masamune Shirow, Mohiro Kitoh, Makoto Kobayashi, Yuzo Takada, Hiroyuki Utatane and Yo Morimoto.
Bizarre science fiction and teen angst collide in Shadow Star. Sexy thrills and extraterrestrial mysteries abound in Seraphic Feather. 3x3 Eyes explores the connection between true love and mystical artifacts. Uncover the secret desires of house cats and college girls in Makoto Kobayashi's What's Michael? and Club 9. And don't forget the high-velocity, futuristic action of Appleseed Hypernotes, brought to you by Masamune Shirow, creator of Ghost in the Shell! Super Manga Blast! is 128 pages of the greatest science fiction, fantasy, drama, and situational comedy the world of comics has to offer, all contained in one tight, cool-looking package.
128 pages, black and white, $5.99, in stores on June 25.
USAGI YOJIMBO #67
By Stan Sakai.
In this second issue of Stan Sakai's three-part homage to giant Japanese monsters, the demonic "artist" who needs the blood of children to make more paint has kidnapped young Jotaro. Usagi and Sasuke face the fight of their lives as they battle through monsters of folklore and imagination in hopes of reaching the little captives before it's too late. The stakes are high and the fights are wild in Usagi Yojimbo: Sumi-e, part 2.
24 pages, black and white, $2.99, in stores on June 25.
Copyright © 2003, The Comics Continuum