DARK HORSE COMICS FOR MARCH

ALIENS BOOK TWO: DNA WAR NOVEL

Written by Diane Carey.

In an inhospitable galaxy, the planet Rosamond 6 is a rare find. With a moon, an atmosphere, and a thriving biosystem the world has all the keys necessary for human habitation. But while Rosamond 6 may look like an oasis among the stars, it harbors a fatal secret . . .

That secret is that the world is infested with the murderous xenomorphic aliens that have wiped out every life form in their path. Eager to prove her theory that the aliens can be reasoned with, anthropologist Jocasta Malvaux has set up an observation post on Rosamond 6. But when the monsters become aware of Malvaux and her expedition, something unexpected happens: the aliens don't attack.

When Jocasta's son Rory races to the planet to save her, she won't leave. What is the secret behind the aliens' seeming lack of concern for the humans? Are the monsters evolving? Or is it simply a matter of time before every person on the planet is in a fight for their lives?

Bestselling writer Diane Carey takes you to the edge of your darkest nightmare and into the mind of a monster. The war is about to begin.

275 pages, $6.99, in stores on April 12.

BERSERK VOLUME 11 TPB

Written and art by Kentaro Miura.

The Band of the Hawk‹what's left of them‹are on the run, Guts and Casca having rescued the Hawks' leader, Griffith, from the horrors of the King of Midland's dungeons. Starved, tortured mercilessly, and imprisoned in an iron mask, Griffith hangs on to life and sanity by a thread . . . and he'll be no help against the King's latest charges sent to bring him back to pay for his dalliance with the King's daughter. Now the depleted Hawks will have to face the Knights of the Black Dog, led by the merciless, bestial Wyald . . . one bad dog who's even worse when he unleashes the beast within!

240 pages, black and white, $13.95.

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #111

Written and art by Hiroaki Samura.

Shortcut, part 5 of 5. A look into Burando's dark past gives a hint at how Kagimura's deranged medical examiner wound up becoming so heartless and twisted. Having survived Kagimura's first few experiments, Manji braces himself for the next test on his body and on the mystical bloodworms that grant him near-immortality. The kessen-chu keep their secrets well! It's going to take a lot of bloodshed and pain before Kagimura has his answers! For Manji, the kessen-chu are both a blessing and a curse, now. Will he only find comfort in death? And where's that old witch Yaobikuni when you need her?

32 pages, black and white, $2.99, in stores on March 5.

CONAN #26

Written by Kurt Busiek, art by Tim Truman, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Tony Harris.

Beginning a stunning two-parter drawn by Tim Truman. The Prince and his mysterious Wazir, featured in Conan #0 and the series' framing sequences, share center stage with Conan in a two-tiered story. Having added new lands to his father's empire, the Prince must deal with diplomacy, border wars, and a local champion. The Wazir offers guidance with a legend of when Conan was a hill-chief of the Afghulis, high in the Himeliam mountains. Conan is building the seeds of a kingdom‹can he betray a brave man to gain power? And if he can, should the Prince do the same? Imperial skullduggery, high-mountain action, and devious schemes take the spotlight in this gorgeously drawn tale.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 22.

CONAN: BOOK OF THOTH #1

Written by Kurt Busiek and Len Wein, art by Kelley Jones, colored by Michelle Madsen.

Legendary writer Len Wein, creator of Wolverine and Swamp Thing, teams up with Conan ongoing writer Kurt Busiek, and the grandmaster of horror art Kelley Jones to tell the horrifying origin of Thoth-amon‹Conan's greatest adversary!

In the dank alleys of a decaying city, one beggar boy conjures visions of a future where, instead of spitting on him in the streets, the rich and privileged cower in fear of his terrible power. For young Thoth, hunger and pain is a way of life, twisting his heart into believing that no wickedness is too costly if it can afford a means of escape‹not even the betrayal of one's sole confidant in the wretched, unfeeling world.

With art by the inimitable Jones, co-written by Busiek, responsible for the most successful relaunch of a fantasy character in comics history, and Wein, mastermind behind many of comics' most beloved modern heroes, this series finally reveals the secrets behind the dread sorcerer Thoth-amon.

48 pages, $4.99, in stores on March 15.

CONCRETE: THE HUMAN DILEMMA TPB

Written and art by Paul Chadwick.

Life as Concrete knows it is about to change forever. Former speechwriter Ron Lithgow returns as the title character in Paul Chadwick's critically acclaimed and award-winning miniseries. Trapped in an alien's rock-hard body, Lithgow is an accidental celebrity whose high profile is being courted by a front-page CEO. Though Concrete believes overpopulation to be an important issue, does he want to become the spokesperson for a controversial population control program? While Concrete mulls this generous proposition over with his biologist, Maureen, his longtime aide Larry Munro mulls over an entirely different sort of proposal. Life and violent death take center stage in this compelling new collection from an industry-renowned creative master, and the subject of overpopulation is given the trademark thoughtful exploration that Chadwick fans have come to expect. Collecting the six-issue miniseries.

160 pages, black and white, $14.95, in stores on April 26.

GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX--THE LOST MEMORY NOVEL

Written by Junichi Fujisaku.

Since being formed as a shadow peacekeeping organization, Section 9 has faced almost countless adversaries both in the real world and in cyberspace, but none like "The Awakened," a group of terrorists who seem to have the ability to take over the minds and bodies of almost anyone and use them to commit crimes against the state, leaving their pawns unaware of who was controlling them. When Major Motoko Kusanagi is able to capture one of the boys used as a pawn she hacks into his cyberbrain to find out who the ringleader is, but what she discovers will take her and the operatives of Section 9 on a journey deep into the heart of cyberspace, and the answers she finds will shake Section 9 to its core.

275 pages, $8.95, in stores on April 12.

HAIBANE RENMEI ANIME MANGA VOLUME 1 TPB

Based on the anime created by Yoshitoshi Abe and the animation produced by Madhouse,

In a long-forgotten walled town, humans coexist with the Haibane, angelic beings of unknown origin. Rakka becomes the newest Haibane after she awakens from a strange dream and finds herself hatching from a massive cocoon. With no memories of her previous life, Rakka struggles to adjust to her new surroundings, however burning questions remain in the back of her mind. What are the Haibane and what is their purpose? What lies beyond the town walls? Thus Rakka begins her wistful journey of self-discovery and wonderment.

160 pages, $14.95, in stores on April 26.

HELLBOY: MAKOMA, or, A TALE TOLD BY A MUMMY IN THE NEW YORK CITY EXPLORERS' CLUB ON AUGUST 16, 1993 #2

Written by Mike Mignola, art by Mignola and Richard Corben, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Corben.

Hellboy's strange adventure across the bone-strewn plains of Africa pits him against the singing dead, demonic insects, and the sort of woman only Richard Corben can draw. The final issue in this unique collaboration between Hellboy's creator and comics legend Richard Corben features a cover and twenty-one pages drawn by Corben, plus a three-page epilogue from Mignola, in an epic bit of African folklore reimagined by Mignola.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 1.

HELLBOY: STRANGE PLACES TPB

Written and art by Mike Mignola.

Mike Mignola returns with his first new Hellboy collection since 2002's Conqueror Worm. After leaving the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, Hellboy's travels take him briefly to Africa, then for a two-year stint at the bottom of the ocean. An ancient witch doctor, a giant fish woman, and the keeper of the secret history of the universe force Hellboy to either accept his role in the coming apocalypse, or have that role stolen from him. Weird undersea creatures and talking lions populate this turning-point adventure, which reveals secrets buried since Hellboy's very creation. This volume collects Harvey-and-Eisner-award winner Mike Mignola's Hellboy series The Third Wish and The Island with over a dozen unused pages, and a new epilogue.

128 pages, $17.95, in stores on April 12.

LITTLE LULU: LUCKY LULU TPB

Written and art by John Stanley, art by Irving Tripp.

For eight-year-old Lulu Moppet, nothing is impossible‹even if the results of her efforts are impossibly imperfect. Need to quell the fury of a rambunctious two-year-old? Lulu's got a hilarious fairy tale brewing in her brain that'll do just the trick. Father needs his best suit taken to the tailor? Lulu can handle it‹so long as Pop doesn't mind if she makes a few unplanned‹and wholly unpredictable!‹stops along the way. Have a wayward ghost in your house who needs a new home? Lulu's your girl!

200 pages, black and white, $9.95, in stores on April 12.

LULLABIES FROM HELL VOLUME 1 TPB

Written and art by Hideshi Hino.

Welcome to one of the most disturbing minds in Japanese manga! Hideshi Hino has long been considered a master of the horror manga genre since his coming out in the late seventies. And the four stories in Lullabies from Hell will show you how demented the man can be. The self-titled first chapter introduces you to the author himself, a horror quasi-biography of sorts. The second story tells of Hino's having willed his pregnant wife into birthing a horrible, planet-devastating reptile baby that eats puppies and children! And you can imagine how the stories progress from there. Take a look inside the mind of a madman! Published in the popular, unretouched and unflopped manga format, Lullabies from Hell might make sleeping a bit of a challenge.

232 pages, black and white, $12.95, in stores on April 19.

MICHAEL CHABON PRESENTS THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF THE ESCAPIST VOLUME 3 TPB

By Will Eisner, Eddie Campbell, Chris Offutt, Howard Chaykin, Jason, Steve Grant, Roy Thomas, Jason Hall, Paul Grist, Jeffrey Brown, Kevin McCarthy, Dan Best, Thomas Yeates, Eric Wight, David Hahn, Shawn Martinbrough, Matt Wagner, Paul Hornschemeier, Bill Morrison, Alex Saviuk and Norm Breyfogle, cover by Tim Sale.

This volume of Michael Chabon Presents the Amazing Adventures of the Escapist collects issues five and six of the popular, Eisner and Harvey Award winning quarterly series, and features the late Will Eisner's final return to the Spirit, in a crossover tale with the Escapist!

Also in this volume is the comics writing debut of award-winning author and Guggenheim fellow Chris Offutt, illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Dan Best and Eddie Campbell contribute a fully painted story from the 1939 World's Fair in Empire City, and 2004 Russ Manning Award winner Eric Wight brings a polemic story from writer Jason Hall to life. Among the other notable contributors are Howard Chaykin, Paul Grist, Shawn Martinbrough, David Hahn, Roy Thomas, Matt Wagner, and indie stalwarts Jeffrey Brown and Jason.

160 pages, $14.95, in stores on April 12.

OH MY GODDESS! VOLUME 23 TPB

Written and art by Kosuke Fujishima.

Ever since a cosmic phone call brought Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld‹a trio of literal young goddesses‹to live in college student Keiichi's residence, his personal life has been turned upside down, sideways, and sometimes even into strange dimensions!

No sooner has Urd's mother left, than Keiichi and Megumi's father shows up! But whatever you do, don't call him that. It's just ³Keima-san.² Try to show him respect by saying "Father," and he'll smack you upside the head. You see, he simply wants to be treated as an individual. Also, if you're a woman, don't approach any closer than one meter to Keima-san‹because he'll run away. Only his wife is ever permitted that close. Well then, what in the world must Mrs. Morisato be like? Don't call "Mother" that either‹because you're about to meet her too!

176 pages, black and white, $10.95, in stores on April 12.

SPACE PINCHY: AUDREY'S SUPER POWER PINCH

Written and art by Tony Takezaki.

Space Pinchy and her sidekick Audrey are back for more (mis)adventures, cruising across the galaxy in search of universal secrets . . . or at least a bunch of "P"parts. And who even knows what good the elusive parts will do? Well, either way we all know that Pinchy will get into some kind of pinch, and the fun part is finding out what her special cells will do to adapt to life-threatening situations. Will they make her flat, make her tall, or make her dead? Who knows? They could make her into just about anything, except un-sexy!

From the wacked-out manga mind of Japan's Tony Takezaki comes Space Pinchy, a story about a female space adventurer who won't accept failure, and will probably never find a decent alien boyfriend.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 15.

STAR WARS: BOBA FETT -- OVERKILL ONE-SHOT

Written by Thomas Andrews, art by Francisco Ruiz Velasco, cover by Adam Hughes.

Boba Fett rockets onto the scene with blasters blazing in this stand-alone story featuring the galaxy's greatest bounty hunter taking on a dangerous contract that proves deadly for all involved!

Summoned to settle the score between two warring factions, Fett quickly shows his employers the importance of always choosing the right tool for the job, and the folly of underestimating just how much damage and chaos a single Mandalorian can inflict. Once unleashed, Fett's drive to finish the job is unshakable, and both groups quickly realize they're dealing with a bigger and much deadlier mutual problem‹one that must be stopped before it obliterates everything.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 1.

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS ADVENTURES VOLUME 5 TPB

Written by Matt Jacobs, art by Matt Fillbach, Shaw Fillbach, Rick Lacy and others.

As the fires of the Clone Wars burn across the galaxy, heroes on both sides of the conflict emerge, and no matter what the outcome, the galaxy will be forever changed. Presenting four more pulse-racing tales of knock-down, drag-out action and adventure, all told in the same stripped-down stylization as Cartoon Network's micro-series.

96 pages, $6.95, in stores on April 12.

STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #3

Written by John Jackson Miller, art by Brian Ching, colored by Michael Atiyeh, cover by Travis Charest.

Zayne Carrick never expected to go far in the Jedi Order. A Padawan of modest skill, the most he ever hoped for was to attain the rank of Jedi knight and to serve the galaxy in his own humble way. Mysterious is the will of the Force, however, and extraordinary circumstances have made Zayne a fugitive, isolated and on the run from the very Order he once swore to uphold. Now, Zayne and his unlikely ally‹a criminal entrepreneur called the "the Gryph" -- have been forced into the planet Taris' dangerous Under -- city, where the only thing more deadly than the Jedi pursuing them are the desperate cutthroats waiting to greet them!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 29.

STAR WARS: THE RETURN OF TAG & BINK--SPECIAL EDITION #1

Written by Kevin Rubio, art by Lucas Marangon.

Lock up your daughters and hide the Jawas, faithful readers, because Tag and Bink are back! Yea, though one might be hard-pressed to develop a sequel to the popular Tag & Bink Are Dead, fan-favorite writer Kevin Rubio and Star Wars stalwart Lucas Marangon have risen to the occasion!

And what an occasion it is. Fans jonesing for more side-splitting Star Wars shenanigans will thrill to the new misadventures of this hapless pair, members of the Rebel Alliance,who have somehow stumbled past the worst Imperial perils with their limbs intact. In The Return of Tag & Bink‹Special Edition, the duo set out to rescue a certain smuggler trapped in carbonite‹with the help of Lando Calrissian! One thing leads to another, and they manage to subdue the deadliest bounty hunter in the galaxy on their way to infiltrating the Hutt palace. Star Wars fans know what comes next, and there will be guest appearances of favorite characters on the way to the Sarlacc pit, the Death Star, and Endor! This issue will conquer the world!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 22.

USAGI YOJIMBO #92

Written and art by Stan Sakai.

Internationally acclaimed storyteller Stan Sakai presents another adventure from feudal Japan! The foxy thief Kitsune visits the Geishu clan in this issue, and the rabbit ronin is caught between his friendship with the charming thief and his loyalty to the Geishu clan . . . and how will Tomoe react when she meets Usagi's beautiful and flirtatious friend? It's a meeting of two fan-favorite characters, with the long-eared samurai caught in the middle! As if that weren't enough, when Kitsune's young protégée Kiyoko steals a priceless temple scroll, the man who wants it would rather kill the pair than pay for it. Can they get out of this mess before permanent damage is caused to the clan? Find out, this month in Usagi Yojimbo.

24 pages, black and white, $2.99, in stores on March 29.