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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008

DARK HORSE COMICS FOR MARCH

ACHEWOOD VOLUME 2: WORST SONG, PLAYED ON UGLIEST GUITAR

Written and art by Chris Onstad.

Riding high on the success of The Great Outdoor Fight, Achewood and Dark Horse Comics have compiled an extensively annotated collection of the first few years¹ worth of Achewood comics. This is no mere companion volume to the cult-classic online strip: the entire prehistory of Achewood is set forth for the first time, and all of the celebrated alt-texts are included. Additionally, author Chris Onstad has literally littered the book with observations and rudities. Time magazine named back-to-back Ignatz Award-winner Achewood its 2007 Graphic Novel of the Year, and legions of devoted fans consistently report that it makes them feel the way Bloom County and Calvin and Hobbes did when they were young.

136 pages, black and white, $14.95, in stores on May 20.

THE AMAZON #1

Written by Steven T. Seagle, art by Tim Sale, colored by Matt Hollingsworth.

Twenty years to the month after its original Comico publication, Dark Horse is pre-presents The Amazon, some of the earliest work from Seagle and Sale! The Amazon Jungle is among the most ancient and biologically diverse places on earth, but it¹s being plundered for its resources and destroyed at a rate of thousands of acres a day. Reporter Malcolm Hillard travels to this remote land of mystery to investigate the disappearance of an American worker and sabotage at a timber site. Locals tell him it is the work of spirits of the Amazon, but Malcolm doesn¹t believe in anything like that -- until he sees something he can¹t explain deep in the jungle.

32 pags, $3.50, in stores on March 11.

APPLEGEEKS VOLUME 1: FRESHMAN YEAR

Written by Ananth Panagariya, art by Mohammad F. Haque.

Jayce, an introspective writer, and Hawk, an excitable artist and inventor, have unofficially taken up residence in the home of sweet and thoughtful Alice and hard-drinking, hard-smoking, hard-hitting Gina. The foursome's busy trying to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives, and how the heck to fit their college classes in around marathon video-game sessions, visits to the comic shop, and offbeat road trips, but when Hawk gets fed up with constantly striking out with women and decides to create the perfect girlfriend in his basement lab, passing classes suddenly becomes the least of the group's worries! If Hawk's project is a success, will his creation be content with being the perfect girlfriend, or will she have dreams of her own? And . . . uh . . . how many more things is she going to blow up?

184 pages, $14.95, in stores on May 27.

BERSERK VOLUME 29

Written and art by Kentaro Miura.

Guts, the Black Swordsman, and his companions have finally broken free of the monster-infested wilderness and arrived at the port city of Vritannis. But the band finds out all too quickly that humans can be just as monstrous as the nightmarish creatures and apostles they battled in the forest. As Schierke and Isidro face off against pirate slavers, Farnese's power-hungry family tries to force her once again under the yoke of their political ambitions. The group's only hope is to find a ship out of the city, but even if they manage to secure a vessel, will everyone be free to leave?

216 pages, black and white, $13.95, in stores on May 27.

BLOOD+: ADAGIO VOLUME 1

Written and art by Kumiko Suekane.

On the eve of the Russian Revolution, our favorite Chiropteran-hunting duo masquerades as members of Tsar Nicholas Romanov's royal chamber orchestra. Saya begins to uncover some of the strange secrets of the Romanov royal family and -- of course -- finds some hideous Chiropteran beasts that are doing a little masquerading of their own. Despite being one of the Chiropteran "originals," Saya's devoted her life to eradicating the wilder, more vicious Chiropteran spawn who prey on humanity, and this short series embraces the same mix of action, humor, and horror.

192 pages, black and white, $10.95, in stores on May 6.

BORIS KARLOFF TALES OF MYSTERY ARCHIVES

Written and art by various.

A circus performer terrorized by mysterious powers from beyond . . . a jade idol of a monkey that carries a curse on a South Pacific island drives a man to the brink of madness . . . an art gallery haunted by paintings that come to life at night . . . a dictator who sees enemies around every corner, but who can't see the threat right before his eyes.

For nearly twenty years, the comic-book series Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery wove stories of intrigue, suspense, and macabre drama. Hosted by renowned actor Boris Karloff, the comic featured contributions from some of comics history's most well-known creators: Alex Toth, Joe Orlando (EC artist and editor), Mike Sekowsky (Justice League of America artist), Frank Thorne, José Luis Garcia-Lopez, Arnold Drake, Len Wein (co-creator of Swamp Thing and Wolverine), Al Williamson, Jerry Robinson (creator of the Joker), Dan Spiegle, and many others.

Originally published by Gold Key and unavailable for three decades, more than 30 spine-chilling stories are compiled in a new collection. Features a new introduction by Boris Karloff's daughter Sara Karloff.

256 pages, $49.95, in stores on May 12.

B.P.R.D.: THE BLACK GODDESS #3

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, art by Guy Davis, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Kevin Nowlan.

As Johann faces the fight of his life, Abe and Kate learn the story of Victorian occultist Martin Gilfryd's transformation into Memnan Saa, the prophesied king of Hyporborea who would "tame fire to breed dragons."

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 11.

B.P.R.D.: THE WARNING

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, art by Guy Davis, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Mignola.

The team tracks down the mysterious gentleman who's been appearing in Liz's visions, but soon find themselves in over their heads when old enemies -- from the frog creatures, to the Black Flame, to the last denizens of Hyperborea -- descend to lay waste to the world.

B.P.R.D.: The Warning is the first of three explosive arcs pulling together threads from throughout the series -- and leaving the B.P.R.D. and the world forever changed.

152 pages, $17.95, in stores on May 6.

BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD VOLUME 3

Written and art by Mi-Kyung Yun.

Humor, drama, and a bit of horror combine, as human bride Soah tries to uncover the truth behind her strange husband's predicament and his previous wife's early, brutal demise. While Huye distracts her with flirtations and the dreadful goddess Murah becomes increasingly jealous, strong-willed Soah is determined to find out why her powerful, moody husband is cursed to live in the form of a little boy during the day, returning to his true, adult body at night. Soah's inner strength and determination saved her village from drought and famine in previous volumes -- now she must pit her guts and guile against the unpredictable elemental gods in order to find happiness in the new world she's trapped in.

192 pages, black and white, $9.95, in stores on May 12.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON EIGHT VOLUME 4: TIME OF YOUR LIFE

Written by Joss Whedon and Jeph Loeb, penciled by Karl Moline, Eric Wight, Ethen Beavers and Adam Van Wyk, inked by Andy Owens, colored by Michelle Madsen and Lee Loughridge, cover art by Jo Chen and Georges Jeanty.

Willow and Buffy head to New York City to unlock the secrets of Buffy's mysterious scythe, when something goes terribly awry. Buffy is propelled into a dystopian future where there's only one Slayer -- Fray, the title character of Joss Whedon's 2001 series, the first comic he ever wrote. Their uneasy alliance falls apart, leading to the death of a major character from the TV series, while back in the twenty-first century, the Scotland base falls prey to a mystical bomb courtesy of the Biggest Bad -- Twilight.

136 pages, $15.95, in stores on May 6.

THE CLEANERS #3

Written by Mark Weathon and Joshua Hale Fialkov, art by Rashan Ekedal, colored by Jon Graef.

In the midst of a blood-drenched mystery, a picture is beginning to emerge from a veritable Rorshach test of evidence. And in one suburban neighborhood, a weird event in a dark alley leads to the revelation of a secret the world isn't ready to learn. A massive blood spill reveals the existence of something previously unknown -- a person or a thing that lives on mass quantities of blood of all different ages and types. Robert Bellarmine is the man who sees this picture taking shape, and when a little neighborhood boy goes missing, Bellarmine knows it's only a matter of time before the boy becomes the next victim of a blood-hungry monster.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 11.

CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #9

Written by Timothy Truman, penciled by Tomas Giorello, colored by Jose Villarrubia, cover by Joseph Michael Linsner.

Nahtok, a powerful wizard with the desert tribes of Shem under his command, now looks to expand his motley empire northward into the politically unstable Koth -- where Koth's leaders are more likely to kill each other on the battlefield than join together to face a common foe. The only thing standing in Nahtok's way is the small border kingdom of Khoraja and their battered military forces, now led by the inexperienced Princess Yasmela. Amalric's mercenaries -- with Conan still riding among their numbers -- are charged with reinforcing Yasmela's depleted army, as the conquering Nahtok draws near and Yasmela is haunted by both evil threats and holy visions. Tim Truman, Tomás Giorello, and José Villarrubia continue their adaptation of Robert E. Howard's "Black Colossus," a chilling Robert E. Howard tale that finds Conan at a strange crossroads in his mercenary career and on the path to the largest-scale battle of his life, as a clash between Nahtok and Amalric's men appears inevitable!

40 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 18.

DOMO FUN TIME MAGNET SET

With the Domo Fun Time Magnet Set, you can have oodles of enjoyment mixing and matching Domo's accessories. A snorkeling guitarist Domo? A golfing skateboarder Domo? Why not?

20-piece set, packaged on a backing board, $19.99, in stores on March 18.

DOMO COLOR-CHANGING MUG

Domo and nature -- the two go hand in hand. Well, step right up and pour yourself a hot cup o' tea and you will find that Domo apparently has ingested something that does not agree with him. As hot liquid is poured in the mug, Domo passes a pretty pink cloud of gas that, although natural as a summer breeze, does not sit well with his natural surroundings.

11 oz. mug, packaged in a full-color box, $14.99, in stores on March 18.

FRANK MILLER: THE SPIRIT STORYBOARDS

Written and art by Frank Miller.

Filled cover to cover with never-before-seen artwork by the biggest name in contemporary comics, Frank Miller: The Spirit Storyboards takes you inside the creative process behind this winter's comic-book blockbuster!

Presenting all of Miller's hand-drawn storyboard artwork for The Spirit -- almost seven hundred individual pieces of art in total -- alongside his screenplay for the film, this volume is the most exhaustive exploration ever published of this comic-book legend's creative process. Witness the evolution from idea to page to screen as this exhaustive chronicle gives you a front-row view of a master at work.

360 pages, $49.95, in stores on May 6.

GIGANTIC #5

Written by Rick Remender, penciled by Eric Nguyen, colored by Matthew Wilson.

With Earth about to be canceled and the universe at war, can Gigantic overcome the planet masher, Gunro Leviathan Combatant?! Galactic monster battles the likes of which have never been seen! Death/love broadcasting across the cosmic stage with the hearts of all living beings up for grabs! Fancy creators of critical distinction, Rick Remender and Eric Nguyen bring the first arc of their hit series to its pulse-pounding conclusion as Gigantic finds himself standing between the two simulcast networks that control all of space/time!

32 pages, $3.50, in stores on March 25.

THE GOON #32: 10th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

Written and art by Eric Powell, colored by Dave Stewart.

The Goon's tenth anniversary is upon us! To celebrate, we present this special Goon Anniversary issue, picking up right where Goon Year left off -- featuring 32 pages of story from creator Eric Powell, and a sketchbook section with contributions from Eric's comic-creator heroes -- Mike Mignola, Jeff Smith, Kevin Nowlan and more!

48 pages, $3.99, in stores on March 4.

HELLBOY: THE WILD HUNT #4

Written by Mike Mignola, art by Duncan Fegredo and Guy Davis, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Mignola.

The Queen of Blood is rallying her monstrous army and preparing to march against the human race, and humanity's survival depends on Hellboy and Alice finding a supernatural army of their own. But the monsters Hellboy has killed over the years had powerful friends, and a vicious horde out for revenge has lured the pair into a trap. Now Hellboy and Alice's only hope for survival rests with three strange little birds, and their even stranger mistress.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 4.

KULL #5

Written by Arvid Nelson, art by Will Conrad, cover by Jose Villarrubia.

Still recovering from last issue's surprise battle, King Kull is on edge and eager to find the snake-men who may still be hidden in his court and throughout Valusia's City of Wonders. The Great Serpent cult is far from defeated, and their reach is long. With one treaty falling apart, a powerful ally in danger, and his trusted friend, Brule, doubting his latest commands, Kull must plan his next move carefully -- and now constantly watch his back for traitors! Expanding upon the events in Robert E. Howard's short story, "The Shadow Kingdom," to show what happens right after Kull exposes the threat of the scheming snake-men in his kingdom!

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 4.

THE KUROSAGI CORPSE DELIVERY SERVICE VOLUME 9

Written by Eiji Otsuka, art by Housui Yamazaki.

Heads up! That's what the Kurosagi crew sees floating in midair . . . above a moving motorcycle! But this headless horseman in reverse is linked to a corpse that can be smelled and felt . . . but not seen! Then, the mystery moves from sight to sound, as the last words of an elderly veteran reveal the hideous crime behind a secret program of World War II -- whose effects can still be heard . . .

216 pages, black and white, $10.95, in stores on May 13.

LITTLE LULU: THE ALAMO AND OTHER STORIES

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

Containing the never-before-collected Marge's Little Lulu #88-#93 in full color, this volume features masterworks by comic-book legends John Stanley and Irving Tripp that haven't been seen since they first hit spinner racks over 50 years ago!

Perfect for anyone who loves to laugh, these timeless tales of Lulu Moppet, Tubby Tompkins, and the rest of the neighborhood kids will be appreciated by adults and children alike for the unrivaled quality of their craft and hilarity of their hijinks!

200 pages, $14.95, in stores on May 13.

MISTER X: CONDEMNED #4

Written and art by Dean Motter.

A building full of dead architects. A serial killer walking the streets. A metropolis plagued by insomnia, sleepwalking, and madness. In the midst of citywide turmoil, is the unsleeping architect Mister X any closer to solving the problems that haunt Somnopolis? Can all the plans and blueprints he's collected actually save the "City of Nightmares"?

24 pages, $3.50, in stores on March 25.

SIMPSONS CLASSIC CHARACTER #1: HOMER SIMPSON

Inspired by the Syroco statues of the 1940s, Dark Horse's series of "Classic Comic" statuettes has been a huge success. Sculpted with flair and grace at Yoe! Studios, nearly one hundred different characters have been produced thus far, with most editions selling out upon publication.

While the statuettes in the series were originally based on characters from newspaper strips, in this companion series Dark Horse is featuring its uniquely "primitive but charming" treatment on one of the modern era's most iconic, if dysfunctional, families -- the Simpsons. We are excited to present one of contemporary pop culture's most beloved cast of crazies, starting with guess who? If you surmised it was Homer, then give yourself a big "d'oh" and a sprinkled donut.

Packaged in a special litho-printed full-color tin box with a vintage-style pin-back button and booklet, limited edition of 950 numbered pieces, $49.95, in stores on May 6.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS -- THE WIND RAIDERS OF TALORAAN

Written by John Ostrander, art by Wayne Lo.

Jedi Knights Anakin and Obi-Wan, with Padawan Ahsoka, travel to the planet Taloraan in hopes of gaining some useful allies for the Republic. But the two ruling groups on the planet are not particularly interested in making a treaty -- the Defrandi are already more sympathetic toward the Separatists, and the Wind Raiders are simply unfriendly to everyone! It may be a merely impossible mission for the Jedi, or one that might end in disaster!

96 pages, $7.95, in stores on May 27.

STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #39

Written by John Jackson Miller, penciled by Brian Ching, colored by Michael Atiyeh, cover by Daryl Mandryk.

"Dueling Ambitions," part 1 of 3. Combat sports and high-speed racing in the Old Republic! Zayne and Gryph -- now partners in "crime" -- along with Jarael and Rohlan, prepare to rip off the big-business world of sport dueling. Gryph has himself in the perfect position for the con, until Zayne enters himself into the Open, Jarael becomes oddly distracted, and even Rohlan finds himself taking part in the duels. If that weren't enough, veteran warrior Goethar Kleej inexplicably forces upon Zayne an incredible handicap . . .

40 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 18.

STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC VOLUME 6 -- VINDICATION

Written by John Jackson Miller, art by Brian Ching and Bong Dazo, inked by Joe Pimentel, colored by Michael Atiyeh.

Fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick's quest to clear his name is finally concluded in this novel-length story! Zayne and his con-artist companion Gryph commit to a new course in exposing the dark actions of the secret Jedi Covenant. Yet doing so takes them not only to the homeworld of one of Zayne's murdering Masters, but into the most highly guarded place on the planet -- a storehouse of Sith artifacts! But his days as a renegade won't end there! Zayne's search for justice will continue to Coruscant, where he'll confront his Master, Lucien Draay, and the members of the Jedi Covenant in a showdown that will end his days as a fugitive in one way . . . or another.

168 pages, $19.95, in stores on May 20.

STAR WARS: LEGACY #34

"Storms," part 1. After their climactic battle against Darth Krayt, Cade and his crew are hurtling through a lightning storm with mortally wounded Imperial Knight Azlyn Rae and Jedi Knight Shado Vao. They hope to reach the planet Kiffer, where Bantha Rawk might help with Cade's seemingly impossible plan to save Azlyn. The Sith, too, are handling the aftermath of the battle on Had Abbadon. Some will awaken to find the battle did not end as they believed . . .

40 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 25.

TARZAN: THE JESSE MARSH YEARS VOLUME 1

Written by Robert P. Thompson and Gaylor DuBois, art by Jesse Marsh.

Dark Horse Archives presents the first four issues of this influential Golden Age series in a handsome hardcover -- kicking off a comprehensive program that will collect the first 19 years of the classic title!

In 1947, artist Jesse Marsh left Walt Disney Studios -- where he had worked on Pinocchio, Fantasia, and various animated shorts‹to work for Western Publishing full time. Tarzan was one of his first assignments, with the iconic character's first original comic-book appearance in Dell Four-Color Comics #134. Tarzan #2 would begin Marsh's long-term collaboration with writer Gaylord DuBois. Their work drew admiration and respect from readers and peers -- Russ Manning among them -- and Marsh's art inspired future comics creators from Richard Corben to Los Bros. Hernandez!

256 pages, $49.95, in stores on Feb. 25.

TARZAN: THE JESSE MARSH YEARS VOLUME 2

Written by Gaylord DeBois, art by Jesse Marsh.

The original Tarzan comics are finally back in print after sixty years! This second volume reproduces six big Golden Age issues for readers new and old to enjoy, and all stories are by the dynamite team of Gaylord DuBois and Jesse Marsh.

DuBois and Marsh's 19-year collaboration on Tarzan produced a legendary body of work and an enduring vision of one of the world's foremost adventure icons. Marsh's art enthralled an entire generation of comics readers, influencing future creators the Hernandez brothers and earning the acclaim of such fellow professionals as Russ Manning and Alex Toth!

224 pages, $49.95, in stores on May 20.

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #5

Written by Gerard Way, penciled by Gabriel Ba, colored by Dave Stewart.

Propelled by nuclear armageddon, The Séance, Spaceboy, and The Kraken race through time to solve the mystery of Number Five's past, and find themselves thrown into the turmoil of war, assassination, and strange visitations into their own childhoods. This imaginative series nears the conclusion of its second story arc -- Dallas, in which the history of the United States is radically rewritten, and not a thing is changed.

32 pages, $2.99, in stores on March 25.

USAGI YOJIMBO #119

Written and art by Stan Sakai.

Over the years of his warrior pilgrimage, Usagi has faced all manner of bandits, assassins, conspirators, ninja, and monsters, but now he finds himself up against a new threat: zombies!

As Usagi and Sasuke battle to release Kitsune from the enchantment of the wizard Hatakeyama, the power of the netsuke amulet takes effect, and dead warriors from a battle three hundred years past return to life. With the proper incantations they can be controlled; otherwise they are drawn blindly to the amulet and will kill whoever has possession of it -- in this case, Usagi!

24 pages, black and white, $3.50, in stores on March 25.

WILL EISNER'S THE SPIRIT: THE NEW ADVENTURES ARCHIVES

Written and art by various, cover by Dave Gibbons.

In 1997, almost six decades after the character's first appearance in 1940, Will Eisner gave permission for a new series of stories to be commissioned featuring his signature creation, resurrected detective Denny Colt, also known as the Spirit, written and drawn by the most famous names in the comics industry. The call went out, and the response was nothing short of remarkable, with contributions from such creators as Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons (in one of their rare collaborations since Watchmen), Neil Gaiman, Paul Chadwick and Eddie Campbell, amongst others.

In these pages you'll find new tales of Central City's protector versus familiar villains such as the Octopus and Sand Saref; witness his undying love for Ellen Dolan, daughter of Commissioner Dolan, the only man to know his secret identity; and glimpse what might be the Spirit's fate in an uncertain future.

This collection features stories from the following best-selling, multi-award-winning creators from around the world: Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, Neil Gaiman, Eddie Campbell, Mike Allred, John Ostrander, Tom Mandrake, Paul Chadwick, Kurt Busiek, Brent Anderson, Joe R. Lansdale, John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, and many others.

Designed to tie-in with DC's 26-volume Spirit Archives series.

200 pages, $49.95, in stores on May 20.

WONDERMARK VOLUME 2: CLEVER TRICKS TO STAVE OFF DEATH

Written and art by David Malki.

Dark Horse Comics presents this second hardbound collection of David Malki's nationally syndicated Wondermark, a sarcastic, silly, and razor-sharp gag comic strip created entirely from nineteenth century woodcuts and engravings. A follow-up to 2008's critically acclaimed Beards of our Forefathers, Clever Tricks to Stave Off Death contains over one hundred comic strips originally published in The Onion and on wondermark.com, as well as many pages of additional material -- such as Malki's eight-page graphic story "Ransom!" and, as promised, a bevy of techniques intended to help the reader delay the inevitable onset of their own demise -- written and designed in Malki's trademark hilarious style.

96 pages, $14.95, in stores on May 6.



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