Back in 2005 SOTA toys released a critically acclaimed line of action figures to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Street fighter fighting game series. The second wave of these figures consisted of a strong selection of characters, from a variety of the games. There was Cammy and T.Hawk from the Super Street Fighter Series, and classic world Warriors Ken, Blanka and Vega. There is no doubt that the classic World Warrior characters are the most iconic and recognisable from all the Street Fighter games, so this was a particularly strong line up.
The Vega figure was probably the stand out figure in this line up for me. And that was remarkable since the entire wave was very strong. Each character had a different body and unique parts. There was also a great deal of variety between the figures scale wise which was very consistent with the games.
The Vega figure seems to have been sculpted more in line with his Alpha/Zero 3 appearance, but this is very subtle and does not in anyway alienate fans who perhaps may not have been so fond of that particular art style, and may have preferred his World Warrior look.
The figure stands at about 6 ½ inches tall, which is great and it feels perfectly scaled in comparison with the other figures. He also has a selection of accessories including a removable claw, an alternate head, 3 alternate hands, and his signature rose from the Alpha series.
The alternate head is unmasked, which is a welcome addition. Unfortunately the mask is not removable on the regular head, but this is a certainly a worthy substitute. And it also helps to reduce the chances of the mask accidentally falling off all the time, or getting lost.
The Rose is a very delicate accessory and could easily be lost. However one of his hands is sculpted in such a way where it fits inside the hand. It fits very well, but I would still suggest that anyone who chooses to display the figure with the rose to exercise caution because it is very easy to loose.
The SOTA Street Fighter figures featured an excellent level of articulation. And Vega was no exception. He features 31 points of articulation, which includes double jointed elbows and knees, an ab crunch and waist rotation. This is fantastic, because he has all the points he needs to create some of his more athletic and dynamic poses.
The paint application in this figure is also fantastic. To be honest, there really is very little fault on this figure.
Vega was easily one of the best toys that was released in SOTA's ill fated Street Fighter line and I would highly recommend this to any fan of the video games, or action figure collectors in general. It really is a spectacular action figure.
Review and photographs by: Dean René Middleton
Staff Reviewer
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Highlighting Three Top Boys Brands, Prime Retail Placement Launches During Key Holiday Shopping Season and Includes Products Across a WideRange of Categories
Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) today announced that it will have a dedicated boutique in Toys“R”Us stores nationwide this month, highlighting three of Cartoon Network’s most popular boys properties. The boutiques will create a dedicated, Cartoon Network-branded retail destination inside every Toys“R”Us store and will include a wide range of products from the Ben 10 Alien Force, Bakugan and The Secret Saturdays brands. The boutiques are open now, spanning multiple product categories during a key month of the pivotal fourth quarter.
“Toys”R”Us continues to be a terrific, long-standing retail partner for us and our brands, and we are proud to showcase this chainwide Cartoon Network retail destination as we kick off the holiday shopping season,” said Christina Miller, senior vice president, CNE. “The unique, multi-category shopping experience we have created is guaranteed to generate strong excitement around our brands and the must-have products from our licensing partners.”
Throughout November, Toys“R”Us shoppers can find their favorite Cartoon Network brands and products at this one-stop shopping destination that includes some of the must-have items this holiday season. The Ben 10 Alien Force product featured in the boutique will include key toys from Bandai America – such as the Toys“R”Us exclusives Alien Creation Chamber Figure 6-pack and 4” Alien Heroes 4-pack, as well as Ben 10 Alien Force Vilgax Attacks, the latest interactive game from D3Publisher, and a wide range of products including apparel, consumer electronics and a full line of publishing titles. Driven by a full toy line from Spin Master Ltd., Bakugan product incorporated into the boutique includes two Toys“R”Us exclusives – the New Vestoria Maxus Helios 7 in 1 and the Bakubelt, as well as the Bakugan: Battle Brawlers video game from Activision, consumer electronics, apparel and video game accessories. Additionally, The Secret Saturdays products showcased in the boutique include a full toy line from Mattel, complete with Toys“R”Us two exclusive action figure sets – an Action Figure 2-pack and the Cryptid Assortment 4-pack – along with The Secret Saturdays Beasts of the 5th Sun interactive game from D3Publisher, and publishing. A total of nine episodic DVDs from Warner Home Video of all three hit shows will be also featured in a custom corrugate designed specifically for this shop.
The three brands and products included in the Cartoon Network boutique are also currently highlighted in the 2009 Toys“R”Us Biggest Big Book, the ultimate guide to everything kids might desire during the holiday season. Additionally, the boutique will be supported by promotional email blasts from Toysrus.com, and graphics that bring Cartoon Network’s brands to life for shoppers.
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New comics miniseries launches in January
Rounds out trifecta of new TRANSFORMERS comics
The TRANSFORMERS action just keeps coming, as IDW introduces a third new series in January - TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS. Under license from Hasbro, Inc., IDW explores yet another action-packed storyline, following the AUTOBOTS special operations crew on a mission to space to confront a new foe.
Fan-favorite writer and artist Nick Roche helms this five-issue series, which spins out of IDW's new ongoing TRANSFORMERS series. This story line gives fans a taste of what's been happening off of Earth as the WRECKERS investigate a prison planet that fell to the evil DECEPTICONS three years ago.
“TRANSFORMERS fans craving that outer-space action need look no further,” said IDW editor Andy Schmidt. “WRECKERS is straight science fiction and action—robots in space with the highest of stakes! But don’t look for all cheery fun and games here. It’s not called ‘Last Stand’ for nothing!”
TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS plots a course to a prison planet conquered by the DECEPTICONS during the war on Earth. With no communication in three years, the WRECKERS face an unknown foe, who just might tear SPRINGER, KUP, and their cadre of AUTOBOT heroes apart. Roche and All Hail Megatron’s Trevor Hutchison will provide covers.
TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS rounds out IDW’s new trifecta of TRANSFORMERS comics, which starts with the new TRANSFORMERS ongoing series on November 18th and includes TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE, coming in December.
“While TRANSFORMERS the ongoing series and TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE are both firmly rooted on Terra Firma, Last Stand of the WRECKERS gives fans a good indication of the impact the end of the AUTOBOT vs. DECEPTICON war is having on the rest of the TRANSFORMERS universe,” added Schmidt. “There is something great for every TRANSFORMERS fan right now in the IDW line-up of TRANSFORMERS comics.”
The TRANSFORMERS #1 ($3.99, 32 page color) will be available in stores on November 18, 2009. Diamond order code #SEP09 0852.
TRANSFORMERS: BUMBLEBEE #1 (of 4; $3.99, 32 page color) will be available in stores in December. Diamond order code #OCT09 0954.
TRANSFORMERS: Last Stand of the WRECKERS #1 (of 5; $3.99, 32 page color) will be available in stores in January. Diamond order code #NOV09 0819.
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SIEGE: THE CABAL [Prologue to Siege] (OCT090467)
SIEGE: THE CABAL DAVIS VARIANT (SEP098227)
SIEGE: THE CABAL FINCH SKETCH VARIANT (SEP098228)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Penciled by MICHAEL LARK
Cover by DAVID FINCH
Variant Cover by ALAN DAVIS
Sketch Variant Cover by DAVID FINCH
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—11/12/09, On-Sale—12/2/09
SIEGE #1 (of 4) (NOV090419)
SIEGE #1 (of 4) DELL’OTTO VARIANT (NOV090420)
SIEGE #1 (of 4) QUESADA VARIANT (NOV090421)
SIEGE #1 (of 4) COIPEL SKETCH VARIANT (NOV090422)
Written by BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Pencils & Cover by OLIVIER COIPEL
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL'OTTO
Variant Cover by JOE QUESADA
Sketch Variant by OLIVIER COIPEL
Rated T+ …$3.99
FOC—12/10/09, On-Sale—1/6/10
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TWO OPPOSING TEAMS MUST TRUST EACH OTHER TO SURVIVE
CYBERFORCE/HUNTER-KILLER #4
Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today the upcoming release of the penultimate installment of Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #4 the first crossover between Top Cow’s Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer teams. Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #4 is written by Mark Waid (Amazing Spider-Man, Strange), who co-created Hunter-Killer with Top Cow’s CEO and founder Marc Silvestri in 2005, with artwork by Kenneth Rocafort (Madame Mirage, Pilot Season: The Core), who drew the final four issues of the initial Hunter-Killer Season One series.
In Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #4, both the Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer teams have discovered that Morningstar and Cyberdata are working towards a frightening global-spanning goal, but will the two teams be able to trust each other enough to survive the encounter against their true foes?
Silvestri created Cyberforce as the first comic book title to be produced by his newly-formed company in 1992. Hunter-Killer was created in 2005 by Silvestri and Waid. Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer picks up after Hunter-Killer: Season One wrapped up.
Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #4 will arrive in stores on November 18th and features covers by Rocafort and Whilce Portacio (Image United).
Two cover variants will be offered for Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #4, one by series artist Rocafort and another by Top Cow “Artist Pit” alumni Joe Benitez (Soulfire, Teen Titans). The fully colored Benitez cover is revealed for the first time now.
Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #4 will retail for $2.99 as part of Top Cow’s own initiative to keep all of their regular comics priced at $2.99 for the duration of the 2009 calendar year.
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The biggest Super Hero movie of 2010 is fast approaching and will thrill fans with high-tech armor, covert government operations, one supremely angry Russian and, we are excited to announce, Diamond Select Toys! Maryland based Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles, LLC has secured a license from Marvel Entertainment to produce collectible action figures and Minimates based on the summer's surefire blockbuster hit, Marvel’s Iron Man 2!
Diamond Select Toys will bring the Iron Man 2 property to their most successful toy lines, recruiting top industry talent including Gentle Giant for the seven-inch collector-driven Marvel Select action figure line and design-house Art Asylum for the unstoppable Marvel Minimates series of two-inch articulated block figures. Both lines will see releases beginning in March of 2010 and continuing through the summer convention season, including exclusive partnerships with national toy retailer Toys "R" Us and online powerhouse Action Figure Xpress.com.
"After Marvel's Iron Man 2008 feature film increased the global awareness of this powerful brand and our continued success with both the Marvel Select and Marvel Minimates lines, securing the rights to Iron Man 2 toys was a very easy decision for us," commented Diamond Select Toys Director, Chuck Terceira. "We're all huge fans of the first Iron Man film and we're very much looking forward to highlighting both the comic and movie characters from the Iron Man universe over the next year."
Hot on the heels of the $585-million-generating Iron Man film, the action-packed sequel will hit theaters on May 7th of 2010 and catches up with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark six months after the events of his big-screen debut. Iron Man 2 also stars Mickey Rourke as the devilish Whiplash, Scarlett Johansson as the seductive and deadly Black Widow, Don Cheadle's War Machine debut and Samuel L Jackson, reprising his role as the world's number one spy, Nick Fury.
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HASBRO’S G.I. JOE BRAND JOINS FORCES WITH
TOYS FOR TOTS AND ACTOR DENNIS QUAID
IN AN IMPORTANT HOLIDAY MISSION
Be a Hero and Help Deliver the Magic of the Holidays to Less Fortunate Children
Over 14 million children live in poverty in the United States. They need a hero this holiday season and here to answer the call of duty is the G.I. JOE brand from Hasbro (NYSE: HAS).
Hasbro’s G.I. JOE brand, the Marine Toys for Toys Foundation and actor Dennis Quaid are joining forces to help make this holiday season a little brighter for less fortunate children. For every G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra toy purchased at stores from November 11 through November 26 (Veteran’s Day through Thanksgiving), Hasbro will donate a new toy (up to 300,000 toys with a minimum $3.99 value) to Toys for Tots.
Actor Dennis Quaid, who plays ‘GENERAL HAWK’ in the 2009 blockbuster film G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra, from Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Entertainment, in association with Hasbro, will voice a national radio spot, due to premier on Veteran’s Day, November 11, to help raise awareness for this campaign and the positive impact The U.S. Marines and Toys for Tots make on the lives of children.
“As long time supporters of Toys for Tots, we recognize and applaud the important work the organization does on behalf of economically disadvantaged children nationwide,” said John Frascotti, Hasbro’s Chief Marketing Officer. “In working with Toys for Tots once again this year, they were very clear that new toys for the children they serve would be in greater need than ever during these difficult economic times, and we are pleased to step up and do our part.”
“We know this year will be especially hard on families as many have already started to significantly tighten the purse strings,” said retired Marine Corps Major Bill Grein, USMC (Ret), vice president of marketing and development for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “These families need a hero this holiday season and Hasbro is it. Their generous gift of toys and games will enable us to deliver the magic of the holiday season to many of our nation’s neediest children.”
For more information about how you can help make a difference, please visit www.gijoe.com.
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Marvel is proud to unveil your first look at episode 2 of the Astonishing X-Men Motion Comic!
Based on the acclaimed story by superstars Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and John Cassaday (Captain America), the X-Men are faced with a mysterious new villain and a possible cure for the mutant gene! Now Cyclops, Wolverine and all your favorite mutants must face the greatest threats of their lives and, before it’s all done, experience one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Marvel history!
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Dark Horse has released their solicits for February 2010
ACHEWOOD VOLUME 3: A HOME FOR SCARED PEOPLE
Chris Onstad (W/A)
On sale Apr 21
b&w, 104 pages
$16.99
HC, 9 1/2" x 7 3/4"
Picking up where they left off, Achewood and Dark Horse Comics present the third volume of strips from the massive Achewood archive. As with the previous collections, author Chris Onstad includes extensive character backstories, thorough strip annotations, the celebrated alt texts, and many print-only extras in the classic Achewood style. 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.
• Time magazine’s #1 Graphic Novel of 2007.
• Ignatz Award, Outstanding Online Comic, 2007.
• “I’m addicted to Achewood. Chris Onstad is a dark, hilarious genius.” —Dave Barry
• “. . . Some of the most brilliant, bizarre comedy happening anywhere, in any medium.” —Lev Grossman, Time
AGE OF REPTILES: THE JOURNEY #1 (of 4)
Ricardo Delgado (W/A) and Jim Campbell (C)
On sale Nov 4
32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Dawn breaks over a sprawling forest in Cretaceous North America—a dawn far colder than its peaceful, forest-dwelling herbivores are used to. The seasons are changing, and it’s time for the able-bodied to migrate south. But the trek is a dangerous one even when massive herds band together, for while there is safety in numbers, numbers also draw attention, and the carnivores are moving in! This journey may not last long when the first hunter arrives, a ferocious tyrannosaurus rex who has her sights set on a young triceratops!
• Ricardo Delgado—a prolific development and storyboard artist who has worked on such hit films as Men in Black, The Incredibles, WALL-E, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the Matrix series—returns once again to his critically acclaimed, Eisner Award–winning comic series, Age of Reptiles!
“Ricardo Delgado once again takes us back to the Age of Reptiles! And I am thrilled to go there.”
—John Landis, filmmaker (An American Werewolf in London, Michael Jackson’s Thriller)
“When Ricardo told me that he was doing another Age of Reptiles story I was elated. And this one is even more amazing than the last! Besides Ricardo's incredible draftsmanship it is the storytelling that really grabs me. It's hard not to be cliché . . . but this comic is truly a visual feast!”
—Genndy Tartakovsky
Creator and Director
Samurai Jack, Dexter's Laboratory
AGE OF REPTILES: THE JOURNEY #2 (of 4)
Ricardo Delgado (W/A) and Jim Campbell (C)
On sale Jan 6
32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Driven from their homeland by plummeting temperatures, massive herbivore herds migrate south in search of a better place to spend the winter months. But when they try to push through an arid wasteland ravaged by drought, they discover not only a vicious environment but also desperate, starving predators—including a frenzied pack of raptors!
Ricardo Delgado—a prolific development and storyboard artist who has worked on such hit films as Men in Black, The Incredibles, WALL-E, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the Matrix series—returns once again to his critically acclaimed, Eisner Award–winning comic series.
“Ricardo Delgado joins the ranks of H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, and Ray Harryhausen in transporting us to a lost world. Bravo, Delgado!”
—John Landis, Filmmaker (An American Werewolf in London, Michael Jackson’s Thriller)
“Ricardo Delgado demonstrates his unique gift for bringing the world of dinosaurs vividly to life in his new miniseries, The Journey. Epic scale and intimate moments of this lost world leap off the page in his cinematic style.”
—John Musker,
Co-Writer / Director
Disney’s Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Princess and the Frog
ALIENS: MORE THAN HUMAN
John Arcudi (W), Zach Howard (P), Mark Irwin (I), Wes Dzioba (C), and Raymond Swanland (Cover)
On sale Apr 14
FC, 96 pages
$15.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
A group of wildcat planetary prospectors plant their flag on a distant new world, rich in land, resources . . . and the greatest archaeological discovery in history, an ancient complex of impossible proportions carved deep within the living rock, a mind-numbing labyrinth of passages, ramps, bridges, and galleries that seems to extend limitlessly. But as the exploration of the leviathan dead city proceeds deeper and deeper, the members of the team slowly begin to lose their grip on reality, and madness gives way to fear as the explorers begin to disappear. Something else lives within the necropolis, a faceless horror as deadly and merciless as space itself, a lethal terror that has waited centuries to awake . . . and destroy.
At long last, Dark Horse Books heralds the return to graphic fiction of the heavyweight champion of modern science-fiction/horror, Aliens! Features the top-flight creative team of writer John Arcudi, penciller Zach Howard, and inker Mark Irwin.
• Major release of new Aliens vs. Predator game for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 in 2010.
• After thirty years, it’s finally been announced that original Alien director Ridley Scott will helm the new entry in the franchise, a prequel to the 1979 blockbuster!
• Six value-priced Aliens Omnibus collections are now available, reprinting the classic Dark Horse Aliens library.
ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: THREE WORLD WAR #2 (of 6)
Randy Stradley (W), Rick Leonardi (P), Mark Pennington (I), Wes Dzioba (C), and Raymond Swanland (Cover)
On sale Feb 24
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Machiko Naguchi is the only human known to have lived among the extraterrestrial hunters known as Predators—and she's had plenty of up-close-and-personal experience with another deadly, otherworldly life form, the xenomorph Aliens, hunting the beasts alongside her Predator hosts. Machiko thought those days were long past, but now a long-lost rival clan of warlike Predators has emerged, using specially bred Aliens as weapons, and both Predators and humans are threatened. Now, Machiko must again don her Predator armor and negotiate a possible alliance with the very same race that made trophies of humans for centuries. And when you “negotiate” with Predators, there will be blood!
Featuring the creative dream team of original AvP writer Randy Stradley, superstar penciller Rick Leonardi, inker Mark Pennington, colorist Wes Dzioba, and stunning cover art from Raymond Swanland, Aliens vs. Predator: Three World War ties together story threads introduced in the 1989 AvP series and new Aliens and Predator storylines, setting the stage for the most epic AvP brawl ever imagined.
THE BOOK OF GRICKLE
Graham Annable (W/A)
On sale Apr 7
b&w, 200 pages
$17.99
HC, 5 3/4" x 8 1/4"
Get ready for the most extensive journey ever into the brilliant mind of Graham Annable! A classically trained animator with credits in film (including as a storyboard artist on Coraline), television, and video games, Annable has for years spent his free time creating some of the funniest, most poignant comics anywhere. As befits his animation background, Annable’s fluid art pulses with life, in stories that practically jump off the page. Alternately poetic and hilarious, Grickle presents a strange twist on the everyday with heart and humor. If you’ve experienced Grickle before, this is the greatest collection yet. If you haven’t, there’s no better introduction than Book of Grickle!
• Grickle was named one of Wizard’s Top 25 indie books everyone must read!
• The best of Grickle, plus new and rarely seen material!
• Graham Annables’s Grickle strips were selected for Houghton-Mifflin’s 2008 edition of Best American Comics.
Introduction by Jeff Smith!
B.P.R.D.: KING OF FEAR #2 (of 5)
Mike Mignola (W/Cover), John Arcudi (W), Guy Davis (A), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Feb 10
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
While Liz and Abe lead a platoon of agents and soldiers into the Hollow Earth, Kate Corrigan tries to juggle work with romance. She travels to Austria to explore the ruins of Hunte Castle—the haunted Nazi fortress where crime fighter Lobster Johnson died and Hellboy fought the Conqueror Worm—where she hopes to place Lobster Johnson’s ghost to rest and make him free the spirit of Johann Kraus.
Lobster Johnson returns to the scene of his death!
BUCK ROGERS FROM RETRO A-GO-GO
On sale Feb 24
Buck Rogers 1930’s Collection Frame $31.99
Buck Rogers 25th Century Frame $31.99
Buck Rogers Collage Frame $31.99
Buck Rogers Logo Belt Buckle $21.99
Buck Rogers Ray Gun Belt Buckle $21.99
Buck Rogers Ray Gun Cigarette Case $29.99
Buck Rogers Rocket Man Belt Buckle $21.99
Buck Rogers Rocket Man Cigarette Case $29.99
Buck Rogers Small Case $22.99
Buck Rogers Space Girls Unite Belt Buckle $21.99
Buck Rogers Spaceship Key Chain $12.00
Buck Rogers Spaceship Small Case $22.99
Buck Rogers Vintage Cigarette Case $29.99
Buck Rogers Vintage Key Chain $12.00
Buck Rogers Wilma Cigarette Case $29.99
Buck Rogers Wilma Key Chain $12.00
Dark Horse is proud to introduce a stunning line of officially- licensed Buck Rogers accessories, produced by our friends at Retro-A-Go-Go for the modern space traveler! High quality stainless steel card cases to carry all your off world identification. Highlight the keys to your rocket car with our Art Deco inspired key chains. Or decorate your moon base with one of the stylish and functional photo frames! Buck Roger was ahead of his time, and guess what? He still is!
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #32: TWILIGHT part 1 (of 5)
Brad Meltzer (W), Georges Jeanty (P/Cover), Andy Owens (I), Michelle Madsen (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)
On sale Feb 3
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Faster than a speeding—you know. More powerful than a—yeah, one of those. Able to leap tall . . . castles in a single bound. Still working on that x-ray-vision thing. In the aftermath of battle with Twilight’s army, Buffy has developed a host of new powers, but when will the other shoe drop, and will it be a cute shoe, or an ugly one? Still reeling from the losses of war, Willow goes looking for missing allies and discovers a horrifying truth about several of the Slayer army’s recent ordeals.
Series artist Georges Jeanty, acclaimed novelist and comics writer Brad Meltzer (The Book of Lies, Identity Crisis), and executive producer Joss Whedon begin the buildup to Season Eight’s climax in the storyline that finally reveals the identity of Twilight!
• The storyline revealing Twilight’s true identity!
• Eisner Award-winning series.
Best-selling author Brad Meltzer joins Buffy Season Eight!
THE CHRONICLES OF KULL VOLUME 2: THE HELL BENEATH ATLANTIS AND OTHER STORIES
Roy Thomas (W), Gerry Conway (W), Steve Englehart (W), Doug Moench (W), Marie Severin (A), Michael Ploog (A), Ed Hannigan (A), and Alfredo Alcala (A)
On sale Apr 7
FC, 108 pages
$18.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
Dark Horse Comics presents the exciting second volume of The Chronicles of Kull, which completes the Kull the Conqueror run with #10—written by Gerry Conway and drawn by Marie Severin—and launches Kull the Destroyer, featuring the creative talents of such esteemed creators as Roy Thomas, Mike Ploog, Alfredo Alcala, and Ed Hannigan! This action-packed tome details Kull’s surprising exile from Valusia and his return to Atlantis, where he faces the deadly kraken, winged demons, and the god of flame and frost! In these uncertain times for the former King of Valusia, Kull finds allies among enemies and fiends whom he would once have called friends!
• The Chronicles of Kull Volume 2: The Hell Beneath Atlantis and Other Stories reprints Kull the Conqueror #10 and Kull the Destroyer #11 through #20 in their stunning original colors, digitally cleaned and remastered!
• Features the writing of the legendary Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas, and Doug Moench!
• Art by the inimitable Marie Severin, Ed Hannigan, and Alfredo Alcala!
THE COMICS: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF COMIC STRIP ART
Jerry Robinson (W), Walt Kelly (A), Winsor McCay (A), Milt Caniff (A), Hal Foster (A), and others
On sale Apr 14
FC, 296 pages
$24.99
TPB, 9" x 12"
From Jerry Robinson, legendary creator of the Joker, seventy-year veteran of the comics industry, and prominent figure in monthly books, daily strips, and comics journalism, comes a comprehensive history of the truly American art form! The Comics is a fully reworked and updated edition of the 1974 classic that chronicles the origins and evolution of comic strips, from prior to the Yellow Kid through today, and highlights the game-changing contributions of such creative luminaries as Milton Caniff, Walt Kelly, Hal Foster, and Winsor McCay, among countless others. A fascinating resource of enduring excellence for fans of the art form, historians, and casual readers alike, this edition has been extensively revisited by Robinson and tells the stories behind the newsprint page.
• The Comics is an authoritative history of the medium from living legend Jerry Robinson!
• Other books by Jerry Robinson include the biography Skippy and Percy Crosby and The 1970s: Best Political Cartoons of the Decade.
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #19: KOZAKI part 1 (of 3)
Timothy Truman (W/P), Tomás Giorello (P), José Villarrubia (C), Justin Sweet (Cover), and Joseph Michael Linsner (Cover)
On sale Feb 17
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Tomás Giorello returns to full penciling duties—with the remarkable colors of José Villarrubia fleshing out each page—and Timothy Truman scripts this first episode in a new, three-issue story arc entitled “Kozaki”! After burning a few bridges and making some questionable choices, mainly fueled by jealousy over Prince Julion’s recent appearance in Khoraja and a hatred for pampered royalty and their courtly life, Conan leaves Yasmela and her palace behind. Now leading Amalric’s mercenary army, Conan is again responsible for the lives of others. But is he skilled and experienced enough to do the job right? In this issue, we’ll also discover more bleak premonitions and clues concerning Conan’s near future, when Conan and his companions leave organized mercenary life behind in order to survive as a group of raiders and looters. Such actions will undoubtedly draw the attentions of others, though, and the troubles that began for Conan in the previous “Free Companions” arc are far from over!
• This issue features a cover by guest cover artist Justin Sweet—illustrator for Del Rey Books’ Kull: Exile of Atlantis prose collection!
“The latest incarnation of Conan has done nothing but live up to its predecessors.”
—Broken Frontier
DEVIL #1 (of 4)
Torajiro Kishi (W/A) and Madhouse Studios (W/A)
On sale Feb Feb 3
FC, 24 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Manga artist Torajiro Kishi (Maka-Maka) and blockbuster anime studio Madhouse (Trigun, Paprika, Ninja Scroll) love comics. So much so that they’ve decided to publish an original, Western-style comic exclusively with Dark Horse! Enter Devil, a thrilling, sci-fi take on the vampire genre.
A virus is raging across the planet, turning people into bloodsucking superhumans referred to as “Devils.” Most victims die within days, sometimes months, but there’s a new strain, a new class of Devil that threatens to overtake mankind with power and bloodthirst. This new class of Devils derive from an experiment to clone a virus victim, and it looks like science has created a true monster this time. Can Takimoto and the Devil Investigation Section of the Tokyo police force stop this societal scourge? We’ll just have to see.
• Exclusive comic specifically for the American audience and only available from Dark Horse!
This disease will devour mankind.
DOMO
Domo 2" Mystery Qee Figures Series 2 Display Case
On sale Mar 24
15 figures
$134.85
Domo 2" Qee Series 2 Figures
Domo Qee Flocked Classic Brown
Domo Qee Skeleton
Domo Qee Flocked Pink
Domo Qee Metallic Orange
Domo Qee Rusty
On sale Mar 24
$8.99
Following the smashing success of our collaboration with Toy2R on the first series of the 2" Domo Qee, we are excited to present an all new assortment of colorful designs. You like raindrops, candy canes, or even glowing radioactivity?! This new series of figures has all that and more!
This freshly hatched offering features fifteen all new limited-edition versions consisting of five new-flocked color Domo Qees as well as ten other fabulous designs, including the ultra rare Mystery figure.
Which one will you get? Well, you won’t know until the box is opened!
As a supplement to our Domo Qee Series 2 figures, we have also created 5 limited edition Domo Qee designs that are will be available individually on blister card. With the exception of the Flocked Classic Brown Domo Qee, these exciting new designs are not available in the Series 2 Display Case.
EERIE ARCHIVES VOLUME 4
Various (W/A)
On sale Apr 14
b&w, 260 pages
$49.99
HC, 8 3/8" x 10 7/8"
Join Frank Frazetta, Steve Ditko, John Severin, Gene Colan, Angelo Torres, and other legendary artists for an eerie excursion through the haunted halls of comics history, as Dark Horse Comics unleashes the fourth big volume of Eerie magazine archives. Vampires, ghouls, werewolves, and ax-wielding maniacs are only the beginning of the thrills you’ll find inside this huge collection crafted by the most gifted storytellers the medium of comics has ever known. You’ll get 260 pages of luridly luscious artwork collected into a magazine-sized, dust-jacketed hardcover.
• This series has appeared multiple times on the New York Times Bestseller List.
• Eerie Archives Volume 4 contains bonus color pages.
GELASKINS
On sale Feb 24
13" Laptop
$29.95
15" Laptop
$29.95
iPhone
$14.95
Over the years, Dark Horse has been committed to incorporating art into our everyday lives through prints, T-shirts, mugs, and a variety of other items that help make this world more colorful. Now Dark Horse is proud to collaborate with GelaSkins to bring over twenty new designs to their line of protective skins for laptops and phones.
Our next wave of designs characters from Tim Burton and Weta Collectibles’ Dr. Grordbort, the new line of GelaSkins is the perfect way to protect your technology while showing off your signature style.
GROO: THE HOGS OF HORDER #4 (of 4)
Mark Evanier (W), Sergio Aragonés (A), and Tom Luth (C)
On sale Feb 24
FC, 32 pages
$3.99
Miniseries
The kingdom of Horder is about to be destroyed by the most horrendous and least stoppable force in the world . . . and, amazingly, it isn’t Groo! But he’s around and making his presence known, which means that he’s making things worse. If you didn’t buy the first three issues, buy this one, see how it ends, and then go back and find the first three so you have a clue as to what any of it means. From the infamous and award-winning team of Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, with Stan Sakai and Tom Luth and, yes, a real. live letters column!
• Legendary Mad magazine cartoonist Sergio recently celebrated twenty-five years of Groo the Wanderer, and fans of mulch and cheese dip still can’t get enough!
HELLSING VOLUME 10
Kohta Hirano (W/A)
On sale Apr 28
b&w, 192 pages
$13.99
TPB, 5" x 7"
One of the best things about Kohta Hirano’s sexy apocalypse of warring vampires, Nazis, Catholics, werewolves, and Australian mercenaries is that all the way up to, and possibly through, this final volume, we don’t know who’s going to win. The streets of London are awash in blood, a zeppelin descends á la Hindenburg, and six of our favorite characters are locked in face-off fights. It’s possible that no one will come away from this crescendo “alive.” Of course, we’re not sure who’s alive or undead at this point. But what’s most certain is that London needs babies, because there isn’t a civilian soul left alive in this battle to the undeath. Alas, Hellsing, we knew you well.
• There are well over half a million copies of the Dark Horse Hellsing series in print!
• This is the final volume, the end of a very popular series. And yet, the protagonist lives…
• All volumes of the Dark Horse version of Hellsing are published in the original Japanese format!
MASS EFFECT: REDEMPTION #2 (of 4)
Mac Walters (W), John Jackson Miller (W), Omar Francia (A), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Daryl Mandryk (Cover)
On sale Feb 3
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Mass Effect 2 lead writer Mac Walters unravels more of the mystery behind BioWare’s latest science-fiction epic!
Liara T’Soni searches Omega—the most dangerous space station in the galaxy—for clues that could save Commander Shepard, humanity’s greatest hero!
A compelling adventure for any fan of smart science fiction, Mass Effect: Redemption exclusively tells a pivotal chapter in the story of Mass Effect 2, the feverishly anticipated sequel to the acclaimed game that has sold over two million copies!
• An ad for Mass Effect: Redemption—with the comic shop locator—will appear inside every copy of Mass Effect 2!
OH MY GODDESS! VOLUME 35
Kosuke Fujishima (W/A)
On sale Apr 28
b&w, 160 pages
$10.99
TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4"
Ever since a cosmic phone call led five literal young goddesses—Belldandy, Urd, Skuld, and, like occasional vowels, Peorth and Lind—to live in college student Keiichi’s residence, his personal life has been turned upside down, sideways, and sometimes even into strange dimensions!
Keiichi knew something was strange when his brutish seniors gave him a “gift” of a vintage camera to repair, but only learns how strange when he and Belldandy search out the identity of the beautiful girl whose picture they still find inside . . . a picture taken more than forty years ago! Plus your fan art and letters!
• Winner of the 2009 Kodansha Award for Best General Manga.
• Oh My Goddess! is the longest-running manga series in America!
“Oh My Goddess! is an eternally charming manga series with magical humor and a big heart.” —Active Anime
RAPTURE
Michael Avon Oeming (W/A) and Taki Soma (W)
On sale Apr 21
FC, 144 pages
$19.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
After warring for a century, Earth’s greatest champions and villains suddenly disappear, leaving the planet decimated. Like a rapture, the Powers are gone and humanity is left behind to pick up the pieces. Amongst this wreckage, two lovers, Evelyn and Gil, find themselves separated by a continent and will do anything to find each other again. But when a strange being named “the Word” turns Evelyn into a champion with an angelic spear, she finds the force of her love for Gil clashing with her newfound power. Love and destiny collide in what will become the worst breakup ever!
• Rapture is the first Dark Horse effort from creators Taki Soma (You’ll Never Die) and Michael Avon Oeming (The Mice Templar).
THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOLUME 7
Chris Claremont (W), Michael Fleisher (W), Bruce Jones (W), John Buscema (P), Ernie Chan (I), Alfredo Alcala (I), and others
On sale Apr 28
b&w, 560 pages
$17.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
In The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 7, Conan faces brigands; magicians; gigantic mutated creatures; nameless, hideous demons; and a tenacious new foe—the disfigured, metal-clad Captain Sharaq. Some of Conan’s most unusual and exciting adventures are reprinted here, including “The Colossus of Shem,” “Demons of the Firelight—Parts One and Two,” “The Cave Dwellers,” and others. These vicious tales are scripted by Michael Fleisher, Chris Claremont, and Bruce Jones, and drawn by some of The Savage Sword’s finest artistic contributors, like John Buscema, Ernie Chan, Alfredo Alcala, Val Mayerik, and Joe Chiodo!
• The Dark Horse Savage Sword of Conan reprint series has proven to be giant sized, with over 90,000 copies sold!
• This volume, which collects The Savage Sword of Conan #72 to #84, also includes Conan covers, frontispieces, and pinups from each issue!
• For the first time, these classic stories are being collected in a series of omnibus-style books, with over five hundred pages of sword-and-sorcery adventure in each volume—for the complete Conan collector!
SOLOMON KANE: DEATH’S BLACK RIDERS #2 (of 4)
Scott Allie (W), Mario Guevara (P), Juan Ferreyra (C), and Darick Robertson (Cover)
On sale Feb 10
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Travelers beware! The roads of Germany’s Black Forest are haunted by all manner of wolf, bandit, and demon! After a harrowing battle with the disgusting and deadly Black Rider creatures, even confident, stalwart combatants like Solomon Kane and the mysterious L’Armon know enough to seek safety during the sinister hours of the night. The shelter they’ve stumbled upon looks foreboding, but its heavy doors will keep those that lurk in the forest at bay. However, will the wickedness within this strange tavern prove to be deadlier than the evil beasts roaming outside? Solomon Kane and L’Armon will soon find out. They’re staying at the ominously named Cleft Skull—a place, it is said, that few come to visit twice! Scott Allie (Star Wars: Empire, Exurbia) adapts Robert E. Howard’s classic “Rattle of Bones” tale, as Mario Guevara (The Lone Ranger and Tonto) and Juan Ferreyra (Rex Mundi, Small Gods) join him in another excursion into horror, suspense, and adventure.
“Solomon Kane is a welcome addition to the other excellent Howard properties produced by Dark Horse.”—Comics Bulletin
"Guevara’s art is the right fit for this series; it’s dark and moody—just like Kane.”
—Comics Buyer’s Guide
STAR WARS: DARK TIMES VOLUME 4—BLUE HARVEST
Mick Harrison (W), Douglas Wheatley (P/Cover), and Dave McCaig (C)
On sale Apr 7
FC, 136 pages
$17.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
Three months after the events in Revenge of the Sith . . .
In a time when all Jedi are fugitives, surviving Jedi Dass Jennir is trying to live as an outlaw without actually becoming one. Accepting a job from a mysterious beauty, Jennir sets out to rid her town of a gang of slave runners. But when he finds that his employer hasn’t been completely honest with him, he begins to doubt the course she’s set him on. Outlaw or not, there’s one thing he knows for certain: he has vowed to save this town—and a Jedi never gives up!
Meanwhile, Darth Vader makes a discovery that has him questioning his own future and the plans of Emperor Palpatine. There are many questions and few answers in these dark times!
• Collects Star Wars: Dark Times #13–#17.
• The first two volumes of Star Wars: Dark Times have combined to sell over 27,000 copies!
• Explore the uncharted Star Wars era between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope in Star Wars: Dark Times!
STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #50—DEMON part 4 (of 4)
John Jackson Miller (W), Brian Ching (P), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Benjamin Carré (Cover)
On sale Feb 17
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
The saga of Zayne Carrick, the Padawan-turned-undercover-and-unexpected-hero, ends in this last issue of the series that has been a part of the Dark Horse Star Wars line since 2006! Don’t miss this final issue!
Zayne and the Mandalorian Rohlan rush to aid their friend Jarael against the demented scientist Demagol and the vicious slaver Chantique. If they can arrive in time, there is a chance that everything will turn out in their favor—but with Zayne’s ever-awkward connection to the Force, nothing is certain . . .
The final issue!
STAR WARS: LEGACY #45—MONSTER part 3 (of 4)
John Ostrander (W), Jan Duursema (P), Dan Parsons (I), Brad Anderson (C), and Chris Scalf (Cover)
On sale Feb 24
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Wayland is a world overrun with Yuuzhan Vong flora and fauna—almost all of it hostile to humans. Cade and his friends have been separated, Deliah Blue has been captured, and they’re about to meet the source of all of the Vongspawn!
Elsewhere, the Jedi, Roan Fel’s Imperials, and the Sith are preparing to converge on Agamar—revealing some unexpected alliances . . .
STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC VOLUME 1—THREAT OF PEACE
Rob Chestney (W), Alex Sanchez (A), and Michael Atiyeh (C)
On sale Apr 28
FC, 96 pages
$15.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
An exclusive first look at the era of Star Wars: The Old Republic, written by one of the writers behind LucasArts and BioWare’s wildly anticipated massive multiplayer online game, Threat of Peace unveils a galaxy on the brink of destruction three hundred years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic!
For decades, the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire have been at war—the Sith have gained control of the Outer Rim, but their efforts to penetrate the Core Worlds have so far been thwarted. Now, representatives from both sides attempt to negotiate a peace treaty—but deception by the Sith puts the Jedi in an unfortunate position.
• Collects Star Wars: The Old Republic issues #1–#27, which appeared previously only online at swtor.com.
• Star Wars: The Old Republic Volume 1—Threat of Peace includes critical events prior to LucasArts and BioWare’s soon-to-be-released massive multiplayer online game and is written by one of the writers behind the game!
Discover a new Star Wars era!
STAR WARS OMNIBUS: BOBA FETT
Thomas Andrews (W), Mike Kennedy (W), Ron Marz (W), John Ostrander (W), Ian Gibson (A), Cam Kennedy (A), Francisco Ruiz Velasco (A), and others
On sale Apr 14
FC, 496 pages
$24.99
TPB, 6" x 9"
Boba Fett, the most feared, most respected, and most loved bounty hunter in the galaxy, now has all of his comics stories collected into one massive volume!
In these stories, Boba Fett gets caught between the Rebellion and the Empire; seeks a mysterious relic from a wrecked Star Destroyer; settles a diplomatic dispute—with extreme prejudice; takes part in a bounty-hunter free-for-all; fights Darth Vader; and even goes up against a Boba Fett impostor! There’s no job too deadly for the man in Mandalorian armor!
• A complete collection of Boba Fett tales!
• Boba Fett encounters Darth Vader, Han Solo, and . . . another Boba Fett?
• The Dark Horse Star Wars Omnibus series gives you over 400 big pages for only $24.99!
THE TALE OF ONE BAD RAT
Bryan Talbot (W/A)
On sale Apr 28
FC, 136 pages
$19.99
HC, 7" x 10"
Helen Potter lived a happy life until she got lost in a nightmare of sexual abuse. Now she’s on a journey, a journey which takes her through urban and rural England along the same path that another Potter, Beatrix Potter, once took. Across the decades, two lives touch, and Helen discovers that the strength of two is far greater than one.
Bryan Talbot constructs a very special story in The Tale of One Bad Rat, which immediately endears the reader. The victim of childhood sexual abuse, Helen Potter becomes the armored knight before her own personal demons in this story of heroism and courage.
• This new deluxe hardcover edition features a new foreword by Neil Gaiman, updated background material, plus entirely new color separations that better highlight the dazzling artwork of this acclaimed, Eisner Award winning graphic novel.
• “A story of strength and pain and survival.” —Neil Gaiman
• “Thoroughly excellent.” —Alan Moore
USAGI YOJIMBO #126: NUKEKUBI
Stan Sakai (W/A)
On sale Feb 24
b&w, 24 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
The rabbit ronin faces a terrifying creature from Japanese mythology in this creepy, self-contained story! Nukekubi are supernatural monsters that take the form of normal humans during the day, but at night can detach their heads to attack their unsuspecting prey. Invited to take refuge in an isolated mountain hut, Usagi doesn’t notice anything suspicious about the house until he is awakened late at night by strange noises and a feeling of danger. Immediately, he sees the screaming head of his host—with sharpened cannibal teeth—flying down from the rafters!
A self-contained tale of supernatural horror!
VAMPIRE HUNTER D READER’S GUIDE
Hideyuki Kikuchi (W) and Yoshitaka Amano (A)
On sale Apr 21
b&w, 240 pages
$13.99
TPB, 5 7/8" x 8 1/4"
An international sensation for more than two decades, the now-legendary monster killer known only as “D” has conquered the worlds of movies and comics, and, since the publication of the first novel in English in 2004, is becoming just as popular in America and the English-speaking world as he has been in Japan for more than a dozen novels. Now, for the first time, go behind the scenes of the phenomenon. With rare artwork from Yoshitaka Amano and interviews that shed light on the inspirations for the memorable stories, you’ll have a front-row seat at the creation of the two animated adventures of Vampire Hunter D and learn new secrets about the novels through detailed summaries.
• Dark Horse has sold over 300,000 copies of Vampire Hunter D!
• This volume contains a Vampire Hunter D short story from the character’s creator, Hideyuki Kikuchi.
• Featuring sneak peeks from upcoming novels, an extensive dictionary, and exclusive sketches and interviews!
• Featuring sneak peeks from upcoming novels, an extensive dictionary, and exclusive sketches and interviews!
WITCHFINDER: IN THE SERVICE OF ANGELS
Mike Mignola (W), Ben Stenbeck (A), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Apr 28
FC, 160 pages
$17.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
Mike Mignola teams up with artist Ben Stenbeck (B.P.R.D.: The Ectoplasmic Man) for a look into one of the Hellboy universe’s greatest enigmas: nineteenth-century occult investigator Edward Grey!
In one of Grey’s first cases as an agent of the queen, he goes from the sparkling echelons of Victorian London to its dark underbelly, facing occult conspiracies, a rampaging monster, and the city’s most infamous secret society: The Heliopic Brotherhood of Ra.
• Collects Witchfinder: In the Service of Angels #1-#5.
• This volume also includes “Witchfinder: Murderous Intent,” from MySpace Dark Horse Presents #16, by Mignola and Stenbeck, and “Henry Hood: The Burial of Katharine Baker,” from Hellboy: The Wild Hunt, by Solomon Kane writer Scott Allie and Abe Sapien: The Haunted Boy artist Patric Reynolds!
“All in all, this is a detective story that blends just the right amount of cerebral investigation with Mignola’s trademark horror and adventure. And perhaps best of all, the story stands on its own very well, regardless of your past experience with Hellboy or B.P.R.D..” —IGN.com
WONDERMARK VOLUME 3: DAPPER CAPS & PEDAL-COPTERS
David Malki (W/A)
On sale Apr 7
FC, 96 pages
$16.99
HC, 8 3/4" x 8 1/2"
It’s Wondermark time again! Come along for the ride as Dark Horse returns to David Malki’s silly, bizarre, and hilarious world that’s not quite present day, not quite the Victorian era, and not like anything else you've seen before. (Unless you’ve read the previous Wondermark books, of course!) This newest volume of the Eisner-nominated series contains over one hundred comic strips originally published in The Onion and on wondermark.com, plus many pages of additional material by creator David Malki. More than just webcomic collections, the Wondermark books have been praised for their magnificent design and loads of extra content for casual readers and superfans alike.
• New installments of Wondermark appear twice weekly at wondermark.com, along with a hilarious blog from David Malki! The Wondermark site enjoys over 140,000 unique visitors per month.
• Wondermark is nationally syndicated in the print edition of The Onion, enjoying a circulation of over 700,000!
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