The Color of Fear: Romat-Ru and Karu-Sil FiguresDC Universe Classics 2-PackAs a former comic book collector, I'm not up on the latest earths-shattering opuses so I can't tell you exactly how Romat-Ru and Karu-Sil fit into the whole Sinestro Corps storyline. But I can tell you that these are gorgeous figures that are worthy adversaries for my DC Direct Green Lantern Corps.
Unfortunately, I only have the DC Direct version of Sinestro in his Sinestro Corps yellow outfit, which looks a bit more golden that I'd like. In contrast, photos I've seen of the DC Universe Classics version match up nicely to the Color of Fear duo. But, as most DCUC collectors can attest, finding the figures can be a quest worthy of Indiana Jones.
That's the great part about this two-pack - being an online MattyCollector.com exclusive actually makes it much more available that the supposed mass market counterparts. I rarely saw a regular version of Sinestro (twice), let alone the "chase" Sinestro Corps version.
The Color of Fear figures display the best feature of DCUC, the one thing that has me wondering if I need to get duplicates of my DC Direct collection - additional points of articulation that provide for enough variety of poses to rival a gymnast.
In addition, the muscular (but not muscle-bound) cut of Romat-Ru gives him the look of a superior being, while Karu-Sil's frame may be one of the first female figures I've seen that doesn't have oddly disproportionate muscles or chest, or both.
But what excited me most about this two-pack was adding to the legion of villains that can oppose the Green Lantern Corps. What good is a team of rear-bearers if they have no one to fight? And Romat-Ru makes the perfect looking doppelganger for Tomar Re. Karu-Sil will have to wait until I (hopefully) find a DC Universe Classics wave 11 Katma Tui to have an appropriate foe.
Color me impressed with this fearsome two-pack.
Roger Vozar
Staff Reviewer
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Matty took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions.
1) Weak joints have been a problem in the MOTUC line from the beginning. Some people are a little worried about Battlecat, as he is going to be heavier and he will have to be able to carry the weight of another figure. Are you guys making sure that Battlecat has sturdy joints?
Yes, Battlecat has very sturdy joints. He does need to carry He-Man into battle after all!
2) As it’s been discussed many times, distribution is an issue with the DC Universe Classics figures. We know most of the distribution issues fall on the store level, but the way they are viewed in the market, is as collectables and not toys. The assumption would be, that this is why lower volumes are of figures are bought. Is there any that can be done to change this perception?
We work very close with all our retail partners to bring in as much product as possible. DCUC are looked at as collectables vs. a line like Brave and the Bold is more of a kid aimed line.
3) What is the criteria for alternate heads on MOTUC figures? For example, a character like Whiplash, who could be considered a B or C list character, but who had a very different headsculpt in 200X. Would he get an alternate head like Mer-Manor would he be like Webstor get a head that combined elements of both?
We don’t have an exact “policy” but our goal is to only do a second head when it is very compelling. Mer-Man had two very different looks so he was a perfect candidate. We definitely do not want to over extend this feature to every figure or the novelty will wear thin!
4) The Target exclusive Thanagarian and Eclipso JLU 6 packs and singles assortment were said to be released before the end of 2009. Will this happen and if not when (and where) can we expect to see them?
They are shipping to Target stores now.
5) When we get to some of the ladies from POP/She-Ra, do the Four Horsemen feel that they have a little more wiggle room to recreate or revamp these characters as they are A) Less iconic than MOTU, and B) Not really going to look like their classic "figure" anyway. Are characters like Scorpia, and Catra going to be "gently reimagined" for this line to make them a little more action-oriented?
Yes and no. All of the figures will be based on the general look of a Classic figure. While the “Teela” buck will not work universally for every figure, it will be the base for the majority of female characters. Our goal is not to reimagine the characters but more to pay homage to the vintage lines with modern detail and articulation. Scorpia will not be in the line at this time as she is a Filmation character (FYI).
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FRACTURED FABLES, Image Comics' upcoming kids comics anthology, makes its debut this Free Comic Book Day!
This Free Comic Book Day some of the comic book industry's best and brightest use their talents to welcome the next generation of comic book readers with the kid friendly anthology, FRACTURED FABLES!
"FRACTURED FABLES is a primer to a larger anthology coming this summer with some of the biggest names in comics doing all-new, hilarious takes our most beloved fairy tales," Fractured Fables editor Jim Valentino said. "We're looking to introduce younger readers to the wider world of comics and believe Free Comic Book Day is a prime opportunity to give them their first look!"
FRACTURED FABLES features a cover by MADMAN ATOMIC COMICS creators Mike & Laura Allred and all-new new stories by Bryan Talbot, Doug TenNapel, Ted McKeever, Camilla d'Errico, Christian Ward, Alexander Grecian, Derek McCulloch and Anthony Peruzzo. This special FCBD offering will give both retailers and fans a small taste of the new hardcover anthology from Silverline Books due later in the year. These humorous intrpretations will delight any reader, regardless their age!
FRACTURED FABLES, a 36-page full color comic book, will be made available on Free Comic Book Day, May 1 2010.
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Sorry kids, nothing clever to say to introduce this guy (I’ll save the witty remarks for the paint stage).
Here is the newest in the Marvel Select line - Deadpool. He’ll be coming with a ton of accessories (weapons, lots of weapons) and be on the lookout for a chase variant unmasked version (which I have but I’m not showing ‘cuz I’m mean like that).
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One of the most frequent questions we get from fans of our Minimates lines inquires about the possibility of Minimate vehicles from their favorite pop culture properties. Earlier this year we launched our first foray into Mini-Vehicles with the Mark VII Viper and Cylon Raider from the hit sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica and now that we've tested the waters, the Mini-Vehicle line is ready to go into overdrive!
Projected for a Spring 2010 release, our debut assortment of Mini-Vehicles features some of the most iconic and memorable rides of all time combined with exclusive Minimate releases sure to thrill kids of all ages! Each vehicle is in perfect Minimate scale for two Minimate passengers and also includes a bonus Minimate - all either new versions of your favorite characters or exclusive Minimate debuts!
The first three rides to be included in this exciting line will be Back to the Future's post-time-travel Frozen DeLorean, Terminator 2's devastating Battle Damaged Hunter Killer Tank and a Minimates debut - the Minimates M.A.X. Red Stealth Jet! Fans should be familiar with those first two, while the Minimates M.A.X. (Mobile Action Xtreme) brand is new to DST and will feature an array of vehicles designed entirely by Art Asylum.
A complementary wave of Minimates Vehicles will also appear in Toys R Us stores nationwide this spring, including alternate versions of each vehicle and new Minimate pilots for each release. Series 1 will include a time-bending DeLorean, an undamaged Hunter Killer Tank and a black version of the Minimates M.A.X. Stealth Jet.
Whether tampering with the timeline, battling human resistance fighters or sneaking across enemy lines; these planes, trains and automobiles push the limits of the Minimates brand like never before. Look for more information on this stunning new line during next year's American International Toy Fair and keep your eyes peeled for more exciting news and announcements in the coming months from Diamond Select Toys and Art Asylum!
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ROY E. DISNEY, KEY FIGURE IN REVITALIZING THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY AND DISNEY’S ANIMATION LEGACY, DIES AT AGE 79; MULTI-FACETED FORMER DISNEY VICE CHAIRMAN WAS A LEADING BUSINESSMAN, PHILANTHROPIST, FILMMAKER AND SAILOR
Roy Edward Disney, son of Disney Studios co-founder Roy O. Disney, and nephew of Walt Disney, passed away today (12/16/09) at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California, following a year-long battle with stomach cancer. He was 79 years old. Disney was a successful businessman, philanthropist, filmmaker, and award-winning sailor, who played a key role in the revitalization of The Walt Disney Company and Disney’s animation legacy. He was associated with the Company over a 56-year period, and from 1984 – 2003, served as vice chairman of the Company’s board of directors, and chairman of the Studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held the title of director emeritus and consultant for the Company.
As head of Disney Animation, Disney helped to guide the Studio to a new golden age of animation with an unprecedented string of artistic and box office successes that included “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “The Lion King.” He personally executive produced “Fantasia/2000,” a sequel to the 1940 Disney classic, and served in a similar capacity on a number of recent animated shorts, including the 2004 Oscar®-nominated “Destino,” based on storyboards and original art by the iconic artist Salvador Dali. In the area of live-action films, Disney and his wife, Leslie DeMeuse Disney, most recently executive produced the 2008 feature documentary, “Morning Light,” which followed a group of young sailors as they competed in the grueling Transpac race from Los Angeles to Honolulu.
His philanthropic activities included sponsorship of the Roy E. Disney Center for the Performing Arts at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, is scheduled to open in spring, 2010.
Commenting on the announcement, Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, said, “On behalf of everyone at Disney, we are saddened by the loss of our friend and colleague Roy E. Disney. He was much more than a valued 56-year Company veteran – Roy’s true passion and focus were preserving and building upon the amazing legacy of Disney animation that was started by his father and uncle. Roy’s commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney’s past, present and future.”
John Lasseter, chief creative officer for Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, added, “I first met Roy when I was still an animation student at CalArts. Not only did I consider him a personal friend, but he was a great man who believed deeply in the art of animation. He put his heart and soul into preserving Disney’s legendary past, while helping to move the art of animation into the modern age by embracing new technology. Roy was a visionary and passionate supporter of the art form, and he was all about quality. I was always impressed that he would make time for someone like me when I was fresh out of college, and he continued to support and encourage me throughout my career.”
Stanley Gold, president, Shamrock Holdings, said, “Roy and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership that was simply special. We faced many business challenges together, had fun in the process, and enjoyed a wide variety of professional successes. Roy was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better place for his tireless efforts. I will miss him greatly.
Roy Edward Disney was born in Los Angeles on January 10, 1930 to Roy O. Disney and Edna Francis Disney. His father and his uncle, Walt Disney, co-founded the Disney entertainment business in 1923.
After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Disney launched his entertainment industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the “Dragnet” TV series.
He joined The Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an assistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award®-winning True-Life Adventures features, “The Living Desert” and “The Vanishing Prairie.” As a writer and production associate, he received Oscar® nominations for his work on the short subject, “Mysteries of the Deep” in 1959, and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for “Destino.”
Disney produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical production, including the landmark 1968 documentary, “Varda, the Peregrine Falcon,” before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor.
In 1978, Disney founded Shamrock Holdings, Inc., a wholly-owned family enterprise headquartered in Burbank, California, which specializes in private equity, real estate, and public equities investing. He served as chairman of the company, which has approximately $1.5 billion of capital committed to funds.
An avid competitive sailor, Disney holds several elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, including multiple wins in the 2,225-mile Transpac.
Among his many professional and philanthropic activities, Disney served on the board of trustees of California Institute of the Arts, the advisory board of St. Joseph Medical Center, and the board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, Inc. Additionally, he was an advisory member of the board of directors of the United States Committee for UNICEF, chairman emeritus of the board of directors of the Peregrine Fund, a member of the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House charities, and a member of the board of trustees of the American Ireland Fund.
In 1993, he received the Winsor McCay Award (a special “Annie Award”) from ASIFA-Hollywood (The International Animated Film Society). The McCay Award is for lifetime achievement in animation. In 1997, Disney was awarded the first “Mort Walker Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cartoon Industry,” by the Boca Raton International Museum of Cartoon Art.
Disney received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from his alma mater Pomona College in 1998. In 2002, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Mercy College in New York. The following year, he was presented with the Trustees’ Award and honorary Doctor of the Arts degree from CalArts.
Among his other honors, Disney was named a recipient of the 1999 National Catholic Education Association Elizabeth Ann Seton Award, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to children and education. In April 1999, Disney received the Henry Bergh Humane Award from the ASPCA, and in spring 2000, he was awarded the Inaugural Environmental Leadership Award from the Audubon Society.
Disney is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four children from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney – Tim Disney, Roy Patrick Disney, Abigail Disney, and Susan Disney Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be private, followed by cremation. His ashes will be scattered at sea. Plans for a Life Celebration will be announced shortly. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.
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Dark Horse has released their solicits for March 2010
AGE OF REPTILES: THE JOURNEY #3 (of 4)
Ricardo Delgado (W/A) and Jim Campbell (C)
On sale Mar 3
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Things seem like they’re looking up for the herd of prehistoric herbivores forced from their home by plummeting winter temperatures. Their migration has taken them through barren lands and across the paths of deadly predators, but now, in the wake of last issue’s vicious raptor attack, they’ve found what might be a promising new home—an old- growth forest with plenty of food and shelter for all. But a hungry tyrannosaurus rex still stalks the herd, and the journey’s not over yet!
Ricardo Delgado—a prolific development and storyboard artist—returns once again to his critically acclaimed, Eisner Award–winning comic series!
THE BARRY WINDSOR-SMITH CONAN ARCHIVES VOLUME 2
Roy Thomas (W) and Barry Windsor-Smith (A)
On sale May 19
FC, 288 pages
$49.99
HC, 7" x 10"
Nearly forty years have passed since Barry Windsor-Smith began his historical run on Conan the Barbarian—never had anyone conveyed Conan’s gigantic melancholies and great mirth in a more masterful way. Barry Windsor-Smith became the standard by which all other Conan comic-book artists have since been measured. In order to commemorate Barry Windsor-Smith’s lasting legacy and honor one of the most influential Conan artists of all time, Dark Horse presents The Barry Windsor-Smith Conan Archives Volume 2. This, the second of two handsome hardcovers, collects the final half of Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith’s collaboration on Conan the Barbarian and includes such classic tales as “Red Nails” and “The Frost-Giant’s Daughter”! Featuring the updated colors from Dark Horse’s Chronicles line, this book is a can’t miss for new and old readers alike!
• This volume reprints the second half of Barry Windsor-Smith’s run on Conan the Barbarian and includes his adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s “Red Nails”!
• The two Barry Windsor-Smith archives collect all of the historic and influential Conan the Barbarian comics drawn by Barry Windsor-Smith!
BETTIE PAGE
On sale May 5
Bettie Page Horizon Journal
5 1/2" x 8 1/2" spiral bound journal, 128 pages
$9.99
Bettie Page Sticky Note Book pink
6" x 8", 3 sizes of sticky notes, 8 different designs
$8.99
Bettie Page Sticky Note Book orange
6" x 8", 3 sizes of sticky notes, 8 different designs
$8.99
Bettie Page Floaty Pen
$12.99
We never get tired of looking at Bettie Page! Those sexy, sultry, perky, pleasing poses are always breathtaking to behold. In honor of Bettie’s everlasting appeal, we’ve taken multiple images and applied them to three new products: a journal, a sticky note book (with two different covers to choose from!), and a flirty floaty pen, where Bettie reveals all!
B.P.R.D.: KING OF FEAR #3 (of 5)
Mike Mignola (W/Cover), John Arcudi (W), Guy Davis (A), and Dave Stewart (C)
On sale Mar 10
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
While scouring the Tibetan caverns to obliterate the monstrous frog colony, Liz and Abe face the King of Fear—who’s found a powerful new ally in his quest to destroy the surface world!
The B.P.R.D. take on frogs, subterraneans, and giant squid-bots!
B.P.R.D.: WAR ON FROGS
Mike Mignola (W), John Arcudi (W), Guy Davis (A), Karl Moline (P), Peter Snejbjerg (A), and others
On sale May 19
FC, 144 pages
$17.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense’s ongoing war against the frog monsters explodes in five short stories set before Roger’s death in B.P.R.D.: The Black Flame.
• Collects B.P.R.D.: War on Frogs #1–#4, “Revival” from MySpace Dark Horse Presents #8–#9, and an original eight-page story by Guy Davis.
• The covers of all new volumes of B.P.R.D. include the line “From the pages of Hellboy” above the title.
• Series writer John Arcudi and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola join up with an incredible team of artists: John Severin (Two-Fisted Tales), Karl Moline (Fray, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Peter Snejbjerg (Starman, The Books of Magic), Herb Trimpe (The Incredible Hulk), and multiple Eisner Award–winning series artist Guy Davis!
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #33: TWILIGHT part 2 (of 4)
Brad Meltzer (W), Georges Jeanty (P/Cover), Andy Owens (I), Michelle Madsen (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)
On sale Mar 3
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Acclaimed novelist and comics writer Brad Meltzer (The Book of Lies, Identity Crisis) continues his pivotal story arc! The Slayer army has suffered heavy losses throughout Season Eight and faced all kinds of threats new and old, but the one mystery connecting it all has been the identity of the Big Bad: Twilight. In this issue, Buffy finally confronts Twilight one on one, setting the stage for Twilight’s unmasking in Buffy #34!
Brad Meltzer, series artist Georges Jeanty, and executive producer Joss Whedon up the stakes as Buffy’s most epic season yet races to a climax!
CHOBITS OMNIBUS BOOK 2
CLAMP (W/A)
On sale May 26
b&w, 720 pages
$24.99
TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4"
In a world where people rely on computers to escape loneliness, the logical conclusion is the persocom—attractive robot companions that are becoming everyone’s boyfriend and girlfriend. Chi is a persocom, but she is also one of the legendary “Chobits,” experimental persocoms built to acquire full awareness and emotion.
As Hideki and his friends search for the abducted Chi, others are watching them—others who know who built Chi, and why . . . and what went terribly wrong. It is already known that the affectionate persocom can in fact be quite dangerous . . . but the real danger is what the soul of this new machine means for the future of the human heart. Because it was never the computers who were weak, it was the people who made them . . . and if Hideki wants to truly save Chi, he needs the courage to truly love her! The conclusion of the best-selling Chobits saga!
• “Chobits is perhaps CLAMP’s most mature work to date, and not just ‘mature’ in the fan service sense. This time, they take love into the twenty-first century, exploring humans’ relationship with technology . . . The series is not only one of the sexiest manga in its genre, it is also one of the most endearing.”—Manga: The Complete Guide
• The Dark Horse series of CLAMP omnibus editions has truly raised the bar for manga collections!
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #20: KOZAKI part 2 (of 3)
Timothy Truman (W), Tomás Giorello (A), José Villarrubia (C), and Cary Nord (Cover)
On sale Mar 24
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
In part two of “Kozaki,” both Sergius the pirate and the sadistic Shah Amurath decide to confront Conan’s group of bandits, who are encroaching upon their territories and threatening the outlying granaries, farms, and villages of the proud country of Turan. King Yildiz quickly orders the Shah to annihilate all Kozaki riders, and Sergius arranges a parley with our favorite Cimmerian. In a tense meeting, Sergius explains how commerce works around the Vilayet Sea and offers that their two imposing forces work together against the Shah. With those in Conan’s hungry crew growing wild and impatient, Conan’s not even sure how long he can keep his own men together—but he’ll slit the throat of any who try to defect!
“Best New Series of 2008” –Wizard magazine
“…writer Tim Truman is a perfect choice to adapt the oeuvre of Robert E. Howard into comics form.” - Comics Buyer’s Guide
Cover by Cary Nord and Dave Stewart!!
CONAN: THE FRAZETTA COVER SERIES #4
Mike Mignola (W), Cary Nord (P), Dave Stewart (C), and Frank Frazetta (Cover)
On sale Mar 10
FC, 48 pages
$5.99
Ongoing
The fourth installment in Conan: The Frazetta Cover Series features Frank Frazetta’s stunning painting, “The Destroyer,” and includes an adaptation of “The Hall of the Dead”—an unfinished tale left by Robert E. Howard and fleshed out by Mike Mignola, Cary Nord, and Dave Stewart.
Pursued by a small army, Conan heads for shelter in the ancient ruins of a forgotten city, lured by a flimsy rumor of treasure. Instead, he finds the fallen idols of twisted gods and a lot of croaking creatures. Luckily, frogs are no match for an armed Cimmerian . . . right? Conan soon finds himself battling a slithering monstrosity and an onslaught of undead warriors! Retainers to a lord long forgotten awaken to protect a treasure so sizable even the dead can’t bear to see it stolen. Can a cunning Cimmerian and a foe-turned-ally withstand the power of such dark sorceries long enough to escape with some loot and their lives?
CONAN VOLUME 8: BLACK COLOSSUS
Timothy Truman (W), Tomás Giorello (A), and José Villarrubia (C)
On sale May 5
FC, 152 pages
$24.99
HC, 7" x 10"
Conan, once a wandering thief, tries his luck as a professional warrior, joining Amalric’s mercenary forces to live as a rank-and-file soldier. However, something much more than luck will lead Conan on a collision course with the strongest, strangest army he’s ever faced! Princess Yasmela—the city of Khoraja’s remaining sovereign—has been haunted by terrifying apparitions of the wizard Natohk, and when Natohk threatens to bring his demonic hordes to Khoraja, Yasmela prays to the god Mitra for help. Mitra actually responds and tells her to place the fate of her entire kingdom into the hands of the first man she meets out in the city streets—and that man is a drunk, hesitant barbarian! Conan may turn out to be Khoraja’s best hope for survival, but his distrust of the soft upper classes and their disdain for his common station may derail any possibility of working together to halt Natohk’s bid for world domination. Timothy Truman adapts Robert E. Howard’s powerful “Black Colossus” short story and sets Conan off on what will be his bloodiest battle yet, when the mercenaries of Amalric clash with the massive powers of Natohk!
• Collects Conan the Cimmerian #8-#13.
• “The artists team up to create a pitch-perfect sword and sorcery aesthetic which easily ranks the book amongst the best of comparable books on the stands.” —ign.com
CREEPY #3
Various (W/A)
On sale Feb 24
b&w, 48 pages
$4.99
Ongoing
Uncle Creepy is back with the third thick and icky issue of Creepy! This issue Doug Moench and Angelo Torres team up to tell a tale of demonic devotion and organized crime, Joe Harris and Jason Shawn Alexander wrap their warped three-parter, “The Curse,” and a weird revisionist look back at the fall of the Nazi empire reveals a shocking truth—evil never dies! Plus an all-new Loathsome Lore, a bonus Creepy classic story, and more!
• Creepy debuted to rave reviews in July 2009, and the first issue sold out!
“Terrifyingly good!” — Cory Doctorow, boingboing.net
DEVIL #2 (of 4)
Torajiro Kishi (W/A) and Madhouse Studios (W/A)
On sale Mar 17
FC, 24 pages
$2.99
Miniseries
Could there ever be such thing as a vampire virus? Sounds like the stuff of sci-fi and horror all wrapped up in one, and that’s what makes Devil such an interesting story. Answers unfold about the government program that created this nasty disease of superhuman power and hunger for blood in the second frantic issue. Who is this Mariko creature? Is she a victim, or is she proud of her new, superevolved existence? And can the government really contain the beautiful monster they’ve created?
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.
EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS’ JOHN CARTER OF MARS: THE JESSE MARSH YEARS
Paul S. Newman (W) and Jesse Marsh (A)
On sale May 26
FC, 120 pages
$29.99
TPB, 6 5/8" x 10 3/16"
In 1947, Jesse Marsh—an artist who would inspire generations of comics creators and earn the esteem of professional peers such as industry legends Russ Manning and Alex Toth—won over millions of readers with his four-color vision of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ beloved character Tarzan. To the delight of his readers, Marsh would continue to draw Tarzan comics for the following nineteen years. But his passion for Burroughs’ creations wasn’t limited to the legendary writer’s jungle lord, and in the early 1950s he teamed up with prolific comics writer Paul S. Newman to breathe life into another of Burroughs’ beloved heroes: the courageous adventurer John Carter of Mars!
• Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars: The Jesse Marsh Years reprints all three issues of Dell’s Four Color Comics: John Carter of Mars series in their entirety and is sure to delight fans of science fiction and Golden Age comics alike!
GANTZ VOLUME 11
Hiroya Oku (W/A)
On sale May 26
b&w, 224 pages
$12.99
TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4"
The blue phase is here! Gantz creator Oku Hiroya seems to have based his popular Gantz series on a season-based cycle, and now that we’re entering the second set of ten books, we’re all blue here at Dark Horse as Hiroya boldly takes us into the increasingly scary world of Gantz. Kei’s been dealing with a handsome schoolmate who seems obsessed with all things Gantz, and in volume 11, we’ll find out how frightfully obsessed this guy is. It’s a whole new world of Gantz’s alien urban warfare, and things are certainly not settling into any kind of comfort. Be ready for a dizzying new volume of Gantz!
• Gantz has proven to be one of the most popular adult anime in recent years, with over 190,000 copies sold in the U.S. alone!
• Each volume of Gantz comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.
GELASKINS: FRANK MILLER
On sale Mar 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 some fresh, new designs to their line of protective and decorative skins for laptops and phones.
This month we feature Frank Miller’s glorious art taken directly from the pages of two of his most revered works, Sin City and 300, these all new iPhone and laptop Gelaskins are the perfect way to protect your technology while showing off your signature style.
Sin City: Having A Ball 13" and 15" laptop
Sin City: The List 13" and 15" laptop
Sin City: Worth Dying For iPhone
Sin City: Nancy iPhone
300: Moon 13" and 15" laptop
300: Spartans 13" and 15" laptop
300: Moon iPhone
300: Spartans iPhone
GIANT SIZE LITTLE LULU VOLUME 1
John Stanley (W/A) and Irving Tripp (A)
On sale May 5
b&w, 664 pages
$24.99
TPB, 6" x 9"
John Stanley and Irving Tripp’s long run on Little Lulu is a milestone in American comics, as hilarious to grownups as it is to their children. With Stanley’s popularity at an all-time high, Dark Horse is proud to take you back to the beginning of this legendary run.
Collecting some of the earliest, out-of-print volumes of Dark Horse’s acclaimed reprint series, this massive 664-page omnibus contains the first fourteen issues Little Lulu appeared in—featuring Lulu Moppet and her friends in all sorts of clever schemes and silly situations.
• Priced at only $24.99 and containing fourteen comic books’ worth of material, this is the most affordable way to build a library of John Stanley’s masterpiece!
664-pages of Lulu fun!
THE GUILD #1 (of 3)
Felicia Day (W), Jim Rugg (A), Dan Jackson, Georges Jeanty (Cover), and Cary Nord (Cover)
On sale Mar 24
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Internet phenomenon The Guild comes to comics, courtesy of series creator, writer, and star Felicia Day (Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog)!
Chronicling the hilarious on- and offline lives of a group of Internet role-playing gamers, the Knights of Good, The Guild has become a cult hit and is the winner of numerous awards from SXSW, YouTube, Yahoo, and the Streamys. Now Day brings the wit and heart of the show to this three-issue miniseries. In this origin tale of the Knights of Good, we learn about Cyd’s life before joining the guild, how she became Codex, and how she began to meet the other players who would eventually become her teammates. This storyline fills in details never before revealed on the web show, making it a delightful new chapter for existing fans as well as a perfect jumping-on point for new fans!
• The Guild is “perhaps the smartest (and definitely the funniest) webisodic series of the year.”
—The Los Angeles Times
• The web series is the winner of three 2009 Streamy Awards: Best Comedy Web Series, Best Ensemble, and Best Actress for Felicia Day.
• See the web series at watchtheguild.com.
The Internet phenomenon The Guild comes to comics!
THE HARVEY COMICS TREASURY VOLUME 1: CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST AND FRIENDS
Larz Bourne (W), Izzy Klein (W), Warren Kremer (A), Dave Tendlar (A), Martin Taras (A), Howard Post (A), Steve Muffatti (A), and others
On sale May 12
FC, 200 pages
$14.99
TPB, 6" x 9"
Here comes Casper the Friendly Ghost, starring in the first of the new Harvey Comics Treasury compendiums! Following on the heels of Dark Horse’s fabulously successful five-volume Harvey Comics Classics comes this new series of books, each containing two hundred pages of stunning, full-color reprints from Harvey’s golden years! Since the 1950s, the famous Harvey Comics family of cartoon stars has charmed and delighted children and grownups alike. And no wonder: Harvey employed some of the best writers and artists in the business, and their work has an enduring quality that has turned these timeless tales into true classics!
• Harvey comic books, cartoons, and television shows have touched millions and truly helped define the word classic while remaining popular!
• Two hundred pages of stunning, full-color reprints for under fifteen dollars!
LITTLE LULU VOLUME 23: THE BOGEY SNOWMAN AND OTHER STORIES
John Stanley (W/A) and Irving Tripp (A)
On sale May 26
FC, 200 pages
$14.99
TPB, 6" x 9"
Lulu Moppet and the neighborhood kids are let loose on Main Street once again, in a compilation of never-before-reprinted stories!
Featuring several wintertime tales, this collection from funnybook pioneers John Stanley and Irving Tripp bursts at the seams with snowball fights, pranks involving snowdrifts and icy doorsteps, and other winter delights, like the hilarious story of the Bogey Snowman. As always, laughs abound in every panel for humor lovers of any age!
• Collecting Marge’s Little Lulu #112 through #117, The Bogey Snowman is the latest in Dark Horse’s new series presenting Little Lulu in all its full-color glory—a hysterical selection of goodies for any season!
• These full-color volumes pick up where Dark Horse’s black-and-white Little Lulu collections left off!
MADE WITH 90% RECYCLED ART: A COLLECTION OF BASIC INSTRUCTIONS VOLUME 2
Scott Meyer (W/A)
On sale May 12
b&w, 120 pages
$10.99
TPB, 7" x 7"
Comic and cartoonist Scott Meyer is back with yet another book of bad advice wrapped in good intentions. Learn such important skills as How to Talk to a New Parent, How to Engage in Prefight Smack Talk, How to Complain about Work, How to Properly Perform a High Five, and more!
A former stand-up comedian, Meyer channels his extensive and varied wit into four panels of side-splitting culture commentary every other day or so and posts them to his website, basicinstructions.net. Our second collection of those Basic Instructions, Made with 90% Recycled Art, will likely spend some time on the copy machine before certain pages find themselves on cubicle walls worldwide.
• A Basic Instructions strip was sighted taped to the wall on Food Network’s Ace of Cakes!
• 10,000 website readers every day!
MASS EFFECT: REDEMPTION #3 (of 4)
Mac Walters (W), John Jackson Miller (W), Omar Francia (A), Michael Atiyeh (C), and Daryl Mandryk (Cover)
On sale Mar 3
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
Liara T’Soni finds herself both pursuing Commander Shepard’s abductors and on the run herself as Mass Effect: Redemption nears its explosive conclusion—revealing secrets crucial to the story of Mass Effect 2 along the way!
The Mass Effect saga has revolutionized science fiction, and Mass Effect 2 lead writer Mac Walters brings all the same intelligence, drama, and action to this riveting adventure that tests the limits of what one friend will do to save another.
• Read a preview of the first issue at masseffect.com, and in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #30 and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #48!
• An ad for Mass Effect: Redemption—with the comic shop locator—will appear inside every copy of Mass Effect 2!
PEANUTS THEN AND NOW FIGURE SETS
On sale Apr 21
Snoopy Then and Now Set
$24.99
Charlie Brown Then and Now Set
$24.99
The year 2010 marks the sixtieth anniversary of Charles Schulz’s enduring creation Peanuts.
When the strip debuted in 1950, the look and style of the characters were different than today. All of the many licensed products have reflected today’s look; few, if any, are in the original style.
As Dark Horse’s contribution to the anniversary, we decided to bring the original look back with these twin-packs of small vinyl figures. Each set shows the characters as they were in the old days and what they are like now.
We found poses taken straight from the strips, and these specific panels will be depicted on the packaging. All four are in a running pose, which makes them look well placed together as a set.
Each figure measures close to four inches in height and is on a grass-green base (not pictured). Sculpted by the great talents at Yoe! Studio.
PREDATOR: PREY TO THE HEAVENS
John Arcudi (W), Javier Saltares (A), and Wes Dzioba (C)
On sale May 19
FC, 96 pages
$15.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
The world’s attention is focused painfully on a brutal third-world civil war, a merciless sectarian conflict sparing neither soldier nor civilian, grandmother nor child. But amidst the terror and carnage, where great nations and powerful interests jockey for position and advantage, another blood feud rages in the shadows, one no more humane but decidedly less human. Two warring tribes from the stars have chosen Earth’s killing fields as their arena, with each clan sworn to eradicate the other . . . and all who stand between them. Each is the other’s prey, each the other’s Predator.
The hunt resumes as Dark Horse Books unleashes Predator once again into the graphic-fiction jungle. Features the creative team of writer John Arcudi (Aliens, B.P.R.D., Doom Patrol) and artist Javier Saltares (Aliens vs. Predator, Ghost Rider).
• Collects the hit 2009 Predator miniseries.
SOLOMON KANE: DEATH’S BLACK RIDERS #3 (of 4)
Scott Allie (W), Mario Guevara (P), Juan Ferreyra (C), and Darick Robertson (Cover)
On sale Mar 10
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
When you’re trapped inside an inn that’s been the scene of multiple murders and is now surrounded by a pack of evil, gruesome demons, the last thing you want to find out is that there’s something equally gruesome trapped inside with you! Solomon Kane and a frightened priest may not live through the night! One will rely on his guts and guile, while the other will feel that consecrating the building with prayer will be enough to protect them. The Cleft Skull tavern seems to attract the deadliest sort of troubles Germany’s Black Forest can offer—and the dangers found within and without the Cleft Skull threaten to destroy our strange hero and his frightened, new companion! Scott Allie (The Devil’s Footprints, Exurbia) expands upon Robert E. Howard’s classic Solomon Kane tale “Rattle of Bones” and the unfinished “Death’s Black Riders” fragment, as Mario Guevara (Lone Ranger and Tonto) and Juan Ferreyra (Rex Mundi, Small Gods) join him to illustrate another horror-tinged adventure.
• Covers by Darick Robertson!
“Solomon Kane is a welcome addition to the other excellent Howard properties produced by Dark Horse…” —Comics Bulletin
STAR WARS: INVASION VOLUME 1—REFUGEES
Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)
On sale May 12
FC, 144 pages
$18.99
TPB, 7" x 10"
Twenty-five years after the Battle of Yavin, Luke Skywalker and the galaxy are facing their first real threat since the Sith were defeated: an invasion of hostile warriors from another galaxy—the Yuuzhan Vong!
The peaceful planet of Artorias is in the path of the alien armada. Finn Galfridian, his spunky sister Kaye, and their parents find themselves separated and fighting for their lives when the surprise invasion occurs. But their ordeal is just beginning . . .
• Collects Star Wars: Invasion #1–#5 and #0.
• This new series ties in to—and fits between—the nineteen novels of Del Rey’s New Jedi Order series.
• Features some of the first visual representations of this turbulent era of the Star Wars saga, including Han and Leia’s Jedi children!
STAR WARS: LEGACY #46—MONSTER part 4 (of 4)
John Ostrander (W), Dan Parsons (I), Brad Anderson (C), and Chris Scalf (Cover)
On sale Mar 31
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing
Cade Skywalker’s vow, “No one dies for me,” is put to the ultimate test. Cade, who has long been on the run from his family legacy, has reached a crossroads with heavy personal consequences no matter which way he chooses.
Meanwhile, an opportunity for peace has turned into a three-way battle between Jedi, Sith, and the Imperial Knights!
• A turning point for Cade Skywalker and the entire Legacy story line!
SUPERSIZED: STRANGE TALES FROM A FAST-FOOD CULTURE
Morgan Spurlock (W), Jeremy Barlow (W), Lukas Ketner(A), Tony Milionaire (A), Ron Chan (A), Ron English (Cover), and others
On sale May 5
FC, 88 pages
$12.99
TPB, 6" x 9"
Do you dare find out what’s happening behind the counters of your neighborhood fast-food joint? Then grab a bucket and dive into one of the creepiest graphic novels of the year! Supersized: Strange Tales from a Fast-Food Culture is an entertaining—and at times gut-wrenching—series of stories focusing on America’s ubiquitous and potentially destructive fast-food culture. A perfect companion to Super Size Me, the graphic novel will bridge the gaps between humor, fact, and heart, while peering behind the scenes of the fast-food world.
• Written by Morgan Spurlock with writer Jeremy Barlow and drawn by a variety of creators, Supersized: Strange Tales from a Fast-Food Culture is an original graphic-novel companion to the Academy Award–nominated movie and expands on some of the bizarre stories not featured in the original film.
• The creative brain trust behind The Simpsons chose Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, 30 Days, Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?) to direct the Simpsons’ twentieth- anniversary documentary.
THE TERMINATOR #1 (of 3)
Zack Whedon (W), Andy MacDonald (A), Dan Jackson (C), and Massimo Carnevale (Cover)
On sale Mar 31
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
Miniseries
The year is 2029. It’s the year that John Connor, leader of the Resistance, sends Kyle Reese to 1984 to save Sarah Connor from a T-800 with a grudge.
But before all of that happened, Kyle Reese was just another man fighting to survive in a world overrun by a technology that had taken on a life of its own and annihilated civilization.
Who was Kyle before he met John Connor and was thrust through time to face off with a T-800 and fall for a waitress with a destiny? And who were his comrades in arms?
In this three-issue series we’ll meet Kyle Reese and his closest allies as they take on T-600s, T-800s, and HKs, in a world where there is little in the way of food, water, or hope.
Written by Zack Whedon!
USAGI YOJIMBO #127: THE SWORD OF NARUKAMI part 1 (of 1)
Stan Sakai (W/A)
On sale Mar 31
b&w, 24 pages
$3.50
Ongoing
The rabbit ronin joins a disgraced samurai on a tragic mission in this brand-new standalone tale! Since the kidnapping of Lord Masaki’s son, clan retainer Inuyoshi has a tarnished reputation. The ransom was paid and the victim returned, but it was Inuyoshi’s responsibility to protect Lord Masaki’s son. Ordered to commit seppuku—ritualized suicide—to atone for his negligence, Inuyoshi has vowed to first recover the ransom, the Sword of Narukami. Usagi chooses to help Inuyoshi on his mission, but develops reservations, as success will mean death for Inuyoshi!
• Look for our Usagi Yojimbo Plush on page 00!
USAGI YOJIMBO PLUSH FIGURE
On sale May 5
12" tall
$24.99
This highly detailed 12" cuddly, plush figure of Usagi Yojimbo is sure to impress kids and kids-at-heart. We have worked closely with Stan Sakai to perfect the look and shape of this plush figure. This ronin rabbit is ready to snuggle!
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