Tuesday, April 13, 2010

DARK HORSE JULY 2010 RELEASES



Dark Horse has released their solicits for July 2010


60TH ANNIVERSARY CLASSIC PEANUTS #3: LUCY

On sale Aug 4
Limited to 950 numbered pieces
Packaged in its own tin box, with a pin-back button and a character booklet
$49.95

Dark Horse continues its yearlong celebration of Charles Schulz's masterpiece, Peanuts. Peanuts premiered on October 2, 1950, in eight newspapers. As we all know, it grew to become probably the most popular comic strip ever.

United Media is letting us go back to the original look of the characters from 1950, which was considerably different than today’s look, and sculpt statues in a special sixtieth anniversary limited-edition series of the five main characters. Sculpted by Yoe! Studio.

Now you can celebrate the anniversary with the addition of, the world’s greatest fuss-budget, the bossy, Lucy to your collection!
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ABE SAPIEN: THE ABYSSAL PLAIN #2 (of 2)

Mike Mignola (W), John Arcudi (W), Peter Snejbjerg (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Dave Johnson (Cover)

On sale July28
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

A cold-war nightmare is about to erupt on a ship carrying ancient relics protected by the dead.

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, and featuring the chilling artwork of Peter Snejbjerg (B.P.R.D.: War on Frogs, Starman), The Abyssal Plain explores another early Abe solo adventure, in the spirit of Abe Sapien: The Drowning and Abe Sapien: The Haunted Boy.
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Join the B.P.R.D.!
www.darkhorse.com/jointhebprd

BETTIE PAGE RETRO-A-GO GO

On sale Sept 8

Dark Horse is proud to introduce an impressive line of officially licensed Bettie Page accessories, produced by our friends at Retro-A-Go-Go! This month focuses on the exotic spirit of Jungle Bettie in trademark leopard print. Rrrowr! More to come next month!

Bettie Page Green Leopard Belt Buckle
$19.99
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Bettie Page Green Leopard Cigarette Case
$29.99
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Bettie Page Green Leopard women’s T-shirt
S-XL
$24.99
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Bettie Page Green Leopard men’s T-shirt
M-XL $21.99
XXL $22.99
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Bettie Page Green Leopard Keychain
$12.00
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Bettie Page Green Leopard Personal Case
$27.99
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Bettie Page Jungle Night Cigarette Case
$29.99
““


Bettie Page Jungle Night women’s T-shirt
S-XL
$24.99
““


Bettie Page Jungle Night men’s T-shirt
M-XL $21.99
XXL $22.99
““


Bettie Page Jungle Night Heart Compact
$19.99
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Bettie Page Jungle Night Keychain
$12.00
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Bettie Page Jungle Night Small Case
$22.99
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Bettie Page Sahara Sands Cigarette Case
$29.99
““


Bettie Page Sahara Sands women’s T-shirt
S-XL
$24.99
““


Bettie Page Sahara Sands men’s T-shirt
M-XL $21.99
XXL $22.99
““


Bettie Page Sahara Sands Heart Compact
$19.99
““


Bettie Page Sahara Sands Keychain
$12.00
““


Bettie Page Sahara Sands Small Case
$22.99
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BORIS KARLOFF TALES OF MYSTERY ARCHIVES VOLUME 3

Paul S. Newman (W), Dick Wood (W), Joe Certa (P), Al Williamson (P), Bob Jenney (P), Angelo Torres (P), Al McWilliams (P), Alberto Giolitti (P), and others

On sale Sept 1
FC, 232 pages
$49.99
HC, 6 5/8" x 10 3/16"

A modern gambling cheat is punished by spirits of centuries-old playing cards . . . Three adventurers in pursuit of evil find the greatest evil ever spoken, heard, and seen . . . An enchanted telephone booth brings success to a simple man, but when greed gets the better of him, his good fortune comes to an end . . . A mirror that reflects an antique dealer’s heart’s desire does more than just show him what he wants . . .

These stories and many, many more are collected in Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery Archives Volume 3! Tales of suspense, crime, intrigue, horror, and irony, hosted by the renowned actor Boris Karloff and featuring art from some of the finest comics storytellers from the sixties.

• Features a new introduction by the film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer John Landis!

• Contains issues #11–#16, from September 1965 to December 1966.

• More than thirty chilling tales compiled in this new collection!
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BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD VOLUME 6

Mi-Kyung Yun (W/A)

On sale Aug 18
b&w, 184 pages
$9.99
TPB, 5 7/8 X 8 1/4

At the start of this series, Soah was willing to sacrifice her life to the feared god Habaek to save her drought-stricken village on Earth. However, she wasn’t killed by the powerful Water God—she was rescued and taken to the magical kingdom of Suguk. Once there, she met moody gods of the elements and a mysterious husband who took her as his bride but then spurned her. While Habaek yearns to treat Soah as a proper husband would, he’s cursed to live in the form of a little boy during the day, only reverting to his true adult self at night. Trying to keep this strange secret from Soah, he hides behind the fake identity of “Mui” at night, when he competes with other unusual gods for her attention. Will this be the volume in which the Water God finally spills the truth to Soah—or will other conspiring, jealous gods succeed in driving a permanent wedge between him and his human bride? Cursed and pursued by an unknown, shape-shifting tormentor, Habaek is also led to believe that his previous human bride is still alive!
““


BUZZARD #2 (of 3)

Eric Powell (W/A), Kyle Holtz (A), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale July7
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

When Buzzard enters a mysterious village plagued by an inhuman race of people-snatching savages, he’s thrust into confrontation with the beasts and saves a young boy from harm. The grateful villagers invite him into their homes, and suspect they know the nature of his true identity—believing him their savior from a great, evil deity buried in the depths of the forest.

Award-winning comics creator Eric Powell explores the twisted life of Buzzard, one of Powell’s most beloved and mysterious characters from The Goon, in this highly anticipated three-issue miniseries.

• Readers will also delight in the new Billy the Kid’s Old Timey Oddities short stories—reviving the series from 2005 that paired Eric Powell with artist Kyle Holtz leading up to the new four-issue series launch in September 2010!
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THE CHRONICLES OF KULL VOLUME 3: SCREAMS IN THE DARK AND OTHER STORIES

Roy Thomas (W), Don Glut (W), Steve Englehart (W), John Buscema (A), Ernie Chan (A), and Howard Chaykin (A)

On sale Sept 29
FC, 216 pages
$18.99
TPB, 7" x 10"

The Chronicles of Kull Volume 3 collects the last nine exciting Kull the Destroyer comics, tying up all of the loose ends from the previous two volumes and culminating in the most important fight of the former Valusian king’s life—the battle for the Topaz throne and his former crown! Kull will need the help of an enigmatic warrior woman, Laralei, and an unlikely ally in arms, Ridondo the minstrel, if he is to conquer a giant extradimensional creature, three scheming wizards, and the wizard’s skull-headed master and again rule the Purple Kingdom!
• Volume 3 reprints Kull the Destroyer #21-#29, the short story “The Mirrors of Tuzun Thune” from Conan the Barbarian #25, Conan the Barbarian #68, “Beast from the Abyss” from Conan Annual #3, and a special cover gallery.
““


CLASSIC UNCLE SCROOGE SERIES 2 #3: UNCLE SCROOGE “CASH N’ CARRY”

On sale Sept 22
Limited to 950 numbered pieces
Packaged in a full-color, litho-printed tin box, with a character booklet and a vintage-style pin-back button
$49.95

One of our best-received Syroco-style statuette series ever has been of the characters from Carl Barks’s Uncle Scrooge stories.

We’re continuing our line of statues with a new series, based on specific cover images by Barks, and our third statue is inspired by, “Cash N’ Carry.” This particular pose of Uncle Scrooge was taken from Dell #22 from June 1958.

The Uncle Scrooge series depicts the characters as they were originally presented in the comics. Sculpted by Yoe! Studio.
““


CONAN: THE NEWSPAPER STRIPS VOLUME 1

Roy Thomas (W), Doug Moench (W), John Buscema (A), Ernie Chan (A), Alfredo Alcala (A), Rudy Nebres (A), Pablo Marcos (A), Alan Kupperberg (A), and Tom Yeates (A)

On sale Sept 8
FC, 280 pages
$34.99
HC, 12" x 9"

From September 4, 1978, until April 12, 1981, thousands of readers across the country thrilled to the daily adventures of everyone’s favorite barbarian, Conan! Now Dark Horse Comics is proud to present the Conan newspaper strips collected for the first time in a handsome hardcover volume. Readers will once again enjoy the talents of Roy Thomas, Doug Moench, John Buscema, Ernie Chan, Alfredo Alcala, Rudy Nebres, Pablo Marcos, Alan Kupperberg, and Tom Yeates as they artfully unfold the continuing saga of Conan in these daily comic strips!

• Conan remains one of the most popular licensed comics, with newly created Conan stories and an extensive reprint program, both from Dark Horse!

• Collects daily newspaper strips from September 4, 1978, through April 12, 1981.
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CONAN: THE FRAZETTA COVER SERIES #5

Timothy Truman (W), Cary Nord (P), Tomás Giorello (P), Richard Isanove (C), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale July 28
FC, 72 pages
$6.99
Miniseries

The fifth installment in Conan: The Frazetta Cover Series features both Frank Frazetta’s tense, dramatic Man-Ape painting and an adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s “Rogues in the House”—as interpreted by Timothy Truman, artists Cary Nord and Tomás Giorello, and colorist Richard Isanove. A longtime Howard favorite, this seminal Conan story first appeared in Weird Tales in 1934, and Frazetta’s Man-Ape piece is one of his few Conan paintings to make a direct reference to one of Howard’s works.

Our favorite barbarian has been living as a thief for some time, and his crimes are catching up with him. Becoming enmeshed in the plans of a treacherous nobleman and a dark priest, Conan finds himself making some strange allies in order to free himself from the labyrinthine, booby-trapped halls in the Red Priest’s stronghold. Stalked by a mysterious, hulking horror that’s grown out of control, Conan and the nobleman make a wary alliance with the Red Priest himself!

Cover art by Frank Frazetta!
““


DR. HORRIBLE

Zack Whedon (W), Eric Canete (P), Farel Dalrymple (P), Joëlle Jones (P), Jim Rugg (P), Dan Jackson (C), and Kristian Donaldson (Cover)

On sale Sept 22
FC, 80 pages
$9.99
TPB, 7" x 10"

Based on the Emmy Award–winning web series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, this collection of stories written by Zack Whedon (Deadwood, Fringe) chronicles some of the earliest adventures in the lives of archenemies Captain Hammer and Dr. Horrible.

This anthology solves many unanswered questions left over from the show. For instance: What event inspired Dr. Horrible to become the world’s greatest criminal mastermind? Why is Penny, the beautiful girl from the Laundromat, still single? How can you, the reader, be like blustering do-gooder Captain Hammer? And why is Horrible’s sidekick, Moist, so . . . um . . . well, you’ll find out!

• Collects the first issue of Dr. Horrible with all three digital comics from MySpace Dark Horse Presents.

• Includes a never-before-seen sixteen-page story, about the top secret organization The Evil League of Evil.

• Dark Horse’s Dr. Horrible iTunes app rose to number one in twenty-four hours, Beating out the Bible and Dr. Seuss!
““


DOCTOR SOLAR, MAN OF THE ATOM #1

Jim Shooter (W), Dennis Calero (A/Cover), and Michael Komarck (Cover)

On sale July 14
FC, 48 pages
$3.50
Ongoing

Empowered by a thermonuclear catastrophe, Doctor Solar discovers that he can control energy. . Immeasurable strength is his at a whim. Power beyond imagination courses through his body. But he knows that the same kind of science run amok that created him can also empower the wicked. In the aftershock of the cataclysm that created Doctor Solar, ripples throughout space time imbue one Whitmore Pickerel with the power to create life—which he uses to serve his selfish desires and reckless ambitions. His newly created being, Leviathan, invulnerable and immeasurably strong, clashes with the Man of the Atom in a fierce battle that ravages the city. Meanwhile, for his personal amusement, Pickerel creates Glow, a living fantasy of unearthly charms . . . and deadly possibilities!

• Special bonus for this supersized issue: the very first Doctor Solar story from 1962!

• Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom #1 is but the first act in an explosive program that will also see Shooter reimagine Magnus, Robot Fighter and Turok, Son of Stone for the twenty first century!

• Jim Shooter (former Valiant Comics editor in chief) returns to the character he redefined in the 1990s!

Features a variant cover by series artist Dennis Calero!
““


DOCTOR SPEKTOR ARCHIVES VOLUME 1

Donald Glut (W) and Jesse Santos (A)

On sale Sept 29
FC, 200 pages
$49.99
HC, 7" x 10"

Doctor Adam Spektor is an occult detective and monster hunter who travels the world over in search of the supernatural. Investigating everything from rumors of odd, ghostly occurrences to appearances of strange, deadly creatures, Doctor Spektor spends his time in the field putting his life at risk to save innocents from the sinister and the grotesque. Whether conducting occult experiments on curing vampirism or fighting unearthly behemoths, Doctor Spektor stalks the forces of evil—to record and investigate their existence as well as protect us! Created by writer Donald Glut and artist Dan Spiegle.

• This volume reprints the first seven comic books from the original 1970s Doctor Spektor series, with art by the incomparable Jesse Santos!

• Dark Horse is launching brand new Doctor Solar, Magnus, Turok, and Mighty Samson titles in 2010, with a major marketing campaign that will include promotion of all of the original Gold Key archives like this one.
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EMPOWERED VOLUME 6

Adam Warren (W/A)

On sale Sept 8
b&w, 208 pages
$15.99
TPB, 6 1/2" x 9"

After a fiery disaster claims the lives of several teammates, costumed crimefighter Empowered stumbles upon an ugly little secret of the masks-and-tights business: a growing number of ill-fated superheroes have found out the hard way that, while their bodies are still mortal, their superpowers are not . . . Now, only our downtrodden but doggedly determined heroine can save the (semi)living superdead from a very genuine “fate worse than death,” while simultaneously grappling with the challenges of vengefully vacationing ninja clans, car-trunk carpet burn, superhero-fantasy-league drafts, excessive bedroom chatter, and deals with the devil both figurative and literal! All this, plus Emp’s not-so-secret origin is revealed at last!

• Adam Warren’s work on The Dirty Pair is well known to U.S. comics readers.

“A sort of R-rated sitcom exploring geek culture from the inside out, Empowered has its cake and eats it too—it’s full of exploitative, titillating imagery, but it also features the healthiest and the most realistic romantic relationship in any comic book featuring capes and masks.” —J. Caleb Mozzocco, Las Vegas Weekly
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FEAR AGENT #28: OUT OF STEP #1 (of 5)

Rick Remender (W), Mike Hawthorne (P), Tony Moore (P/Cover), and John Lucas (I)

On sale July 28
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

Heath Huston is mortally injured. His family, all of humanity, has been totally consumed, amalgamated by Tetaldian robotic conquerors. There is no hope. So who will save the asses of the universe this time? A drink is poured, a rocket ship ignited, and a cigar lit—a new Fear Agent will rise.

Four super champions of sci-fi pulp—Rick Remender, Mike Hawthorne, Tony Moore, and John Lucas—reunite, one final time, one final drink. Also includes a special Tales of the Fear Agent by legendary creator Hilary Barta!

• 32 FULL pages of COMIC-BOOK ACTION!

The final tale of the last Fear Agent begins here!
““


FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY VOLUME 1: THE HARD GOODBYE 3RD EDITION

Frank Miller (W/A)

On sale Sept 1
b&w, 208 page
$19.00
TPB, 6" x 9"

The first volume of the crime-comic megahit that introduced the now-infamous Marv and spawned a blockbuster film returns in a newly redesigned edition, with a brand-new cover by Frank Miller—some of his first comics art in years!

It’s a lousy room in a lousy part of a lousy town. But Marv doesn’t care. There’s an angel in the room. She says her name is Goldie. A few hours later, Goldie’s dead without a mark on her perfect body, and the cops are coming before anyone but Marv could know she’s been killed. Somebody paid good money for this frame . . .

With a new look generating more excitement than ever before, this third edition is the perfect way to attract a whole new generation of readers to Frank Miller’s masterpiece!

• Over a million Sin City books in print!

• New cover by Frank Miller!

• With Miller and codirector Robert Rodriguez gearing up for Sin City 2, this third edition is being released at just the right time!

• The Hard Goodbye was the lead story in the Sin City film, starring Mickey Rourke as Marv!
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FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY VOLUME 2: A DAME TO KILL FOR 3RD EDITION

Frank Miller (W/A)

On sale Sept 15
b&w, 208 page
$19.00
TPB, 6" x 9"

The second volume of Frank Miller’s signature series is now planned as the lead story in the upcoming Sin City 2! This newly redesigned edition sports a new cover by Miller— some of his first comics art in years!

Stuck with nothing but a seedy gumshoe job and some demons, Dwight’s thinking of all the ways he’s screwed up and what he’d give for one clear chance to wipe the slate clean, to dig his way out of the numb gray hell that is his life. And he’d give anything. Just to feel the fire. One more time. But he can’t let himself lose control again, can’t ever let the monster out. And then Ava calls.

With a new look generating more excitement than ever before, this third edition is the perfect way to attract a whole new generation of readers to Frank Miller’s masterpiece!

• Over a million Sin City books in print!

• New cover by Frank Miller!

• A Dame to Kill For is planned as the lead story in Sin City 2, to be directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez!
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GANTZ VOLUME 13

Hiroya Oku (W/A)

On sale Sept 29
b&w, 232 pages
$12.99
TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/16"

Dinosaurs. Seriously, can the frantic world of Gantz get any more scary? How about a giant doughboy with crazy fangs and a strange outie bellybutton? Yeah, it’s not just scary; it’s a very strange world for Kei!. At least this time the Gantz crew have a new weapon! It’s an awesome state-of-the-art uni-motorcycle thing! And one of the characters uses a massive space samurai sword. It’s Gantz!

• Gantz has been adapted into a successful anime animated by the popular Gonzo Studio.

• 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.
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GHOST TALKER’S DAYDREAM VOLUME 4

Saki Okuse (W) and Sankichi Meguro (A)

On sale Sept 8
b&w, 216 pages
$10.99
TPB, 5" x 7"

If having hallucinations is scary, then seeing them at school would be terrifying. But when the hallucinations talk back to you, that’s the kind of fright you’ve come to expect from the world of Ghost Talker’s Daydream.

Come join Saiki Misaki, the albino dominatrix necromancer, as she jumps head first into another supernatural mystery. This time around the case becomes more personal, as the power that gives Saiki the ability to see and talk to the dead is the very thing terrorizing her client.

• Each volume of Ghost Talker’s Daydream comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.
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GIANT SIZE LITTLE LULU VOLUME 2

John Stanley (W/A) and Irving Tripp (A)

On sale Sept 15
b&w, 672 page
$24.99
TPB, 6" x 9"

Presenting another seventeen laugh-out-loud installments from the beginning of John Stanley and Irving Tripp’s landmark run on Little Lulu, the funniest funnybook of them all!

After a few try-out issues in Dell’s Four Color, Stanley and Tripp got the go-ahead to turn Little Lulu into a monthly comic. The duo took the opportunity to show that they had only been warming up, producing stories even more ingenious and artwork even more beautiful than their Four Color issues.

• Collecting three more of the earliest, out-of-print volumes of Dark Horse’s acclaimed reprint series, this massive 600-page-plus omnibus contains issues #6-#22 of Little Lulu—featuring Lulu Moppet and her friends in all sorts of charming, witty fun.

• At only $24.99, this is the most affordable way ever to get in on the ground floor of John Stanley’s masterpiece!

• Nearly 700 pages of fun!
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HELLBOY: THE STORM #1 (of 3)

Mike Mignola (W/Cover), Duncan Fegredo (A), and Dave Stewart (C)

On sale July 7
FC, 32 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

A terrible storm is brewing, bodies are missing from their tombs, and the forces of darkness gather against Hellboy for a final bloody showdown.

Mignola and Fegredo reunite for the final arc of the bestselling saga that includes Hellboy: Darkness Calls and Hellboy: The Wild Hunt.

The final arc of the Mignola/Fegredo saga!
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Join the B.P.R.D.!
www.darkhorse.com/jointhebprd

HELLCYON #4 (of 4)

Lucas Marangon (W/A)

On sale July 21
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

Mission accomplished! After a long and dangerous journey, the Suicide Division have finally reached the insurgent-controlled territories and delivered their hard jackets to the Landstriders army. Their quest is over—or is it? Meanwhile, Captain St. John prepares a full-scale invasion of the rebel village to stop a summit that could change the outcome of the civil war. Will the Suicide Division be able to stop catastrophe?

Don’t miss the explosive conclusion!
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LITTLE LULU’S PAL TUBBY VOLUME 1: THE CASTAWAY AND OTHER STORIES

John Stanley (W/A)

On sale Sept 1
FC, 224 page
$15.99
TPB, 6" x 9"

From the pages of Little Lulu comes Tubby!

The comedic genius of John Stanley couldn’t be contained by one series alone, so in 1952 Lulu’s pal Tubby made his solo debut in his own hysterical comic. Filled with all the charm and hilarity of Little Lulu, Tubby is a familiar but different delight from comics legend John Stanley!

Dark Horse is proud to present these never-before-reprinted gems from comics’ golden age in a new series of paperback collections. Like Dark Horse’s new Little Lulu series, Tubby is printed in full color, just as the comics appeared over fifty years ago!

• Reprinting Marge’s Tubby #1–#6 for the first time ever, in full color!

• Published quarterly at first, Tubby included John Stanley’s only published cartooning work of the 1950s. In fact, Stanley was inspired to draw issues #2-#9 in their entirety.
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MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH OMNIBUS EDITION

CLAMP (W/A)

On sale Sept 29
b&w, 640 pages
$19.99
TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4"

Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu are three schoolgirls out on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, whisked suddenly away by a strange voice and light to Cephiro, a world full of spirits and sorcery. They were summoned here through the last remaining strength of the Princess Emeraude, who hopes that they are the trio destined to become the magic knights legend says can save her realm! But how are a bunch of junior-high-school kids supposed to defeat the dark might of the sinister Lord Zagato . . . with only an exceedingly strange bunny creature named Mokona as their guide . . . ?

• An early crossover hit to both female and male audiences, Magic Knight Rayearth was made into both an anime TV and OAV (direct-to-video) series, available in North America through Media Blasters and Manga Entertainment.

• Unavailable for over four years, the Magic Knight Rayearth series has sold close to 200,000 copies in the U.S. alone!

• Another successful omnibus edition, from CLAMP (Clover, Chobits, Cardcaptor Sakura)
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NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: THE SHINJI IKARI RAISING PROJECT VOLUME 6

Osamu Takahashi (W/A)

On sale Sept 8
b&w, 192 pages
$9.99
TPB, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4"

Shinji is never quite sure whether he’s in a relationship or just some sort of bizarre lab experiment, and he probably didn’t need yet another cute, mysterious individual to arrive in his homeroom. But that’s just what he’s going to get in the person of Mana Kirishima. Will she prove to be a girlfriend of steel . . . or more of an iron maiden?

• Each volume features bonus color pages, your Evangelion fan art and letters, and special reader giveaways!
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PREDATORS

Paul Tobin (W), Victor Drujiniu (P), Tony Kordos (I), and Cirque Studios (C)

On sale July 14
FC, 72 pages
$6.99
TPB, 6 5/8" x 10 3/16"

A group of individuals—each a different type of elite combatant, killer, or warrior in their own lives—have been mysteriously transported to a strange jungle planet where they are hunted by fierce aliens. But these individuals aren’t ready to become prey—they still want to be hunters . . .

Based on the Predators film coming July 9, 2010, by Robert Rodriguez, and told through the eyes of Isabelle, a genuine, hard-hitting woman, and the only female brought to the planet, we bring you the official film adaptation—with a twist on perspective!

• The official film adaptation of Predators, featuring Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, and more!

The official adaptation of Robert Rodriguez’s feature film!
““


PREDATORS: PRESERVE THE GAME

David Lapham (W), Allan Jefferson (P), David Rivera (I), Michelle Madsen (C), and Sean Phillips (Cover)

On sale July 14
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
One-shot

Set a few weeks after the climax of Robert Rodriguez’s Predators film, the remaining survivors still struggle to find some existence on the alien planet where they are hunted. Hope of outlasting the alien hunters still lives; they have a plan to get away, and they just might be able to pull it off!

• David Lapham (Stray Bullets, Young Liars) writes the sequel to Robert Rodriguez’s Predators!

The sequel to this summer’s most anticipated film!
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THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN VOLUME 8

Michael Fleisher (W), Alan Zelenetz (W), Jim Owsley (W), Jim Neal (W), Gil Kane (A), John Buscema (A), Val Mayerik (A), Bob Camp (A), and others

On sale Sept 22
b&w, 500 pages
$19.99
TPB, 7" x 10"

The Savage Sword of Conan Volume 8 features some of the most anxiously awaited Conan stories from the Savage Sword era, including the two-part “Daughter of the God King” story. The skilled Conan mainstay Michael Fleisher writes all of the Savage Sword of Conan feature stories in this volume, while exciting newcomers to the world of Conan—Alan Zelenetz, Jim Owsley, and Jim Neal—pen the backup stories! The art chores are handled by some of the finest artists to ever draw Crom’s favored Cimmerian!

• This volume, which collects The Savage Sword of Conan #85-#93, also includes Conan covers, frontispieces, and pinups from each issue!
““


STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS—HERO OF THE CONFEDERACY

Henry Gilroy (W), Steven Melching (W), Brian Koschak (P), Dan Parsons (I), Michael E. Wiggam (C), and Scott Hepburn (Cover)

On sale Sept 15
FC, 80 pages
$7.99
TPB, 5 1/4" x 7 1/2"

Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight and hero of the Republic, is challenged by a fledgling hero of the Confederacy!

The Confederacy is being provided with newer and more advanced ships from Valahari—a world that has claimed neutrality in the Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are dispatched to negotiate with the planet’s rulers, but as events unfold and Anakin is framed for a dishonorable act, diplomacy gives way to war!

• Collects The Clone Wars issues #10–#12.

• Dark Horse sold 100,000 copies of the first four volumes of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars digests!
““


STAR WARS: DARK EMPIRE TRILOGY

Tom Veitch (W), Cam Kennedy (A), and Jim Baikie (A)

On sale Sept. 29
FC, 352 pages
$29.99
HC, 6" x 9"

Collecting the complete Dark Empire saga—Dark Empire, Dark Empire II, and Empire’s End—this Star Wars hardcover is a handsome must-have!

Six years after the fall of the Empire in Return of the Jedi, the battle for the galaxy’s freedom rages on. The Empire has been mysteriously reborn under an unknown leader, wielding a new weapon of great power. Princess Leia and Han Solo struggle to hold together the New Republic while the galaxy’s savior, Luke Skywalker, fights an inner battle as he is drawn to the dark side, just as his father . . .
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STAR WARS: INVASION—RESCUES #3 (of 6)

Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)

On sale July 28
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

Two armies have joined forces for a dangerous rescue mission. Both have experience fighting the Yuuzhan Vong, but this time the encounter takes an unexpected turn, and more is revealed about their enemy’s strange capabilities . . .

Meanwhile, Finn Galfridian and the Solo children race to warn Finn’s father that a trusted friend is a deadly enemy!

• Covers by Jo Chen!
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STAR WARS: LEGACY #50

John Ostrander (W), Jan Duursema (P/Cover), Dan Parsons (I), Brad Anderson (C), and Sean Cooke (Cover)

On sale July 28
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The galaxy is teetering on the edge of a new future, with everyone fighting for a foothold—not to mention their lives! The galaxy that emerges from this chaotic battle could even end up without a Skywalker to carry the legacy that so many have come to depend on . . .

The final issue! Sith versus Sith! Jedi versus Sith! Imperials versus Sith! Cade Skywalker versus Sith! It’s all-out war!

• Extremes part 3 (of 3)

The final issue of Star Wars: Legacy!
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STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC #1 (of 6)

Rob Chestney (W), Alex Sanchez (A), Michael Atiyeh (C), Benjamin Carré (Cover), and Attik Studio (Cover)

On sale July 7
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Miniseries

“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.

The release of The Old Republic promises to be a Star Wars event of the highest order!

• Critical events prior to LucasArts and BioWare’s soon-to-be-released massive multiplayer online game!

• Scripted by Rob Chestney, one of the writers behind the game!

• Threat of Peace part 1 (of 3)
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USAGI YOJIMBO #130

Stan Sakai (W/A)

On sale July 28
b&w, 24 pages
$3.50
Ongoing

In the aftermath of a bloody gang war, the rabbit ronin and a new ally return to the town called Hell with a score to settle!

Usagi and the swordsman Kato have come back to confront Boss Higa, the scheming gang leader who cheated Kato out of his fee and put the blame on Usagi. However, in the weeks since they left town, Higa has fortified his stronghold and amassed an army of mercenary samurai. To pay for it, he has ruthlessly oppressed the townspeople and taken everything they own. Now Usagi and Kato have even more reason to eliminate the tyrant!
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VAMPIRE BOY

Carlos Trillo (W) and Eduardo Risso (A)

On sale Sept 22
b&w, 480 pages
$24.99
TPB, 6 1/2" x 9 1/2"

Left nameless by his father and sentenced to eternal life by a trick of fate and fortune, the protagonist of Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso’s Vampire Boy has spent fifty centuries in a body that never ages, locked in an eternal struggle with a rival as immortal as he.

Acclaimed writer Carlos Trillo teams with legendary artist Eduardo Risso (100 Bullets) to produce a poignantly engrossing twist on the classic vampire mythos, now collected in English for the first time!

• Writer Carlos Trillo has worked with some of the giants of the international comics scene, including Alberto Breccia and Jordi Bernet. Acclaimed artist Eduardo Risso is known for his work on titles like 100 Bullets, Aliens, and more.

• Collected in English for the first time!
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COMIC REVIEW: Weekly World News #4 (IDW)

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IDW's Weekly World News wraps up its first story arc, "The Irredemption of Ed Anger" with Part 4 this month. When we left Ed Anger in issue 3, he had successfully brought about the end of the world in the form of an angry cloud, due mostly because of Ed's anti-freak campaign. Would Ed be able to put aside his prejudices long enough to save the world? Would this be a story that readers actually want to read past the captions on the cover?

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The answer to the first question, I'm not telling. The answer to the second? Absolutely. Alan Robinson, through all four issues, has written a story that is captivating and filled with pop culture goodies, not to mention tongue-in-cheek humor and freaks. Ed Anger's prejudices and grumpiness are a funny version of Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino if the neighbors were the likes of Manigator, Ph.D. Ape, and the ever-popular Bat Boy. The story is ridiculous in all the right ways and filled with smart, witty dialogue.

Alan Robinson's art is just the right combination of cartoonish and realistic, making all of the characters fit perfectly in this little world. And the colors are fantastic. If Weekly World News is junk food for the brain, Tom Smith's colors are the icing squiggles on the chocolate cupcake. These guys make a giant French-speaking cloud pop off the page. Cover duties were shared by Alan Robinson and Jon Reed. Robinson's cover is the standard tabloid-style cover (complete with my favorite caption of the week "Mint Condition! (Until you touch it!)"). I love Robinson's color work on the cover, especially the sparkle in Bat Boy's eyes. Reed's cover (colored by Tom Smith) is a portrait of everyone's favorite redneck freak, Manigator.

The bottom line on this book: read it for the cool story, read it for the freaks, read it for the pop culture Easter eggs. Whatever reason you choose to read this book, read it.

Stacey Rader
Review Editor
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TV REVIEW: THE CLONE WARS "THE ZILLO BEAST"

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The Clone Wars episode from last Friday combined two of my favorite things: Star Wars and Japanese kaiju movies. Kaiju movies are a genre featuring giant monsters, usually let loose in urban areas where they fight and destroy buildings, with Godzilla and Gamera being the most famous of the bunch. The Clone Wars supervising director Dave Filoni is reportedly a huge Godzilla fan and "The Zillo Beast" is a loving homage to Godzilla and other kaiju movies.



"The Zillo Beast" takes us to the planet Malastare, and features the Dugs who were first introduced with Sebulba in The Phantom Menace. The Dugs were one of the coolest and most alien races introduced in the prequels and I'm happy to see them reintroduced in The Clone Wars. They have some very memorable scenes where they ride mounts and fight droids using electrostaffs.


It turns out that Malastare and its fuel supplies are crucial the the Republic war efforts and the Republic is fairly desperate to sign a treaty with the Dugs, which will give them access to the needed fuel. I really like that The Clone Wars has dug pretty deep into Star Wars and given us a situation that is complex and believable with parallels to our own geopolitical situation.


To thwart the massive Confederation force that has invaded the planet, the Republic unveils a new weapon, an Electro-Proton bomb, designed to take out the droids with little or no effect on organics. Mace Windu and Anakin look on skeptically as the bomb is deployed and takes out the droids but also creates a huge sinkhole on the planets surface and ultimately releases the Zillo beast, which is huge, combines features of a reptile and a segmented worm, and is imperious to almost all weapons (including lightsabers). The beast has a sort of awkward, spindly design and even sports a third arm from its back.

Like Godzilla, the Zillo beast is awakened by the use of a "doomsday" weapon and unleashed upon the land. The Dugs are dead set on destroying the creature but Windu insists on capturing this monster, the last of its kind, and taking it to a remote world where it is allowed to run free. We get some great scenes that showcase how out of sync the Jedi are with the more worldly and military forces. Their role as preservers of life is not always comfortable when they are also generals with military and diplomatic responsibilities. We see some nice foreshadowing of conflict between Windu and Palpatine as the Chancellor will not allow the Jedi to ruin the chances of having the treaty signed which will allow access to Malastare's resources.

The Zillo beast eventually escapes from its pit and is knocked out by the Jedi using some vehicles that are clearly inspired by the ubiquitous Maser tanks featured in the Godzilla movies. As they are preparing to beast to be taken off world, Windu receives a message from Palpatine that the creature will be taken to Coruscant for study, setting up next week's no-doubt kaiju-tastic second part. Palpatine has taken an interest in the monster and its nearly impenetrable armor. Obviously, he has never seen King Kong or any other monster movie to know that creatures and big urban areas do not mix well.

"The Zillo Beast" is a really fun and surprising episode that plays to what is the absolute strength of The Clone Wars: the ability to present a wide variety of stories that span wildly different tones and genres all set in the Star Wars universe. Never in a million years did I think I would see a Star Wars kaiju story, so I was sold just on the premise. Again, the opening scenario for the episode-putting a pair of Jedi in the middle of a war for resources-feels very contemporary and real and hints at things going on in the background of the Star Wars stories that we don't really ever think about. After all, those Star Destroyers don't fuel themselves. This enriches the "used universe" concept of Star Wars that has been present since the very first film in 1977.

Patrick Garone
Creative Director
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COMIC NEWS: IRON MAN EXTREMIS Motion Behind The Scenes

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Experience Iron Man in a whole new way - IRON MAN: EXTREMIS Motion Comic.



From the story by Warren Ellis & Adi Granov, this incredible epic blends seamless motion, dynamic voice acting, and stunning special effects, bringing to life the story that redefined Iron Man for the 21st Century. Now you can get an exclusive sneak peek at this breathtaking visual breakthrough in motion comics with a brand new behind the scenes video! The first episode of IRON MAN EXTRMIS goes on-sale Friday, April 16th!

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Monday, April 12, 2010

TV NEWS: Smallville art for Upgrade - Brian Austin Green returns as Metallo!

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There are some awesome shots of Clark Kent and Metallo in the Fortress! Brian Austin Green returns as Metallo in this Friday’s episode of Smallville entitled “Upgrade.”


“SMALLVILLE” — (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET)
“Upgrade” (TV-PG, LV) (HDTV)

BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN RETURNS AS METALLO AND CLARK IS INFECTED WITH RED KRYPTONITE — Zod (Callum Blue) continues to pose as “The Blur” and asks Lois (Erica Durance) to investigate one of Tess’ (Cassidy Freeman) secret labs. An explosion rocks the lab, and Lois is rescued by John Corben (guest star Brian Austin Green) who was a subject of multiple experiments. While investigating the explosion, Clark (Tom Welling) is exposed to red kryptonite. And infected Clark takes Zod to the Fortress. Tess turns to Chloe (Allison Mack) for help and they send in Corben to stop Clark from revealing all his secrets. Mike Rohl directed the episode written by Andrew Landis & Julia Swift (#3X5268).

Smallville airs on Friday at 8pm EST.

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Photo: Marcel Williams/ The CW ©2010 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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COMIC NEWS: Red Fraggle to Make Live Appearance with Sam Humphries and Jeremy Love on Free Comic Book Day

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RED FRAGGLE™ MAKES LIVE APPEARANCE ON FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
TO CELEBRATE RELEASE OF ARCHAIA’S
‘MOUSE GUARD/FRAGGLE ROCK’ FLIP BOOK

WRITER SAM HUMPHRIES AND ARTIST JEREMY LOVE ALSO ON HAND TO SIGN COPIES FOR FANS



To celebrate the release of its widely anticipated Free Comic Book Day flip book featuring fan-favorite properties Mouse Guard and Fraggle Rock™, Archaia is excited to announce RED FRAGGLE will make a live appearance on Free Comic Book Day (May 1, 2010) at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles, Calif. to lead a short sing-along of favorite Fraggle Classics, take pictures with fans and sign comic books. Red and world-renowned puppeteer, KAREN PRELL, appear courtesy of The Jim Henson Company, Lionsgate Home Entertainment, Archaia Entertainment and Meltdown Comics.

“This is such a nice treat for fans, and we couldn’t be happier to be able to work with the great folks at The Jim Henson Company, Lionsgate and Meltdown to make this possible,” said Archaia Marketing Manager Mel Caylo. “Karen and Red’s appearance at San Diego Comic-Con was highly anticipated and well attended, so we’re excited for them to come to Los Angeles and share their special magic in celebration of the release of our Free Comic Book Day issue.”

Archaia’s Mouse Guard/Fraggle Rock Free Comic Book Day flip book will feature a brand-new Fraggle Rock story by written by SAM HUMPHRIES (CBGB: The Comic Book) and drawn by Eisner Award-nominated artist JEREMY LOVE (Bayou). Humphries and Love will be on hand at Meltdown Comics with RED FRAGGLE to sign copies of the free comic for fans.

The pair join an already star-studded lineup between the covers of Archaia’s Free Comic Book Day flip book, which also features an original Mouse Guard story by David Petersen, and another never-before-seen Fraggle Rock story written by Nichol Ashworth and drawn by Jake Myler (Undertown).

In addition, Lionsgate Home Entertainment will display a collection of Fraggle Rock DVDs from the original series that started it all, including FRAGGLE ROCK: THE COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTION, which includes the entire award-winning series with over 47 hours of content on 20 discs, as well as FRAGGLE ROCK: THE ANIMATED SERIES, now available for the first time on DVD.

Free Comic Book Day is a single day—the first Saturday in May each year—when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE to anyone who comes into their stores. Fans at the Meltdown event will be able to sample some of the best talents and stories in the industry, free of charge!

Red Fraggle is one of the five main characters of the “Fraggle Rock” TV show, an award-winning television series launched by The Jim Henson Company in 1983 about an imaginary, colorful and fun world comprised of creatures called Fraggles, Doozers and Gorgs. The show ran for four seasons and became an international sensation. This global fan-favorite brand is as popular today as it was when it premiered more than 25 years ago with a robust consumer products plan featuring apparel, plush toys and even designer jewelry.

The fun starts at 11 a.m. local time on May 1, 2010 at Meltdown Comics (7522 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90046, 323-851-7223, www.meltcomics.com). Red Fraggle, Karen Prell, Sam Humphries and Jeremy Love will be ready to greet fans and sign autographs. As an added bonus, the fan-favorite Grilled Cheese Truck, a mobile kitchen that creates gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, will set up outside of Meltdown Comics to sell its wares to fans during the Free Comic Book Day event!

In a few weeks, Archaia will announce additional Free Comic Book Day signings taking place all over the country. For more information on Free Comic Book Day, visit http://www.freecomicbookday.com.

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About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include the Emmy®-nominated “Sid the Science Kid,” “Dinosaur Train,” “Wilson & Ditch: Digging America” and “Pajanimals.” Features include “The Dark Crystal,” “Labyrinth,” “MirrorMask,” and “Unstable Fables” and television productions include “Fraggle Rock” and the sci-fi cult series “Farscape.”

With additional locations in New York and London, The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson’s Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry’s top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment.

The Company’s Henson Alternative brand recently launched the New York run of “Stuffed and Unstrung,” a live puppet improvisational show at the Union Square Theatre. www.henson.com

About Archaia

Archaia has built an unparalleled reputation for producing meaningful content that perpetually transforms minds. With a slate including the popular Eisner Award-winning title Mouse Guard, as well as Awakening, The Killer, Gunnerkrigg Court, Robotika, Killing Pickman, Artesia and the Publisher’s latest additions of Titanium Rain; The God Machine; Roddenberry Productions’ Days Missing; The Jim Henson Company library; and Mr. Murder Is Dead and Lucid with Before the Door Pictures, Archaia has become synonymous with quality content.

For more information on Archaia or any Archaia titles please visit www.Archaia.com. Archaia can also be found on Facebook (facebook.com/archaiacomics), MySpace (myspace.com/archaiacomics) and Twitter (twitter.com/archaiacomics).
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