RICH JOHNSTON CHARGED WITH MANY MURDERS! DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8

From the mind of the infamous editor of Bleeding Cool, Rich Johnston, comes a three-part tale of gruesome gossip: The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne, set to premiere in Dark Horse Presents #8! Have you ever wondered how amateur detectives keep stumbling over dead bodies? Miss Cranbourne doesn’t. Because she kills them. Then finds someone else to pin the blame on. In “The Vicar Slash’d from Side to Side,” Miss Cranbourne is at odds with the local man of God, and so introduces him to his maker. But in a 1940s English village held together by gossip and sharp looks, how will Miss Cranbourne ensure people look in the direction she’d prefer? And what happens when a man from Scotland Yard arrives to take over the case? This is Dexter meets Miss Marple. “Some people wonder how comic book deals are done. Dark Horse publishing The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne was a handshake deal made while standing in line at Ralph’s during San Diego Comic-Con. I recommend it to anyone,” states Rich Johnston.

The artist behind the story is Simon Rohrmüller, whose previous one-shot with Johnston, Watchmensch, received critical acclaim. “Working on The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne was loads of fun, as aside from the interesting concept, it reunited me with Rich on a project again. Having worked with Rich in the past, and knowing how easy he is to work with, there really was nothing to it; I just jumped straight into it, knowing I’d have a great time,” said Rohrmüller. Dark Horse Presents #8 is on sale February 1, 2012!

Review of The Strain #2

Writer – David Lapham Artist – Mike Huddleston Colorist – Dan Jackson Cover Art – Mike Huddleston

Now we’re getting somewhere, this was what I waiting for! There was story, some gore, good character development. It’s always difficult to adapt work from one medium to another but looking at issues one and two together I truly think this will be a great story to experience all in one shot.

This book jumps right in following Dr. Ephraim Goodweather as he does his job as the CDC’s lead investigator. Scene investigation, witness (survivor) interviews even the press conference. We’re introduced to a new player Eldritch Palmer and The Stoneheart Group. Nefarious? Maybe. Definitely creepy and kind of wrong. We also get another taste of the cane and the “pick pick pick”. Things are getting interesting and it’s obvious that Lapham is just getting started. He’s giving us a good procedural while keeping the horror just on the periphery.

Then just when you think an issue has gone by without gore Mike Huddleston hits you with a couple of panels that flip your stomach and make your skin crawl. Well done Mr. Huddleston, well done.

This twenty four page comic packs a hell of a lot of story and I read it twice just to make sure I was keeping up, I’m glad I gave issue two a chance and I can’t wait for issue three.

Can’t wait till Wednesday? Follow the link below to see a six page preview posted over at Dark Horse’s site The Strain #2preview

 

 

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Follow Chuck on Twitter @Chuck _Suffel

Review Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #

By Chuck Suffel

 

Writer: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi (@artofmmignola) Artist: Tonci Zonjic (@tozozozo) Colorist: Dave Stewart (@Dragonmnky) Cover Artist: Dave Johnson (@Devilpig666)

From the Dark Horse site:
“When a tribe of phantom Indians start scalping policemen, Hellboy‘s crime-fighting hero Lobster Johnson and his allies arrive to take on these foes and their gangster cronies!”

TASTE JUSTICE!

You heard it right comic book fans, Lobster Johnson is back! For the uninitiated Lobster Johnson is a vigilante crime fighter who operated in New York in the 1930’s. He fought both criminal and paranormal threats with a small band of allies from his secret base in the city’s sewers. We first meet him in the pages of Hellboy years after his death when he appears as a ghost (spirit?) to come to the aid of Hellboy and Roger.

Now granted it’s only a five issue mini but when it comes to “The Lobster” I’ll take what I can get. And what we get is pretty great, taking place in February of 1932 this prohibition/depression era book hits all the right notes. Tonic Zonjic’s art is dead on, the clothes, cars and buildings look great. There’s at least one classic movie actor cameo (which I can’t believe was unintentional). Dave Stewart’s colors show the muted, drab qualities of the depression with out being depressing (couldn’t help it, sorry) while still having life and moments of true beauty. I truly hope Mike Mignola and John Arcudi had as much fun writing the dialogue as I had reading it, they use some of the lingo of the day without getting bogged down by it.

Speaking of the writing, I’d like to talk a bit about the story but it’s really difficult with out getting all spoilery. As I said it’s 1932, the city is New York City and something just ain’t right. Indian ghosts running the streets? Scalping police officers? Be prepared for; ghosts, mobsters, hitmen, reporters, thugs, oh and a great cliffhanger ending that had me trying to turn to a next page that wasn’t there! I call this story an Occult Hard-Boiled Horror Mystery Thriller. In other words another great offering from Mignola and the Hellboy crew!

 

Follow Chuck on Twitter @Chuck_Suffel

Preview – Review! Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #5 – Slayer Interrupted

By Chuck Suffel

Preview – Review! Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9 #5 – Slayer Interrupted

Writer: Andrew Chambliss Penciller: Karl Moline Inker: Andy Owens Colorist: Michelle Madsen

From the Dark Horse site:

“Buffy’s dreams have become all too real lately as she deals with a magicless world. She’s still fighting creatures of the night, as Willow and Xander grow distant and nightmares plague the Slayer. But something is telling Buffy that there is more to her dreams than meets the eye . . . and that her greatest fears may yet become reality!”
When I was in grade school I used to go to my grandmother’s house a lot. I would wind up there after school when I was too young to hang out around the school where my mom was teaching after-school. It was great, she always treated me like a little prince anything and everything I liked was always at my disposal, but I also remember her need to watch her “stories”. General Hospital was, I think, her favorite. I remember being so unbelievably bored when she had that on just waiting for my chance to turn on cartoons. I remember promising myself that I would never care about stupid stuff like that.

Well friends January 11th’s Buffy has shown me that I was fooling myself if I thought I didn’t have stories of my own. Buffy was a soap opera as a tv show and has definitely remained one in comic book form. The slayer army, Xander’s inability to have a girlfriend that doesn’t get killed, Dawn’s crazy love life, Willow losing her powers, face it fans this is a soap. So obviously I must hate it, right? Well no lately I’ve been noticing the comic books I really enjoy are definitely action packed and super-heroy but they all have very character driven plots. X-Factor, X-Force, iZombie, Irredeemable, Animal Man I could go on and on.

I do have to admit that the plot had gotten a little stale towards the end of Season 8. What with the whole “Big Bad” named the same as that annoying sparkly vampire series. Also the deaths not only of Giles but of all magic as well. It had gotten depressing and I was kind of reading the title out of habit, waiting for the plot to turn.

Well wait no longer fans of the Buffyverse! It finally seems like our heroes are getting back to just that, being heroes! Last months finale to the “Freefall” four parter was a good issue, chock full of action and drama (as well as a cool cameo by Spike) but it left me wondering where they would go next. This new issue really felt like a return to the show, there was slayer lore, Buffy getting help from a “scooby” or two and some really huge reveals.  No the magic has not returned to the world but our heroine is finally working on it.

Buffy’s world has always been a little angsty and emo-ish and the start of Season 9 wasn’t much different. A lot of hand wringing and it’s all my faulting. Now it seems that Buffy has been punched in the gut and told to woman up! As well as stumbling across a clue to finding out just how, if possible, to undue what she’s done. And that big reveal I mentioned? Definitely big. I’m really looking forward to seeing just what Joss and the crew have cooked up for us this time. I just hope those dark kids will be quiet while I’m enjoying my stories.

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STUDIO GHIBLI FESTIVAL Multiple screenings daily at IFC Center

STUDIO GHIBLI FESTIVAL
Multiple screenings daily at IFC Center, throughout the holidays:

CASTLE IN THE SKY – THE CAT RETURNS – HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE
KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE – MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO
NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND – OCEAN WAVES
PONYO – PORCO ROSSO – PRINCESS MONONOKE
SPIRITED AWAY – WHISPER OF THE HEART


MORE SEATS JUST ADDED – Due to multiple sold out shows this week, the Ghibli retrospective has been moved into larger theaters starting today. Don’t miss your chance to see these wonderful films from Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and the masters of Studio Ghibli on the big screen with new 35mm prints. Only 2 screenings left for PORCO ROSSO! Only 4 screenings left for PRINCESS MONONOKE.

To purchase tickets CLICK HERE!

To make a tax-deductible donation to NYICFF, CLICK HERE!




KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE

1989, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended all ages
From the legendary Hayao Miyazaki comes the beloved story of a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt. It is tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and set out into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her life journey with her chatty black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside village, where a bakery owner hires her to make deliveries. Rarely has the animator’s art been so brilliantly rendered as in this delightfully imaginative film – a beautiful and timeless story of a young girl finding her way in the world.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





CASTLE IN THE SKY

1986, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended ages 7 to adult
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most stunningly beautiful, exciting, and infrequently screened films. A young girl with a mysterious crystal pendant falls out of the sky and into the arms and life of young Pazu. Together they search for a floating island in the sky, site of a long-dead civilization promising enormous wealth and power to those who can unlock its secrets.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





THE CAT RETURNS

2002, Hiroyuki Morita
Recommended ages 6 to adult
In this sequel to Whisper of the Heart, a quiet suburban schoolgirl, Haru, is pitched into a fantastical feline world and must find her inner strength to make her way back home. Walking with her friend after a dreary day at school, Haru eyes a cat with a small gift box in its mouth attempting to cross a busy street. The cat fumbles the package in the middle of the road as a truck is rapidly bearing down. Haru manages to scoop the cat away to safety. To her amazement, the cat then gets up on its hind legs, brushes itself off, and thanks her very politely.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





PRINCESS MONONOKE – only 4 shows left!

1997, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended ages 11 to adult
Princess Mononokeis a landmark of animation and a film of unsurpassed power and beauty. An epic story of conflict between humans, gods, and nature, the film has been universally acclaimed by critics and broke the box office record on its original release in Japan. While defending his village from a demonic boar-god, the young warrior Ashitaka becomes afflicted with a curse that grants him super-human power in battle but will eventually take his life. Traveling west to find a cure or meet his destiny, he journeys deep into sacred depths of the Great Forest where he meets San (Princess Mononoke), a girl raised by wolf-gods.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





SPIRITED AWAY

2002, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended ages 9 to adult
Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning masterpiece Spirited Away was the biggest box office hit of all time in Japan and a film that helped redefine the possibilities of animation for American audiences and a generation of new filmmakers. Combining Japanese mythology with Through the Looking Glass-type whimsy, Spirited Awaycemented Miyazaki’s reputation as an icon of inspired animation and wondrous, lyrical storytelling.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!




PORCO ROSSO – only 2 shows left!

1992, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended ages 8 to adult
This unsung treasure from Hayao Miyazaki is a tribute to early aviation and the reckless flyboys whose home was the open sky. The film follows the life of Marco, a world-weary flying ace-turned bounty hunter who plies his trade above the waters of the Adriatic. Marco meets his polar opposite in the innocent and energetic 17-year-old Fio, an aspiring airplane designer, and the two are catapulted into an airborne adventure pursued by air pirates, the Italian army, and an egotistical American flying ace. Miyazaki fans will be familiar with the writer/director’s fascination with flight; in this film, Miyazaki indulges his passion to the fullest. An avid aviation buff, Miyazaki’s airplane designs conform scrupulously to the technology of the period. But most impressive are the exhilarating aerial scenes: sweeping panoramas of wind, cloud, smoke and water and the breathtaking feeling of soaring though the air in an open cockpitFor show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





NAUSICAÄ OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND

1984, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended ages 8 to adult
The debut film from Hayao Miyazaki, Nausicaä is considered by many to be his masterwork – and there are few films, animated or otherwise, of such sweeping scope and grandeur. Set in a devastated future world decimated by atmospheric poisons and swarming with gigantic insects, Nausicaäis the story of a young princess, both brave and innocent, whose love for all living things and passionate determination to understand the processes of nature lead her into terrible danger, sacrifice, and eventual triumph.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





WHISPER OF THE HEART

1995, Yoshifumi Kondo
Recommended ages 9 to adult
Shizuku is spending her last summer vacation before high school reading and translating foreign music into Japanese. Perusing the eclectic selection of books she has checked out from the library, her curiousity is piqued when she notices that the name Seiji appears before hers on the checkout card of each one. Through a series of curious and magical incidents, she comes to meet and establishes a connection to Seiji – who has dreams of becoming a famous violinmaker in Italy, while she has aspirations of becoming a writer. As their life goals pull them in different directions, Shizuku and Seiji are determined to remain true to their feelings for one another.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





PONYO

2009, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended all ages
Perfect for audiences of all ages, Ponyocenters on the friendship between five-year-old Sosuke and a magical goldfish named Ponyo, the young daughter of a sorcerer father and a sea-goddess mother. After a chance encounter, Ponyo yearns to become a human so she can be with Sosuke. As to be expected with Miyazaki, the film is awash in pure unbridled imagination and visual wonder – but it is the tender love, humor, and devotion exhibited by Ponyo and Sosuke that form the emotional heart of the film.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





OCEAN WAVES

1995, Tomomi Mochizuki
Recommended ages 10 to adult
Rarely seen outside of Japan, Ocean Wavesis a subtle, poignant and wonderfully detailed story of adolescence and teenage isolation. Taku and his best friend Yutaka are headed back to school for what looks like another uneventful year. But they soon find their friendship tested by the arrival of Rikako, a beautiful new transfer student from Tokyo whose attitude vacillates wildly from flirty and flippant to melancholic. When Taku joins Rikako on a trip to Tokyo, the school erupts with rumors, and the three friends are forced to come to terms with their changing relationships.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE

2005, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended ages 8 to adult
Sophie, an average teenage girl working in a hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when she is literally swept off her feet by a handsome but mysterious wizard named Howl. But after this chance meeting, the young girl is turned into a 90-year old woman by the vain and conniving Witch of the Waste. Embarking on an incredible adventure to lift the curse, she finds refuge in Howl’s magical moving castle. As the true power of Howl’s wizardry is revealed, and his relationship with Sophie deepens, our young grey heroine finds herself fighting to protect them both from a dangerous war of sorcery that threatens their world.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO

1988, Hayao Miyazaki
Recommended all ages
One of the most endearing and internationally renowned films of all time, a film that Roger Ebert called “one of the five best movies” ever made for children, My Neighbor Totorois a deceptively simple tale of two girls, Satsuki and Mei, who move with their father to a new house in the countryside. They soon discover that the surrounding forests are home to a family of Totoros, gentle but powerful creatures who live in a huge and ancient camphor tree and are seen only by children. Based on Miyazaki’s own childhood imaginings, Totoros look like oversized pandas with bunny ears and they take the girls on spinning-top rides through the treetops and introduce them to a furry, multi-pawed Catbus–a nod to Lewis Carroll’s Cheshire Cat.For show times and to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE!





DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES THE PROMOTION OF MATT PARKINSON

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES

THE PROMOTION OF MATT PARKINSON

TO SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Dark Horse is pleased to announce the promotion of its former director of online marketing, Matt Parkinson, to the newly appointed title of senior director of Marketing.

Parkinson, who celebrated his sixth year with the company in 2011, will be moving into new responsibilities in overseeing the Dark Horse Marketing Department.

In his time at Dark Horse, Parkinson has been an instrumental part of the brand’s growth online, through the development and execution of advertising, cross promotions, and social-media strategies.

Along with Dark Horse’s senior managing editor, Scott Allie, and director of public relations, Jeremy Atkins, Parkinson helped to develop the company’s first foray into original online content with MySpace Dark Horse Presents. Following that, he managed and developed the DH:HD program, showcasing original eight-page stories from top Dark Horse properties on the USA Today comics web page. Additionally, he had a big hand in the development of the Dark Horse Digital comics strategy and website, and has acted as the company’s spokesperson for the initiative thus far.

“My time at Dark Horse has been one of the most satisfying experiences both personally and professionally,” said Matt Parkinson. “I have enjoyed working with Mike Richardson and the entire Dark Horse team, and look forward to new challenges and opportunities. I am truly proud to have played a part in the company’s rich history, and look forward to having a larger role in carrying Dark Horse’s message to the world.”

“We’re very excited by the vision Matt brings to his new position,” said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. “With his experience, leadership ability, and knowledge of the comics market, he’s uniquely qualified to make an immediate impact on our marketing efforts.”

Richardson also praised the efforts of former VP of Marketing Micha Hershman, who leaves after a two-year stint to pursue opportunities in the field of animation. Richardson was quick to wish Hershman well in his new endeavor.

Please join us in congratulating Matt Parkinson on his past accomplishments, and wishing him luck in his new role in the company.