DARK HORSE UNLEASHES MIKE MIGNOLA’S YEAR OF MONSTERS!

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PUBLISHING SCHEDULE REVEALED FOR YEARLONG VARIANT-COVER PROGRAM, LAUNCHING IN JANUARY 

Following up on an announcement made at this year’s New York Comic Con, Dark Horse unveils the schedule for Mike Mignola’s 2012 Year of Monsters program.

The program kicks off in January with a highly anticipated Lobster Johnson miniseries, The Burning Hand. Following up on the critically acclaimed 2007 series The Iron Prometheus, this new story pits the 1930s vigilante against one of the more terrible villains of the twentiethcentury.

These special variant covers will be available to any retailer who orders five or more copies of the standard cover. These are sure to be sought-after items with a broad appeal to fans of Mike Mignola’s work, as well as monster fetishists of all types!

“Mike Mignola got into the comics business with the simple goal of drawing monsters for a living,” said Dark Horse managing editor Scott Allie. “Mike celebrates 2012 by pitting his greatest characters against his favorite monsters on these special covers, unrelated to the stories inside.”

The schedule for the first half of the year can be found below. Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #1 arrives in stores on January 11, 2012.

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES THE BIGGEST FREE COMIC BOOK DAY EVER!

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FOUR GREAT STORIES, TWO AMAZING BOOKS,

ONE HECK OF A SATURDAY!

 

Dark Horse rolls out the announcement of all four titles that will be featured in two different comics to be given away to thousands of fans on May 5, 2012.

First comes a special flip book featuring both Felicia Day’s gaming web series turned comic, The Guild, and Dark Horse’s best-selling comics continuation of Joss Whedon’s iconic television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer! Buffy has never needed a vacation as badly as she does now, with the world overrun with zompires and other fallout from Season 8. After an old friend suggests a relaxing getaway from all things that go bump in the night, it turns out to be harder than she could ever expect for a Slayer to get a day off!

Felicia Day, creator of The Guild, continues to bring on the funny with high jinks from her diverse group of gamers when the Guildies struggle to find a meeting place they can all agree on. A little in-game battle becomes the deciding factor, and the circle follows the decree of the winner: the beach?!

Next up is one of the biggest flip books we’ve ever published, when Zack Whedon brings you tales of the coolest guy in the galaxy and the most charming rebel in the ’verse! That’s right; we’ve paired Star Wars with Joss Whedon’s Serenity! 

Han Solo and Chewbacca have a falling-out after a deal with their slickest—and shadiest—customer goes bad. But when the client gets designs on the Millennium Falcon, Han and Chewie present a united front that can’t be beat!

Meanwhile, Captain Malcolm “Mal” Reynolds is no stranger to jobs gone wrong himself. But when the chips are down, he’s able to rely on the amazing, odd, and diversely talented crew of Serenity.

Dark Horse Free Comic Book Day 2012: Four great stories for the price of, well, none!

AXE COP RETURNS WITH VOLUME 3!

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LET THE CHAOS RESUME!  

Axe Cop returns with a collection of exciting and unpredictable stories written by the endlessly inventive six-year-old Malachai Nicolle and drawn by his Eisner Award–nominated thirty-year-old brother, Ethan Nicolle!

This stellar volume collects eight Axe Cop stories previously published online and features “Stolen Pizza, Stolen Lives,” a crossover special with fellow webcomics superstar Dr. McNinja! It also contains the Halloween story “The Night Monster” and a special Christmas episode, “The Power of Christmas”! Axe Cop joins his comrades Uni-baby, Bat Warthog Man, and Dinosaur Soldier to fight bad guys and restore justice for kids—and grownups—everywhere!

Upon its debut as a webcomic in December of 2009, Axe Cop was instantly hailed by the entertainment press as a hit! Axe Cop Volume 1 has sold over 12,000 copies to date!

“Fun with a Capital F.”—Ain’t It Cool News

Axe Cop Volume 3 is on sale March 28, 2012.

Review- The Bionic Man

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By Edward Gambichler

“Steve Austin…astronaut….a man barely alive..

Gentleman…..we can rebuild him.

We have the technology.

We have the capability to make the world’s first bionic man.

Steve Austin….will BE that man.

Better than he was before.

BETTER………..STRONGER…………..FASTER….”

Oscar Goldman, Director of OSI

 

No matter how many shows I’ve watched since the cancellation of “The Six Million Dollar Man” back in 1978…..there has never been another television series with an intro that gripping or that awesome. Based on the Martin Caidan novel “Cyborg”, it tells the story of test pilot Steve Austin who was seriously injured when the space capsule he was piloting, crashes on re-entry. Losing both legs, his right arm, and his left eye, he is given a second chance by the Office of Scientific Intelligence and its director, Oscar Goldman ( Steve’s best friend ). Through the miracle of advanced technology, scientists, headed by Dr. Rudy Wells, replace Austin’s damage limbs with cybernetic prosthetics which give him abilities far beyond norman men.

I can honestly say that Steve Austin and the actor that portrayed him, Lee Majors, was my first major male role model. I used to watch the show religiously, even when it jumped the shark by having Steve Austin team up with Bigfoot in a few episodes and had actress Sandy Duncan       ( Broadway’s Peter Pan ) playing……an alien. Hell, I even had the 12 inch Steve Austin action figure with the rubber skinned arm you could roll up to pop out his bionic chip and a viewfinder in the back of his head to see through his “bionic” eye. Between this doll and my rev up Evel Knievel motorcycle jumper……I was in XY Chromosome Heaven.

The pilot episode spawned a five season T.V. series, a “Bionic Woman” series ( with Steve’s amnesiac fiance Jamie Sommers ) two T.V. movies ( one starring a young Sandra Bullock ) and now……a comic series. Produced by Dynamite Entertainment and titled “The Bionic Man”, it is based on a story by writer-director Kevin Smith ( Clerks ) and co-scripted by his Green Arrow collaborator writer-artist Phil Hester. I’m now four issues in and I have to say I like this modern reboot. It hits all the right notes as far as my nostalgia for the show is concerned and the explanation behind the bionics procedure is thorough and scientifically sound.

All the main characters, Austin, Goldman, and Dr. Wells feel right in both look and tone. The difference this time around is the black ops edge given to the O.S.I. It is a marked departure from the public government office depicted in the show. The main villain, the cyborg Hull, has an ominous connection to O.S.I. and the early stages of the bionic program and he is set up as real lethal threat. Make no mistake. This is not a Fembot Austin will have to deal with. On a lighter note, issue number four features a hospital visit by an old character from the Bionic series canon and the retconning of his origin is brilliant. The artwork by penciller Jonathan Lau is detailed and lush and the covers by Alex Ross are nothing less than perfection. The only question I have is if Kevin Smith is actually currently involved with this title or just given story credit and lending his name to the project. Much of the technical jargon in the description of the bionic procedure is not something I could see Smith coming up with and I wonder how much of the writing is Smith and how much is Hester.

 

Dark Horse Announces 5 New BPRD Titles!

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IT’S ALL GOING TO HELL IN 2012! DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES FIVE NEW B.P.R.D. TITLES THAT WILL SHAKE THE ORGANIZATION TO ITS VERY CORE! NOVEMBER 21,

The epic story line that began back in 2010 with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: New World is coming to a head in 2012. Dark Horse announces the most ambitious B.P.R.D. publishing schedule yet, with five new titles and some of the most earth-shattering events in the history of the series! First up, in February comes B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death, written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, with art by James Harren (Abe Sapien: The Devil Does Not Jest, Heralds). A team is sent to the deadly woods from New World to investigate a new series of disappearances, but they discover more than just the monster responsible, as loyalties are questioned and tensions mount! March will see the release of B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Pickens County Horror, written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, with art by Jason Latour (Wolverine, Scalped) and an all-new cover by Becky Cloonan! This chilling two-issue series brings a B.P.R.D. crew into the grips of a backwoods vampire clan hiding out in a Gothic southern home. Next, in May comes B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth­: The Transformation of J. H. O’Donnell, pairing Mike Mignola with Scott Allie again for the discovery of what drove the Bureau’s expert on ancient foes to near madness after a mission with Hellboy twenty-four years earlier. This supernatural thrill ride features art by B.P.R.D. newcomer Max Fiumara (Amazing Spider-Man) and a cover by Becky Cloonan. That same month features the return of the regular B.P.R.D. team of Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and Tyler Crook, with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Devil’s Engine. The Zinco Corporation again rears its ugly head after a devastating earthquake, pitting Devon and Fenix in an uneasy alliance against bat-faced monsters and the evil empire’s other mad-science experiments! Additionally, this new series will feature covers by former Hellboy artist Duncan Fegredo! Finally, Cameron Stewart returns to the B.P.R.D. universe in June with B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth­: Exorcism! In this story we learn more about Ashley Strode’s evolution as an agent after she meets up with a familiar face for a series of exorcisms in a rural Indiana town. Mike Mignola and Cameron Stewart team up to share writing duties, with pencils by Cameron and covers by Viktor Kalvachev! “Let’s break some stuff that can’t be fixed. Let’s turn some corners where there’s no going back” said Mike Mignola. “In both Hellboy and B.P.R.D., we’re saying, “Well, once we do this—once we round this corner—that’s it!” It’s not like, “Oh, Batman, different costume.” We’re doing stuff where there’s no way to fix it. That is the new reality in our world. You’re REALLY going to see that in 2012.” B.P.R.D. is sure to be the most-talked-about series of the coming year, as the team stands at the brink of the end of the organization and the world itself! It’s all going to hell in 2012!

DARK HORSE DIGITAL CYBER MONDAY DEAL!

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Close on the heels of the infamous shopping holiday, Dark Horse Comics is giving you another killer deal for Cyber Monday! Dark Horse Digital is offering the first 500 people through the checkout 50% off their entire order! You can redeem this 50% with the coupon code: ­­­­­­­­­­dhcyber This coupon is limited to 500 redemptions and you must have a $20 minimum cart to redeem it! Good only for 24 hours beginning at midnight (PST) on Monday, November 28th! Dark Horse Digital is available through all modern web browsers and as an app in the iTunes Store for Mac devices. Stop by https://digital.darkhorse.com and get a massive discount on all the Dark Horse Comics you could want and more!

IDW Infestation 2 Preview!

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By Chuck Suffel

I was privileged to (virtually) attend an IDW Press Event today where Chris Ryall (Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in-Chief @ IDW) and Bobby Curnow (long time Editor @ IDW) announced their second mega ultra huge crossover event!

INFESTATION 2!

Spanning four months and totaling thirteen issues (though I only count 12, hmm), it’s bigger than last time it’s freakier than last time, it’s Elder Gods! Yes ladies and gentleman the Lovecraftian terrors are coming to the IDW universe! And they’ll be attacking some of your favorite worlds. After the events of Infestation 1 the barriers between realities have been weakened allowing the Elder Gods to cross over to wreak havoc on the worlds of The Transformers, G.I. Joe, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 30 Days of Night and Dungeons and Dragons! And by the way, this crossover is considered in continuity!

It all begins with Infestation 2 #1 in January (1/25/12) written by Duane Swierczynski and drawn by David Messina. Duane is the story architect for this event, it was his job to take all  the disparate universes and come up with a way for this invasion to work. He places the CVO (Covert Vampire Operations) team first in line to take on the Lovecraftian threat but they’re in way over there heads. Expect one hell of a cliff hanger in issue 1.

Next book out is Infestation 2: TRANSFORMERS #1 (2/1/12) & #2 (2/15/11) written by Chuck Dixon with art by Guido Guidi. It takes place in the Hearts of Steel Continuity, Steampunk Transformers! So I’m expecting some big gross tentacled monster on big tough robot action! Look out for historical characters appearing in this one, they let slip that Thomas Edison is one but not the most exciting one…

Alternating weekly with Transformers #1 and #2 we have Infestation 2: DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Eberron #1 (2/8/12) & #2 (2/22/12). Written by Paul Crilley (who has written several Eberron books) with art from Valerio Schiti, cover by Menton Matthews. Introducing for the first time in comics The Eberron Campaign! According to the Eberron wiki: “Eberron combines a fantasy tone with pulp and dark adventure elements, and some non-traditional fantasy technologies such as trains, skyships, and mechanical beings which are all powered by magic.” and it’s that magic aspect that they want to capitalize on for this story as Bobby Curnow said “less swords and more sorcery and black magic that ties in very well with Lovecraft”.

In the midst of all this maddening horror we have Infestation – Team Up (2/29/12) written by Chris Ryall, art by Alan Robinson and cover by Eric Powell. Featuring Archie (Groom Lake) and Batboy (Weekly World News) this is the breather book, our two characters hang out and poke fun at “Event” comics.

March begins with Infestation 2: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 (3/7/12) & #2 (3/21/12) TMNT fan favorite Tristan Jones writer & Mark Torres art, cover Livio Ramondelli. Taking place in the sewers of NYC (of course) we’re promised a dark and creepy tale of disappearing Con Ed workers and weird creature sightings in the deep dark tunnels, deeper than the Turtles have gone before.

Also in March Infestation 2: G.I. JOE #1 (3/14/12) & #2 (3/28/11) written by Mike Raicht (Stuff of Legend), art by Valentine De Landro (X-Factor), cover Valentine De Landro. One of the most highly anticipated chapters in the story the arc the cover alone is worth picking this one up. Cobra uncovers a hidden relic that begins driving people insane and only the previously insane can resist it’s influence. Crystal Ball, Storm Shadow and Interrogator form a team with some of the Cobra insane asylum inmates to face this threat. Will any of our favorite Joe’s be involved? We’ll have to wait and see! Bobby Curnow says “a cross between One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and your favorite horror movie”.

The second one-shot is 30 Days of Night (4/4/12) written by Duane Swierczynski with Stuart Sayger supplying the art. How will the 30 Days vampires handle something this big and mean invading their hunting grounds? Duane takes us to the North Pole to find out. I’m looking forward to a bloody epic knockdown drag out battle in this one, and I’m probably right because it’s followed by…

Infestation 2 #2 (4/11/12) also written by Duane Swierczynski and drawn by David Messina. The second bookend title, this is where it all wraps up. This is also where some cool character crossovers should popup. We all know the publishers always say after this event nothing will ever be the same. Well we were assured today that things will actually be changed by this event and some of those changes may be very surprising.

There are a couple of neat incentives in this event. Interconnected covers, every licensed book is going to have the tentacled background drawn and painted by Livio Ramondelli. Put them all side by side and all the different licensed characters (drawn by the interior artists) will be standing side by side.

Also temporary tattoos!

Ask your LCS about the Infestation 2 ashcan that should be in shops this week. It’ll have a four page preview of Infestation 2 #1 as well as a timeline of all the issues being released and info on all the series that are involved.

Please feel free to ask questions in the comments, there was so much info I know I haven’t gotten to it all!

Come see me @ http://charlessuffel.com