DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES THE OFFICIAL HELLBOY 20^THANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

TO TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 22!

MILWAUKIE, OR, DECEMBER 11–March 2014 marks the twentieth anniversary of Mike Mignola’s career-defining release of Hellboy: Seed of Destruction #1. After the character’s somewhat humble beginnings as an eight-page feature in Dark Horse’s San Diego Comic Con Comics special, Seed of Destruction would begin the long life of the beloved “beast of the apocalypse.”

To celebrate, Dark Horse is proclaiming March 22, 2014 as “Hellboy Day,” with events happening in comic shops around the country! Dark Horse is inviting our retail partners to celebrate with us, by offering up exclusive promotional materials, as well as ordering discounts on all Hellboy and BPRD backlist titles.

Additionally, Dark Horse will produce an all-new sampler comic featuring two classic Mignola tales: “The Ghoul” and “Another Day at The Office,” as well as two new stories by Mignola, Fabio Moon, and R. Sikoryak!

Dark Horse is also pleased to announce that Meltdown Comics and Collectibles in West Hollywood, CA will be hosting Mike Mignola on March 22! Look for more details to come on the event.

Fans: make sure to tell your retailer you want your local store to participate in this awesome celebration today! Retailers: look for the March dated issue of PREVIEWS for details on participation levels, as well as promotional support being offered by Dark Horse for the event!

Additionally, look for the 20 Years of Hellboy hardcover collection, on sale in comic shops everywhere on March 19! This deluxe oversized hardcover presents Mignola's favorite covers and illustrations in gallery style, from his first drawing of the character through twenty years of publishing.

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DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES

EMERALD CITY COMICON 2013 SCHEDULE!

February 25, MILWAUKIE, OR— Dark Horse Comics is headed to the Pacific Northwest’s foremost and fastest growing pop culture convention – Emerald City Comicon. 

Join us for signings at booth #1102! Free comics and/or prints with each signing while supplies last. Please note that lines may be capped or tickets issued as needed; ask early about your favorite signings!

Comics, books, and collectibles will be available for purchase from Dark Horse or your favorite retailer.

DARK HORSE SIGNINGS & PANELS

Friday, March 1

2:30 p.m.                        Tyler Crook (B.P.R.D.)

3:30 p.m.                         Doug Sneyd (The Art of Doug Sneyd)

4:30 p.m.                        Superhero Signing: Frank Barbieri (Blackout), Francesco Francavilla (The Black Beetle), Michael Avon Oeming (The Victories), Josh Williamson (Captain Midnight)

6:00 p.m.                        Steve Lieber (Alabaster)

7:00 p.m.                        Camilla d’Errico (Helmetgirls, Femina & Fauna)

*Free limited-edition 11" x 17" print of The Forge Machine for first 50 people in line.

Panel:

DARK HORSE SUPERHEROES, Hall B (608-610),
3:10 p.m.–4:05 p.m.

Saturday, March 2

10:00 a.m.                        Alexander Freed (Dragon Age, Star Wars: Purge, Star Wars: The Old Republic)

11:00 a.m.                        Matt Kindt (MIND MGMT, 3 Story)

11:00 a.m.                        Howard Chaykin (Marked Man, Custer)

12:00 p.m.                        Eric Powell (The Goon, Billy the Kid, Chimichanga)

1:00 p.m.                        Brian Wood and Garry Brown (The Massive)

*Free limited-edition 11" x 17" print of The Massive 3-in-1 cover and The Massive #7 for first 50 people in line.

2:00 p.m.                        Paul Tobin (Colder)

3:00 p.m.                        Rob Reger and Emily Ivie (Emily and the Strangers)

4:00 p.m.                        Jeremy Barlow and Tony Parker (R.I.P.D.)

5:30 p.m.                        Mike Mignola (Hellboy, Hellboy in Hell, B.P.R.D., Abe Sapien, Baltimore, Sledgehammer 44, Lobster Johnson, Witchfinder)

Panels:

FROM VICTIM TO HERO, Hall C (602-603), 3:20 p.m.–4:15 p.m.

FROM THE PAGES OF HELLBOY: A CONVERSATION WITH MIKE MIGNOLA,

Hall B (608-610), 4:10 p.m.–5:05 p.m.

Sunday, March 3

10:00 a.m.                        Brian Wood and Garry Brown (The Massive)

*Free limited-edition 11" x 17" print of The Massive 3-in-1 cover and The Massive #7 for first 50 people in line.

11:00 a.m.                        Tyler Crook (B.P.R.D.)

12:00 p.m.                        Christos Gage (Angel & Faith)

12:00 p.m.                        David Walker (Number 13)

1:30 p.m.                        Brian Wood (Star Wars)

1:30 p.m.                        Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko (Star Wars: Legacy)

2:00 p.m.                        Randy Stradley (Star Wars: Dark Times)

3:00 p.m.                        Jeff Parker and Erika Moen (Bucko)

Panel:

STAR WARS IN COMICS!, Hall B (608-610), 12:10 p.m.–1:05 p.m.

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DARK HORSE: STUMPTOWN COMICS FEST 2012 SCHEDULE

 APRIL 27, MILWAUKIE, OR— This weekend, Portland's own Stumptown Comics Fest takes over the Oregon Convention Center for its largest show ever! Dark Horse is giving you a look at all the awesome happening through Sunday!

FRIDAY, APRIL 27

Drink and Draw with Peter Bagge at Bridge City Comics

Bridge City Comics, 3725 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

In celebration of the release of Peter Bagge's newest comics series, Reset, Dark Horse Comics and Bridge City Comics present the official 2012 Stumptown Comics Festival kickoff event -- a Friday night Drink and Draw for visiting and local artists, publishers, and all festival-goers!

Bagge will be in attendance as the guest of honor with copies of Reset #1 to sign, and party guests will be provided with complementary art supplies to draw to their hearts' content. Snacks and drinks (21+ with valid I.D.) will be served, complements of Bridge City, Dark Horse, and Ninkasi Brewing.

Admission to this event is free, and the drawing starts at 7:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

Signings at the Dark Horse Booth 

11:00 – 11:30 p.m. Tyler Crook (B.P.R.D.)—FREE B.P.R.D.comic

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)—FREE Usagi Yojimbocomic and print

2:00 – 2:30 p.m. Erika Moen and Jeff Parker (Bucko)—FREEBucko print

2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Peter Bagge (Reset)—FREE Reset print and exclusive

Stumptown Comics Fest Reset Passport

4:00 – 4:30 p.m. Michael Avon Oeming (Rapture, Victories, Valve Presents)—FREE Victories print and head sketches for Victories and Rapture


Panels

1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Spotlight on Peter Bagge, Room B-114

Best known for his comic-book series Hate, which helped to define the grunge generation, and his recent contributions to Reason magazine, Peter Bagge is always willing to confront hard-hitting societal issues with intelligence, wit, and funny bone intact. Join us for a conversation with the multiple Harvey and Eagle Award-winning cartoonist, whose newest series, Reset, has just been launched in the Dark Horse Originals line. Moderated by Ryan Alexander-Tanner.

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Of Rabbits and Ronin: Spotlight on Stan Sakai, B114

World-renowned cartoonist Stan Sakai has been writing, drawing, and even hand-lettering his beloved rabbit samurai series Usagi Yojimbo for twenty-seven years and counting. Join Sakai for a discussion of Usagi's history and future, as well as demonstrations and all-ages audience participation! Moderated by Usagi series editor, Diana Schutz.

3:00 – 3:45 p.m. Euro Comics In Translation, B114

Join Diana Schutz, Executive Editor of Dark Horse's Manara Library and Blacksad, for an informative look at what it takes to bring Europe's most celebrated titles to new audiences in America. This panel will delve into the process on properly editing, translating and publishing Euro Comics for a very different market. All this will culminate in a sneak peek of and discussion on the upcoming highly anticipated Blacksad: A Silent Hell by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido. Moderated by Eisner and Harvey award-winning editor and writer Joe Keatinge.

5:00 – 5:45 p.m. Dark Horse Originals: Genius Redefining Genre, Room B-114

Join Dark Horse Comics editor Philip Simon and PR director Jeremy Atkins to hear about the latest comics and graphic novels coming out in the Dark Horse Originals line, an imprint that Mike Richardson describes as a place for "unique creators with unique visions expressed in quality graphic novels." Dark Horse Originals has brought you such favorites as Blacksad, Citizen Rex, De:Tales, 3 Story, and more! Don't miss special guests Peter Bagge, Jeff Parker, and Erika Moen, who will talk about their new Dark Horse Originals projects!


SUNDAY, APRIL 29


Signings at the Dark Horse Booth

12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Peter Bagge (Reset)—FREE Reset print and exclusive

Stumptown Comics Fest ResetPassport

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Steve Lieber (Alabaster)—FREE Alabaster print


Panels

12:00 – 1:45 p.m. Quenched Consciousness: A Tribute to Jean "Moebius" Giraud, B114

Join Quenched Consciousness curator Ian MacEwan, Dark Horse Moebius line editor Scott Allie and famed Madman cartoonist Michael Allred in a tribute to the master creator moderated by Glory & Hell Yeah writer Joe Keatinge. This look back at Giraud's illustrious career will include art and insight into his many works including the Incal, Blueberry, Arzak, The Aedena Cycle, The Airtight Garage, Silver Surfer: Parable and movies such as Alien, Tron, Fifth Element and Jodorwsky's Dune. The discussion will begin with an introductory career overview by MacEwan followed by interviews with Allred and Allie about their one-on-one interactions with the master himself, the inspiration Giraud gave them and his global affect on the medium and industry alike. The panel includes a screening of the rarely seen documentary, Moebius Redux, directed by Hasko Baumann. 2-HOUR SESSION

2:00 – 2:45 p.m. Beyond the Cape: Genre Fiction in Comics, B114

Join moderator Christian Lipski and creators Vera Brosgol, Brian Churilla, Brian Hurtt, Lukas Ketner, Batton Lash, Steve Lieber, Dylan Meconis, Ron Randall, and Brandon Seifert in a conversation about the other kinds of comics. Horror, sci-fi, western, romance -- creators talk about the world outside the super-human. Is the 'mainstream' expanding to include other genres, or are the smaller publishers growing their audience? What are the publishing options for non-super titles? Is it a worthwhile direction for authors and artists?

4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Making History, B114

What do a Victorian robot, theology scholar, and rabbit ronin have in common? They're the stars of three very different stories in historical settings: Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel; Family Man; and Usagi Yojimbo. Join their creators--Paul Guinan and Anina Bennett, Dylan Meconis, and Stan Sakai--for a lively discussion of history and storytelling.

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ANNOUNCING COLDER!

PAUL TOBIN BRINGS A CHILL TO DARK HORSE COMICS!

APRIL 2, SEATTLE, WA–From Emerald City Comicon: Paul Tobin announced he’s writing a blend of horror and crime that will appeal to those who like books such as Locke & Key, Preacher, or B.P.R.D.! 

Colder comes from the creative team behind the successful Falling Skies comic, writer Paul Tobin (Marvel Adventures: Fantastic Four, Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man) and artist Juan Ferreyra (Rex Mundi). 

 “Horror and mystery are two things that have always fascinated me, and I wanted to bring those elements together in a story woven around what I consider one of my strongest tools as a writer, which is character. One facet of horror that I really wanted to explore is how the tension of horror is at its peak when it’s still a mystery. But . . . what if we had a chance to peek behind the curtain and into the darkened closet, and found that the truth is even worse?” Paul Tobin questioned.

 Declan Thomas’s body temperature is dropping. He checks it every day, and it’s dropped from 98.6 to a current average in the high fifties. He never gets sick, never feels pain. He’s just an ex-inmate of an insane asylum that began operation in the 1890s, specializing in those poor souls deemed too dangerous for society. As to when Declan himself was admitted, the records were destroyed in a fire. His nurse has found references to him that go as far back as the 1940s . . . which is odd, since he doesn’t look a day over thirty.

“Artist Juan Ferreyra and I really felt comfortable working with each other on our Falling Skies collaborations, so of course we wanted to team up again, but this time we wanted to delve into the uncomfortable . . . to jerk the chains of a story’s comfort level and take some real chances. Because, bottom line, the type of material I myself like to read is material like Hellboy, or Preacher, or anything where the creators are both taking chances and having fun. Juan and I are taking chances, here, and we think it should be fun for everyone,” said Tobin.

Colder #1 is on sale November 7, 2012!

For additional information, check out io9! 

About Dark Horse Comics

Since 1986, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists.  In addition to publishing comics from top talent like Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Gerard Way, Will Eisner, and best-selling prose author Janet Evanovich, Dark Horse has developed such successful characters as the Mask, Timecop, and the Occultist. Additionally, its highly successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan the Barbarian, Mass Effect, Serenity, and Domo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic-book publisher in the United States and is recognized as both an innovator in the cause of creator rights and the comics industry’s leading publisher of licensed material.

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As a reminder: ALL REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Publication Date: November 30, 2011

Format: TP, 7" x 10", FC, 152 pages
Price: $17.99
Age range: 16
ISBN-13: 978-1-59582-756-2

Mike Mignola, Scott Allie, and John Arcudi round up some of the usual suspects for this BPRD storyline: Abe Sapien, Roger, Liz Sherman,  Johann Kraus and Hellboy.

The Dead Remembered begins with a young Liz, angry at the world, accompanying Trevor Bruttenholm on a little poltergeist expedition. Liz’s anger quickly roars its head before they even meet with the Priest, and when they do meet him, it doesn’t get any better. The ghost of the house reacts to Liz, and she reacts to everything else, her emotions so raw, they’re just looking for an excuse to boil over, which may just spell doom for everyone.

In the second story, Casualties, Mike Mignola and Scott Allie spin a tale of difference between those who chose the life of hunting the paranormal and those who are forced into it. It features Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman.

In Being Human, Mike Mignola teams Roger and Hellboy together, which means there’s bound to be more trouble than they were expecting. As they try to figure out what is happening to the corpses of a family, the Quillens, who all met tragic endings, Roger does some soul searching. It’s a full out montage of some of his painful moments, which were pure storytelling gold, but that’s only the beginning. A hand of glory lights the way as the dead walk, Hellboy is immobilized, and Roger is forced into the hero position.

The Ectoplasmic Man Mike Mignola and John Arcudi tell the story of Johann Kraus. He was always a medium, but he wasn’t always just ectoplasm. An incident in Chendou radiated through a spirit looking for help and changed Johann’s life. He stumbles his way though, seeing that death is just as dangerous as life, and nothing can ever be the same. He turns to BPRD to find a way to destroy the evil he has uncovered, and do good with what’s left of his “life.”

As always the book finishes up with the sketches, and some insights. A wonderful collection of stories from the Hellboy world that shows it at its best storytelling. Great for fans new to the series and diehards alike.

For a preview check it out at Dark Horse.

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DARK HORSE UNLEASHES MIKE MIGNOLA’S YEAR OF MONSTERS!

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

NOVEMBER 23, MILWAUKIE, OR—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 twentieth century.

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.

January—Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #1

February—B.P.R.D Hell on Earth: The Long Death #1

March—B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Pickens County Horror #1

April—Lobster Johnson: The Burning Hand #4

May—B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Transformation of J. H. O’Donnell

June—Baltimore: Dr. Leskovar’s Remedy #1

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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, MILWAUKIE, OR—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!

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As a reminder: ALL REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Publication Date: November 23, 2011

Format: 32 Pages
Price: $3.50
UPC: 7 61568 17960 6 00311

Kate finally learns what originally brought her and Johann to Russia: thieving zombies. The Russians tried to rid of the thieves themselves, but entire platoons were lost. And when they sent the commander down, he came back as something else, something Johann now faced.

While Johann finally has his answers, Kate goes on to find her own, and only finds more questions and frustrations. The action really ramps up in this issue, and looks like this story has lost none of its steam. With only 2 issues left, theres still plenty of time for more action and it looks like Mignola plan to pack in as much as he can.

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As a reminder: ALL REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Publication Date: October 19, 2011
Format: FC, 32 pages
Price: $3.50
UPC: 7 61568 17960 6 00211

Divide and conquer is a deadly and effective strategy, if only Kate and Johann had kept that in mind. The director of the Russian Occult Bureau snaps his men into shape, but there is obviously much more going on there than is being said. He’s another mystery, his origin, his motives, and getting to the bottom of him just might be Johann’s undoing.

Elsewhere, in Indonesia an obscure clue is found and its already being guarded by military personnel. In Rampayedik, some vagabonds quickly wish they hadn’t discovered what they stumble upon.

I said that issue 2 would make or break it for me, and I was right. I am hooked. The bickering is gone, and all the intrigue is intensified. Nothing is answered, only more questions posed. This one keeps you on your toes with wonderment. 

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Publication Date: September 21, 2011

Format: FC, 32 pages

Prepared for a tunnel filled with gooed bodies? Me neither, but that doesn’t stop the commander in BPRD:Hell on Earth- Russia, who really wasn’t as prepared for it as he thought either. A quick backstory on the world that was set up in the Hell boy sets the scene for this newest offering. Hell boy has quit, Abe Sapien is in a coma, and who does that leave? Kate Corrigan and Johann Kraus, who are now on their way to a special meeting with the Russian Occult Bureau.

The partnership between Johann and Kate is one out of necessity, not because Johann is the best for the job, but he’s what she has to work with, and it seems that they’re not the only one with the that type of partnership. When meeting with the Russian Occult Bureau, they are less than welcoming with their large number of concerns magnified by information gained through wiki-leaks.

As a whole, the story seems interesting, some kind of weird freak outbreak and with the Mike Mignola and John Arcudi writing I have confidence that it will be amazing. But this first issue is filled with more angst and accusations than I really enjoy. A slow start that will surely get better, but being a five issue arc it doesn’t have much time. The next issue will make or break the series for me.

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