#SDCC: DARK HORSE TO PUBLISH CRIMINAL MACABRE: FINAL NIGHT—THE 30 DAYS OF NIGHT CROSSOVER!

July 3, MILWAUKIE, OR—Dark Horse and IDW team up on this once-in-a-lifetime crossover between the critically acclaimed Criminal Macabre and 30 Days of Night!

Steve Niles’s greatest characters come together in a final showdown, with a thrilling script by Steve Niles and artwork by Christopher Mitten.

Cal McDonald only wanted a beer, but what he got was a jaded federal agent and a story about vampires up in Barrow, Alaska. There’s a new vamp in LA, and he’s hell bent on escalating his attacks. When Mo’Lock’s sometimes ghoul-friend is murdered, Cal’s on the hunt . . . for Eben—the longtime protagonist/antagonist of 30 Days of Night.

Praise for Steve Niles:

“Not only is Niles’ dialogue and pacing the best it has ever been, but Mitten’s art is absolutely paradisiacal by being horrific, high-brow, or low-brow whenever the situation demands it. This is a collaboration seemingly blessed by the comic book gods.”—Comics Bulletin

“Fans of the horror genre really can’t go wrong with [30 Days of Night].”—About.com

For additional information check out the exclusive interview with Steve Niles on Comic Book Resources!

Criminal Macabre: Final Night—The 30 Days of Night Crossover #1 (of 4) is on sale December 12, 2012!

About Dark Horse

Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, 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 such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, including The Mask,Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

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STEVE NILES’S CRIMINAL MACABRE RETURNS

WITH IRON SPIRIT GRAPHIC NOVEL!

APRIL 2, SEATTLE, WA–Reported from Emerald City Comicon, Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) will take his occult detective into a new hardcover collector’s format with Eisner winner Scott Morse of Pixar and TR!CKSTER fame.

 Brimming with terror, Criminal Macabre: The Iron Spirit is a perfect introduction for new readers. A haunted veteran leads monster hunter Cal McDonald to a creepy subterranean military base where mad-science experiments were conducted on US soldiers.

 “Iron Spirit combines all of my favorite things. I wrote it as prose and handed it to Scott Morse and now Dark Horse is publishing it. I think readers will be surprised at this oddly touching story about death and undeath and the responsibilities that come with both,” said Steve Niles.

 Praise for Criminal Macabre:

“Steve Niles has beaten up his main man, broken him down and now stands on the precipice of reinventing him with a conflict on the horizon that portends to be nothing short of epic.”—Newsarama

 Criminal Macabre: The Iron Spirit is on sale September 12, 2012!

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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Dark Horse Comics Panels noted in red.

Additional panels featuring Dark Horse creators, projects and products noted in black.

Friday • March 30th

 ECCC Spotlight Series: Brian Wood
  Room: 211
Time: 3:00 - 4:00

The Emerald City Comicon Spotlight Series is designed to give you an intimate look into the minds of some of comics greatest creators. This hour, join creator Brian Wood as he talks about his work on Conan, DMZ, Northlanders and many others.

 Falling Skies Screening and Q&A
  Room: 4C1-2
Time: 3:00 - 4:00

TNT's epic drama Falling Skies makes its debut appearance at Emerald City Comicon this year. Watch a never-before-seen clip from the season 2 premiere episode and hear from the show's actors and producers about the new season. Falling Skies, basic cable's #1 new series of 2011, is set to return this June to continue its extraordinary story about life and survival in the wake of a catastrophic alien invasion. Noah Wyle (ER) stars as Tom Mason, a former college professor and father of three, who has become an unlikely leader for the 2nd Massachusetts civilian resistance group. The series chronicles the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Falling Skies comes to TNT from DreamWorks Television and is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. Remi Aubuchon and Greg Beeman also serve as executive producers.

Drawing Inspiration: The Art of the Whedonverse  
Room: 4C1-2
Time: 5:00 - 6:00

Join us for an exclusive behind-the-panels look at the dynamic artwork of Dark Horses Joss Whedon titles, from pencils to inks to colors to print. Dark Horses public relations director, Jeremy Atkins, will lead a discussion with artists Georges Jeanty (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Phil Noto (Angel & Faith, Dollhouse), Chris Samnee (Serenity), and inker Andy Owens (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) for an inside look at the artists processes. We'll be showcasing a variety of art from past and future issues of these best-loved titles, including exclusive reveals and first looks!

ECCC Spotlight Series: Camilla d'Errico
  Room: 211
Time: 6:00 - 7:00

The Emerald City Comicon Spotlight Series is designed to give you an intimate look into the minds of some of comics greatest creators. This hour, Camilla d'Errico talks about how she made her dreams reality by giving up on the 9 to 5 grind and becoming a full time artist.

EXPANDING THE EXPERIENCE: VIDEO GAMES TO COMICS AND BACK AGAIN  Room: TCC 102 Time: 6:00 - 7:00

When Dark Horse partnered with BioWare to expand the Mass Effect story line into comics, video-game tie-in comics were finally legitimized. Now, Dark Horse is widely recognized as the leading publisher of video-game comics, with launches throughout 2012 digitally and in print. Join us for an hour long preview of what’s to come this year, with exclusive news and announcements on current and upcoming projects with BioWare, Valve, and Activision!

Saturday • March 31st

ECCC Spotlight Series: Rick Remender
 Room: 211
Time: 11:00 - 12:00

The Emerald City Comicon Spotlight Series is designed to give you an intimate look into the minds of some of comics greatest creators. This hour Uncanny X-Force writer Rick Remender joins us. Rick is also the writer/creator of comics such as Fear Agent, The End League, Strange Girl, Black Heart Billy, Last Days of American Crime, Sea of Red, Sorrow, Night Mary, XXXombies and Doll and Creature.

Dark Horse Comics: Powered By Creators 
Room: 4C1-2
Time: 4:00 - 5:00

Just over twenty-five years ago, Dark Horse stepped into the comics-publishing arena with a different agenda. While the publisher has gained much notoriety for its popular licensed titles, like Buffy and Star Wars, one mission remains the same: to give comics top creators a venue for showcasing their work and retaining their ownership of it. Join Dark Horse's public relations director, Jeremy Atkins, along with a cast of premier talent, for news on all of Dark Horse's 2012 publishing launches and new Dark Horse Presents stories. Guests include Steve Niles (Criminal Macabre), Steve Lieber (Alabaster), Francesco Francavilla (Black Beetle), Sanford Greene (Rotten Apple), Ethan Nicolle (Axe Cop), Adam Warren (Empowered), Paul Tobin (Falling Skies), and Brian Wood (The Massive), and a few surprise drop-ins!

Sunday • April 1st

ECCC Spotlight Series: Steve Niles 
Room: 211
Time: 12:00 - 1:00

The Emerald City Comicon Spotlight Series is designed to give you an intimate look into the minds of some of comics greatest creators. This hour, modern master of horror, Steve Niles, talks about what it takes to craft a good horror story, working with artists like Sam Kieth and Ben Templesmith and how his creation of 30 Days of Night changed the face of horror comics.

Axe Cop
 Room: 3AB
Time: 1:00 - 2:00

Ethan and Malachai Nicolle, creators of Axe Cop, will do a live Q&A, show images and videos of new Axe Cop material, etc. Always a fun and highly interactive panel.

Mythic Fiction Comics: The Next Mega-Genre?
Room: 3AB
Time: 12:00 - 1:00

From Mage, Sandman and Bone to Fables, Castle Waiting, Hellboy and more, mythic fiction has been a fascinating -- and growing -- presence in comics. What is mythic fiction? Why is it so popular? And could it really become the next big thing in the comics field? Join moderator Kurt Busiek (Arrowsmith), Matt Wagner (Mage), Rachel Edidin (Dark Horse Comics), Bill Willingham (Fables) and Chris Roberson (Memorial) for a lively discussion about mythic fiction in comics, from its roots to it future.


ECCC Spotlight Series: Brandon Graham and Adam Warren in Conversation
  Room: 211
Time: 1:00 - 2:00

The Emerald City Comicon Spotlight Series is designed to give you an intimate look into the minds of some of comics greatest creators. Brandon Graham and Adam Warren join you this hour for a conversation talking about finer points of their work. Their western takes on manga have delighted readers locally and abroad. Expect a vivid and lively discussion.

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As a reminder: ALL REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Publication Date: December 21, 2011

Format: FC, 368 pages, TP, 6" x 9"

Price: $24.99

Age range: 16

ISBN-13: 978-1-59582-747-0

Cal McDonald, the pill-popping, alcoholic antihero of the hit Criminal Macabre series, is back! Teamed with his undead partner Mo'Lock, Cal protects the sin-infested streets of Los Angeles against a growing horde of zombies, vampires, and occultists!

This trade collects Criminal Macabre Volumes 4-6, the one-shot story “Feat of Clay”, "The Creepy Tree" and "The Trouble with Brains" from MySpace Dark Horse Presents, and "Hairball" from Dark Horse Presents #102-#105, featured in color for the first time!

The book opens with “Hairball,” and it classic Cal McDonald, big chip on his shoulder, doing right with the odds against him, and taking no prisoners. After dealing with a Giant headed problem Cal gets a huge influx of odd cases, but when a client brings in a baby hand, it peaks his interest and he investigate. But what he finds may be more than he can handle. What’s a little more body damage, this is Cal freakin’ McDonald we’re talking about. But I do love his first person narrative, and his hit/damage counts.

Unlike Niles’ other series 30 Days of Night, Criminal Macabre isn’t all blood sucking vampires. No, that would be too easy for our prickly hero. In this omnibus alone he battles werewolves, clay golems exacting revenge, pissed off councilmen, rat toothed old world Nosferatu, brains, killer trees, con artists and cops. He has a few allies besides Mo’Lock. There’s an ex-girlfriend, a possessed car, lots of ghouls and a demon baby that offer assistance.

Two Red Eyes is among my all time favorites. Cal gets a beating. Cal sobers up. Cal is pissed off. Cal Kicks some major butt. Cal realizes he just got a hollow victory. Though that synopsis can describe most of the stories, it doesn’t make this one any less amazing. A close second is My Demon Baby, where I have to agree with Mo’Lock, Cal’s baby talk is utterly disturbing.

The love/hate relationship between Cal and Mo’Lock is fantastic. Cal fights the inevitable, as Mo’Lock bides his time, and deals with Cal’s childlike behavior. They have an odd chemistry, a mixture of support and enabling, that works wonderfully. Throughout the book, Cal is in various states of disrepair, and when no one else is there for him Mo’Lock picking up the pieces.

One of the fantastic things about the Criminal Macabre series is that if you’re not a long time reader you can still jump in and have the ride of your life. This series is not only seriously fast paced, it is absolutely exhilarating the way Niles weaves his tales of pure perfection. Each of the stories has a different artist, but each manages to capture the darkness, the grittiness, and the dark humor of the series. This Is one of my favorite series, and lovers of horror, hell, for lovers of good writing, this is one you should be reading.

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As a reminder: ALL REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Publication Date: November 23, 2011
Format: FC, 80 pages
Price: $7.99
UPC: 7 61568 17843 2 00611

Dark Horse Presents is back with issue #6. These anthologies are great for an introduction into the varied offerings of Dark Horse, with the wide assortment of stories, there’s always something for everyone.

This month kicks off with Resident Alien Chapter 3. In the ongoing saga of the visitor trying to blend in and hide out, all the while assisting the police in their high profile investigation. Good thing it’s a small town, otherwise this might lead to disaster, or it might anyways. There’s been a string of murders and the very people who are suppose to be preventing them, may just know more than they’re letting on. The entire town is full of secrets and the Alien is enjoying himself a little too much discovering them, taking too many risks that could spell disaster.

Finder: Third World Chapter 6 In true Ghostbusters style the Finder gets his jobs done. Sent with the  process server, the job seems easy enough, but nothing is ever really simple in his world. This storyline always throws me off since I never know what to expect, and this one is no exception.

The Adventures of Dog Mendonça and Pizzaboy Chapter 3 Always a highlight of the set, opens with Dog sitting poolside, with Pizzaboy and the little girl demon reading last month’s issue. I adore the tongue in cheekiness of Dog. But he turns serious as he continues his saga of his flight with the circus freaks. Finally free they face a tough road to what they hope is salvation, many don’t make it, close friends are lost, and Dog finishes his story. Let’s hope they tell Pizzaboy’s or Pazuul the demon in a little girl’s body next. She doesn't talk, but I'm sure Dog can find a way to make it work.

Beast of Burden: Story Time- The Dogs recant the story of the pack, a group of elite dogs and humans who fought together for the king during the dark ages focusing on two members Alric and Bitan. The story is used to teach the young ones a lesson, or is it?

Change: This is Fabio Moon’s first offering for Dark Horse Presents. The guy takes a chance, and changes his life. It’s quick, it’s cute, it speaks directly to the reader in and actual and roundabout way. The short story makes for a very nice, for a first impression.

Blood Chapter 5: Plunging your sword through the heart of your minion is one way to get your message across, but not exactly effective if you need something done, even if he can get a new body. It’s a bloody inconvience. Neal Adams is a master story crafter and he proves it with every stroke of his pen. Blood fights on, taking as much damage as he’s dishing out, all the while wondering how much more he can take, since he’s already taken more than he ever imagined possible, and as the winds of change roll through Blood hopes to be the one left standing.

Criminal Macabre: Die, Die, My Darling, Chapter 3- Cal McDonald is tired of playing games, but Fate is cruel mistress, and if he wants to keep is unlife he’ll have to continue to play. But before Cal can dash off on his next quest he’s got to shut his smart mouth and learn a ghoulish lesson. When Cal finally comes face to face with his intended killer, its not at all what he expected, and forces him to do a drastic course change, destiny be damned. Steve Niles is a genius, and I adore his writing more and more every time I see his work.

Number 13 Chapter 5- Number 13 doesn’t understand Lorna’s intentions, but the result is the same, and he must figure his way now. As blame flies memories return, and they aren’t happy ones, they aren’t ones he wants to believe even if the proof is before him. This is one series that always leaves me with more questions than answers, that I’m always threatening to quit, but like a bad habit I always find myself at it again.

Marked Man Chapter 6 Some are looking for answers, while some think they’ve finally found theirs. Father and Son are too busy patting themselves on the back to realize they’ve screwed up again, now with all the pieces in motion again, this one gets good winding the story back up.

Skeleton Key: Room Service- Fox spirit Kitsune and school girl Tamsin use their magic key to try to find their way home, but they stumble into the Artemis Hotel who could use some help with a ghost. Kitsune takes the job for donuts, and what they find isn’t at all what they expected. It’s a cute way to close out another excellent issue.

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As a reminder: ALL REVIEWS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
Publication Date: October 19, 2011
Format: FC, 80 pages
Price: $7.99
UPC: 7 61568 17843 2 00521

Dark Horse Presents is back with issue #5. Each month I look forward to this anthology, it’s fun, it’s varied, and well, there’s more Criminal Macabre.

Isolation- What happens when we send a robot into space with a gun, a gaudy bible and pornography? All hell breaks loose. Left to his own devices, the robot does what any human in his situation would, looks for ways to pleasure himself, self destruct, and find redemption.  A very good read, and insight into basic human nature.

Rotten Apple Chapter 4- Team work becomes the Rotten Apple group. The Stone is recovered, and the mission is all but over, but the group is taken by surprise when their buyer turns against them. I adore this series. It’s always action packed, and just a little odd.

The Adventures of Dog Mendonça and Pizzaboy Chapter 2- Dog is back, and this time sponsored by Sporty cola. The humor is always fantastic in this series. Dog continues his life story. Hunted  and tortured, the freaks band together. This one always leaves the reader wanting more.

Number 13 Chapter 4- Number thirteen has been found, and he’s the key to destruction in the wrong hands, and perhaps the savior in the right. This story line moves slowly, and while good, needs to pick up pace.

Resident Alien Chapter 2- Doctor Vanderspeigle isn’t what he seems, and when he gets wrangled into assisting the local law with the death of the town’s doctor, he ends up doing far more than he ever planned. So far I’m not impressed with this one, even with the murder there is just too little happening.

Criminal Macabre: Die, Die, My Darling! Chapter 2- Finally what I’ve been waiting for. The freaky baby belly twin continues to spout off prophecy, which Cal isn’t talking seriously, if his snarky remarks are any indication. But that doesn’t mean that the War of Darkness isn’t still coming, or that the signs that are rapidly passing by have any plans of slowing.  Bringing the weird and the action in equal measure is a great formula for storytelling. It certainly works.

Marked Man Chapter 5- Loose ends are being tied up, but they’re done in such a sloppy manner, that it raises suspicions in the cops, though the Feds are in on it. Anita’s luck goes from bad to worse as accusations surface, but something was missed. It’s a good next chapter for this complex story.

Skeleton key: Dead Can’t Dance- Nothing good comes from playing with dead things, and dancing with ones is probably not such a swell idea either, but leave it to wanna be rockstars to think they know better. A light hearted, amusing and funny read.

Finder: Third World Chapter 5- the finder delivers undelivered mail, or at least the stuff he hasn’t eaten. It’s as interesting as it sounds. I never get this one.

Blood Chapter 4 The action is intense as Blood rushes to save his friend, and although the action takes up most of the pages, there’s much more than meets the eye as the plot thickens. A very good closer to another great issue.

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Publication Date: July 20, 2011

Format: FC, 32 pages

Price: $3.99

UPC: 7 61568 18406 8 00111

 

Criminal Macabre/The Goon: When Freaks Collide may just be a match made in heaven. For those not familiar with the two series, the Goon defends Lonely street from the Zombie Priest’s undead hordes, and Criminal Macabre follows Cal a man slowly on the verge of falling over the edge as he battles the things that go bump in the night, with his undead army behind him.

Both men are pulled into private service to take out groups they hunt anyways namely werewolves and vampires, but the true nature of their jobs are to take out each other.  While Cal and the Goon battle it out, Mo’Lock and Franky seemed more concerned about their odd surroundings and the true identity of the ones that brought them here.

The issue picks up quickly, and is a lot more fun when the men unite and the real danger shows itself. In a world created by one man’s desire, when he’s destroyed what to do with the book that gave him he power becomes the focus, along with the struggle against the monsters that inhabit this world.

This one shot is a lot of fun, and the cameo at the end is as delightful as it is unexpected. A quick enjoyable read, that is perfect for everyone, even those not familiar with either series.

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Publication Date:September 21, 2011

Format: FC, 80 pages

UPC: 7 61568 17843 2 00411

Dark Horse Presents #4 is a hodge podge collection of eleven stories, some ongoing series, and a few one shots. My favorites were definitely Criminal Macabre: Die, die, My Darling! Chapter 1, which is always a good read, and  Adventures of Dog Mendonça and Pizzaboy chapter 1.

Beast of Burden: Food Run- Dogs and Cats team up to stop a goblin from stealing chickens. It reads as a one shot. It’s quirky and fun.

Rotten Apple Chapter 3- Frank and his crew are after a rock. The story jumps around a bit, but its different in a good way, definitely one to check out.

Adventures of Dog Mendonça and Pizzaboy chapter 1- A fat werewolf, a demon that looks like a little girl and a Pizzaboy intern, no its not the start of a joke but the start of a great story. Dog starts in on his story and just as its getting good, he’s off to the bank to cash his check. Let’s hope that there’s lots more where this came from.

Number 13 chapter 3- Number 13 may or may not be dead, and he may or may not dream, he doesn’t understand what is going on around him, and frankly neither do I. If you haven’t read this one from the beginning you need to.

Resident Alien chapter 1- When the backwoods town’s only doctor is murdered the local law enforcement turns to a recluse who happens to not only be a former doctor, but an alien in hiding who vowed long ago to keep on keeping on by maintain a low profile. So much for low profile.

Criminal Macabre: Die, die, My Darling! Chapter 1- Cal is back from the dead, and just a big ball of sunshine. His lungs don’t work, he’s not sure he can drink, oh and there’s still a war looming, which Cal is quickly reminded by a creepy figure. Chapter 2 cannot come soon enough.

Marked Men chapter 4- There’s cleaning up to do, and Hildebrandt has been called in. There isn’t much to this one, which is kind of disappointing.

Age of Reptiles: The Body- A Jurassic Park kill scene for much of the story as the “body “ is torn apart. Interesting…well, there’s dinosaurs.

Finder: Third World chapter 4- The Finder delivers his package, it’s just not the one he thought it was. This one is pretty slow. All talk, no real action.

The Protest- One of the longer stories, is a standalone tale of a bully who does good on his own terms.

Teenagers- A one page short that was filler.

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Publication Date: September 14, 2011

Format:FC, 40 pages

Price:$3.99

UPC:7 61568 17286 7 00111


As far as one shots go, for me at least, they're hit and miss in comics. Steve Niles is the brillance behind Criminal Macabre, and being a fan of 30 Days of Night I was ready to sink my teeth in.

Every comic has its monsters, few pull off a large number of different species well, and lets face it that True Blood got it right when it said Zombies are the new vampires. They are everywhere, and that's not a bad thing. If there is anything I'm a fan of its well, cupcakes and zombies, and this guy is followed around by ghouls.

Criminal Macabre follows Cal McDonald, private eye, dick, a basicaly broken human who has pissed off pretty much every known bad supernatural creature out there, and now they plan to make him pay.

Well, they've made that plan in the past, but it hasn't worked out so well, cause while McDonald has had it rough, he gives better than he gets. So as the war around his escalates he makes a sacrifice that yields results that are surprising to him, but not to his man servant, Mo.

At the same time, a smaller plot is interweaved, that of his possessed car getting it's "life" back. Which kinda sucks, cause where are you gonna find another car that handles itself? The story line is wonderfully plotted, the action is greatly paced, and the level of blood is just right. This is definitely one to check out, even if you've never read the series.

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