Dark Horse Comics has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles shipping in Jully 2008.

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Or - “Zoe Washburn…  Will You Marry Me?”

Everybody wants to think that they’re cool, that they’re unique, that their contribution to the world is distinctive and unmistakable, that they are a beautiful snowflake.  It’s only at certain times that we realize that every single person in the world turns into a walking cliche on occasion.  For me, every time I encounter a smart, hot, @$$-kicking woman (especially one with dark eyes) I turn into the Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons, trying to put Lucy Lawless in Mylar between Tom Baker and the Yellow Submarine.  So, you can say what you will about my crush on Zoe, but I’m still entranced by Captain Reynolds’ right hand woman, and I’m not afraid to say it:  Best First Officer EVERRRRRR… (more…)

Fans of the web comic Wondermark will be able to get their hands on a physical version of the strip when Dark Horse releases a hardbound edition entitled Beards of our Fathers in June 2008.

Ignatz-nominated creator David Malki crafts his unique comic strips by combining public-domain Victorian-era engravings with clever original dialogue to illustrate an often-poignant social commentary. Against the pinned-down and buttoned-up backdrop of a bygone era, Malki’s sarcastic yet sincere sense of humor adds layers of depth and lucidity to his creation, pitting classic representations against contemporary comedy.

“Each comic strip is its own little world, telling its own little story,” Malki explained in a prepared statement. “They resemble the world we know, but twisted a half-turn, or more. My only overall goal is to present a narrative of contemporary life that will confound future archaeologists.”

Wondermark: Beards of our Fathers will sell for $14.95.

via Dark Horse Comics

Dark Horse Comics has announced the K Chronicles, a collection of rapper/cartoonist Keith Knight’s comic strip, will be made available in an omnibus edition.

The K Chronicles tackles such touchy subjects as racism, violence, and sex with a self-deprecating sense of humor, personal honesty and light-hearted goofiness rarely found in a newspaper comic strip. The result is accessible yet subversive, compassionate and sardonic, without being preachy.

The K Chronicles arrives July 23, 2008 for $24.95.

via Dark Horse

Somehow I missed this story from Friday, but Dark Horse Comics and Universal Pictures have signed a three year production and distribution agreement.

Under the terms of the deal, Universal would have creative access to all Dark Horse characters and properties, as well as any material that Dark Horse might acquire on its own and want to develop as a motion picture. In addition, Dark Horse would have the opportunity to distribute movies through Universal.

Currently Hellboy II: The Golden Army will be released through Universal Pictures on July 11, 2008.

Mike Richardson, founder and President of Dark Horse said in a prepared statement, “We’ve worked with many studios and have had several great experiences, but we are particularly happy to be joining forces with Universal Pictures in this deal. We feel a real connection with their vision and the energy and creativity they bring to developing our properties. We are also excited by the option that we’ll have to independently produce our own material and distribute it through Universal; their flexibility in this collaboration is what we were looking for, and we’re glad we found it.”

With the exception of the Aliens, Predator, Terminator, and Star Wars titles Dark Horse publishes, which wouldn’t be included in the deal, titles like The Goon, Abe Sapien, and possibly Umbrella Academy could be on the silver screen in the future.

via Dark Horse

Or - “I Fail To See The Controversy, I Guess…”

For some time now, there have been some underground rumblings regarding this particular issue of Buffy, and how it would be shocking and world-changing.  While the events depicted herein (which aren’t really even the point of the story) can certainly be seen as life-changing for the characters, they don’t, as of yet, have a whole lot of effect on the storyline…

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Dark Horse has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles shipping in June 2008. On my list? Abe Sapien, B.P.R.D., Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and a brand new Indiana Jones title.

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If I don’t put a MAJOR SPOILERS warning here, some Russell is going to get upset that I’ve ruined the issue for them (drink).

But trust me, you’ll want to take the jump.

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Dark Horse Comics has sent Major Spoilers cover images and solicitation information for titles shipping in May 2008. Top of my list? Abe Sapien, BPRD, Buffy, and Penny Arcade for sure.

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Or - “Asking That Musical Question: Who Frenched The Head Slayer?”

The wonderful part of the Buffy comic is the way the voices of the characters, though aged and changed, have remained consistent with their TV personae. ‘Course, since the creator of the characters and the head writer of this title are the same guy, it just stands to reason. In early seasons of Buffy, the most fascinating portion of the show wasn’t the monster of the week, it was the high school interactions: Xander kissing Willow. Buffy falling for a loser. Willow’s flirtation with Oz (”I mock you with mah monkay pants!”) Likewise, for me, the most fascinating question of BtVS:SE so far hasn’t been who’s the schmendrik who wants to KILL Buffy… It’s who loved her enough to mystically revive her issues ago.

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If you haven�t heard of The Escapist, that�s okay, he isn�t a real superhero. Or is he? In the fictional novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, the two protagonists create a comic hero during the Golden Age of comics as a way to escape from their past, but in the process, author Michael Chabon created a character that would transcend the novel form and actually make it to the comic pages.

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Dark Horse has announced it will be the exclusive sales agent for products licensed by MINDstyle, makers of high-end collectible figures. Dark Horse stated the first items it will distribute are figures based on Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, Frank Cho’s Liberty Meadows, adn Brom’s The Plucker.

�We are very excited to be associated with MINDstyle in putting this sales program together,� Dark Horse Vice President of Product Development David Scroggy stated, �and we are confident that they will help us make the release of these highly collectible, top-quality, limited editions a key event for collectors and film fans.�

The initial offering will be on display at the International Toy Fair in New York, February 17-20, 2008, or take the jump for a peek at something Dark Crystal related.

via Dark Horse

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With the resurgence of all things Terminator (television series, new movie in the works), it makes sense for Dark Horse to collect the old Terminator issues into one giant Omnibus.

The Terminator Omnibus Volume I includes Terminator Tempest, One Shot, Secondary Objectives, and The Enemy Within. It will be available in retail stores everywhere February 20, 2008 with an SRP of $24.95. The Terminator Omnibus Volume II will follow on March 26.

I would have to rummage through the DrawerBoxes to find those issues, but I seem to remember a couple of the series were pretty good. With Omnibus editions of Aliens, Predator, Indiana Jones, and now Terminator making the Omnibus collections, you can bet the entire 1990s catalog will make it to Omnibus shelves soon.

via Dark Horse Comics

The Hellboy 2: The Golden Army movie site went live recently, with messages from Director Guillermo del Toro, a scrapbook, synopsis and a video of Abe Sapien.

The movie arrives in the summer of 2008.

via Hellboy Movie

Damn that is a lot to try and say, and even worse to try and type when you are still half asleep.� Several months ago, I mentioned some really cool steam punk prop replica sci-fi guns from Weta.� While a tad expensive, they are superb recreations of what might have been had our world taken a different turn instead of going down the atomic path.

Now Weta Workshop conceptual designer Greg Broadmore ha written and illustrated Doctor Grordbort’s Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory that showcases dozens of arcane inventions, contraptions and weapons.

�As a kid I was massively inspired and awed by the black-and-white serials on Sunday afternoon TV, in particular the 1930s Flash Gordon and the many sci-fi movies of that era,� says Greg. �This book allowed me to pay homage to that world of science fiction and create something new at the same time. And it�s full of guns, did I mention guns? Rayguns actually, the best type.�

The hardcover book arrives in January and features a comic chronicalling the adventures of Lord Cockswain and his adventures around the world and beyond.

via Dark Horse Comics