DARK HORSE COMICS APRIL 2006 PREVIEWS

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Direct from Dark Horse Comics, here are the publisher's solicitations and preview images for books which are scheduled to ship in April, 2006.


Click a thumbnail below to see the full-sized preview image in a new browser window.


Compiled by Zachary Jian Morrison


Pre-order these and other Dark Horse titles online now from X-World Comics and save!


HIGHLIGHTS FROM DARK HORSE FOR APRIL 2006

DARK HORSE COMICS CELEBRATES 20 YEARS!

STAR WARS: REBELLION #1

A compelling new story set between the events of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back.


B.P.R.D. THE UNIVERSAL MACHINE #1

Mike Mignola, Guy Davis, and John Arcudi launch a new series that will determine the future of the B.P.R.D.


ARCH ENEMIES #1

Comics’ hottest new talents bring you the ultimate super-powered odd couple!


GUNGRAVE ARCHIVE

This double-sized art book will be a fantastic addition for any Nightow fan, and a great book for fans of the anime and video games.

Plus, don't forget to check out the rest of our April 2006 line-up for more adventures from your favorite characters and products every collector will want to see.


AEON FLUX TPB

MIKE KENNEDY (W) and TIMOTHY GREEN II (A)

On sale May 17, SC, 96pg, FC, 7" x 10", $12.95

Four hundred years in the future, the last of Humanity will live behind the protective walls of Bregna, an idyllic utopia built to shelter them from the deadly jungle growing beyond. Life in Bregna is perfect, or as perfect as the government can make the people believe. But not everyone is fooled by their mood-altering propaganda—a small band of freedom fighters wish to see things change, and they just might manage to pull off this impossible dream with the help of their top secret agent, the sexy, deadly Aeon Flux. As Bregnan authorities prepare a new weapon to use against the jungle pounding at their walls, Aeon prepares to turn their plans against them. But this time she is not alone—she has been instructed to train a new agent, a fiery young woman named Sithandra, who may not be all that she appears . . .

• Collecting the four-issue miniseries.
• Miniseries bridges original MTV/Liquid Television series with Paramount/MTV smash movie.
• Movie available on DVD spring 2006.
• An all-new adventure that reintroduces Aeon Flux to fans and newcomers.
• The stories are fast-paced and intriging conceptual science fiction.

ARCHENEMIES #1 (of 4)

DREW MELBOURNE (W), YVEL GUICHET (P), JOE RUBINSTEIN (I), RICK HILTBRUNNER (C), and JIM KEPLINGER (L)

On sale April 5, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Ethan has no idea that Vincent, his roommate, is the villainous Underlord. Vincent has no clue that Ethan is the superhero called Star Fighter. In their costumed identities, they're mortal enemies, but as Ethan and Vincent they're the best of . . . wait, NO, as Ethan and Vincent they STILL hate each other's guts. Can comics' ultimate, super-powered odd couple keep their secrets secret AND learn to live together in peace? ArchEnemies is high-concept superhero action comedy drama times eleven. In our debut issue, it's a battle of wills as Ethan and Vincent try to drive each other OUT of the apartment and OFF the lease. But, in a moment of weakness, will one roommate go too far? [SPOILER ALERT: Yes. Yes, he will.]

Written by Drew Melbourne (stand-up comedian, South Bronx public school teacher, and freelance writer), with pencils by Yvel Guichet (Batman: Harley Quinn; X-Men Unlimited) and inks by comic book veteran Joe Rubenstein (Formerly Known as the Justice League and “practically everything else at some point over the past several decades!”)

• This “Superpowered odd couple” gives a fresh take on the mismatched roommate genre and the never-ending battle between superheroes and supervillains!

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #112: ON THE PERFECTION OF ANATOMY part 1 (of 6)

HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A)

On sale April 12, b&w, 32pg, $2.99

Yamada Asaemon, the Shogun’s executioner and sword tester, arrives at Burando’s request! Known as Kubikiri Asa, the legend of this historical figure is explored in Dark Horse’s Samurai Executioner series, and his presence will certainly be felt in Blade of the Immortal! Medical examiner Burando continues his studies on limb transfers and Manji’s immortal body, with the hope that Asaemon’s deadly, precise skills can quicken the pace! Hiroaki Samura’s wild samurai ride takes a darker turn, as his horrific “On the Perfection of Anatomy” story arc begins! This issue also sports a beautiful, wraparound Rin cover, painted by Samura.

• Winner of Japan’s prestigious Media Arts Award and America’s own Eisner Award.

FOR MATURE READERS

B.P.R.D. THE UNIVERSAL MACHINE #1 (of 5)

MIKE MIGNOLA (W/Cover), JOHN ARCUDI (W), GUY DAVIS (A), and DAVE STEWART (C)

On sale April 5, FC, 32pg, $2.99

After their catastrophic encounter with the monster-god Katha Hem, the B.P.R.D. begin the work of trying to pick up the pieces and rebuild the team. Kate Corrigan travels to rural France in search of an ancient text that might undo the death of Roger, while back at B.P.R.D. Headquarters, Captain Daimio finally reveals the truth about his own death.

Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, with artist Guy Davis and co-writer John Arcudi, launch the five-part series that will determine the future of the B.P.R.D., while revealing key secrets about their past.

CONAN #27

KURT BUSIEK (W), TIM TRUMAN (P), TONY HARRIS (Cover), and DAVE STEWART (C)

On sale April 19, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Double-barreled action as two tales intertwine! In one, Conan leads a daring raid in the high mountain ranges of the East for the prize of a new-minted crown. Is this the beginning of Conan’s kingdom, or will treachery and guile bring him down? In the other storyline, the Prince and his Wazir face turmoil on the empire’s border, and must punish a daring rebel—but is it justice? How the two tales, set centuries apart, affect one another make for surprise twists and a unique showdown that sets the stage for serious trouble to come.

Part two of a two-parter drawn by the fabulous Tim Truman (Grimjack). Two stories, two leads, and two fateful choices—no wonder Conan is the hottest fantasy comic on the stands!

CONAN: BOOK OF THOTH #2 (of 4)

KURT BUSIEK (W), LEN WEIN (W), KELLEY JONES (A/Cover), and MICHELLE MADSEN (C)

On sale April 19, FC, 48pg, $4.99

The young acolyte Thoth-amon rises quickly through the priestly ranks of Ibis as one by one his fellows fall victim to grisly deaths by an unseen hand. Bewildered and powerless to halt the carnage, one priest fears he has discovered the source of the evil encroaching upon the city, only to learn that the truth is far more horrifying than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, the citizens of Memphia are losing faith in the ability of Ibis to protect them, and rumors are spreading of a far more powerful and ancient deity—the snake-god Set.

This essential piece of the Conan mythos uncovering the origin of his greatest villain is co-written by Len Wein, creator of Swamp Thing and Wolverine, and Kurt Busiek, Eisner award-winning writer of the best-selling Conan ongoing series, and drawn by Kelley Jones, much-proclaimed master of horror!

CONAN VOLUME 3: THE TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT AND OTHER STORIES TPB & HC

KURT BUSIEK (W), CARY NORD (P), MICHAEL WM. KALUTA (P), and DAVE STEWART (C)

On sale May 17, HC, 168, FC, 7" x 10", $24.95

On sale June 21, SC, 168, FC, 7" x 10", $15.95

Eisner award-winning writer Kurt Busiek (JLA/Avengers, Astro City), Eisner award-nominated artist Cary Nord (Daredevil), and Eisner award-winning color artist Dave Stewart (Ultimate Fantastic Four; DC: The New Frontier) continue their groundbreaking run on Dark Horse’s best-selling Conan series with an adaptation of one of Robert E. Howard’s greatest Conan tales, “The Tower of the Elephant”!

Fed up with both civilization and mysticism, Conan travels to the infamous City of Thieves to take out his frustrations. When a bar fight uncovers the legend of the impregnable Tower of the Elephant, he becomes determined to rob it, setting out on a quest unlike any he’s undertaken—one that will involve new comrades, sudden death, horrifying creatures, and gruesome unsettling fates for both gods and men.

• Busiek and Nord—with a special appearance by legendary illustrator Michael Wm. Kaluta (Books of Magic, Lucifer)—chronicle a seminal adventure in Conan’s life.
• Collecting Conan #0, #16-17, #19-22.
• The hardcover edition is exclusive to Direct Market and will be printed to order.

CONCRETE VOLUME 5: THINK LIKE A MOUNTAIN TPB

PAUL CHADWICK (W/A)

On sale May 24, SC, 208pg, b&w, 6" x 9", $12.95

Celebrity has its benefits . . . and its costs. Due to his status as the world’s most unusual travel writer—being a thousand pounds of walking, talking rock will do that—Concrete is approached by a group of radical eco-warriors to see firsthand and write about their efforts to save old-growth forest. What begins as a lark soon turns into a harrowing struggle, and Concrete must decide whether to dispassionately observe or to join these people who would risk anything, even life itself, to save the planet.

Called “the best comic being published by anyone, anywhere,” Paul Chadwick’s critically acclaimed Concrete is at once rousing fantasy and grounded reality, as thought-provoking and challenging as it is entertaining. Think Like a Mountain collects the 1996 Parents’ Choice Award winning series along with bonus short stories, some collected here for the first time.

• This value priced volume collects Think Like a Mountain #1-6; short stories: “Like Disneyland, Only Toxic,” “Stay Tuned for Pearl Harbor,” “A Billion Conscious Decisions,” “Objects of Value,” “Steel Rain,” various “A Sky of Heads” stories.

THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON: TIME’S BLACK LAGOON NOVEL

PAUL DI FILIPPO (W)

On sale June 14, SC, 275pg, 4 1/8" x 6 7/8", $6.99

In 1954, deep in the Amazon Jungle, an expedition found what they assumed was one of those missing links in the chain of human evolution: an immensely powerful amphibian creature that seemed to step out of the mists of time. They tried to tame it, to break its will, to change its very being with surgery and torture, but the beast rebelled, killing almost all who stood in its way. But was the creature truly a throwback, a survivor of some prehistoric time before time . . . or was it something more?

In the year 2015 one scientist will try to answer those questions, using a time machine to pierce the veil of history and journey back to the distant Devonian era. What he finds there will not only splinter his vision of what the Creature might be, but may very well change the history of the human race forever!

Bending the conventions of what we feel we know about the Creature from the Black Lagoon on its ear, critically praised science fiction author Paul Di Filippo reinvents the classic monster with a tale of time travel, horror, and mystery that mixes the best elements of 1950s Cold War science-fiction with today’s cutting-edge cyberpunk in a vision of what terrors still lurk . . . in the swamp.

DREADFUL ED HC

ANDREW COSBY (W), Illustrated by TROY NIXEY, and DAVE STEWART (C)

On sale May 24, HC, 56pg, FC, 8" x 10 1/4", $12.95

Poor Ed! What’s a normal kid like him doing in a place like Nocturnia? He’s supposed to be the heir to the throne of his dastardly dad—otherwise known as the Boogeyman himself, Silas Grimm! But Ed just isn’t cut out for the work. Quiet, gentle, and altogether unspooky, it appears to everyone that Ed will never have what it takes to rule the land of nightmares and dark deeds.

Rather than giving up on his only heir, Silas ships Ed off to fright school, hoping his woefully un-strange little boy will learn the skills befitting of the next Boogeyman. Instead, Ed ends up learning something about himself that will shock everyone—everyone, that is except the mother who switched him at birth!

This beautifully illustrated hardcover book will be an instant favorite for anyone who loves fanciful kids’ stories with a delightfully dark edge.

• From Damn Nation creator Andrew Cosby, best-known for his work on UPN’s Haunted and the Sci-Fi Network original series Eureka.

EDEN: IT’S AN ENDLESS WORLD! VOLUME 3 TPB

HIROKI ENDO (W/A)

On sale May 3, SC, 224pg, b&w, 5" x 7", $12.95

The most action-filled Eden yet! In this shocking volume, character revelations and intense battlefield decisions punctuate a roller-coaster, book-length conflict. With new, cyber-augmented Propater villains (the Aeon soldiers) making a vicious debut, the mysterious Colonel tries to keep his ragtag group of freedom fighters alive. Kenji cuts a path through armored soldiers, and Cheribum and Sophia suffer serious setbacks. Kachua and Wycliffe make their way through secret Incan tunnels, not knowing what horrors lie in the daylight. If you thought that the previous Eden volume had a cliffhanger ending, you’ll be blown away by the final pages of this thrilling ride! Hiroki Endo’s Eden is a garden of violence, pathos, and philosophy, where endearing heroes face a constant struggle for survival and violent surprises wait around every corner!

• From the pages of Afternoon, the same manga anthology that brought us Blade of the Immortal and Oh My Goddess!
• Often compared to Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira in both artistic execution and storytelling scope, Hiroki Endo’s deep and beautiful Eden series is finally available in English!
• Each volume comes shrink-wrapped and carries an 18+ content advisory.

FAVOLE PORTFOLIO

VICTORIA FRANCÉS (A)

On sale April 12, six 13 1/2"x 10 3/8" color prints in folder, $19.99

Dark Horse is proud to continue our series of portfolios with images from the gothic-tinged and mysterious world of Favole, where images emerge as if secret thoughts.

This handsomely packaged set of full-color pictures, each text free and suitable for framing, is full of haunting illustrations by the mysterious and romantic Spanish artist/writer Victoria Francés.

Six 13 1/2" x 10 3/8" color prints in folder. The back of the folder pictures all the interior images, so they can be viewed in the store without having to open the package.

GOON #17

ERIC POWELL (W/A)

On sale April 19, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Things have taken a turn for the worst in the battle for control of Lonely Street. The Zombie Priest’s new army of monstrosities is quickly overrunning the town, destroying everything in sight. Their mission: destroy Goon and Buzzard. As the pair struggle to survive the attack of these new nasty little creatures, Goon begins to wonder if perhaps Buzzard isn’t sharing all he knows.

• 2005 Eisner Award-winner for Best Humor Publication and Best Continuing Series!

GUNGRAVE ARCHIVE ARTBOOK

Based on the game created by Yasuhiro Nightow, created by Softbank Editorial Division

On sale June 14, SC, 256pg, FC, 8 1/4" x 12", $19.95

First a hit first-person-shooter video game in Japan, Gungrave moved overseas to become an American Playstation 2 favorite as well before finally making the move to become a popular anime in both countries. Dark Horse is proud to bring America the works of Yasuhiro Nightow, and the artbook Gungrave Archives offers a new piece of the manga master’s growing portfolio of works.

And Nightow’s additions are only a part of the wide range of materials in this special, double-size artbook set. Already available as separate, untranslated books, Archives brings them together completely translated, at a more reasonable price, in equally high-quality binding, and featuring two pull-out posters!

And completely unavailable in either book—photographs of an exclusive Grave figure, custom made by famed figure modeler Takayuki Takeda! This is the only chance to see this model, as it will never see production. Also included is a short interview with Takeda about his challenges creating the exclusive custom figure.

• This book will be a fantastic addition to any Nightow fan, and a great book for fans of the anime and video games.
• Now a popular television anime in Japan, distributed on DVD in America by Geneon.

HOT STUFF AND CASPER

On sale April 5

Hot Stuff 10” Plush, $24.99
Hot Stuff 20” Plush, $49.99
Hot Stuff 3-Piece PVC Set, $12.99
Hot Stuff in Match Box Mini Statuette, $34.99
Hot Stuff with Grin Mini Statuette, $34.99
Hot Stuff with Bib Figurine, $24.99
Hot Stuff Pitchfork Guitar Figurine, $24.99
Casper Fishing Figurine, $24.99
Casper Snow Globe, $7.99


Hot Stuff and Casper return for more mischief! The statuettes and figurines of these Harvey Comics characters, imported from France and sculpted of the highest quality by Demons and Merveilles, continue to bring praise from customers.

In addition to our ongoing line of statuettes and figurines, we are excited to expand our line with a Hot Stuff plush available in two sizes, and a Casper snow globe.

Dark Horse is pleased to offer nine new additions to our Hot Stuff and Casper line.

JU-ON VOLUME 2 TPB

Originally written by TAKASHI SHIMIZU. Manga adaptation by MEIMU

On sale May 24, SC, 136pg, b&w, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4", $9.95

The bloody and vengeful grudge of Ju-On returns in this manga sensation from Japan! The landmark horror film franchise is captured in comics form, opening on a gruesome and tantalizing series of images from an operating room, a lightning storm, gory medical instruments, and a single witness to the scene and whatever lies on the table.

Cut to peaceful scenes of everyday life that are taking place in and around a familiar apartment complex. But what eerie presence sits just below the surface, itching to manifest itself and take out its deep-seated rage on innocents? What could have caused such hatred, and why is the spirit terrorizing again? The chilling answer to these questions is found in the pages of Ju-On Volume 2.

• The manga adaptation of the horror movie that took Japan by storm—in English for the first time!
• From the artist of The Ring volumes 0, 2, and 4!

KOTOBUKIYA COMMANDER BLY SOFT VINYL MODEL KIT

On sale July 12, 11” tall, easy-to-assemble parts, $99.99

Dark Horse continues its exciting import program of the award-winning Kotobukiya Star Wars vinyl figures. Consisting of a few easy-to-assemble parts, Commander Bly stands 11 inches tall.

Clone commander 5052, also known as Bly, was the leader of the Star Corps of clone troopers assigned to Jedi General Aayla Secura. When the executive command, Order 66, was received from the Supreme Chancellor on Coruscant, identifying Secura as a traitorous enemy of the state, Bly, demonstrating his unerring loyalty to the Republic, raised his rifle and opened fire on his commanding officer, coldly killing the unsuspecting Jedi.

A recognizable character in the film Episode III Revenge of the Sith, Commander Bly is a clone trooper not easily forgotten.

KOTOBUKIYA ROBOCOP TRILOGY FIGURES

On sale July 19

2 1/2" to 5" Figures, $9.99 (each)

On sale July 19

Robocop mixed case of Twelve (two of each character), packaged in full-color counter display, $119.88

Robocop: MK-2

Robocop: ED 209

Robocop: Robocop

Robocop: Robocop Bust

Robocop: Robocop and ED 209

Robocop: Robocop with Flight Pack

Dark Horse continues its exciting import program of the award-winning Kotobukiya figures. Our ongoing Kotobukiya Star Wars line consists of large, eight-to-eleven-inch figures. With the Robocop series, Kotobukiya gives us the same great quality and precise details in a smaller, more accesible collectible. We offer six different figures, consisting of 2-7 easy-to-assemble parts, ranging in size from 2 1/2 to 5 inches.

What was at first considered merely a futuristic action film, Robocop quickly gained a cult following due to its foreboding message about the not-so-distant future. A world where a hard-working, honest cop is turned into an emotionless weapon. When Officer Alex Murphy’s memories seep into Robocop’s consciousness, a battle of morals and revenge commence. The Robocop series is fondly regarded by many, and, we believe, it’s time it was honored with some cool figures!

NEXUS ARCHIVES VOLUME 3 HC

Mike Baron (w) and Steve Rude (a)

On sale May 24, SC, 216pg, FC, 7" x 10 1/2", $49.95

This latest collection of the landmark sci-fi series re-presents the original ]Nexus issues twelve through eighteen from First Comics—an indispensable storyline in the history of Horatio Hellpop’s plagued existence. Wracked by inescapable, visceral nightmares of the grave misdeeds of his next targets, the executioner Nexus turns to the only solution he can—a life-threatening procedure that places an implant in his brain! This implant will prevent the dreams that Horatio has endured for years, but at what price? His behavior changes, and the ensuing emotional isolation pushes Sundra and her booming solar sailcraft business back to Mars. Spy Ursula X. X. Imada resurfaces with Horatio’s twin daughters, and Clonezone the Hilariator is up to his usual mischief and misadventures! This collection also features a story about the Hammer, Judah Maccabee, illustrated by the famed Oz artist Eric Shanower.

• Relive the series that defined the careers of both Steve Rude and Mike Baron, collected in a handsome hardcover format for the first time.
• A multiple Eisner Award-winning series that defined the careers of acclaimed creators
• Printed on high-quality paper stock, and features a new painted cover by Steve Rude.
• Collects issues #12-18 from Volume 3 (First Comics).

SERENITY LOGO ZIPPO® LIGHTER AND ORNAMENT

On sale March 29, Logo Zippo® lighter, $29.99

On sale April 12, 6" long x 3 1/2" wide, full color ornament, $19.99

Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, made his big-screen writing/directing debut with this sci-fi epic, continuing the story begun in his fan-favorite TV series, Firefly. Fans of the cult-hit TV series and the major motion picture, now available on DVD, will love this Zippo® lighter, featuring the logo of the rogue ship, Serenity and an ornament featuring the ship itself.

SCARY BOOK VOLUME 2: INSECTS TPB

KAZUO UMEZU (W/A)

On sale May 10, SC, 232pg, b&w, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4", $13.95

Kazuo Umezu returns with the second frightening volume of his Scary Book anthology series. In “Butterfly Grave,” a book-length feature story, ever since the mysterious and untimely death of her mother when she was still an infant, Megumi has had an inexplicable, devastating phobia of butterflies. Upon visiting her mother’s grave years after her death, Megumi begins being haunted by a black butterfly that only she can see and which seemingly causes waves of destruction and misery to Megumi’s family and friends wherever it appears. But when Megumi’s father decides to remarry, Megumi begins to fear that her new mother is turning into the very thing she dreads most.

• Scary Book creator, Kazuo Umezu, is known as the “Stephen King of Japan,” with several of his stories being adapted to film.

SHMOO VINYL FIGURE

On sale May 24, 8”tall, packaged in a full-color window box, and sporting a bright red ribbon, $17.99

In 1948, Al Capp introduced the Shmoo in his popular “Li’l Abner” strip and it truly took the nation by storm. The Shmoo was a lovable tub of glub whose bewhiskered smile was as cute as his button eyes. The Shmoo bred with a speed that would put rabbits to shame, consumed essentially nothing, and provided most everything that humankind could wish for. Besides producing both milk and eggs, its meat was pork when roasted, chicken when fried, and steak when broiled. During its heyday the Shmoo inspired one of the first true licensed-product bonanzas, appearing as a cornucopia of products that spawned as fast as the Shmoos themselves.

Dark Horse is adding to these vintage pieces with a brand-new version of the little rascal.

Packaged in a full-color window box, and sporting a bright red ribbon, we look for the “new Shmoo” to capture the hearts of new and old fans.

SPACE PINCHY: THE LABORATORY OF LOVE

TONY TAKEZAKI (W/A)

On sale April 19, FC, 32pg, $2.99

It seems it’s not possible for poor Pinchy to stay out of trouble. At the beginning of each story, it seems she’s in some kind of fix! But not this time. Nope. Now she’s visiting a retro mecha display of the seemingly undestroyable Captain Star! However, I’m sure by the time this issue’s over, Pinchy will find some kind of trouble, either with a giant robot, that pesky Robo King, or something else. For instance, what exactly is this “laboratory of love”?

From the wacked-out manga mind of Japan’s Tony Takezaki comes Space Pinchy, a story about a female space adventurer who won’t accept failure, and will probably never find a decent alien boyfriend.

FOR MATURE READERS

STAR WARS: HONOR AND DUTY TPB

JOHN OSTRANDER (W), C. P. SMITH (P), LUKE ROSS (P), JASEN RODRIGUEZ (I), DIGITAL
CHAMELEON (C), and STEVE FIRCHOW (Cover)

On sale May 10, SC, 96pg, FC, 7" x 10", $12.95

Watch the fall of the Republic through the eyes of Sagoro Autem—Senate Guard, mercenary, prisoner, Clone Wars hero, and Imperial target—in a story that spans from before the Clone Wars to the first mission of Darth Vader!

Young Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker—his even younger Padawan—protect a senator from assassination attempts. Joining the Jedi in their mission is Autem, loyal Senate Guard. Yet, as Obi-Wan and Anakin fend off a league of master assassins, Autem discovers a link between the killers that will change his own life forever—a secret he will not be able to face until the Clone Wars have come and gone, and he finds himself on the run from the new Emperor’s enforcer, Darth Vader!

• Collecting issues #46-48 and 78 of Star Wars Republic.
• This story reveals the ending to a story Star Wars fans have been waiting for years to resolve!

STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC #4

JOHN JACKSON MILLER (W), BRIAN CHING (P), MICHAEL ATIYEH (C), and TRAVIS CHAREST
(Cover)

On sale April 26, FC, 32pg, $2.99

On the run and desperate to clear his name, fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick guides his ragtag crew of scoundrels toward a treacherous asteroid moon, returning to the site of a significant moment in his Jedi training and to what he hopes will reveal the reason the entire Republic seems out to get him. The answers only lead to more riddles, however, and before they can fully interpret the information they’ve stumbled upon, the band of outcasts are assailed by yet another threat. And perhaps most surprising of all, their party grows by one as a new character enters the fray!

• The flagship series of Dark Horse’s exciting relaunch of its Star Wars publishing line, celebrating the company’s twentieth anniversary.
• Continuing the ongoing monthly series set four thousand years before the rise of the Empire and the fall of Anakin Skywalker (and eight years prior to the events in the Knights of the Old Republic video game).

STAR WARS: REBELLION—MY BROTHER, MY ENEMY #1

ROB WILLIAMS (W) and BRANDON BADEAUX (A)

On sale April 12, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Seeking to exploit a fatal flaw in the Rebel fleet’s escape strategies, the Empire plants a sleeper agent in the Alliance’s midst and sets into motion a series of events that will have devastating consequences for Luke Skywalker and his companions. Meanwhile, Darth Vader’s own agenda runs counter to the Empire’s schemes, and he’s ensnared Lt. Janek Sunber to carry out a secret mission that will lead the idealistic Imperial officer straight into the heart of the Rebellion.

• A compelling new story set between the events of A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back exploring Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance’s desperate struggle against the Galactic Empire, delivered in high-octane, widescreen style by writer Rob Williams (Cla$$war; SW Tales) and artist Brandon Badeaux (Superman: Man of Steel; SW Empire).
• Great starting point for new readers.

STAR WARS: TAG & BINK EPISODE I—REVENGE OF THE CLONE MENACE

KEVIN RUBIO (W) and LUCAS MARANGON (A)

On sale April 26, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Behold, the long-awaited prequel to the Tag & Bink saga! Many a Star Wars fan has lain awake at night, plagued by suspense and wondering just how this infamous Rebel pair came to be. Well wonder no more, faithful readers! Your plague has ended with this tell-all issue that caps the space-opera legend, courtesy of fan-favorite Star Wars creators Kevin Rubio and Lucas Marangon.

The origin story of our hapless heroes begins on their respective planets, Alderaan and Corellia. These future soldiers of the Rebel Alliance are sized up for Padawan potential, and we are treated to a rare inside look at the rigorous mental and physical training undergone by aspiring Knights in the Jedi Temple! Mace Windu, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and the elder Fett each have a role in the miseducation of Tag and Bink, but despite all this schoolin’, the two decide that spying on Padme and “the Chosen One” is a pretty good idea . . .

• Featuring the cast of the Star Wars prequels!

TRIGUN MAXIMUM VOLUME 9 TPB

YASUHIRO NIGHTOW (W/A)

On sale May 3, SC, 200pg, b&w, 5 1/4" x 7 1/8", $9.95

This is the story of Nicholas Wolfwood and Livio, two boys for whom friendship was brief, but still burned deep into their boyhood consciences. Those bits and pieces, though full of light, are mere shadows to these men of guns and blood and violence.

Yes, in this volume of Trigun, our hero Vash takes a bit of a rest, and he certainly deserves one. So, now we’ll study a boyhood relationship, one that, in this very volume, just might come to a destructive and angry end. Though, it may be a bit tough for either one of these “friends” to knock each other off. They both have secrets up their sleeves, and Livio, well he might even have an extra sleeve!

As always, published in the ever-popular non-westernized format, with Yasuhiro Nightow’s commentary in the back and the comical original black-and-white covers printed on the inside.

• Presented in a fashion directly approved by Nightow himself.

USAGI YOJIMBO #93

STAN SAKAI (W/A)

On sale April 26, b&w, 24pg, $2.99

World-renowned storyteller Stan Sakai explores a very important part of Japanese culture in this special issue of Usagi Yojimbo. After an eventful stay, the time has come for Usagi to continue his wandering travels and bid farewell to the Geishu Province. Before he goes, he and Tomoe will first partake in the chanoyu—the formal tea ceremony. But is there something besides tea brewing between the two of them? Meanwhile, unbeknownst to either of the pair, arrangements are being made for Tomoe’s marriage.

This unusual issue explores the stylized, spiritual event of the tea ceremony, which epitomizes the feeling of Zen. Sakai’s attention to the historical details of Usagi’s feudal environment is a hallmark of the series, and this focus is highlighted this month in “Chanoyu”!

• Usagi Yojimbo was nominated for four Eisner Awards in 2005, including Best Writer/Artist for Sakai!

VINTAGE KELLOGG’S™ SNAP, CRACKLE, AND POP!® PVC SET AND VINTAGE KELLOGG’S™ CHARACTER #6: SNAP®

On sale August 30, Vintage Kellogg’s™ Character #6: Snap!®, packaged in a litho-printed full-color tin box with a vintage-style pinback button, and booklet, $49.95

On sale August 16, Vintage Kellogg’s™ Snap! Crackle! Pop!® PVC Set, featuring the three elves together in musical-themed poses, $14.99

With 2006 marking the 100th anniversary of the Kellogg Company, Dark Horse has been busy digging through the Kellogg’s™ archives! Our Vintage Kellogg’s™ merchandise includes an eight-character series of statuettes in our Vintage Kellogg’s™ Character Series, vinyl figures, tin signs, and a Snap! Crackle! Pop!® PVC Set.

We are pleased to present Snap!® this month as the sixth statue in our Vintage Kellogg’s™ character series. (Watch for syroco sculpts of his brothers Crackle!® and Pop!® in the months to follow!)

Our Snap!® statue was sculpted by Yoe! Studios, in a style that recalls the 1940’s sculpting and painting style of “syroco” statues. Each statuette comes packaged in a litho-printed full-color tin box with a vintage-style pinback button and booklet about Snap!® and Kellogg’s™. The statue is available in an extremely limited edition of 500 pieces.

Our Vintage Kellogg’s™ Snap! Crackle! Pop!® PVC Set features the three elves together in musical-themed poses. This whimsical band of brothers will bring a smile to that kid inside of you!


APRIL CHECKLIST

COMICS
ArchEnemies #1 • $2.99
B.P.R.D.: The Universal Machine #1 • $2.99
Blade of the Immortal #112: On the Perfection of
Anatomy part 1 • $2.99
Conan #27 • $2.99
Conan: Book of Thoth #2 • $4.99
Goon #17 • $2.99
Space Pinchy: The Laboratory of Love • $2.99
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #4 • $2.99
Star Wars: Rebellion—My Brother, My Enemy #1 • $2.99
Star Wars: Tag & Bink—Revenge of the Clone Menace • $2.99
Usagi Yojimbo #93 • $2.99

TRADE PAPERBACKS AND HARDCOVERS
Aeon Flux (trade-paperback collection) • $12.95
Conan Volume 3: The Tower of the Elephant and Other Stories (hardcover collection) • $24.95
Conan Volume 3: The Tower of the Elephant and Other Stories (trade-paperback collection) • $15.95
Concrete: Think Like a Mountain (trade-paperback collection) • $12.95
Dreadful Ed (hardcover edition) • $12.95
Eden: It’s an Endless World! Volume 3 (trade-paperback collection) • $12.95
Gungrave Archive (trade-paperback collection) • $19.95
Ju-On Volume 2 (trade-paperback collection) • $9.95
Nexus Archives Volume 3 (hardcover collection) • $49.95
Scary Book Volume 2: Insects (trade-paperback collection) • $13.95
Star Wars: Honor and Duty (trade-paperback collection) • $12.95
The Creature From the Black Lagoon: Time’s Black Lagoon (novel) • $6.99
Trigun Maximum Volume 9 (trade-paperback collection) • $9.95

SPECIALITY ITEMS
Casper Fishing Figurine • $24.99
Casper Snow Globe • $7.99
Favole Portfolio • $19.99
Hot Stuff 10" Plush • $24.99
Hot Stuff 20" Plush • $49.99
Hot Stuff 3-Piece PVC Set • $12.99
Hot Stuff in Match Box Mini Statuette • $34.99
Hot Stuff Pitchfork Guitar Figurine • $24.99
Hot Stuff with Bib Figurine • $24.99
Hot Stuff with Grin Mini Statuette • $34.99
Kotobukiya Commander Bly Soft Vinyl Model Kit • $99.99
Kotobukiya Robocop • $9.99
Kotobukiya Robocop and ED 209 • $9.99
Kotobukiya Robocop Bust • $9.99
Kotobukiya Robocop mixed case • $119.88
Kotobukiya Robocop with Flight Pack • $9.99
Kotobukiya Robocop: ED 209 • $9.99
KotobukiyaRobocop: MK-2 • $9.99
Serenity Ornament • $19.99
Serenity Zippo® Lighter • $29.99
Shmoo Vinyl Figure • $17.99
Vintage Kellogg’s™ Character #6: Snap!® • $49.95
Vintage Kellogg’s™ Snap! Crackle! Pop!® PVC Set • $14.99


Dark Horse Comics®, Rocket Comics™, Extra™, Dark Horse Presents™, Crush™, DHP™, The Mask™, Barb Wire™, Galactic™, Ghost™, Go Boy 7™, Dark Horse Heroes™, Hell™, Lone™, The Nevermen™, SpyBoy™, Syn™, Dark Horse Classics™, The Nevermen™, The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings™, The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft™, and the Dark Horse logo are all trademarks of Dark Horse Comics, Inc. • Aeon Flux © 2006 MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. AEON FLUX™ and all related titles and logos are trademarks of MTV Networks, a division of Viacom International Inc. • Text and illustrations of ArchEnemies™ © 2006 Drew Melbourne.• Casper and Hot Stuff © 2006 Harvey Entertainment, Inc. Hot Stuff , its logos, names, and related indicia are trademarks of Harvey Entertainment, Inc. Casper, its logos, names, and related indicia are trademarks of Harvey Entertainment, Inc. • Creature from the Black Lagoon. • Blade of the Immortal © 2006 by Hiroaki Samura. All rights reserved. New and adapted artwork and text copyright 2006 Dark Horse Comics, Inc. • B.P.R.D™ © 2006 Mike Mignola. • Conan® and Conan the Barbarian® (including all prominent characters featured in this issue) and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Conan Properties International, LLC unless otherwise noted. All contents © Conan Properties International, LLC unless otherwise noted. • Concrete™ © 2006 Paul Chadwick. • Text and illustrations of Dreadful Ed™ © 2006 Andrew Cosby and Troy Nixey. • Eden © 2006 Hiroki Endo. All rights reserved. First published in Japan in 1998 by Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo. Publication rights for this English edition arranged through Kodansha Ltd. • Favole © 2006 Victoria Frances / Represented by Norma Editorial, S.A., Spain. • Goon™ © 2006 Eric Powell.• GUNGRAVE KOUSHIKI SETTEI SHIRYOUSYU – ARCHIVES - GUNGRAVE O.D. KOUSHIKI SETTEI SHIRYOUSYU – ARCHIVES - © RED/Yasuhiro Naito 2002, 2004, 2006. © Softbank Publishing Inc. Originally published in Japan in 2003-2004 by SOFTBANK Publishing Inc., Tokyo. English translation rights arranged through TOHAN CORPORATION, Tokyo. • JU-ON – video side – © MIKKI RINNO 2003. © Toei Video Company 2003. Originally published in Japan in 2003 by KADOKAWA SHOTEN PUBLISHING, Co., Ltd., Tokyo. English translation rights arranged with KADOKAWA SHOTEN PUBLISHING, Co., Ltd., Tokyo through TOHAN CORPORATION, Tokyo. • Text and illustrations copyright © 2006 Mike Baron and Steve Rude. Nexus® is a registered trademark of Mike Baron and Steve Rude. All other prominently featured characters are trademarks of Mike Baron and Steve Rude. • Robocop, Robocop 2, and Robocop 3™ & © 1987-2006 Orion Pictures Corporation. Licensed by MGM Consumer Products. All rughts reserved.. • Serenity © 2006 Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. “Serenity” is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. • (Scary Book) KOWAI HON volume 2 © KAZUO UMEZU 2003. Originally published in Japan by ASAHI SONORAMA CO., LTD., Tokyo. English translation rights arranged through TOHAN CORPORATION, Tokyo. • Shmoo® & © 2006 Capp Enterprises, Inc. • Space Pinchy © 2006 Tony Takezaki. All rights reserved. First published in Japan by Kodansha Ltd., Tokyo. Publication rights for this English edition arranged through Kodansha Ltd. • Star Wars© Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All rights reserved. Used under authorization. • Trigun Maximum © YASUHIRO NAITO 2000. Originally published in Japan in 2000 by SHONEN GAHOSHA Co., Ltd., TOKYO. English translation rights arranged with SHONEN GAHOSHA Co., Ltd., TOKYO through TOHAN CORPORATION, TOKYO. English translation copyright © Dark Horse Comics, Inc./Digital Manga, Inc. • Usagi Yojimbo™ © Stan Sakai.


Kellogg’s:

Cornelius, Sugar Pops Pete, Tony the Tiger, Toucan Sam ® TM © 2005 Kellogg NA Co. Used with permission under license.

Pre-order these and other Dark Horse titles online now from X-World Comics and save!

[Ovid]

That new Star Wars: Rebellion - My Brother, My Enemy looks good. Doesn't say if it's an ongoing, though.

[Jos1988]

It is one of the ongoings but it is in the style of the BPRD series - ongoing miniseries

[Jesse Baer]

That Serenity ornament looks pretty nice, I'd be tempted to buy it, but I doubt my comic store will get it, or I'd find it anywhere else.
I'd really like to get some Serenity collectibles, but the lighter doesn't interest me, hopefully they'll release some other stuff later.

[Matt Lazorwitz]

Whoo-Hoo! More Tag & Bink is always good. And as much as I love Hellboy, the BPRD without him has just been getting better and better, and I'm looking forward to this new mini. And I'm definitely looking forward to Rebellion. Janek Sunber has become one of my favorite EU characters.