comic book

IDW to Appear at First UK Convention in February

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Publisher will have booth, panels, exclusives at the inaugural London Super Comic Convention
IDW Publishing will be attending our first-ever UK comic convention when the inaugural London Super Comic Convention, kicks off the weekend of February 25th. In addition to having a booth on the show floor, IDW’s Chief Creative Offier/Editor-in-Chief Chris Ryall will be in attendance participating in an IDW panel, doing portfolio reviews, and promising an exclusive announcement or two as well. The show is billing itself as “the U.K.’s Biggest American Creator-Driven Comic Convention.”

“I’m very happy to be present at the debut London Super Comic show and meeting the fans,” said Chris Ryall. “In fact, I feel like I owe it to our loyal UK fans to make a good first impression at one of their cons, so I’ll be announcing at least one gigantic new series, if not more.”

In addition to portfolio reviews, fans will have chance to pick up a con-exclusive cover for Infestation 2: Transformers, and get books signed by Ryall and creators such as Tony Lee, J.K. Woodward, Phil Jimenez, and others. A full signing and panel schedule will be announced as soon as it is finalized.

Visit IDWPublishing.com to learn more about the company and its top-selling books.

Visit http://www.londonsupercomicconvention.com for more information on the show. Or check out www.facebook.com/LondonSuperComicConvention and http://twitter.com/#!/LSComicCon

DARK HORSE ORIGINALS MAKE WAVES!

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MATT KINDT AND GILBERT HERNANDEZ RETURN WITH NEW PROJECTS! 

Dark Horse Originals is proud to announce two new amazing series from critically acclaimed creators Matt Kindt and Gilbert Hernandez!

Matt Kindt, the most original voice in genre comics, outdoes himself in his bold new espionage series, Mind MGMT. Reporting on a commercial flight where everyone aboard lost their memories, a young journalist stumbles onto a much bigger story, the top-secret Mind Management program. Her ensuing journey involves weaponized psychics, hypnotic advertising, talking dolphins, and seemingly immortal pursuers, as she attempts to find the flight’s missing passenger, the man who was Mind Management’s greatest success—and its most devastating failure. But in a world where people can rewrite reality itself, can she trust anything she sees? If you think you know what Matt Kindt can deliver, you haven’t seen anything yet!

Comics luminary Gilbert Hernandez envisions his strangest, most thrilling future yet in Fatima: The Blood Spinners, a horrifying new take on zombies! A drug called “spin” offers the wildest trip imaginable, followed by its users’ inevitable, rapid deterioration into undead flesh eaters. Despite the side effect, the drug is so popular that the human population is dying out! With no cure to be found, the beautiful, lovesick Fatima may be the only thing standing between the survivors and the apocalypse. Get ready for four issues of zombies, drug lords, and gorgeous women!

Also, announced last week was multiple Harvey and Eagle Award winner Peter Bagge’s Reset, which leads off the Dark Horse Originals variant-cover program.

Reset #1 is on sale April 18, 2012, and features a variant cover by Matt Kindt!

Mind MGMT #1 is on sale May 23, 2012, and features a variant cover by Gilbert Hernandez!

Fatima #1 is on sale June 20, 2012, and features a variant cover by Peter Bagge!

CONAN/GROO CROSSOVER! TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE!

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What was rumored as an April Fools’ joke has turned into a full-blown miniseries sure to bring laughs and excitement. Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce Groo vs. Conan!

It had to happen: The most heroic warrior in history meets the stupidest, as Robert E. Howard’s immortal Conan the Barbarian crosses swords with Sergio Aragonés’s Groo the Wanderer in Groo vs. Conan #1!

This four-issue miniseries was concocted by the Eisner Award–winning team of Mark Evanier and Sergio Aragonés, aided by master illustrator Thomas Yeates and master colorist Tom Luth. Will Conan annihilate Groo? Will Groo turn out to be the man who can defeat Conan? We’ll see.

Groo vs. Conan is on sale April 18, 2012!

RICH JOHNSTON CHARGED WITH MANY MURDERS! DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8

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From the mind of the infamous editor of Bleeding Cool, Rich Johnston, comes a three-part tale of gruesome gossip: The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne, set to premiere in Dark Horse Presents #8! Have you ever wondered how amateur detectives keep stumbling over dead bodies? Miss Cranbourne doesn’t. Because she kills them. Then finds someone else to pin the blame on. In “The Vicar Slash’d from Side to Side,” Miss Cranbourne is at odds with the local man of God, and so introduces him to his maker. But in a 1940s English village held together by gossip and sharp looks, how will Miss Cranbourne ensure people look in the direction she’d prefer? And what happens when a man from Scotland Yard arrives to take over the case? This is Dexter meets Miss Marple. “Some people wonder how comic book deals are done. Dark Horse publishing The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne was a handshake deal made while standing in line at Ralph’s during San Diego Comic-Con. I recommend it to anyone,” states Rich Johnston.

The artist behind the story is Simon Rohrmüller, whose previous one-shot with Johnston, Watchmensch, received critical acclaim. “Working on The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne was loads of fun, as aside from the interesting concept, it reunited me with Rich on a project again. Having worked with Rich in the past, and knowing how easy he is to work with, there really was nothing to it; I just jumped straight into it, knowing I’d have a great time,” said Rohrmüller. Dark Horse Presents #8 is on sale February 1, 2012!

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES THE PROMOTION OF MATT PARKINSON

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DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES

THE PROMOTION OF MATT PARKINSON

TO SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Dark Horse is pleased to announce the promotion of its former director of online marketing, Matt Parkinson, to the newly appointed title of senior director of Marketing.

Parkinson, who celebrated his sixth year with the company in 2011, will be moving into new responsibilities in overseeing the Dark Horse Marketing Department.

In his time at Dark Horse, Parkinson has been an instrumental part of the brand’s growth online, through the development and execution of advertising, cross promotions, and social-media strategies.

Along with Dark Horse’s senior managing editor, Scott Allie, and director of public relations, Jeremy Atkins, Parkinson helped to develop the company’s first foray into original online content with MySpace Dark Horse Presents. Following that, he managed and developed the DH:HD program, showcasing original eight-page stories from top Dark Horse properties on the USA Today comics web page. Additionally, he had a big hand in the development of the Dark Horse Digital comics strategy and website, and has acted as the company’s spokesperson for the initiative thus far.

“My time at Dark Horse has been one of the most satisfying experiences both personally and professionally,” said Matt Parkinson. “I have enjoyed working with Mike Richardson and the entire Dark Horse team, and look forward to new challenges and opportunities. I am truly proud to have played a part in the company’s rich history, and look forward to having a larger role in carrying Dark Horse’s message to the world.”

“We’re very excited by the vision Matt brings to his new position,” said Dark Horse president Mike Richardson. “With his experience, leadership ability, and knowledge of the comics market, he’s uniquely qualified to make an immediate impact on our marketing efforts.”

Richardson also praised the efforts of former VP of Marketing Micha Hershman, who leaves after a two-year stint to pursue opportunities in the field of animation. Richardson was quick to wish Hershman well in his new endeavor.

Please join us in congratulating Matt Parkinson on his past accomplishments, and wishing him luck in his new role in the company.

WIN THE DARK HORSE PRESENTS #10 ReLEASE PARTY!

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DARK HORSE PRESIDENT MIKE RICHARDSON VISITS YOUR COMIC SHOP!

You may be asking yourself why your issue of Previews features Dark Horse president Mike Richardson’s handsome mug.

Well, as we near the landmark tenth issue of Dark Horse’s flagship anthology, we are offering one very lucky comic shop the chance to host the official Dark Horse Presents #10 release party!

In addition to a king’s ransom in prizes, the winning store will receive a visit from Dark Horse president and founder Mike Richardson!

Here’s how the contest works:

Step 1: Cut out the Mike Richardson mask in this issue of Previews. Enter to win by commenting or posting images on the Dark Horse blog (http://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/777/mike-richardson-comes-your-store) beginning on December 28. You have until January 31 to tell us why your store deserves a day with Mike Richardson, or post a photo of yourself in the mask in your favorite store. Retailers may post as many photos as they can of store staff, customers, and people off the street. We’ll narrow it down to five finalists based solely on the number of comments and notify them the following day, February 1.

Step 2: After two more weeks of fierce competition, Dark Horse will pick from the five finalists, based subjectively on a combination of volume and creativity of the Mike photos and comments. The winning store will be announced in the February 13 FOC newsletter, and on the Dark Horse blog that same day.

Retailers: Tell us why your store deserves to host this exclusive event!

Fans: Here’s your chance to show your comic shop loyalty!

One entry per person.

The party will be held the day Dark Horse Presents #10 is released in stores. One store will win a release-night party package including:

200 various Dark Horse comics to give away
10 trades to give away
Dark Horse Comics key chains
An assortment of Dark Horse Comics buttons
4 Dark Horse Comics coffee mugs
Pizza
A store-exclusive Dark Horse Presents miniprint
And more!

The other four finalists will each receive 10 copies of Dark Horse Presents #10, signed by the big guy himself.

The fine print: No purchase necessary. You must be eighteen years of age or older to enter. Contest entries only accepted if they are submitted by 11:59p.m. (PDT), Jan. 31st, 2012, to be eligible. Winner will be selected, as determined at Dark Horse’s sole discretion, from all applicable entries and will be notified by Feb. 13th, 2012. Entry becomes the property of Dark Horse upon receipt. Entry constitutes agreement by winners to be publicized and permission to use each winner’s name for the purposes of promotion of the Contest without further compensation. Contest void where prohibited. Odds of winning dependent on number of entrants.

Preview of Dark Horse presents #8

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DARK HORSE PRESENTS #8 (KRISTIAN DONALDSON VARIANT COVER)

A brand-new B.P.R.D. story, the beginning of Brian Wood and Kristian Donaldson’s The Massive, new Skeleton Key, and the conclusion of Howard Chaykin’s Marked Man?

Join the legendary anthology as Dark Horse Presents commemorates the 100th Anniversary of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan with Thomas Yeates, unravels the mysteries surrounding Neal Adams’s Blood, Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson’s Beasts of Burden returns, and more great comics!

* Brand-new B.P.R.D., the conclusion of Chaykin’s Marked Man and more!

On sale February 1, 2012 – 80 Pages – No ads.

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Preview of CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1

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In this sweeping adaptation of Robert E. Howard’s fan-favorite “Queen of the Black Coast,” Conan turns his back on the civilized world and takes to the high seas alongside the pirate queen Bêlit, setting the stage for an epic of romance, terror, and swashbuckling. This is Conan as you’ve never seen him, with the combination of one of Robert E. Howard’s greatest tales and the most dynamic creative team in comics!

* A perfect jumping-on point for new readers!

*A bold, fresh take on the Cimmerian.

* “Queen of the Black Coast” is the most-requested Conanadaptation!

DARK HORSE PRESENTS: JOHN ARCUDI’S THE CREEP!

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With another incredible addition to the increasingly impressive lineup, Dark Horse Comics will publish John Arcudi’s three-part suicide mystery, The Creep, beginning in Dark Horse Presents #11!

In the summer of 1987, a young teenage boy commits suicide. The boy’s mother is unsatisfied with the police’s lack of interest in the motivation behind it, or what connection it might have to the suicide of the boy’s former best friend. She remembers that she heard an old college boyfriend of hers, Oxel, is a private detective. What she doesn’t know is Oxel suffers from a debilitating condition called acromegaly. Will the contact from his old flame be all that Oxel needs to take the case?

“Murder mysteries are common in suspense fiction, but you don’t hear much about suicide mysteries. Oxel starts to wonder if maybe he was hired to help this woman solve the riddle of her life more than that of her son’s death. But then, in the end, it turns out that this really is a suicide mystery, after all. And add to all that the additional layer of this ex-girlfriend knowing nothing about Oxel’s disfiguring illness, since she hasn’t seen him in 20 years,” Arcudi says. “And after seeing Jonathan’s Dear Creature, it struck me that he was perfect for The Creep and we were lucky to get him.”

“I’m very pleased to be working with Dark Horse again and a comics vet like John. We’re just getting into the swing of things, but I already have a lot of interesting material to draw. Since I’ll be coloring The Creep, it’s also a good chance to stretch myself artistically (most of my comics have been straight black and white). The fact that I get to do that in service of a good writer is icing on the cake.” – Jonathan Case

Dark Horse Presents #11 is on sale April 18th, 2012!