Heads Up: Dark Horse Comics Previews – June 2012

Being a comic fan can be tough. With so many publishers printing more and more books, canceling titles and starting new ones, it can be daunting when you head to the comic book shop on a Wednesday to know exactly what’s coming out.

The current system of presenting and ordering comics three months ahead of their release as set forth by the sole comics distributor, Diamond Comics, doesn’t make it any easier either. We’re not a fan of that system, we think it’s slowly strangling comics to death, but we realize it’s a harsh reality of how the industry works and we definitely don’t want you to miss out on any of the cool comics being published.

And so, as opposed to regurgitating the list of comics solicited in Previews each month, we present to you some of the highlights of things you probably won’t want to miss out on.

SPOILER WARNING – In order to get people to order comics, the publishers have a funny habit of revealing what’s happening in the books. If you don’t want anything at all to be spoiled, then you’ll probably want to skip this post and take your chances with your pre-orders and/or your shopping.


It’s probably not a real remedy

 

This series of mini-series that have nothing whatever to do with B.P.R.D. (as far as we know) has failed to disappoint at all, and with the same team back for more, what can possibly go wrong?

BALTIMORE: DR. LESKOVAR’S REMEDY #1 (of 2)

Mike Mignola (W/Variant cover), Christopher Golden (W), Ben Stenbeck (A/Cover), Dave Stewart (C)

On sale June 20
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Miniseries

An army of malformed vampires controls a small Croatian town, but Lord Henry Baltimore arrives to put an end to this madness, fighting his way to their creator―a twisted surgeon akin to Moreau and Mengele!

• Based on the novel by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden.

Layman on Aliens

 

There’s that Layman thing, but there’s also Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Noto on a rebooted Ghost.

DARK HORSE PRESENTS #13

John Layman (W), Kelly Sue DeConnick (W), Andrew Vachss (W), John Arcudi (W), Carla Speed McNeil (W/A/), Steve Niles (W), Tim Seeley (W/Variant cover), Francesco Francavilla (W/A), Dean Motter (W/A), Mike Baron (W), Sam Kieth (A), Jonathan Case (A), Phil Noto (A/Cover), Christopher Mitten (A), Victor Drujiniu (A), Geof Darrow (A), and Steve Rude (A)

On sale June 20
FC, 80 pages
$7.99
Ongoing

Dark Horse’s woman in white returns with a whole new twist as Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Noto reboot Ghost―a new incarnation of Elisa Cameron revived in the pages of Dark Horse Presents!

Dude’s a legend

 

Even legends of indie comics want in with the zombie craze.

FATIMA: THE BLOOD SPINNERS #1 (of 4)

Gilbert Hernandez (W/A/Cover) and Peter Bagge (Variant cover)

On sale June 20
b&w, 24 pages
$3.99
Miniseries

Comics luminary Gilbert Hernandez envisions his strangest, most thrilling future yet! 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!

It’s like, really big

 

We’re not kidding here. Huge. Huge.

THE MASSIVE #1

Brian Wood (W/Cover), Kristian Donaldson (A/Cover), Dave Stewart (C), and Rafael Grampá (Variant cover)

On sale June 13
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
Ongoing

In a post-war, post-crash, post-disaster, post-everything world, the environmental-action trawler Kapital scours the earth’s oceans for its mysteriously missing sister ship, The Massive. Captain Callum Israel, a man who has dedicated his life to the ocean, now must ask himself―as our planet dies―what it means to be an environmentalist after the world’s ended. Callum and his crew will come up against pirates, rebels, murderers, and thieves as they struggle to remain noble toward their cause. Can you save a planet that’s already doomed?

Get caught up on your Clone conflicts

400+ pages and I can nearly guarantee you’ll like it more than any 3D version of the prequels that makes it way out of those terrifying vaults.

STAR WARS OMNIBUS: CLONE WARS VOLUME 1―THE REPUBLIC GOES TO WAR TP

Various (W/A)

On sale Aug 22
FC, 408 pages
$24.99
TP, 6” x 9”

The Clone Wars explode across the galaxy! From the stormy seas of Kamino to the rocky hills of Devaron, the battle lines have been drawn, and the Jedi Knights who were once protectors of the peace must become generals, leading the clone armies of the Republic to war! These are the stories that were published immediately after the release of Attack of the Clones, featuring Jedi heroes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, and Quinlan Vos. Collects Clone Wars Volume 1: Defense of Kamino, Volume 2: Victories and Sacrifices, Volume 4: Light and Dark, and Free Comic Book Day 2006.


You want more? Check out Dark Horse’s full list of May solicitations.

Comments

  1. I actually feel bad that I don’t read any Dark horse books, as Dark horse is what got me back into comics in the 90s. Yet, if anyone told me one day I would be buying four books from image, I would have laughed and laughed and laughed.

    • Dude! Now’s the time to start. I recommend Dark Horse Presents. Everyone whines about the cover price, but at 80 pages with no ads, it’s the equivalent of 4 DC or Marvel comics for the price of 2 or 3 Big Two titles.

  2. Cover of the year for that Mignola variant.

  3. The Baltimore series are on my list to buys, been loving B.P.R.D. and Lobster Johnson series too.

  4. I’m still not sure if I actually want to read THE MASSIVE. The prologue in DHP really didn’t do anything for me (which is disappointing because I was rather hyped for it). I’m giving it a shot, if only because as a fan of science fiction comics I probably should. But if the first issue doesn’t grab me, I’m probably going to bail early.

    I’m actually currently more interested in Matt Kindt’s MIND MGMT. I liked Revolver, and this could be interesting.

    Other then that, its just Dark Horse Presents, Conan, and Resident Alien for me.

  5. Mmmm. Another Brian Wood ongoing!

  6. Avatar photo filippod (@filippodee) says:

    DHP: I’m especially looking forward DeConnick’s & Notos’ Ghost.

    FATIMA: I love G.Hernandez’s art but story-wise I was so bitten by Speak Of The Devil’s second half that I think I’ll pass this.

  7. What’s wrong with the Prequails?

  8. Awesome stuff. Baltimore looks fun as always, cool to see a real short focused arc and that Mignola cover is so good. I’m interested in the Massive as I trust Brian Wood has a good story cooked up. The really short prologue pieces in DHP are probably hard to judge yet as we’ve only had two and while the wow factor hasn’t kicked in yet, I’m definitely intrigued about what’s coming.