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.
Earth, still Hell
They haven’t been afraid to really mess with the status quo on B.P.R.D., even when it’s working really well. That kind of element of surprise has made this a must-read for a very long time. Here’s the next step. Plus, they’re hunting monsters!
B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: THE LONG DEATH #1 (of 3)
Mike Mignola (W/Variant cover), John Arcudi (W), James Harren (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Duncan Fegredo (Cover)
On sale Feb 15
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
MiniseriesA B.P.R.D. task force is assembled to solve a new series of disappearances in the deadly woods from New World. As the team works together to find the monster responsible, tensions arise over one another’s loyalties!
What is best in comics?
Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan on Conan! If it’s not for you, that’s fine, but if it sounds like it is, you’re blowing it if you miss this one.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1
Brian Wood (W), Becky Cloonan (A/Variant cover), Dave Stewart (C), and Massimo Carnevale (Cover)
On sale Feb 8
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
OngoingIn 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!
The Pope-a is coming!
You’ve got Paul Pope, Neal Adams, Mike Mignola, Steve Lieber, Geof Darrow and more in one issue. That’ll do.
DARK HORSE PRESENTS #9
Paul Pope (W/A), Neal Adams (W/A), Brian Wood (W), Mike Mignola (W/Cover), M. J. Butler (W), Caitlín R. Kiernan (W), Steve Horton (W), Michael Dialynas (A), Andrew Vachss (W), Kristian Donaldson (A), Joe Querio (A), Mark Wheatley (A), Thomas Yeates (A/Variant cover), Steve Lieber (A), and Geof Darrow (A)
On sale Feb 22
FC, 80 pages
$7.99
OngoingComics superstar Paul Pope returns to the pages of DHP, an assassin stalks her prey aboard the world’s largest pirate ship in Annala’s Blade, and Mike Mignola’s hard-boiled pulp hero Lobster Johnson blasts his way through more of the world’s most sinister evils!
It’s called the Burning Hand because his hand burns
A cover by Dave Johnson and interiors by Tonci Zonzic from Who is Jake Ellis? might be enough reason on it’s own to keep checking out this series. But besides that, anyone who’s read Lobster Johnson must love Lobster Johnson. It’s a fact.
LOBSTER JOHNSON: THE BURNING HAND #2 (of 5)
Mike Mignola (W), John Arcudi (W), Tonci Zonjic (A), Dave Stewart (C), and Dave Johnson (Cover)
On sale Feb 8
FC, 32 pages
$3.50
MiniseriesWith a city swamped in dead gangsters with claws branded into their foreheads, mob boss Arnie Wald seeks the assistance of a deadly mystic and her strange partner to take down the vigilante known as Lobster Johnson!
“Buxom Cyclops”
Richard Corben in his comfort zone is a wonderful and deeply icky thing.
MURKY WORLD
Richard Corben (W/A)
On sale Feb 8
b&w, 32 pages
$3.50
One-shotIn a bizarre land populated by hungry deadlings, cruel necromancers, and buxom cyclops, Tugat the warrior sets out to retrieve his lost horse Frix. Collecting Corben’s standout run in Dark Horse Presents.
A long, long, long, long, long time ago…
There is literally no limit to the amount of Star Wars stories that can be produced. So here’s a new place to start.
STAR WARS: DAWN OF THE JEDI #1 (of 5)
John Ostrander (W), Jan Duursema (P/Cover), Dan Parsons (I), Wes Dzioba (C), and Gonzalo Flores (Variant cover)
On sale Feb 15
FC, 40 pages
$3.50
MiniseriesOn the planet Tython, in the center of the galaxy, an order of warrior monks strives to maintain peace and to balance the mysterious power known as the Force. But a stranger is coming―one who will destroy both peace and balance, and open the galaxy to exploration and conquest. This is where it all begins!
Those are our picks. The full list of Dark Horse’s offerings in February 2012 can be found here.
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Loving this series of articles, really helpful for preordering
Dark Horse Presents might be my most anticipated monthly comic currently. The line up for #9 looks AMAZING (though I’m sad that Carla Speed McNeildoesn’t appear to be in the issue. Finder is so good, I hope it comes back soon)
Issue #6 out this week also chalk full of great creators.
I keep meaning to go back to that. #1 disappointed me so much but I hear it gets better.
#1 was marred by a pointless Frank Miller and Star Wars preview that took up too much space. Follow-up issues replaced that junk with actual content, so the value improves considerably. I’m just glad to have another anthology series that embraces the serial format. To many anthologies are all about ‘done-in-one’ stories that make it impossible for me to stay interested in the long run. Serials make me want to come back every issue. Which is important IMO.
So yes. IMO it gets a LOT better. I think issue 3 is where I feel it really hits its stride.
Aww, man. Thought Conan was coming out sooner than February.
So, even though it’s the very beginning of the Jedi and all that, they still have lightsabers? Because I’d think there’d have to be a time where they had, I don’t know, regular swords? Technology seems to have stopped advancing in the SW universe a long, long time ago.
I thought lightsabers were the “regular swords” of the Star War universe?
Yeah, but there had to be something before it. You don’t just go from the cave to manipulating photons into hard light you can cut with. Then again, this could just be me imposing my Sci Fi brain on a fantasy world.
So you think a caveman would be incapable of grasping the fundamental laws of science? I find that quite racist.
I’m not a racist, but cavemen just smell different.
Won’t argue with you there.
The guy in the middle of the cover on the right has what looks like a regular sword.
@Bryce Damn, I didn’t notice that. Who knew that’s all it would take to get me interested in a SW book?
Lobster Johnson, BPRD and Hellboy in Hell have me very excited for next year in Mike Mignola’s universe of books. These books just seem to get better and better.
I agree, and the artists Mignola and Allie get are always fantastic. I am glad to hear Tonci from Jake Ellis is getting more work and Lobster Johnson is a great book for him.
Ya know what, I’m totally down for Wood/Cloonan on Conan the Barbarian!
Me too.
A new Star Wars mini by Ostrander and Duursema? I’ll probably check it out, Legacy was pretty good for a while. I’ve always liked the KoTOR era Star Wars that takes place why in the past so this one sounds up my alley.