Tag: Dark Horse Comics

A Fantastic Slug-Fest is Coming in Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Aliens Starting Next Month! A Review

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

With the chilling words from a mutant from the Judge Dredd universe registering the imminent, “With the right DNA, Doctor Reinstöt can do almost anything,” I’m immediately captivated. This mad scientist recognizes the possibilities when playing god, and yes, he’s going to make an all-new Modern Prometheus if I’m correctly reading in-between the lines.

Predator vs Judge Dredd vs Aliens is coming July 27th by Dark Horse Comics. If only I had a time machine to leap ahead so I can grab each issue right away, then I would know if my assumption is right or not. This epic story is written by Eisner Award–winning writer John Layman and wonderfully constructed by artist Chris Mooneyham. To add to this comic’s allure is the subtle film-like textures in the backgrounds by colourist Michael Atiyeh. If the fabulous covers drawn by Glenn Fabry are not enough to grab people’s attention at the comic book store, well… The way this team has worked together to make this comic a fun read can be felt on every page. Dredd is always moody (he has to be), and in what I appreciated looking at is in how easy this tale is to read.

While out in the Atomic Wasteland of Cursed Earth, this cop is searching for Archbishop Emoji. He does not realize a member of the Yautja is prowling about and when he does, I can not wait to see how he will react! That will not happen until issue two. In this multi-crossover debut, this Predator is not the hunter. He is prey, and the good doctor’s minions caught him ill-prepared; the targets he is after are perhaps even more resourceful. When these mutants stumble upon his ship and have found a certain “Alien” skull, that’s going to be trouble.

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Dark Horse Comics, Ed’s Picks of June and July 2016

Dark Horse LogoBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

As the month of June winds down and I need comics to read as those dog days of summer approaches, I’ve amassed enough graphic novels and comics to make my local comic shop owner give the thumbs up. A few have yet to be released, and thanks to Dark Horse Comics for providing enough of a sample to know I should start adding more titles to my comic book store’s subscription box. My picks range from all-ages (kid friendly) to ultra-violent (not so kid friendly).

Nothing against the superhero genre, but when this company does more for the independents and carries quite a few horror titles, I know where my money is going. Plus, with the Hellboy saga over, I hope an omnibus is being planned. I have lost track of the reading order and a collection can make for a perfect Halloween treat.

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Colouring Books for All Ages Are Coming this October from Dark Horse Comics!

Bait: Off-Color Stories for You to Color
Available to pre-order on AmazonDark Horse Comics
By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Dark Horse Comics says colouring books are no longer for kids and this will become a fact come October 2016. In addition to the first release by best-selling author Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) and featuring art from Lee Bermejo, Kirbi Fagan, Duncan Fegredo, Alise Gluškova, Joëlle Jones, Steve Morris, Tony Puryear and Marc Scheff, Bait: Off-Color Stories For You To Colour a collection of eight short stories with nearly 50 pieces of black and white illustrations for readers to put their mark in, two more books are being offered! For fans of Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko‘s Avatar: The Last Airbender and Joss Whedon‘s Serenity, perhaps this company is saying to those big boys and girls that it’s okay to “borrow” those crayons, watercolour sets and coloured chalk from their little brothers or sisters (conversely, the adults to play with their kids) to paint onto heavyweight paper their own interpretations of the costumes worn by Aang, Katara, Toph or Azula — to name a few — or Malcolm Reynolds,  Zoe Washburne or Hoban.

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Dark Horse’s Death Head TPB is Pecking at your Shoulders

28194By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Urban legends can become the stuff of new nightmares and when there’s a mysterious figure by the name of Plague Doctor creating the terror, I’m hoping that he does not come knocking at my door! Dark Horse Comics‘ trade paperback release of Death Head by Zack and Nick Heller came out at the beginning of June, and I had to work up the nerve to read it in one go. There’s a sense of unease to wondering who is wearing that beaked mask, and there’s only one way to find out. I could have bought the individual issues when it originally came out, but there’s some serials I just do not have the patience for. To read this story all in one go was more satisfying.

At the start of this journey, Niles and Justine are introduced. They are out on a backtracking trip at a national park searching for Death-Head Hawkmoths. If that doesn’t sound ominous enough, young ‘Bee’ Burton meets a ghost of a murdered young girl. She saves him from falling to his death. Not every spirit has to be bad, and for her, the many long years of loneliness seems to have come to an end. For Maggie, her tale at living at an all-girls school sounds like a formula for a slasher flick. Readers will not clue in right away that these four are a family. Three tales are introduced and how it all converges makes for some good late night fun.

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Tales From an Early Rider … er Reader of Dark Horse Comics in Salute to Dark Horse Day

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

In my days as a fervent comic book reader, I think I bought more Dark Horse Comics than Marvel or DC combined. Nothing against the big two from out East, but this company based in the Dogwood City of the West in the Beaver State released a lot of translated manga, movie-tie in material and unique titles that I definitely gnawed at! Two of the earliest works I enjoyed reading were Aliens and Predator. Of the two, I got my very first issue signed by the artist Chris Warner when he visited my home city of Victoria, BC in a special book tour. A few decades later, I managed to get my Aliens portfolio (my original comics were buried too deep in storage to pull out in time for Emerald City Comicon a few years ago) autographed by Mark A. Nelson .

This publisher is celebrating the big three-o this year, and their big day is being celebrated worldwide on June 3rd. Appropriately enough, they have a release to give out for free which includes an Aliens versus Predator story. This comic book recalls 30 years of their best-selling titles. I’m very curious in which stories get reprinted, but there will be new material too. The worlds represented are Sin City, Umbrella Academy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Best of all, the distribution of this comic is not limited to North America; it’s international! Comic stores from around the world will be offering swag which includes mini-posters, window clings and postcards. Please check with your local comic book retailer if they are participating; the list is huge.

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Details on Dark Horse Comic’s All Ages FCBD Sampler for Readers who Missed It

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

It’s hard to believe two weeks have passed since Free Comic Book Day. I read everything I obtained, and in what I’ve reread several times is in what Dark Horse Comics has planned for continuing the saga in Legend of Korra and How to Train Your Dragon. The further misadventures of Plants vs Zombies is offered too.

No street dates have officially been announced for either yet, but I’m suspecting it should arrive late Summer. Since not everyone may have picked up this sampler, I thought I should offer a detailed look at what was missed.

The teaser offered in Korra is a prelude to the events from the series. Here, readers learn how Korra met her pet and protector, Naga. This tale is very heartwarming and adorable. Many years are not told to show their mutual growth before the episode, “Welcome to Republic City” takes place. If there’s ever a chance to show a cute side to these characters, I hope further misadventures of young Korra will be included in the upcoming comic book release.

This tale is penned by Michael Dante DiMartino, co-creator of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. Die-hard fans will be familiar with his work in the graphic novel continuation of The Last Airbender. He receives full credit in the script in this tale. The youthful exuberance can be felt in this short story, and I hope he will be directly involved in the coming series this comic book company is producing. Heather Campbell illustrated and Vivian Ng coloured this tale, and reading this comic was like watching the animation all over again.

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