Marvel and Dark Horse Digital Comics

The brave new frontier of comics being digitally available is a great opportunity for techno-centric fans. Here’s the latest from Marvel (who have offered digital options for a while) plus the impressive offerings from the new Dark Horse Digital.

Experience FEAR ITSELF: THE WORTHY On The Marvel Comics App

Hey there True Believers, here’s your official list of comic books, hitting the Marvel Comics app on April 27, 2011. Now fans can experience their favorite Marvel heroes bursting into action on your iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch! Today, be the first to discover the secrets behind the summer’s hottest comics event in Fear Itself: The Worthy #1 – an all-new, story from acclaimed creators Christos Gage and Elia Bonetti! The first of eight weekly tales to come,Fear Itself: The Worthy #1 details the catastrophic rise to power of the Red Skull’s daughter, Sin, and her plans for the whole of the Marvel Universe now that she wields the mysterious of hammer of Skadi! And, best of all, the entire story is available for free on the Marvel app! Now’s the time to find out why Fear Itself has fans and critics raving!

And that’s not all! With a wide array of titles already available there is something for everyone! Stay tuned each week for a brand new list of Marvel releases so that you’ll never miss your favorite heroes in action.

To download the Marvel Comics app, visit: http://www.marvel.com/marvelcomicsapp

Here’s your official list of comic books, hitting the Marvel Comics app today!

Digital Comics On-Sale Today:

5 RONIN #5

ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST – QUASAR

(Annihilation: Conquest Prologue #1, Annihilation: Conquest – Quasar #1-4)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA #4

FEAR ITSELF: THE WORTHY #1

MARVEL BACKLIST CHRONOLOGY

MARVEL ZOMBIES 4

(Marvel Zombies 4 #1-4)

SECRET INVASION: INHUMANS

(Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1-4)

SPIDER-MAN: THE GAUNTLET VOL. 4 – JUGGERNAUT

(Amazing Spider-Man #626-629)

THOR BY WALT SIMONSON VOL. 1

(Thor #337-348)

ULTIMATE VISION

(Ultimate Vision #0-6)

WOLVERINE: FIRST CLASS VOL. 2 – TO RUSSIA, WITH LOVE

(Wolverine: First Class #5-8)

FREE This Week On The App:

CAPTAIN AMERICA #445

CAPTAIN AMERICA: FIRST VENGEANCE #1

CAPTAIN AMERICA: A LITTLE HELP #1

FEAR ITSELF SKETCHBOOK

SPIDER-MAN: A MEAL TO DIE FOR #1

SPIDER-MAN: YOU’RE HIRED #1

ULTIMATE SIX#1

VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTOR #1

DARK HORSE LAUNCHES DIGTIAL COMICS PROGRAM!

OVERWHELMING DEMAND CRASHES SERVERS!

Earlier today, Dark Horse’s iOS app and digital store went online and opened for business! Even after extensive load testing, demand for Dark Horse digital comics was still too high for our servers!  Thousands of fans rushed to download our digital comics, resulting in intermittent service outages.

The Dark Horse Comics iOS digital app is now available for free download in the iTunes store and comes loaded with the first full issue of Hellboy: Seed of Destruction. While we are still working on a native Android app, any device with a modern web browser can be used to read Dark Horse comics at Digital.DarkHorse.com.

Thanks to fans who signed up for our Dark Horse Digital newsletter, full first issues of Criminal MacabreAbe Sapien: The DrowningThe Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse SuiteMass Effect: Redemption, and Joss Whedon’s Fray are available in the digital store for free.

Other free comics available today include:

Beasts of Burden #1

Conan #0: Conan the Legend

Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom/Magnus, Robot Fighter (FCBD 2010)

Dungeon Siege III #1

Falling Skies #1, #2, and #3

Grendel: Behold the Devil #1

Kull: The Shadow Kingdom #1

Solomon Kane #1

Solomon Kane: Death’s Black Riders #1

The Terminator: Death Valley #0 and #1

The Terminator: 2029 #1

The Umbrella Academy #0

Dark Horse and Archaia FCBD Previews

FCBD (that’s Free Comic Book Day) occurs on the first Saturday of May each year. It’s a great initiative to get newbies to sample the awesomeness of today’s sequential art. Hopefully your LCS is participating. The first 2 publishers to promote their offerings for this year are Dark Horse and Archaia.

First up, the Horse, and this note from editor Scott Allie.

I really pushed to get our horror books in front of people for Free Comic Book Day. While there’s epic changes afoot in Hellboy, we also have big upcoming plans for Mignola’s Baltimore, and the FCBD story is a great intro to that. Niles and Criminal Macabre were away for a while, so we wanted to make this a strong comeback year. Steve’s showing you everything fun about the series in eight pages—monsters, mayhem, humor, and drug abuse. We’ll follow it up with the crossover with Eric Powell’s The Goon, and then another Cal oneshot this summer. We’re taking the character down a few pegs and starting his story fresh, so FCBD is really a perfect place to start. Free. All the new stuff is drawn by Chris Mitten, with amazing painted covers by Fiona Staples. We wanted to give the character a clean start with a really solid new team, so readers don’t have to have read everything that came before. But if you want to … there’s two omnibuses coming later this year, collecting everything that came before.

You can see an extra page from both both Criminal Macabre and Baltimore at Dark Horses’s blog.

And now – Archaia. With writer Brian Holguin (Spawn) and artist Alex Sheikman (Robotika) on the ’80s film based The Dark Crystal story and a peek at the just announced sequel to Return of the Dapper Men, this will be another one to pick up. Covers for the flipbook below.

MOUSE GUARD/THE DARK CRYSTAL Free Comic Book Day Flipbook

Retail Price: Free

Page Count: 32 pages

Format: saddle bound, 8” x 8”, full color

Release Date: May 7, 2011

(W) David Petersen and Brian Holguin

(A) David Petersen and Alex Sheikman

(Cov) The Dark Crystal – Brian Froud; Mouse Guard – David Petersen

Archaia presents two, amazing, all-new stories in one fantastic flipbook—David Petersen’s Eisner Award-winning MOUSE GUARD and Jim Henson’s beloved THE DARK CRYSTAL share the spotlight on Free Comic Book day! On one side of the book, a brand-new tale of the fan-favorite MOUSE GUARD, elite warrior mice tasked with protecting common mice from predators, the elements and other dangers. It’s the perfect introduction to MOUSE GUARD for new fans, and a rewarding treat for existing ones! On the other side of the book, Archaia Entertainment is proud to present an exclusive prelude to its forthcoming series of THE DARK CRYSTAL graphic novels, featuring covers, art direction and concepts by Brian Froud, conceptual designer of the original film! This prelude begins the epic creation story of the world of Thra, and explores the origins of the world of THE DARK CRYSTAL!

As a bonus, the issue will also contain a sneak peek of Jim McCann and Janet Lee’s TIME OF THE DAPPER MEN, a sequel to the critically acclaimed RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, coming this fall. Additionally, fans of Jim Henson will also get an advance look at TALE OF SAND, an original graphic novel coming in September based on a never-before-seen screenplay written by Henson and Jerry Juhl!

Dark Horse’s New Year’s Resolution Contest

You have until December 31, if you’re a North American resident that is, to put your NY resolution on the Dark Horse Comics blog. If your’s is one of the 3 best you win a swag of unspecified DH goodies. Now get thinking and commenting!

This Week’s Digital Marvel Releases

The digital comics revolution continues to build, with Dark Horse now on the bandwagon in what looks to be a rather promising programme, beginning next month. Customers who want to save money and paper should be happy. Here’s the first press release from Marvel that focuses squarely on their new digital releases (and freebies) this week.

Experience X-Men #1, the Number One Comic Of All Time, Only On the Marvel Comics App

Hey there True Believers, here’s your official list of comic books, hitting the Marvel Comics app on December 1, 2010. Now fans can experience their favorite Marvel heroes bursting into action on your iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch! With a wide array of titles already available there is something for everyone! Stay tuned each week for a brand new list of Marvel releases so that you’ll never miss your favorite heroes in action!

To download the Marvel Comics app, visit: http://www.marvel.com/marvelcomicsapp

Don’t forget to fan us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marvelcomicsapp!

Here’s your official list of comic books, hitting the Marvel Comics app today!

Digital Comics On-Sale Today:

CIVIL WAR: HOUSE OF M

(Civil War: House of M #1-5)

FANTASTIC FOUR: THE NEW FANTASTIC FOUR

(Fantastic Four #347-349)

GHOST RIDER: DANNY KETCH CLASSIC VOL.1

(Ghost Rider #6-10)

INCREDIBLE HULK: PLANET SKAAR

(Planet Skaar Prologue #1, Son of Hulk #7-12)

LOKI #1

KLAWS OF THE PANTHER #1

MARVEL HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR 2010

(Marvel Holiday Magazine #1-4) *All-New Material*

SPIDER-MAN: BACK IN QUACK #1

THOR BY DAN JURGENS & JOHN ROMITA JR. VOL. 3

(Thor #14-17, Iron Man #21-22, Peter Parker: Spider-Man #11 and Juggernaut: The Eighth Day #1)

THOR: FIRST THUNDER #2

VALKYRIE #1

X-MEN: MUTANT GENESIS

(X-Men #1-7)

FREE This Week On The App:

MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #1

NOVEMBER SNEAK PEEKS

SPIDER-MAN: YOU’RE HIRED #1

SPIDER-MAN SAGA

SON OF HULK #7

THOR #14

Work At Dark Horse

If you have mad graphic design skills and want to work at one of the best comic publishers around, here’s the opportunity for you. Deatils below and here.

Graphic Designer

Do you have publishing design experience? Can you make a fabulous comic book logo? Do you have an interest in popular culture and the portfolio to back it up?

We would love to see your work.

Dark Horse Comics is seeking a creative, motivated and organized graphic designer to join our team.

Your projects will include (but are not limited to): catalog layout, marketing material production, publishing and advertising resizes, typesetting of novels, logo design, book design, 3-D packaging and more!

The ideal candidate will be able to learn quickly and meet the following expectations:

  • Ability to multi-task and work quickly under tight deadlines
  • Work well in a team environment and/or independently
  • Have a great design sense
  • Interest in popular culture
  • Have a Get the job done right the first time attitude

Requirements:

  • Must be detail oriented and organized.
  • Great communication skills (both written and verbal)
  • 4-color printing experience
  • Is a whiz at InDesign
  • Web experience a plus but not manditory

We are a Mac/CS5 environment.

We offer great competitive benefits, a creative, fun and casual work environment. This is a full-time position. Salary is dependent upon experience.

Ideal samples include examples of: Logo design, typography, layout, Photoshop skill, advertising, 3-D packaging and book jacket designs. Any illustrative skills, a text-heavy piece and 3 fun things that show creativity, ingenuity, or who you are.

For qualified and interested candidates, please send a cover letter, resume, samples and salary requirements (a must) to: Mail to (preferred method): Dark Horse Comics, Inc., Attn. HR/ Art Director, 10956 SE Main Street Milwaukie, OR 97222. Or Email: jobs@darkhorse.com (attention: Art Director)

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE!

Angel Moves To Dark Horse

This is quite a surprise, but a welcome one. Angel will be moving from IDW to Dark Horse, who are also the publishers of Buffy. Details and covers below.

ANGEL RETURNS TO DARK HORSE COMICS

Joss Whedon’s vampire detective to continue his adventures in new title running alongside Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Nine

Dark Horse Comics is thrilled to announce that Joss Whedon’s Angel will return to the Dark Horse stable in 2011. Dark Horse’s Angel will bring the beloved characters from Whedon’s longest-running shows under one roof, allowing for new and exciting explorations of the Buffyverse featuring favorites from the casts of both series.

“I’ve always regretted letting Angel go in the first place,” Dark Horse senior managing editor Scott Allie said. “So we’re really excited about getting him back, as well as all his supporting cast. It’s necessary for how Joss wants to handle season nine, details of which will start spilling out in the months to come. Right now, we’ve got to wrap up season eight, and IDW still has a good long run of books before season nine starts.”

IDW Publishing confirmed today that it will launch the company’s final Angel story arc in November. This closing six-issue arc will serve as a bridge to Dark Horse Comics, which will pick up the series in late 2011. Under the direction of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel creator Joss Whedon, all parties are working together for as seamless a transition as possible. The companies have been coordinating story lines in both Dark Horse’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight and IDW’s Angel, creating a greater sense of cohesion and cooperation to ensure that this transition is true to both ongoing story lines and to the faithful fans of both series.

Dark Horse Bring it up a Notch

Let’s face it, comics publishers are behind the game when it comes to blogs, leaving fans to pick up the slack. DC only got a blog a few months ago, but now Dark Horse is coming to the party. It launched on May 26 with little fanfare and this humble message.

Welcome to the Dark Horse Blog!

Swing on by every week for comics news, creator interviews, and exclusive content available no where else online! See something you like? Tell us about it in our comment section! Or is you’re feeling particularly ambitious, link to us on Twitter and Facebook. Check back every week and see what’s new at Darkhorse.com!

–Max Sato, Blog Guy

In the days since, though it’s been worth visiting, with previews of upcoming releases such as Hellboy and Star Wars and news such as Dark Horse’s recent exciting partnership with Toshiba and USA Today. Check out the Dark Horse blog here.

Mesmo Delivery Review

It’s been a while since I’ve done a review for Broken Frontier as I’ve been rather busy these last few months with my magazine…adventures, but Mesmo Delivery from Dark Horse was too tantalising to ignore. Rafael Grampa’s OGN is definitely worth a look, if you like mad visuals and blunt but creative Tarantinoesque storytelling. Here’s an excerpt of my review:

This crazy original graphic novel has been widely praised, and deservedly so. Originally self published and distributed by AdHouse Books, this new edition from Dark Horse is complemented with a new cover, a Brian Azzarello foreword, and a juicy sketchbook section. Brazilian creator Rafael Grampa’s work of sequential art is a manic display of what is possible in this medium. It’s a dizzying joy to behold, and is filled with so many non-American approaches to presenting a story in comics form that it screams its newness after only the first few pages.

Read the rest of the review here.

Star Wars: Knight Errant and New Invasion

Press release from Dark Horse below about a new Star Wars series from writer John Jackson Miller (Knights of the Old Republic), and under that – solicitation info regarding Tom Taylor’s and Colin Wilson’s continuing Invasion series which kicks off in May. Yay!

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES ALL-NEW STAR WARS™ SERIES, KNIGHT ERRANT!

AS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC DRAWS TO A CLOSE, WRITER JOHN JACKSON MILLER MOVES TO AN UNCHARTED CORNER OF THE GALAXY!

Coming off the heels of penning the breakout hit Mass Effect: Redemption and the gripping finale of Knights of the Old Republic, writer John Jackson Miller introduces us to Kerra Holt, a young Jedi who’s about to realize that her role in the galaxy is far more important, and vastly different, than she could have ever imagined.

Set one thousand years before Episode I, in a time referred to as the “Dark Age of the Republic,” this story takes place in an era when the Sith were legion and the Republic was strained to the breaking point, leaving large swaths of the galaxy with no one to turn to. This pivotal time in the history of Star Wars has been largely unexplored, until now.

Additionally, for the first time ever, the writer of this new comics series will also be authoring a novel for Del Rey Books, set in the same era and involving the same cast of characters in an all-new adventure. It’s going to be a unique event for Star Wars, and one that will give fans a whole new perspective on the galaxy.

“There’s such wonderful chaos going on in the galaxy in this period,” said writer John Jackson Miller. “More than a generation before Darth Bane introduced the Rule of Two, Sith Lords are colliding not just with the Republic, but with each other. Kerra’s going to find that good intentions just may not be enough in a galaxy gone mad! This is a wide-open area to explore, and I’m thrilled that Dark Horse and Del Rey have given me this opportunity to do so.”

“With John writing both the comics and the novel, Knight Errant will be a Star Wars story on a scale we’ve never undertaken before,” said comic-series editor Dave Marshall. “This will be a first-of-its-kind opportunity to introduce the Expanded Universe of the Dark Horse comics to the fans of the Del Rey novels and vice versa!”

With more news in the coming months, look for Star Wars: Knight Errant to arrive on shelves later this fall!

STAR WARS: INVASION—RESCUES #1 (of 6)
Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)
On sale May 26
FC, 40 pages
$2.99
Ongoing

The Yuuzhan Vong invasion spreads death and destruction across the galaxy, leaving behind ravaged worlds with little hope of survival . . . Artorias, the homeworld of the Galfridian family lay in the path of the Yuuzhan Vong armada—and now, though separated, Finn, Kaye, Nina, and Caled work to fight the invaders with the hope that one day they will again be together on their peaceful planet.
Finn studies at the Jedi temple with Luke Skywalker and the grown Jedi children of Han Solo and Princess Leia! Kaye and Nina use a Yuuzhan Vong slave ship to attack their former captors! Caled raises forces on Artorias—not knowing the danger from one of his trusted allies!
• A new era in Star Wars comics!
Luke Skywalker’s galaxy under siege!

Mesmo Delivery Preview

On Feb 3 Dark Horse is releasing a unique OGN from Rafael Grampa. Below are what the Horse say about it, plus a few random pages. See more here.

When the Mesmo Delivery truck rolls into town, a heap of trouble is sure to follow.

Eisner Award-winning artist Rafael Grampá (5, Hellblazer) makes his full-length comics debut with the critically acclaimed graphic novel Mesmo Delivery — a kinetic, bloody romp starring Rufo, an ex-boxer; Sangrecco, an Elvis impersonator; and a ragtag crew of overly confident drunks who pick the wrong delivery men to mess with.

* Mesmo Delivery features an extended sketchbook section from creator Rafael Grampá and pinups from top comics creators Eduardo Risso, Mike Allred, Craig Thompson, and Fabio Moon! Introduction by Brian Azzarello.

* “I love [Mesmo Delivery] . . . It’s fantastic. [Rafael Grampá is] a major new talent.”-Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Joker)

* “[Mesmo Delivery] showcases the spectacular panache of Grampá’s Grand Guignol linework . . .”-Publishers Weekly

Star Wars: Invasion TPB

Thanks to writer Tom Taylor’s site, the cover of the collection of the excellent Star Wars: Invasion series from Dark Horse is now up. You may recognise Jo Chen’s great cover from the first issue of the series, but also from the cover of our Arcana mag, in which we have an insightful and amusing interview with Taylor. The official solicitation info of the TPB is below. Congrats must also go to Taylor, as not only is his Rombies one-shot now out from Gestalt (get it now, it’s cheap!) but he’s also working on something special for DC/Wildstorm.

STAR WARS: INVASION VOLUME 1—REFUGEES
Tom Taylor (W), Colin Wilson (A), Wes Dzioba (C), and Jo Chen (Cover)
On sale May 12
FC, 144 pages
$18.99
TPB, 7″ x 10″

Twenty-five years after the Battle of Yavin, Luke Skywalker and the galaxy are facing their first real threat since the Sith were defeated: an invasion of hostile warriors from another galaxy—the Yuuzhan Vong!

The peaceful planet of Artorias is in the path of the alien armada. Finn Galfridian, his spunky sister Kaye, and their parents find themselves separated and fighting for their lives when the surprise invasion occurs. But their ordeal is just beginning . . .

• Collects Star Wars: Invasion #1–#5 and #0.

• This new series ties in to—and fits between—the nineteen novels of Del Rey’s New Jedi Order series.

• Features some of the first visual representations of this turbulent era of the Star Wars saga, including Han and Leia’s Jedi children!

365 Samurai Review

Every time I order through the mixed bag of the Previews catalogue I make sure to try a few new items. New series, new creators, new characters, new concepts or any combination of them all. For some reason I ordered this in one of my shopping frenzies and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived in my pullbox last week. 365 Samurai And A Few Bowls Of Rice by J.P. Kalonji not only has a unique name; it’s also (as far as I can tell) the first in the new Dark Horse Originals line. This is how Dark Horse describe the line:

Dark Horse Originals are kindred spirits with my favorite people precisely because they break the mold: They’re difficult to describe because they transcend whatever genre they start in, and the only thing they truly have in common is that they’re undiluted expressions of the people who created them. They often test the boundaries of the medium, challenging what you think comics can and should be…

365 Samurai definitely falls into that category then. Creator Kalonji is a Swiss artist who’s worked with Wyclef Jean, Burton Snowboards, Grand Prix Skateboards and Thrasher Magazine, and this is his first comic project. It’s quite a bold entry too.

365 Samurai possesses elements of Jeff Smith’s Bone and the anime Samurai Champloo in its look if not the sense of fun, but that’s the charm here – its visuals. The actual text in the almost 380 page story is minimal. In fact Arnie probably had more lines in The Terminator, but Kalonji’s obvious strength is his skill with design. Every page is a giant single panel (like the Supes/Doomsday  fight in Superman #75). That’s what gives the story it’s hefty nature, but also its quiet reflection and suspenseful build up to the next bloody fight. The main character Ningen is a deft (and none too handsome) swordsman in the Edo era of Japan on a search for enlightenment. Unfortunately that means killing 365 samurai. This paradox is never discussed in Ningen’s year long journey though. There are 4 loose chapters, one set in each of the seasons, but essentially the same things happen in each of them. Ningen walks, meets a girl, and kills some baddies. There are some touching moments, mainly revolving around Ningen’s female encounters and the unsurprising conclusion, but it’s Kalonji’s pacing and simple layout of every page that majors over these minor squabbles.

Obviously its a quick read despite its weight, but it’s one of those books that deserves a second read just to more closely enjoy the art on display, and thankfully there’s an 11 page sketchbook section included. Raindrops, blood, grass, mountains; it all looks good in the same way that Frank Miller’s Sin City does – bold simplicity. There’s few lines, but every character looks unique and emotions are clearly conveyed.

I hope Kalonji continues to unleash his talents upon more sequential art projects in the future. It’s always encouraging to see a new artist give comics a go.

See an over 30 page preview here.

Star Wars On iPhone

Sure, you can turn your iPhone into a lightsabre and impress your friends, but now you can go one better and read a slew of Star Wars comics on it too.  Check out a preview of Legacy Volume 1, right here.

STAR WARS™ COMICS ARRIVE ON iTUNES!

LUCASFLIM, THQ WIRELESS AND DARK HORSE COMICS PARTNER TO BRING STAR WARS™ TO THE iPHONE

Star Wars Legacy Vol. 1In a partnership that will echo through the cosmos, Lucasfilm, THQ Wireless, and Dark Horse Comics will release Star Wars™ comics to the iPhone mobile platform for the first time ever!

The selection of Star Wars: The Clone Wars Vol. 1 – Shipyards of Doom, Star Wars: Empire Vol. 1 – Betrayal and Star Wars: Legacy Vol. 1 – Broken represents three of the most important time periods in the history of the Star Wars galaxy. The three collections will span the time between the Clone Wars era, the Classic era and the distant future.

Star Wars: Empire Vol. 1 – Betrayal is set just weeks before the events of the original film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, and follows a faction of disgruntled Imperial Officers attempting to overthrow Emperor Palpatine. But the plot is complicated by the emergence of the bounty hunter Boba Fett and by the loyalty of Darth Vader to his dark master. Betrayal will be released in four chapters, written by Scott Allie and drawn by Brian Horton.

Star Wars: Legacy Vol. 1 – Broken takes place more than a century after the events of Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi and focuses on a fifth-generation Skywalker named Cade, a rogue Jedi and bounty hunter who travels the galaxy living by his own code. Broken will be released in two parts, written by John Ostrander and drawn by Jan Duursema.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Vol. 1 – Shipyard of Doom is based on the wildly popular animated series from Lucasfilm Animation and highlights events from the epic time period when Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Padawan Ahsoka Tano struggled to maintain order and peace in a war-torn galaxy. Shipyards of Doom will be release in its entirety, written by Henry Gilroy, and drawn by the Fillbach Brothers.

Working together with Lucasfilm and THQ Wireless, Dark Horse Senior Editor Randy Stradley and Senior Web Designer Mike Denning carefully reformatted each panel and page to maximize the visual grandeur while staying true to the original comic books. All parties involved ensured that the material would transition to the new medium in the best format possible, delicately considering every word balloon and background image.

Dark Horse President Mike Richardson is delighted with the new program, stating, “Lucasfilm has been a proud and longstanding partner of ours, and I’m equally excited to be working with the wonderful people at THQ Wireless on this program. The stories of The Clone Wars, Legacy, and Empire embody some of the best comics in the Star Wars universe that Dark Horse has ever released. I think it’s wonderful that these key tales will be available to fans everywhere in a new and accessible way.”

Adam Comiskey, Vice President THQ Wireless commented, “Bringing a selection of some of the finest comic books to the iPhone mobile platform is an exciting chapter in our relationship with Lucasfilm. Our partnership with Dark Horse means that for the first time, Star Wars Fans will be able to use their iPhone to view a fantastic line up of comics.”

Dark Horse Goes Classic

And the love of classic comics characters continues. It’s not only Dynamite and Alex Ross that are getting in to the act. Press release below.

AFTER MUCH SPECULATION, DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF TUROK®, DOCTOR SOLAR, MAGNUS, AND MIGHTY SAMSON

DARK HORSE TEAMS WITH COMICS LEGEND, JIM SHOOTER, TO EXPAND GOLD KEY COMICS’ SUPERHEROES

In a packed panel on Saturday morning during Comic Con, Dark Horse president, Mike Richardson called a surprise guest to announce Dark Horse’s plans to develop new comics and graphic novels for the Gold Key Comics’ superheroes. Fans were shocked to see Jim Shooter enter the room; the man recently named the “Steve Jobs of Comics” by Comic Book Bin.

Shooter is perhaps best known for his nine year tenure at Marvel Comics, beginning in 1982, with highlights including Chris Claremont and John Byrne’s run on the Uncanny X-Men, and Frank Miller’s run on Daredevil. Also under Shooter’s editorial reign, Walt Simonsen revamped The Mighty Thor and made it again a bestseller. Following his successful run at Marvel, Shooter launched the well-received Valiant comics imprint in the early 90s, bringing many of Marvel’s creators with him.

Now, Jim Shooter comes to Dark Horse as head writer for the re-launch of the Gold Key Comics characters: Turok, Son of Stone®, Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom, Magnus, Robot Fighter, and Mighty Samson, with further characters and new comic writers to be announced shortly.

Doctor Solar Man of the Atom“It’s great to be at Dark Horse, working with Mike Richardson, world-class creator, honorable gentleman and industry powerhouse” said Jim Shooter. “It’s great to be reunited with Magnus, Solar, Turok, Samson and the other wonderful Gold Key properties. The opportunity is tremendous and the time is ripe. Let’s do it.”

“Jim and I share a great affection for these terrific characters. We have some very exciting ideas on how to introduce them to a whole new generation of fans.” said Mike Richardson, president of Dark Horse Comics.

Turok®

An original comic book hero, Turok is best known today for a successful video game franchise boasting more than five million units sold since the first game was introduced in the 1990s. The legend of the brave and ruthless dinosaur-hunter has lived on for more than thirty years in comic book series from Dell Comics, Gold Key Comics and Valiant. Anthologies of the original classic comics are now available from Dark Horse Comics.

Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom

Doctor Solar must find a way to become normal again after surviving an explosion that leaves him with the power to control atomic energy. When danger and disaster threaten the innocent, Solar leaps into action as the “Man of the Atom.” One of Gold Key Comics’ most popular titles in the 1960s, the original nuclear-powered superhero reached legendary status by the 1990s in new comics from Valiant. The original classic comics now appear in hardcover anthologies published by Dark Horse Comics.

Mighty SamsonMagnus, Robot Fighter

Haling from the year 4,000 A.D. is the stalwart hero of humanity, Magnus, Robot Fighter. These gripping adventure stories, in which a human who battles evil robots in the sprawling futuristic city of North Am, elevated the comic book medium when they debuted in the 1960s from Gold Key Comics, and captured the imagination of millions in new comics published thirty years later by Valiant. The original science-fiction classics now appear in hardcover anthologies published by Dark Horse Comics.

Mighty Samson

A popular Gold Key Comics character from the 1960s and 70s, the post-apocalyptic adventures of Mighty Samson are set in the land of N’Yark, an earth devastated by nuclear war. Amazingly large and strong, Samson uses his mutant strength only for good—and to protect his friends, Sharmain and Mindor, responsible for saving his life.

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