Dark Horse Comics solicitations for November 2005

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL #107: SHORTCUT part 1 (of 5)
HIROAKI SAMURA (W/A)
On sale November 9, b&w, 32pg, $2.99

Hiroaki Samura takes Blade of the Immortal into darker depths, as his
latest story arc, “Shortcut,” gets rolling. Visceral horror takes center
stage, and this masterful manga series begins to explore man’s hunger
for immortality and the early years of “modern Japanese medicine.”
Habaki Kagimura’s medical examiners begin to test the seemingly immortal
Manji, who is imprisoned, chained, and a very unwilling toy in their
merciless hands! Also, as Hyakurin and Rin step up their search for Manji,
Hyakurin receives some shocking news concerning the future the Mugai-ryü
assassins.

B.P.R.D. THE BLACK FLAME #4 (of 6)
MIKE MIGNOLA (W/Cover), JOHN ARCUDI (W), GUY DAVIS (A), and DAVE
STEWART (C)
On sale November 30, FC, 32pg, $2.99

A tragedy greater than anything the Bureau for Paranormal Research and
Defense has ever seen drives one agent to resign, and leaves the others
shaken, haunted, and angry. Liz Sherman is increasingly plagued with
terrible visions, while Abe Sapien leaps back into field service, but
too late to stop the massive frog exodus. The frogs know the reign of man
is drawing to a close. The Black Flame is calling a godlike monster to
come and claim the earth, and he knows that nothing can stop him.

CONAN #22
KURT BUSIEK (W), CARY NORD (A), DAVE STEWART (C), and LADRÖNN (Cover)
On sale November 23, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Robert E. Howard’s seminal Conan tale “The Tower of the Elephant” comes
to its blood-spattering conclusion in this final chapter of Busiek and
Nord’s adaptation. Deep in the Elephant Tower, Conan comes face to face
with a god-creature from a far-off world, and has his final
confrontation with a sorcerer powerful enough and mad enough to imprison a god.
Death has come to the Elephant Tower, and none will walk away unchanged.

CONAN AND THE DEMONS OF KHITAI #2 (of 4)
AKIRA YOSHIDA (W), PAUL LEE (A), and PAT LEE (Cover)
On sale November 2, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Having traveled to the exotic land of Khitai, King Conan learns that
his mysterious invitation came from Shinzen, the greatest warrior in the
Far East, who has gone mad and stolen the most prized relic in
Khitai—the obsidian sword Hakkiba, the Blade of Balance. Despite warnings that
Shinzen is an insurmountable opponent, Conan sets out for the haunted
monastery where Shinzen now resides, determined to confront this mad
warrior. Uber-artist Pat Lee provides the cover.

CONAN AND THE JEWELS OF GWAHLUR HC
P. CRAIG RUSSELL (W/A) and LOVERN KINDZIERSKI (C)
On sale December 28, HC, 88pg, FC, 7" x 10", $13.95

P. Craig Russell, the artist best known for adapting literary works to
comics, applies his legendary talents to Conan in this adaptation of
Robert E. Howard’s “The Jewels of Gwahlur," one of Conan’s last
adventures before becoming king.
A young woman, having made a string of bad choices, finds herself the
pawn of mercenaries—one of which is Conan of Cimmeria. As the former
dancing girl poses as the dead oracle of a primitive cult, Conan puts his
experience as a thief and a soldier together in pursuit of some of the
most prized jewels in the world—the Teeth of Gwahlur!
Featuring a sixteen-page sketchbook and an interview with Russell
covering his career and creative process on this book, this handsome
hardcover not only highlights one of fantasy art’s greatest living talents, it
shows once again that Howard's original Conan tales remain unsurpassed.

HARLEQUIN PINK: A GIRL IN A MILLION TPB
BETTY NEELS (W) and KAKO ITOH (A)
On sale December 7, SC, 160pg, b&w, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4", $9.95

Dark Horse Manga and Harlequin Books are delighted to present a shining
new line of books that marry two of the most successful phenomena to
hit bookstores—best-selling Harlequin romance fiction and female-friendly
Japanese manga! These sparkling manga adaptations of Harlequin’s
best-selling titles are a romantic step above much of the cookie-cutter manga
hitting the shelves today.
A vacation fling was completely out of character for old-fashioned
Carol, but her attraction to intriguing, older Marius tempted her to break
her own rules. The next thing she knew, though, he'd turned up working
at her hospital! Does she have what it takes to attract—much less keep
the attentions of—this intimidating, sophisticated, and utterly
compelling man?

HARLEQUIN VIOLET: RESPONSE TPB
PENNY JORDAN (W) and TAKAKO HASHIMOTO (A)
On sale December 7, SC, 160pg, b&w, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4", $9.95

Response takes a sexy look at love in the workplace. Sure, you
shouldn’t date your boss, but what if he's really, really hot? Sienna is a temp
hired at a busy London firm. In a stroke of luck, she’s assigned to
work with Alex, who’s smart, sexy, and interested in her! But there may be
much more to his attentions than he’s letting on. Will Sienna learn the
startling truth behind their relationship…and if she does, will their
love survive?

LADY SNOWBLOOD VOLUME 2: THE DEEP-SEATED GRUDGE TPB
KAZUO KOIKE (W) and KAZUO KAMIMURA (A)
On sale December 28, SC, 224pg, b&w, 5 1/8" x 7 1/4", $13.95

The path of revenge can have many twisted turns, and Lady Snowblood’s
is no exception. Born in a prison, a product of her mother’s grudge,
Yuki is a child of hell. What will she do for revenge? Pose as a nun?
Become another woman’s lover? Possibly.
In this volume we learn about Yuki’s training and youth, see her woo
some allies, and embark on the first steps of her angry path.
Written by Kazuo Koike of Lone Wolf & Cub fame, Lady Snowblood is a
tale of a woman’s path in hell.

LITTLE LULU: LULU’S UMBRELLA SERVICE TPB
JOHN STANLEY (W/A) and IRVING TRIPP (A)
On sale December 14, SC, 200pg, b&w, 6" x 9", $9.95

Bursting with laughs, filled with silly humor and hilarious insight,
and drawn to perfection by one of comics’ most acclaimed teams of
artists, Little Lulu’s comic book adventures are a classic treat for readers
of all ages. Tag along with our sassy heroine, Lulu Moppet, as she
smartly navigates through the kooky and complex world of clubhouse bullies,
unsuspecting adults, naughty puppy dogs, snowball fights, and haunted
houses. Whether she’s helping her mother with chores, stealing her best
friend Tubby’s pants (just to get even, of course!), or minding the
maniacal neighbor tot Alvin, Lulu’s page-turning antics will leave you
giggling madly and eager to read more!

MICHAEL CHABON PRESENTS THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF THE ESCAPIST #8
BRIAN K. VAUGHAN (W), HARVEY PEKAR (W), JEFF PARKER (W/A), ANDI WATSON
(W/A), PHILIP BOND (A), DEAN HASPIEL (A), EDUARDO BARRETO (A), and
BRIAN BOLLAND (Cover)
On sale November 9, FC, 80pg, 7" x 10", $8.95

From off the streets of Cleveland comes fan-favorite writer Brian K.
Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways) and critically acclaimed
artists Philip Bond (Vinarama, Vertigo Pop) and Eduardo Barreto (Mr.
Machine Gunl) to kick off the anthology’s first multi-part story! Meet
Maxwell Roth and Case Weaver, latter-day versions of Joe Kavalier and
Sam Clay, as they set out to make the Master of Elusion a sensation once
again in “The Escapists”!
Next, on his way home from an extended stay at a Cleveland hospital,
our man Harvey Pekar encounters…The Escapist?! The team-up you thought
you’d never see, illustrated by Dean Haspiel (The Quitter). Also in this
issue, award-winning creator Andi Watson (Skeleton Key, Geisha) and
Eisner Award nominated Jeff Parker (The Interman)!
With cover art by Brian Bolland, you won’t want to miss this eclectic
eighth installment of the multiple award-winning quarterly anthology!

OH MY GODDESS! VOLUME 22 TPB
KOSUKE FUJISHIMA (W/A)
On sale December 14, SC, 176pg, b&w, 5" x 7", $10.95
Ever since a cosmic phone call brought Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld—a trio
of literal young goddesses—to live in college student Keiichi’s
residence, his personal life has been turned upside-down, sideways, and
sometimes even into strange dimensions!
After her demonic mother Hild lays down the condition for changing
Peorth back to normal, Urd tells Mom that she can go back to Hell, but Urd
sure isn’t coming along. Hild's counter-offer promises to combine the
magic-circle powers of herself, Belldandy, Skuld, and Urd to restore
Peorth, in exchange for a promise from Urd to … well, she’ll tell Urd
after the ritual!

PENNY ARCADE VOLUME 1: ATTACK OF THE BACON ROBOTS! TPB
JERRY HOLKINS (W) and MIKE KRAHULIK (A)
On sale January 25, SC, 120pg, FC, 7" x 9", $12.95

Get your geek on.
Penny Arcade, the comic strip for gamers, by gamers is now available in
comic shops and bookstores everywhere. Not familiar with Penny Arcade?
What? It’s only the most popular comic strip on the web. It’s just the
funniest, most twisted comic that ever lampooned gamer culture, and
takes shots at everything from Star Wars to Steve Jobs.
Experience the joy of being a hardcore gamer as expressed in vignettes
of random vulgarity and mindless violence! Get online and direct your
browser to penny-arcade.com, check out the latest strips, then, to read
Penny Arcade from the very beginning, get the first collection, Attack
of the Bacon Robots!, which includes strips, sketches, and creator
commentary not available anywhere else!

THE PERHAPANAUTS #1 (of 4)
TODD DEZAGO (W) and CRAIG ROUSSEAU (A)
On sale November 23, FC, 32pg, $2.99
There are places in this world where the fabric of reality has worn
thin, where creatures from other realms and bizarre beings from other
dimensions slip through, horrible in their difference striking terror into
the hearts of those unfortunate few who glimpse them and threatening to
drive them mad!
There is an organization hidden from this world which has taken upon
itself the responsibility to confront these creatures, one whose agents
are adept at turning them back from whence they came and repairing the
rips and tears in our reality. The organization is called BEDLAM. The
agents are called...The PERHAPANAUTS.
It's Bigfoot, ghosts, aliens, faeries, and chupacabras ... and they're
on OUR side!
Todd Dezago (Sensational Spider-Man, Impulse, Tellos) and Craig
Rousseau (Impulse, Batman Beyond, Ruule: Kiss and Tell) sat around for a LONG
time thinkin' this crazy stuff up, so you oughta buy it ... okay? Okay.

REIKO THE ZOMBIE SHOP VOLUME 1 TPB
REI MIKAMOTO (W/A)
On sale December 14, SC, 192pg, b&w, 5" x 7", $12.95
Terror has struck the sleepy little town of Shiraike. A serial killer
stalks the streets murdering innocent girls. Twenty-nine grisly murders
have been committed, with no clues to catch the killer. That is, until
the town receives a strange visitor: a beautiful young woman who can
raise the dead. She is Reiko the Zombie Shop, necromancer for hire. For a
price, she'll wake your dead, if only to find a clue to their demise,
but she's not responsible for what the dead will say or do once they
awaken!

REVELATIONS #4 (of 6)
PAUL JENKINS (W), HUMBERTO RAMOS (A/Cover), and LEONARDO OLEA (C)
On sale November 30, FC, 32pg, $2.99
Things heat up for Detective Charlie Northern both on and off the case,
as he grows close to unraveling the mysterious death of the man in line
to be the next pope, and even closer to Vatican lawyer Lucille
Pelliccia. A series of revelatory clues may seem like good fortune for
Northern, but it only serves to increase the desperation of his shadowy
suspects. They decide to send Northern a message—one that takes the stakes
of his hunt to a deadly new level.

SAMURAI EXECUTIONER VOLUME 9 TPB
KAZUO KOIKE (W) and GOSEKI KOJIMA (A)
On sale December 14, SC, 304pg, b&w, 4" x 6", $9.95
For a stoic ronin such as Kubikiri Asa, a samurai assigned to test the
Shogun’s sword and behead prisoners, the moment before death is of
great importance. Because of this, Asa will often listen to the stories of
those about to be executed and pay respect to the lives of these often
unfortunately maligned prisoners. Sometimes scary, often quirky, and
occasionally very sweet, it goes to show how people of different walks of
life can meet the same brutal, yet graceful end, at the hand of one of
the finest masters of bushido and swordsmanship.
Samurai Executioner tells the stories of these people, from the
perspective of Asa, an honorable, highly skilled ronin.
As with their previously published series, Lone Wolf and Cub, Kazuo
Koike and Goseki Kojima present a detailed and beautiful, if brutal,
account of a bygone era.

SEXY CHIX TPB
JOYCE CAROL OATES (W), JILL THOMPSON (W/A), COLLEEN DORAN (W/A), GAIL
SIMONE (W), ROBERTA GREGORY (W/A), CARLA SPEED McNEIL (W/A), SARAH GRACE
McCANDLESS (W), JOELLE JONES (A), LAURENN McCUBBIN (A), COLLEEN COOVER
(W/A), and More
On sale December 21, SC, 104pg, b&w, 6" x 9", $12.95

Don’t let the title fool you—this isn’t your average collection of
comics featuring impossibly proportioned vixens in spandex. This time
around the sexy chix in question are the writers and artists behind the
comics, respresenting some of the best and brightest talent contributing to
the medium of comics and graphic novels today. With stories ranging
from mainstream adventures to hilarious comic shorts to heart-wrenching
autobiography, Sexy Chix is devoted to the under-recognized contingent of
female cartoonists in an overwhelmingly male-oriented industry. It’s
about time these divinely talented creators get to tell the stories they
want to, and the result is an exquisite variety of artistic visions and
styles.
Among the sexy chicks are New York Times best-selling author Joyce
Carol Oates, Eisner Award-winning illustrator Jill Thompson (Scary
Godmother), A Distant Soil writer/artist Colleen Doran, Bitchy Bitch creator
Roberta Gregory, DC Comics writer Gail Simone, novelist Sarah Grace
McCandless (Grosse Pointe Girl), and many, many more!

SHADOW STAR VOLUME 7: VICTIM’S EYES, ASSAILANT’S HANDS TPB
MOHIRO KITOH (W/A)
On sale December 14, SC, 232pg, b&w, 5 3/4" x 8 1/4", $15.95
Bonding with cuddly extraterrestrial creatures with wondrous powers
should have been a dream come true for Tokyo teens like Shiina and Akira,
but these cute E.T.s can grow into fearsome Shadow Dragons, and when
coupled with troubled teens, can become monstrous threats to Mankind. An
underground movement of such delinquents tries to recruit the two
girls, and the government begins to grow suspicious that the two girls may
well be involved with this dangerous cabal. But back at school, the two
friends have more mundane, but no less troubling, issues. Akira and her
friend Hiroko become singled out for mean-spirited schoolyard
harassment—but when Dragon Bearers become targets for torment, the tables may
turn with lethal results!

STAR WARS: THE COMICS COMPANION TPB
RYDER WINDHAM (W), DANIEL WALLACE (W), and TSUNEO SANDA (A)
On sale December 28, SC, 144pg, FC, 9" x 12", $16.95

Dark Horse presents the definitive guide to Star Wars comics, complete
with in-depth coverage all the way through Episode III! Written by
Ryder Windham, Star Wars expert, and densely illustrated with both
brand-new art and classic images from the comics, this chronological compendium
contains everything you need to be the ultimate Star Wars reader
in-the-know. Follow Anakin Skywalker’s descent into darkness, from his early
days as a Padawan, to his harrowing Clone Wars battles, up through his
transformation and eventual death as Darth Vader. Get complete details
on the exploits of Luke and Leia, Han and Chewie, and all the rest of
the gang, with thorough rundowns of classic Star Wars tales originally
printed decades ago! Spanning over 25,000 years of Star Wars history,
from the very beginnings of the Jedi order, no character goes unmentioned
and no quadrant goes unmapped.

STAR WARS: EMPIRE #39
“The Wrong Side of the War” part 4 (of 5)
WELLES HARTLEY (W), DAVIDÉ FABBRI (P/C), CHRISTIAN DALLA VECCHIA (I),
and DAVID MICHAEL BECK (Cover)
On sale November 30, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Inside the Imperial base on Kalist VI, an undercover Rebel strike force
is on a mission vital to the continued existence of the Alliance.
Everything has gone according to plan, but the one eventuality for which no
one could have prepared is the presence of Imperial Lieutenant Janek
Sunber—or how his presence will impact the Rebel team.
Duty to the Empire has asked much of Sunber and offered little in
return, but he has never wavered in his dedication. Now, a shocking
discovery has landed him at a crossroads, and the time has come for him to
decide whether to devote himself to order, or justice.

STAR WARS: GENERAL GRIEVOUS TPB
On sale December 28, SC, 96pg, FC, 7" x 10", $12.95
CHUCK DIXON (W), RICK LEONARDI (P), MARK PENNINGTON (I), LUCAS MARANGON
(C), and MICHELLE MADSEN (C)

This tale of treachery and genocide leads up to the events of the
record-breaking blockbuster Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith.
Before his all-out battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi, the latest Star Wars
supervillain took on an entire alien species!
On a rescue mission to Vandos, Padawan Flynn Kybo and his master
T’chooka D’oon come face-to-face with General Grievous, one of the leaders of
the Separatist army. After Grievous kills Master D’oon, Kybo goes to
the Jedi Council with a plan to take the depraved general out
immediately. But when the council rebukes his plans for vengeance, Kybo decides to
take matters in his own hands. Seeking out others who feel the same as
himself, he sets out to stop the Separatist killing machine before more
Jedi lives are lost. Meanwhile, Grievous hijacks a transport ship, and
its precious cargo may give him a horrible advantage over the Jedi that
they would never expect. For now, his sights are on the planet
Gentes—and on taking its Ugnaught population and mining facilities as trophies
of war!

STAR WARS: REPUBLIC #83
JOHN OSTRANDER (W), JAN DUURSEMA (P/Cover), DAN PARSONS (I), and BRAD
ANDERSON (C)
On sale November 30, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Palpatine’s Order 66 has changed everything. As Jedi are slaughtered
across the galaxy, one has managed to cheat fate—but for how long? Badly
wounded by the same troops he just led to victory, Master Quinlan Vos
retreats into the jungle wilderness of the Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk.
As the clones close in, Vos must choose—stay and fight, or run and put
those he loves in danger of the newborn Empire’s wrath?

STAR WARS: X-WING—ROGUE LEADER #3 (of 3)
HADEN BLACKMAN (W), TOMÁS GIORELLO (P), MICHAEL ATIYEH (C), and GARY
ERSKINE (Cover)
On sale November 23, FC, 32pg, $2.99

Imperial terrorists have landed a devastating strike on Wedge Antilles’
home planet and captured a member of Rogue Squadron. Now, Wedge and the
rest of the Rogues are hot on their trail, determined to find their
friend and bring these Imperial thugs to justice.
The fighting is fierce and the flying is faster in this whiz-bang
conclusion to the series that defines the hottest heroes in the expanded
Universe and launches an ace fighter squadron like none other in the
galaxy!

SUPER MANGA BLAST! #58
MOHIRO KITOH (W/A), MAKOTO KOBAYASHI (W/A), KENICHI SONODA (W/A), and
HIROYUKI UTATANE (A) with TOSHIYA TAKEDA (W)
On sale November 30, b&w, 128pg, $5.99

Shadow Star and Seraphic Feather both enter an exciting new era, with
their monthly episodes now reading in the original right-to-left
format–as they were published in Japan! A new Shadow Star story arc finds
Shiina’s father, a pilot, taking to the skies again and discovering
unexpected clues to a centuries-old mystery. With their deep-space conflict
almost over, the battered Seraphic Feather heroes contemplate their
return to Earth. Makoto Kobayashi’s hilarious, extended What’s Michael?
story arc continues, with tormented, human astronauts seeking an escape
from the “Planet of the Cats”! The Cannon God Exaxxion crew begins to test
new Riofaldian alliances. SMB!’s monthly columns, “A Fan’s View” and
“Sugoi Japan!” continue to educate and excite fans of Japanese culture!

THE 13TH SON: WORSE THING WAITING #2 (of 4)
KELLEY JONES (W/A)
On sale November 30, FC, 32pg, $2.99

More mind-bending monster mayhem erupts from Dark Horse’s acclaimed
horror line this month, as Kelley Jones unleashes the second jaw-dropping
issue of his newest series, The 13th Son.
A hunter stalks the earth at night, scouring its darkest, most haunted
places and feeding on the monsters who dwell there. He might be seen as
a savior to the humans he’s wrestled from the mouths of werewolves and
other evil beasts, but he’s neither savior nor saint. In fact, humans
are little more than fleshy props to him, and we will certainly have no
place in the world when it becomes HIS. He is the 13th Son—a creature
more terrifying and powerful than anything our world has known—and there
is a deeper purpose to his monster extermination than anyone can
fathom. What is this “Worse Thing Waiting”…? Keep reading to find out!

USAGI YOJIMBO #89
STAN SAKAI (W/A)
On sale November 30, b&w, 24pg, $2.99

Internationally acclaimed storyteller and all-around nice guy Stan
Sakai brings you the conclusion of his seven-part samurai adventure, “The
Treasure of the Mother of Mountains”! This story arc has seen rabbit
ronin Usagi Yojimbo and Geishu bodyguard Tomoe Ame captured and forced
into slavery—and then leading a bloody slave revolt! A character is now
trapped inside the illegal mine, and key players are injured and
haunted. Who escaped from the mountain, and who didn’t survive? Find out
who’s still alive and who wishes they were dead, this month in Usagi
Yojimbo!

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