Dark Horse Preview Review for November

Jim: I’m a little surprised by how little new stuff is being solicited for November. I would think as a publisher November/December is when you want your product out on the shelves.
Lee: As long as they continue to publish quality product I don’t care when it comes out. And, DH has been on a role this year so it’s all good to me.

THE ADVENTURES OF LUTHER ARKWRIGHT 2ND EDITION
Bryan Talbot (W/A) Available nowb&w, 216 pages$18.95TPB, 6 5/8"x 10 3/16"
Across a multitude of parallel universes, dark forces operate in the shadows, manipulating mankind's histories throughout countless timelines. The agents of these Disruptors all work with a single purpose the recovery and activation of Foxfire, a long-hidden doomsday device whose unspeakable power is capable of consuming the galaxy in all its incarnations. Standing in the way of the Disruptors is Luther Arkwright, a human anomaly who exists only in a single universe, a man of vast psychic powers, capable of traveling between the parallel realities to counter the Disruptor's malign influence. But the Disruptors are aware of Arkwright and his abilities, and while Arkwright searches the myriad Earths for the location of Foxfire, the agents of darkness race to destroy Arkwright...and to ensure their unthinkable ends.
In celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of the first publication of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, this new edition features entirely new scans from the original artwork that restore much of the lost detail from previous editions. Arkwright has never looked better.
Jim: I was not aware of this work and while I have enjoyed Bryan Talbot’s work on other projects this is still a pass for me.
Lee: This and the followup series “Heart of Empire” are very good books. Talbot put together a great alternate history of Great Britain and told a great story. I already have this but I would get it in hc if they offered it.

THE CLEANERS #1 (of 4)
Mark Wheaton (W), Joshua Hale Fialkov (W), Rahsan Ekedahl (A), and John Graef (C)
On sale Nov 12FC, 32 pages$2.99Miniseries
In the dark tradition of Los Angeles noir, The Cleaners is a terrifying new mystery series about a ragtag team of for-hire trauma-scene cleaners led by ex-surgeon Robert Bellarmine.Contracted with sanitizing some of the nastiest crime and accident scenes in the tri-county L.A. basin, the team battles against what could only be described as the grim, unknowable face of the supernatural. But by focusing on the scientific explanation, no matter how aberrant or extraordinary, they counteract centuries-old superstition to prove things are seldom what they seem . . .
In this miniseries, the cleaners crew takes on a series of gruesome tasks starting with a bloodbath that covers an entire neighborhood. This investigation leads them toward uncovering a disturbing mystery involving missing children, which dates back longer than the history of the city itself.
Josh Fialkov is the writer behind the hit indie sensations Punks the Comic and Elk's Run, as well as highly acclaimed runs on Friday the 13th, Vampirella, and more!
Jim: Now this looks very cool and sounds like it could be a unique series. This type of material I would take a chance on. Oddly enough I would actually prefer it being issued as a graphic novel from the jump.
Lee: Going straight to GN? That is a jump in thinking for you. Besides that I agree this does sound very good. And, Elk’s Run was very good too so I know Fialkov can write. I don’t add many new series but I’ll add this.

THE END LEAGUE #8
Rick Remender (W), Eric Canete (A), and Naomi Baker (C)
On sale Nov 26FC, 32 pages$2.99Ongoing
Black, Soldier American, and Arachnakid, the last remaining heroes on earth, are trapped between the armies of three villainous masterminds and their war for control of the planet. With the hammer of Thor finally within their grasp, one hero will obtain it, one will be proven unworthy, and another will turn against the team! Fan favorites Rick Remender and Eric Canete bring you the earth-shattering finale to the second arc, where everything is flipped upside down, giving birth to a new status quo for our small band of surviving heroes!
Jim: I bring this book up because I don’t even think issue #4 has hit the stands (as of this writing) and they are soliciting #8. I have doubts this series will last, between the radical shift in art styles from the first artist to this and the dragged out publishing schedule, this book is fast becoming a faded memory.
Lee: Bi-monthly schedules just don’t work in this day and age. There is too much other material out there that this book gets forgotten on the off month. I don’t get many monthlies so it’s easy for me to go back and re-read the previous issue. I’m not sure that’s true of many other people. As for the change in art, I love Canete so this is a step up in my opinion.

GIGANTIC #1 (of 5)
Rick Remender (W), Eric Nguyen (P/Cover), and John Rauch (C) On sale Nov 5FC, 32 pages$3.50Miniseries
It was a beautiful spring day in downtown San Francisco before a gigantic armored alien appeared from out of nowhere and began smashing things all to hell! Who is this invader? Why is he being attacked by strange alien beings? And why is he so GIGANTIC? A twist on The Truman Show, Gigantic focuses on a brainwashed, alien superhero deposited on Earth to be the spotlight of an intrusive, around-the-clock television program being filmed without his knowledge.
Critically acclaimed writer Rick Remender (Fear Agent, The End League) teams up with groundbreaking artist Eric Nguyen (X-Men, Sandman) in the merging of big, visually exciting art with a story examining America's consumer-based culture.
Sci-fi thrills and superhero action from the one and only Rick Remender!
Jim: Just read the premise and Rick Remender as the writer and I’m trying this book out. This looks to be a send up of so many different things, that I can’t wait to read it.
Lee: This I can wait for the trade on. I agree that it sounds very interesting but I can’t get everything. Sign me up in five months if it’s good.

KULL #1 (of 6)
Arvid Nelson (W), Will Conrad (P), JosÈ Villarrubia (C), Andy Brase (Cover), and Joe Kubert (Cover)
On sale Nov 5FC, 32 pages$2.99Miniseries
More comfortable with a sword than a scepter, Kull has recently crowned himself king and seeks to unite the once-proud and powerful land of Valusia. Only Count Areyas stands between Kull and a reunified kingdom and the obstinate Count waits patiently in his Iron Fortress, the land's oldest and most formidable castle. Horrors lurk in the shadows of Kull's newly won throne, and slithering foes stalk his every move. Arvid Nelson (Rex Mundi) scripts this series, which will adapt Robert E. Howard's story The Shadow Kingdom, with art by Will Conrad (Serenity) and JosÈ Villarrubia (Conan).
Joe Kubert (Sgt. Rock, Enemy Ace) delivers a special Kull #1 cover, which along with his Conan the Cimmerian #1 and Solomon Kane #1 covers marks the first time Kubert's visions of these Robert E. Howard heroes have seen print. Renowned fantasy artist Andy Brase provides regular series covers to this bracing, bloody fantasy series.
Jim: It seems that anyone who gets the rights to Howard always get around to doing a Kull series and for me Conan is enough.
Lee: One barbarian is enough for me too. But there’s a market out there for this material so you may as well flood it.

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #1 (of 6)
Gerard Way (W), Gabriel Ba (A/Cover), Dave Stewart (C), and Jim Lee (Cover)
On sale Nov 26FC, 32 pages$2.99Miniseries
Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba return with a story as American as semiautomatic weapons.
The Umbrella Academy hassaved the world, but the house they were raised in is destroyed. One member is bedridden, the side of her head held together with tape; and another has lost her voice, the source of her power. Now that they've fulfilled their destiny, does the Umbrella Academy have any future at all?
The Umbrella Academy returns for a second six-issue series Dallas, where we put the term-hero-to the test. Variant cover by Jim Lee! 32 pages, no ads! The acclaimed series from Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba returns! 2008 Eisner Award winner Best Limited Series!
Jim: The first series was enjoyable, so I’ll be buying this, but I’m not in can’t wait mode like a few people I know.
Lee: I can wait. In fact, I’ll wait for the trade. Just like I did the first time.

Jim: That’s a wrap for Dark Horse this month and it appears to be a semi-quite one for them. Still right now these guys are producing my favorite collections with Hellboy, Creepy and Erie to be added in 2009.
Lee: Wow. Short list this month. I wonder if DH is waiting to unless a massive list next month in time for Christmas.