SDCC | Mignola + Stenbeck return to the Hellboy-verse for ‘The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle for England’

The three-issue miniseries begins in November.

With SDCC on the horizon AND it being the 30th anniversary of Hellboy, it only makes sense we’d get some news from Mike Mignola this week. And now we have, in the form of The Serpent in the Garden: Ed Grey and the Last Battle for England, a new miniseries by Mignola, artist Ben Stenbeck, colorist Dave Stewart and letterer Clem Robins.

The series stars paranormal investigator Ed Grey, who first appeared in Hellboy: Wake the Devil and went on to star in Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder. This new series finds him going up against famed sorceress Morgan Le Fay in a battle for England.

“Ed Grey feels to me like he took off like a rocket,” said Mignola. “He was my ‘regular guy’ occult detective but then just kept going. Being dismembered and stitched back together didn’t even slow him down. He became a magician and flew around doing stuff. He decided to take on some of Hellboy’s curse and everything just kept beating him and he just kept getting up, and before too long, I just felt bad for him and wanted to give him a quiet place to sit down – retire in peace. BUT he had just one more (I hope) thing to do and then not only could he retire but he could retire another of my favorite characters. Let’s hope both of them can finally relax after this one last battle for England.”

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SDCC | Kelly Sue DeConnick + David López reunite for the magical realism miniseries ‘FML’

The eight-issue series arrives in November from Dark Horse Comics.

Kelly Sue DeConnick and David López, the creators behind Marvel’s well-regarded reboot of Carol Danvers as Captain Marvel some years ago, are reuniting for a new creator-owned series that’s coming from Dark Horse Comics this fall.

FML, which stands for … well, search it up … is about a teenager and his mom navigating a world of modern terrors, punk rock music and magical realism. DeConnick has been teasing it in her newsletter and dropping in Easter eggs, like a website for a band from the comic where you can already buy FML T-shirts. DeConnick and López are joined on the project by colorist Cris Peter and letterer Clayton Cowles, both of whom are veterans of DeConnick’s Bitch Planet.

“David and I have been talking about doing something creator-owned together since Captain Marvel, but it took years for the stars and our schedules to properly align,” said DeConnick. “Now that we’re here though, it almost feels planned — like we needed exactly as long as it took us to grow and change, both as artists and as people, so that we could come back together for this big swing.”

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SDCC | Dark Horse announces ‘Arcbound’ by Scott Snyder, Frank Tieri, Tom Hardy + Ryan Smallman

The science fiction maxi-series will kick off in November.

It wouldn’t be Comic-Con season without some announcements of celebrities writing (or producing, or “based on a concept by”-ing) comics. In this case, Venom actor Tom Hardy is working with an impressive array of talent to bring a comic called Arcbound to Dark Horse.

Hardy is working with veteran writers Scott Snyder and Frank Tieri, and artist Ryan Smallman and colorist Frank William on the science fiction story.

“I’ve been lucky enough throughout my career to work with some of the biggest, most inventive talents in the industry. So when I was given the opportunity to work with Frank Tieri, Ryan Smallman, and, of course, Tom Hardy, I jumped at it,” Snyder said. “These are all creators that have an innate understanding of how characters tick and what makes their narratives sing across all kinds of media. Getting to craft a brand new universe with such immense creative voices is beyond a treat for me, and I can’t wait to share what we’ve been crafting this past year with all of you. Arcbound is going to blow you away!”

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SDCC | Jeff Lemire + Teddy Kristiansen present a ‘new beginning’ in ‘Black Hammer: Spiral City’

The seven-issue miniseries set in a chaotic new world begins this fall.

Rumors of the demise of the Black Hammer universe were … well, not exactly exaggerated, but sometimes endings bring new beginnings.

With that in mind, Jeff Lemire returns to a rearranged universe with Black Hammer: Spiral City, which “follows a new cast of heroes struggling to survive in a chaotic new world.” The miniseries also features artwork by Danish comics artist Teddy Kristiansen, who you probably know from drawing The Sandman, It’s a Bird and a lot of other great-looking comics.

“Teaming with one of my all-time favorite artists, Teddy Kristiansen, I knew this book needed to be special,” said Lemire. “It’s a brand-new era for the Black Hammer Universe. New stories, new characters, and a whole new direction. Black Hammer: The End was the culmination of the last eight years of storytelling, and now Black Hammer: Spiral City is truly a new beginning. It’s both a great jumping on point for curious readers, and a bold new direction for long time fans.”

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SDCC | Comixology + Dark Horse announces ‘Neptune’ by Michael Conrad + Nathan Ooten

The graphic novel will arrive on the digital platform in September, followed by a print edition from Dark Horse next year.

Comixology Originals will publish the revenge tale Neptune in September by Tremor Dose writer Michael Conrad and debuting artist Nathan Ooten.

They’re joined by letterer Kyle Arends on the project, which is described as “a bleak examination of the capitalist machine.” The story revolves around a former prison inmate investigating the mysterious death of his brother.

“Following books like Tremor Dose and Double Walker isn’t easy, I remain quite proud of both of those stories,” Conrad said. “With Neptune, I wanted to rip something from the headlines and address it in a graphic novel. The result feels far less like ‘entertainment’ and more like observing a car crash, a thing you don’t wish to see, but can’t look away from. Nathan Ooten nailed it; each page manages to be at once a beautiful display of his multimedia approach to sequential art, and a profane representation of quite vile subject matter.”

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Horror filmmakers David Ian + Rebekah McKendry head to ‘Barstow’ with Tyler Jenkins + Justin Birch

The horror-comedy title arrives from Dark Horse this fall.

Filmmakers David Ian McKendry and Rebekah McKendry will team with artist Tyler Jenkins and letterer Justin Birch for Barstow, a horror comedy coming from Dark Horse later this year.

The McKendrys are the husband and wife team who worked on horror films like Glorious and All the Creatures Were Stirring. Jenkins, meanwhile, is the award-winning artist of titles like Grass Kings and Hairball.

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Check out an exclusive clip from the ‘She Could Fly’ game by Wowbagger Productions

Christopher Cantwell and Martín Morazzo’s Berger Books series has been adapted into a video game about OCD and mental health.

She Could Fly by writer Christopher Cantwell and artist Martín Morazzo achieved liftoff in 2018 from Dark Horse Comics’ Berger Books imprint. It was the first published comic written by Cantwell, and also one that was very personal, as it featured a main character with OCD — something he’s spoken about suffering from since he was 10 years old.

Now She Could Fly has become part of a “documentary game” — the She Could Fly Documentary Escape Game, which is a point and click game from Wowbagger Productions that takes players on a looping adventure to explore OCD.

“For me, in the graphic novel, flying is a form of relief or freedom for the main characters,” Cantwell said. “In my life, what I look for, in terms of relief or freedom, is not happiness but peace of mind. Real peace of mind. Peace of mind is very important to me, and it’s something I’m always striving for. And I hope that by playing this game or reading our story, it helps you find some peace of mind as well.”

The game features artwork by Morazzo and colorist Miroslav Mrva from She Could Fly as part of the gameplay elements, and the creators hope it puts a spotlight on, and helps people understand, how OCD can affect someone.

“The work we do at Wowbagger Productions is very much about collaborating with creatives from marginalised perspectives to share less-known stories,” said Wowbagger Productions founder Sara Kenney, who wrote, directed and produced the game. “This is our first digital game and decades of storytelling and producing experience meant we ensured the comic, documentary and gameplay works together and flows in a meaningful way. Games for impact are an arena that the team at Wowbagger Productions are passionate about and want to continue our work, not just combining art and science, but also the different disciplines of games, comics and film.”

Check out our exclusive video clip below, which shows how some of the comic pages from She Could Fly are used in the game:

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James Robinson + J. Bone reunite for ‘Welcome to the Maynard’

The new series about a magical hotel opens its doors at Dark Horse Comics in November.

James Robinson’s return to comics continues in November, as he and his Saviors collaborator J. Bone check into the Maynard, a magical hotel for with witches and otherworldly creatures. Dark Horse Comics will publish the four-issue miniseries.

Welcome to the Maynard will focus on the hotel’s newest bellhop and amateur detective, as she tries to stop a magical thief. The series will follow Patra, which is also written by Robinson and debuts in August.

It’s a thrill to be reunited with my dear friend J. Bone,” said Robinson. “I love his art and his collaborative spirit, both, so Welcome To The Maynard has been a joy to write. I’m also excited to do a series (akin to Leave It To Chance, back in the day) that can be enjoyed on different levels, by readers young and old.”

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Caitlin Yarsky’s ‘Living Hell’ debuts from Dark Horse this fall

The new series features a demon who escapes from hell to become a bartender.

While you might know Caitlin Yarsky mainly as an artist, of comics like Black Hammer Reborn, Coyotes, Catwoman and more, that’s about to change. This fall, she’ll write and draw Living Hell, a new series coming from Dark Horse Comics.

The comic will feature a demon named Jerome Jameel, who escapes from Hell to become a bartender on Earth. But his transgressions lead him to become a bailiff for the underworld, hunting down dieties, monsters, ghosts and more.

“Almost every mythology around the world has its own version of an underworld—a land of the dead, the embodiment of despair,” Yarsky said. “Living Hell explores the lengths we’ll go to transcend generational trauma and the prisons of our past. It’s a story about family, the fantasy of a clean slate, and of course, cool monsters.”

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Slugfest | BOOM! announces a second ‘I Heart Skull-Crusher!’ arc

Today’s round-up includes news on SDCC, Power Rangers, Something is Killing the Children, Groo, Venom War and more.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. With the San Diego Comic Con rapidly approaching, you’ll probably see more of these over the next few weeks. Hit the links for more information.

As a part of their annual “Road to SDCC” announcements, BOOM! Studios has revealed that Josie Campbell and Alessio Zonno’s I Heart Skull-Crusher! will continue in October.

The BOOM! Box series was announced late last year and began in March as a miniseries, but it looks like it has grown into something more.

“Josie Campbell and Alessio Zonno have even more action-packed, hilarious hijinks in store for us,” said BOOM! Studios Editor Elizabeth Brei. “The new arc is funny, chaotic and shockingly touching, just as you’d expect from Trini and the rest of her Screaming Pain Ball teammates! We’re so excited for readers to discover the surprises still to come!”

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Kyle Starks + Piotr Kowalski return for another nightmare-fueled ‘Where Monsters Lie’ miniseries

‘Where Monsters Lie: Cull-De-Sac’ slashes its way into stores in October.

Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski’s Where Monsters Lie will get a sequel this fall, as Dark Horse Comics has announced Where Monsters Lie: Cull-De-Sac kicks off in October. They’re joined by colorist Vladimir Popov and letterer Joshua Reed.

That subtitle sounds not so much like a place, but what’s going to happen, doesn’t it? If you read the first series, you know that’s probably true. It featured a neighborhood filled with horror/slasher icons living their best lives when they’re interrupted by Connor Hayes, a former victim who managed to escape from a serial killer and went on to become a bad-ass monster hunter. He showed up to take his revenge in what was a fun and well done, yet oh so bloody, miniseries.

“I love a good horror movie like nobody else,” said Starks. “I adore a great horror slasher. But you know what I like even more? A SEQUEL!  Brilliant artist Piotr Kowalski did such a great job of bringing the awful beasts of Site A to life I just had to see what he would do at Site B! If you LOVED Volume One you have a great treat coming here in the Cull-de-sac. IF you didn’t read Volume One what are you doing! Read it then come pick this up! What terrible, evil fun we’re having!  JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN!!!”

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Dark Horse celebrates Halloween with two specials in October

The ‘Headless Horseman’ annual will return, while Christopher Chaos gets his own special.

October is typically the month when we can expect an onslaught of Halloween-themed comics, and it looks like this year will, thankfully, be no different. Dark Horse will celebrate the greatest of holidays twice this year, with a 2024 Headless Horseman Halloween Annual and the first Christopher Chaos Halloween Special. Both specials will feature multiple stories by different creative teams.

First up, coming your way Oct. 2 is the Christopher Chaos anthology, featuring stories set in the weird world of James Tynion IV and Isaac Goodhart’s hero. The two creators will contribute a story that Goodhart says springs from a personal conversation between the two of them.

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