Dark Horse Comics Announces a Second Swing of "Black Hammer"

JEFF LEMIRE’S “Black Hammer” Ongoing Series Back on Track

And the heroes are coming out swinging!

FOR EMERALD CITY COMICON: After a series delay, Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce the return of Xeric Award–winning and Eisner, Ignatz, and Harvey Award–nominated cartoonist JEFF LEMIRE and artist DEAN ORMSTON’s much-anticipated original ongoing series BLACK HAMMER.

From the prodigious brain of Lemire (Descender, Sweet Tooth, Essex County, A.D.: After Death, Plutona) comes Black Hammer, a character-based superhero drama amazingly brought to life by Ormston (Lucifer, The Sandman) with colors by none other than Eisner Award–winning veteran Dave Stewart.

Once they were heroes, but the age of heroes has long since passed. Banished from existence by a multiversal crisis, the old champions of Spiral City—Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Colonel Weird, Madame Dragonfly, and Barbalien—now lead simple lives in a timeless farming town. Even as they try to find their way home, trouble has a unique way of finding heroes wherever they are!

“Black Hammer has been a labor of love for me,” says Lemire. “It’s a project that I’ve been working on in various forms for seven years.”

With a variant cover by Lemire, Black Hammer #1 launches on July 20, 2016 and retails for $2.99. Preorder your copy today at your local comic book store.

Praise for Black Hammer:

“At once an epic, gripping superhero mystery, and a heartfelt meditation on why superheroes matter, Black Hammer is easily one of Lemire’s best creations. Peopled with fantastic characters like the haunting Colonel Weird and the mysterious Madame Dragonfly—each made wondrously vibrant by Ormston’s pen—Black Hammer is a place you too will find nearly impossible to leave.”—Scott Snyder (Wytches)

“On my pull list by the time I got to page five.”—Mark Waid (Kingdom Come)

“Jeff Lemire’s Black Hammer feels like it’s walking two roads—one honoring the past of superhero comics, and one forging a path into the future of the genre.”—Cullen Bunn (Harrow County)

“Black Hammer feels like a superhero story through an X-Files lens; it’s strange and melancholy and real. The tale evokes an immense world filled with typically deep Lemire-ian themes of isolation, joy and simplicity. I can’t wait to see where he goes from here.”—Charles Soule (Star Wars: Poe Dameron, Letter 44)

“Jeff Lemire, one of the most gifted writers currently working in comics, has produced another powerhouse work with Black Hammer. Combining the ‘country gothic’ feel of his own Essex County with the world of superheroes, the end result is something truly fresh, exciting and fun. I need more now!”—James Robinson (Airboy, Starman)


About Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston
Jeff Lemire is the Xeric Award-winning cartoonist behind Lost Dogs, as well as the Ignatz, Eisner, and Harvey Award-nominated creator of Essex County, Underwater Welder, Sweet Tooth, Plutona, and Descender. He has also done extensive work for Marvel, DC Comics, and Valiant Entertainment, including Animal Man, Superboy, All-New Hawkeye, Old Man Logan, Bloodshot Reborn, and many others.

Dean Ormston is a British illustrator who entered comics with Judge Dredd Megazine and 2000AD before moving onto work with Vertigo on Sandman with Neil Gaiman and Lucifer with Mike Carey.

About Dark Horse
For 30 years, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, the company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

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Second Trailer Debuts for "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadow"

COWABUNGA!! Check out the new trailer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS is in-theaters June 3, 2016

Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael return to theaters this summer to battle bigger, badder villains, alongside April O’Neil (Megan Fox), Vern Fenwick (Will Arnett), and a newcomer: the hockey-masked vigilante, Casey Jones (Stephen Amell).  After supervillain Shredder escapes custody, he joins forces with mad scientist, Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry), and two dimwitted henchmen, Bebop (Gary Anthony Williams) and Rocksteady (WWE Superstar Stephen “Sheamus” Farrelly), to unleash a diabolical plan to take over the world. As the Turtles prepare to take on Shredder and his new crew, they find themselves facing an even greater evil with similar intentions: the notorious Krang.

#TMNT2

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Florida Supercon Set to Rock "The Jackie Gleason Theater"

Florida Supercon set to use The Jackie Gleason Theater for Main Events Stage

Historic Venue will be used in tandem with The Miami Beach Convention Center for South Florida’s largest Comic Con event of the year

Miami, Florida — Florida Supercon organizers have announced a partnership with The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater to expand the size of its main events stage during the annual comic con event. The theater is located adjacent to the Miami Beach Convention Center, and has a seating capacity of up to 2,462 people. The theater will host Q&A’s and panels for Supercon’s most popular guests.

Florida Supercon is scheduled for July 1-4, 2016, and will make use of the Jackie Gleason Theater on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3, 2016. Clear paths between the Convention Center and the theater will be marked off for quick and convenient transit between Hall C and the Jackie Gleason Theater. Florida Supercon will be utilizing Hall C and D of The Miami Beach Convention Center for the entirety of the event. The addition of the Jackie Gleason Theater is in part due to ongoing renovations at The Miami Beach Convention Center, which will have Hall A and B under construction during the event. Rather than shrink the event during renovations, Florida Supercon has chosen to expand in a move that will see the main stage shifted from its previous location in Hall C to the Jackie Gleason Theater.

“It’s exciting to be able to use the historic Jackie Gleason Theater as our main stage this year. I can’t think of any other comic con that has such a cool main stage venue… and certainly the historic significance of the building can’t be ignored,” Mike Broder, President and Founder of Florida Supercon, said. “I can’t think of a better stage to host our celebrity headliners like William Shatner, as well as our costume contest, which is one of the signature events of our show.”

Some of the highlights for Florida Supercon 2016 include

•     Star Trek 50th Anniversary celebration featuring William Shatner “Captain Kirk,” Karl Urban “Dr. McCoy,” Walter Koenig “Pavel Chekov,” Michael Dorn “Worf,” Denise Crosby “Tasha Yar,” Robert Picardo “The Doctor,” René Auberjonois “Odo,” Robert Duncan McNeill “Tom Paris,”  David Warner “Chancellor Gorkon & St. John Talbot,” Chase Masterson “Leeta the Bajoran,” and Star Trek: The Motion Picture Cinematographer Bruce Logan.
•     Star of Gotham on FOX, Ben McKenzie “Jim Gordon.”
•     Star Wars cast members Jeremy Bulloch “Boba Fett,” Tim Rose “Admiral Ackbar,” Jessica Henwick “Jessika Pava,” Chris Parsons “4-Lom,” and Star Wars: A New Hope special effects coordinator Bruce Logan.
•     DC’s Legends of Tomorrow stars Arthur Darvill “Rip Hunter” and Casper Crump “Vandal Savage.”
•     Doctor Who stars Alex Kingston “River Song” and Arthur Darvill “Rory Williams.”
•     The Walking Dead Cast Members Michael Cudlitz “Abraham Ford,” and Denise Crosby “Mary.”
•     First Time Ever TRON Reunion with Bruce Boxleitner “TRON,” David Warner “Sark,” Cindy Morgan “Yori,” and TRON Cinematographer Bruce Logan.
•     Game of Thrones cast members Natalia Tena “Osha” and Jessica Henwick “Nymeria Sand.”
•     Harry Potter stars Natalia Tena “Tonks,” and Devon Murray “Seamus Finnigan.”
•     Sesame Street cast members Emilio Delgado “Luis” and Bob McGrath “Bob Johnson.”
•     Steven Universe stars Zach Callison “Steven,”  Michaela Dietz “Amethyst,” and Grace Rolek “Connie.”
•     Henry Winkler, star of Happy Days, Children’s Hospital, and The Waterboy.
•     Wrestling Superstars: Mick Foley, Diamond Dallas Page, Jerry “The King” Lawler, The Godfather, Road Warrior Animal, and Demolition.
•     Pokémon 20th Anniversary celebration with stars Veronica Taylor “Ash Ketchum”, Michael Liscio Jr. “Clemont and Inkay,” Tara Sands “Bulbasaur, Richie, Sammy, Oddish and Jasmine,” Haven Paschall “Serena,” and Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld “Bonnie, Nurse Joy, Jasmine and Audino.”
•     Anime and Animation Stars: Vic Mignogna (Fullmetal Alchemist, Dragon Ball Z, Ouran High School), Caitlin Glass (Fullmetal Alchemist, Ouran High School), Steve Blum (Cowboy Bebop, Samurai Champloo, Transformers: Prime, Wolverine and the X-Men), Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time), Trina Nishimura (Attack on Titan, Witchblade, Claymore), Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies), Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck), Veronica Taylor (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sailor Moon), Larry Kenney (Thundercats, Count Chocula), Charles Martinet (Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Waluigi for Nintendo), and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (Ghost In The Shell, Steven Universe, Sailor Moon).
•     Dozens of Comic Book Artists and Writers for Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, The Avengers, and more!
•     Multiple costume and cosplay events each day of the show, with thousands of dollars in cash and prizes on the line!
•     Over 500,000 square feet of convention space featuring over 600 booths and tables with vendors, celebrity guests, artists, filmmakers, and exhibits. 3 stages of entertainment, video games, plus a dozen rooms for panels, tabletop gaming and screenings.

ABOUT SUPERCON:
Florida Supercon is an annual four-day Comic Con event. Now in its 11th year, Supercon will take place JULY 1- 4, 2016 at The Miami Beach Convention Center and The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. Celebrities from Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Gotham, and Lord of the Rings will all be in attendance, alongside artists and writers of Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, The Avengers, and more. Supercon celebrates Comic Books, Anime, Animation, Video Games, Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Pop Culture, with over 600 events, such as celebrity meet and greets, Q&A’s, film screenings, industry panels, costume & cosplay contests, parties, educational workshops, video game tournaments, and more!

ABOUT THE FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH AT THE JACKIE GLEASON THEATER:
Opened in 1957 under the name the Miami Beach Municipal Auditorium, the venue was originally used as a stage for popular variety shows such as The Jackie Gleason Show, The Dick Clark Show, and The Ed Sullivan Show. The theater was renamed The Jackie Gleason Theater of Performing Arts in 1987, in remembrance of the great comedian’s contributions to the community. The 1990s saw the birth of the theater as both a great theatrical and performance center, as well as a concert hall, and was renamed The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater in 2007 after Live Nation took over management of the venue.

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Image Comics Announces a New Story Arc That is a "Beauty"

THE BEAUTY TACKLES A SCORCHING NEW CHAPTER

Writer/artist Jeremy Haun (Constantine, Batwoman) and co-writer Jason A. Hurley will launch a new story arc in their ongoing high-concept procedural series this May.

Previously in THE BEAUTY, a unique sexually-transmitted disease spread across the world, in no small part due to the fact that it produced highly desirable results. When detectives Vaughn and Foster stumbled upon a vast conspiracy concerning the nature and origin of this disease, they just uncovered more questions.

In THE BEAUTY #7, think that a criminal wouldn’t be all that affected by The Beauty outbreak? Well, you haven’t met Timo yet. He’ll prove you dead wrong.

"The Beauty is a morality play," said Haun. "We’re examining the lengths we, as a society, go to in order to look good. And let’s be honest: as a society, we’re a mess."

"Our next story arc will deal with a different set of characters at an earlier time in the life of the disease," added Hurley. "The story is more about the people dealing with the situation they’re in rather than about how the situation came to be."

THE BEAUTY #7 Cover A by Jeremy Haun (Diamond code: MAR160514) hits stores Wednesday, May 18th. THE BEAUTY #7 Cover B by Brett Weldele (Diamond code: MAR160515) will also be available Wednesday, May 18th, 2016. Final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, April 29th, 2016.


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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Dark Horse Comics Announces "Groo: Fray of the Gods"

Evanier and Aragonés Deliver “Groo: Fray of the Gods”

New ongoing “Groo” series is a battle for the ages

FOR EMERALD CITY COMIC CON: Announced at Emerald City Comicon, Dark Horse will deliver a new ongoing Groo series: Groo: Fray of the Gods.

This twelve-issue limited series features a tale told by the same award-winning creative team as always: Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier, with Tom Luth coloring and Stan Sakai on the lettering pen.

The gods did not bless Groo with brains, only with the ability to battle. Now, they themselves are in conflict over the spirit and future of mankind…and it is Groo who becomes the pawn (unwitting, of course) in their war. If the future of humanity depends on the Wanderer—we’re all in a lot of trouble.

Groo: Fray of the Gods #1 is on sale July 20, 2016.  Preorder your copy today at your local favorite comic shop.

Praise for Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier’s Groo:

“[Aragonés’s] style is so established, cartoony, and consistent that there’s never a doubt that you’ll get anything but pure magic out of him.”—Multiversity Comics

“Longtime Groo fans will find a lot to love here.”—Newsarama


About Sergio Aragonés
Sergio Aragonés is the most honored cartoonist alive, having won every major award in the field, including the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award, and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award. Sergio's first contribution -- "A Mad Look at the U.S. Space Effort" -- appeared in Mad #76, cover-dated January of 1963. For that same issue, he also contributed the cover gag (the first of many) and his first "Marginal Thinking" cartoons to be printed in the magazine's margins. He has since appeared in every issue of Mad except for one and has done thousands of his unique pantomime cartoons. He also produced 16 best-selling original Mad paperback books. Sergio teamed with wordsmith Mark Evanier to bring forth the adventures of Groo the Wanderer. Groo quickly became one of the longest-running "creator-owned" comic book properties, outlasting many of the companies that published it. Sergio and Mark have also produced other comics, including Fanboy, Boogeyman, Magnor, Blair Witch? and an acclaimed series in which together, they trash famous characters: Sergio Aragonés Massacres Marvel, Sergio Aragonés Destroys DC, and Sergio Aragonés Stomps Star Wars. For their comic book work, they have received multiple Eisner awards. The author lives in Ojai, CA..

About Dark Horse
For 30 years, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, the company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

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Review: All-New Inhumans #1

ALL-NEW INHUMANS #1
MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

WRITERS: James Asmus and Charles Soule
ART: Stefano Caselli
COLORS: Andres Mossa
LETTERS: VC's Clayton Cowles
COVER: Stefano Caselli
VARIANT COVERS:  Stefano Caselli with Andres Mossa; John Tyler Christopher; Jim Cheung with Justin Ponsor; Marco D'Alfonso (Hop Hop variant); Yaya Han photographed by Judy Stephens (cosplay variant)
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (February 2016)

Rated T+

The Inhumans are a race of super-humans in Marvel Comics.  This race was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee and first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 (cover dated: December 1965).  They are a strain of humanity that began with genetic manipulation by visitors to Earth from an alien civilization (the Kree) long ago in human prehistory.  Exposure to the mutagenic Terrigen Mist (a process known as Terrigenesis) reveal if a person is an Inhuman.

Little more than a B-list character group, the Inhumans are in ascendancy in the Marvel Universe, especially during the last three years.  In 2013, Marvel even launched a new comic book series, entitled Inhuman.  The launch of the “All-New, All-Different Marvel” comes with the Inhumans continuing to rise to prominence.  The latest Inhuman comic book series is All-New Inhumans.  This series is written by James Asmus and Charles Soule; drawn by Stefano Caselli, colored by Andres Mossa; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.

Once upon a time, I was enthralled by the X-Men's story of a small band of outcasts fighting to save a world that feared and hated them.  The racism, bigotry, and prejudice that the X-Men faced seemed genuine, and writer Chris Claremont hit upon something that spoke to readers with such honesty and a sense of verisimilitude.  I practically counted the days until each issue of Uncanny X-Men hit the shelves of the local newsstand, was place in a spinner rack at a local drugstore or supermarket, or was placed on the new release table at the closest comic book store.

That was before Marvel Comics started publishing multiple X-Men related titles and even more miniseries, one-shots, specials, etc.  After that, the X-Men seemed like nothing more than a weekly prank that Marvel Comics pulled on its loyal customers.

All-New Inhumans #1 recaptures the best of that X-Men spirit of an outsider group under siege.  The hatred against the Inhumans is potent, and writers James Asmus and Charles Soule depict the haters as desperate humans who are more fearful than evil.  The language of distrust from the politicians in the back-up story is honestly composed.  And because we need that, the main story offers engaging fight comics and Inhuman soap opera.

The art by the team of Stefano Caselli and Andres Mossa and the art by Nico Leon in the back-up are both high-quality, befitting of what is apparently going to be an important comic book in Marvel's line.  I eagerly look forward to more, and I heartily recommend this comic book.

A-

[This comic book includes a extra story written by James Asmus; drawn by Nico Leon; colored by Andres Mossa; and lettered by Clayton Cowles.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2016 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Dark Horse Comics Announces "Conan the Slayer"

CULLEN BUNN Writes “CONAN THE SLAYER"

The Cimmerian Becomes the Hunted

FOR EMERALD CITY COMIC CON: Dark Horse Comics is proud to announce that Eisner Award–nominated writer Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, The Sixth Gun, Deadpool & the Mercs for Money, Uncanny X-Men, Aquaman, Sinestro) will team up with Sergio Dávila (Red Sonja, Swords of Sorrow) for Conan the Slayer.

In the first issue of this pulse-pounding new series, Conan finds himself in uncharted territory—on the run!

Alone, battle weary, and with nothing but his sword, Conan of Cimmeria faces his inevitable death in the arid wastes . . . but instead stumbles into a camp of Kozaki raiders. With a knife at his throat and a band of Turanian hunters at his back, will the half-dead barbarian find a new ally in the Kozaki chief?

Conan the Slayer #1 is a perfect jumping-on point for new readers, as well as an action-packed adventure heavily rooted in Robert E. Howard’s original tales for devoted fans.

Conan the Slayer #1 will feature a cover and a variant cover by comics superstars Lee Bermejo and Mark Schultz! Conan’s newest adventures begin on July 13. Preorder your copy today at your local favorite comic shop.

Praise for Cullen Bunn and Sergio Dávila:

“Bunn deliver[s] an entertaining read that offered an excellent balance of action, adventure, mystery and drama.”—Comic Book Revolution

“Bunn’s ability to turn the horror volume up at precisely the right moments helps this book obtain the desired result of something special that firmly belongs in the must read category.”—Forces of Geek

“From the first panel to the final splash page, the delicate pencil strokes easily craft a believable world that dances between high fantasy and dynamic action. The art by Dávila is certainly stylized but also quite exquisite to behold.”—Unleash the Fanboy


About Cullen Bunn and Sergio Dávila
Cullen Bunn is the Eisner Award-nominated writer of numerous series for Marvel, DC Comics, Oni Press, Dynamite Entertainment, and Dark Horse Comics, including Wolverine, Venom, Sinestro, Lobo, Masks 2, and Harrow County.

Sergio Dávila has done several books for Dynamite Entertainment that include Lord of the Jungle, Red Sonja, Legenderry: A Steampunk Adventure, and Swords of Sorrow.

About Dark Horse
For 30 years, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, the company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent, such as Eric Powell, Mike Mignola, Geof Darrow, Brian Wood, Gail Simone, Stan Sakai, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends, such as Will Eisner, Milo Manara, Kazuo Koike, Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, such as The Mask, Ghost, X and Barb Wire. Its successful line of comics, manga and products based on popular properties includes Dragon Age, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Tomb Raider, Halo, The Witcher, Serenity, Game of Thrones, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.

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