Tag Archives: Dark Horse Comics

September 20, 2012 · 4:18 am

ANGEL AND FAITH #14 Review

“Angel and Faith #14” is the fourth and final chapter to “Family Reunion” and a lesson learned for Willow for insisting on trying to tap into magic from a hell dimension. Not a good idea — but not an entirely bad idea either. If there really is any good to be found from this fine mess, Willow and Angel will need to act fast. As you may assume, they do manage to figure something out and that will take them in new directions.

This is issue is all about finding some resolution, of course, and Christos Gage’s script does a good job of that. The most riveting development is Willow getting too close to the dark side. This is something Rebekah Isaacs brings out with her art. We do get to see a good bit of the Dark Willow and that may or may not play into Willow’s new path in her own series starting up November 7. This story, among other things, is a great set up for her new adventures.

“Family Reunion” ends up being a good opportunity for characters to connect a little more with each other and themselves: Angel with his son, Connor; Angel with Willow; Angel with Faith; Willow with Willow; and Faith with Faith. Yeah, and Angel with Angel. I think Connor turned out to be the most adjusted and didn’t really need to do too much soul-searching. Willow and Faith and Connor were pretty much already cool with each other. You get your priorities straightened out fairly quickly when you’re trapped in Quor’toth, the most putrid and disgusting dimension of hell.

“Angel and Faith #14” comes out September 26, 2012. Visit our friends at Dark Horse Comics.

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September 18, 2012 · 2:18 am

SPIKE #2 Review

Spike is such a good bloke. The loyal boyfriend. A guy who just wants to chill out and do the right thing. Spike is the James Dean of comics. But he’s got his blind spot, doesn’t he? Can we all say what it is together? Buffy! Yes, that’s right. Maybe if Spike hadn’t been such a mopey mope, the lost man on the dark side of the moon, he would have been more on his game when he and his loyal band of bugs were overtaken by a mob of fish-like demon thugs.

What is remarkable, two issues into “A Dark Place,” is how well Spike commands the comics page of an excellent unfolding story. The art here (Paul Lee, pencils; Andy Owens, inks), panel per panel, is vivid and memorable stuff. And the writing by Victor Gischler is true to the character of Spike and very energetic. The issue runs smooth with excellent timing due to the stellar art team and to Mr. Gischler, who has mad skills in crime fiction like his novel, “Gun Monkeys,” and comics skills, like his work on X-Men. This is prime comics. We’ve got Spike’s spot on swagger, the bug crew plotting his rescue, these wicked bad guys, and that’s just the build up. I’m so impressed with the attention to detail. You can really feel like you’re inside that blimp, navigating down all its narrow hallways. You can really feel for Spike as he’s restrained by a giant frog with its enormous tongue wrapped around him and, all the while, he doesn’t lose his cool.

Once Spike gets a whiff of what his captors have in mind, to take back as many shards as they can find of The Seed, well, it’s time for a game of matching wits. Spike, the one with all the wit, claims to be a valuable asset to his captors and will lead them back to Sunnydale where they are sure to find all the remains to The Seed that they can carry.

Once they get there, all shards have been spoken for. As any self-respecting fan is already aware of, what they do find is something that Spike will find the most interesting. If this feels like a spoiler for some of you, then stop reading now. All that I will say is that there’s a bodacious rival for Spike’s affections that appears to emerge in this issue. Her name is Morgan. She only has the first name, like Cher. She makes a pretty hot entrance. She has instant appeal, like a revamped Betty Page. However, as Victor Gischler explains on his blog: “Just remember, it’s a 5-issue story arc. Lots can happen!” The art below comes from his blog:

Here’s the thing: Why not have Morgan be the game changer? Let her take over Buffy’s place for an indefinite amount of time. Maybe even have her turn directly against Buffy. In time, they might even become allies. Lots of possibilities. But we’re getting way ahead of ourselves, aren’t we? No Spike and Buffy fan wants to see that Spike has moved on, is at least testing things out, or do they? That sort of thinking could lead to some pretty awesome comics! Why build something interesting up, take it to the very edge, and then abruptly retreat? Oh, but it’s just comics, right? Well, no, we’re dealing here with comics that are a cut above just comics. So, we shall see.

Oh, and something big does happen on the last page. Isn’t that always the way? So, who knows if Spike and Morgan will even have much time to really get acquainted, at least in this story.

“Spike #2” is out September 19. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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September 11, 2012 · 8:12 pm

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #13 Review

The stuff in the background is nicely fleshed out, the parody of Facebook and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Instead, you have the social network Tincan and its kingpin, Theo Daniels. The idea that this media giant had to make a deal with the devil, so to speak, is hilarious. My only problem is I wanted more of the background! They even went to the trouble of creating an awesome logo for the fictitious Tincan, an Andy Warhol inspired soup can. And the Zuckerberg-like Theo Daniels should become an ongoing character. But, for the purposes of this story arc, the spotlight is placed on Eldre Koh, a rogue demon that Buffy thought she could trust but turns out to be terribly unreliable. He’s not much to look at and his social skills are limited. He’s a necessary foil to get us to where we need to go.

That said, let’s step back and look at what we’ve got. Do you feel like you have your own crazy mojo that you’d be willing to protect over anything else in the world? That’s what Buffy has been struggling with ever since joining her ex-Slayer pal, Kennedy, in the business of providing security for high-end clients. It just doesn’t suit her to be working for the suits. In the last part to, “Guarded,” we see what Buffy does when all hell literally breaks loose. Well, the girl can think on her feet, that’s for sure. She may have been distracted a bit by a seemingly good-natured and depressed demon. But, once she realizes that Koh is more than willing to kill her client just to restore his rep with the other demons, well, the claws come out. So, yeah, it’s a fun and action-packed ending that’s also true to life. Here you have Buffy working her ass off at a job that still sucks in her mind.

Andrew Chambliss brings this story to a satisfying ending with a big hint to where we go next. The art continues to be spot on: George Jeanty on pencils, Nathan Massengill on inks, and Michelle Madsen on colors, keep the action believable and lively. I don’t take anything for granted with this comic. It’s running smoothly with a nice build up to future events. But I sometimes wish some of the ideas that are brought up could be examined even more fully. You don’t bring up Facebook and all its issues and then abruptly move right along, do you? Well, maybe we’d end up getting off point. Or maybe it would be pretty awesome to delve further into the subject of social media. I’m just saying.

Issue 13 comes out September 12. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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August 30, 2012 · 4:08 am

ANGEL AND FAITH #13 Review

“Angel and Faith #13” continues where we left our heroes, deep in the bowels of a most demented dimension of hell, in order to find that missing ingredient, that elusive mojo, that might kickstart magic back into the world. Willow had managed to pick up enough of a spark to call it a day when a lost tribe of cute floppy eared dog people, deep, deep within hell, let out a little yelp for help. Being all nice and stuff, Willow, Faith, Angel, and his son, Connor, literally turned right around and back into mortal danger to help out their new friends. And so continues one of the funnest rides in comics. That is, if you don’t mind a ride in hell, which I’m fine with, especially one drawn by Rebekah Isaacs. This is Dark Horse Comics, after all.

As you can see from the above page of comics, Faith is momentarily caught in the spell from hell emanating from their current location, Quor’toth. Happy thoughts! Think happy thoughts! Whew, that does the trick. It gives Faith enough strength to press on and even a little reserve of energy to lament the fact that Angel and Connor have such a solid father and son relationship but her dad remains a pud.

But getting back to the idea of, on the verge of escape, retreating right back into the jaws of death. That, my friend, is very counter-intuitive and, interesting. I wouldn’t exactly want these characters to just go to a very strange and dangerous place, get what they were looking for, and then just skip right out through a convenient magic portal. No, we want conflict and this is something that will keep us reading and wondering. Yes, indeed, Part Three of “Family Reunion” has knocked all the blocks down and the repair work is under way.

It was Connor’s previous stay in Quor’toth that inspired a whole race of dog people to live in sheer harmony and embrace peace and love. Not exactly conduct becoming of a demon. No wonder they’re being “hounded” out by the powers that be. The game plan is to rescue the dog people being held captive and then high tail it out of hell! One member of the dog race lends a paw in the battle royale that ensues. The action is gungo-ho earnest but Faith can be relied upon to eventually provide some irony. And, just before the momentum is lost, we have a complete scene change, back to the Giles mansion to check in on those two cute and highly irresponsible housesitting sisters, Sophie and Lavinia. They have the most unwelcome of guests: Nash and Pearl! And Whistler, who has his own agenda.

Christos Gage’s story makes a good leap forward once we return to Quor’toth. The players know what is at stake, magic in the world and their very lives. There is no time to lose and it all hinges on what Willow does next. Everything hinging on Willow? Yep, that’s a good place to stop and pick things up next time.

“Angel and Faith #13” release date: August 29. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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August 16, 2012 · 8:59 pm

SPIKE #1 Review

Dark Horse Comics continues to deliver Buffy goodness with Spike’s own comic! There is something joyful in that, don’t you think? The guy has charisma, a perfect story to tell, and he’s got that blimp with an army of  human-sized bugs that all think they’re C-3PO.

First off, Spike can definitley carry his own title. He’s full of swagger no doubt and, in this ish, it’s brooding swagger. As the title of this five-part story suggests, Spike has gone to, “A Dark Place.” It’s quite a familiar place. If you’ve ever had your heart torn apart from a failed romance, there’s literally nothing that will pull you out of that funk until you’re good and ready. At the time, it seems you may never pull it together. Friends begin to worry. But Spike has no friends. If he did, it would make it a little easier for him. What he does have is his faithful army of bugs and they can think for themselves, up to a point, and they know their master is lost at sea. That’s not good for him or his crew.

Spike gave orders to land his blimp/rockeship on the dark side of the moon. The bugs carried out his orders. Then they pondered over what they had done. They observed that their supreme leader was obsessively brooding, excessively drinkly, and repressively insulting his loyal minions. Sebastian, Elizabeth, and the rest of the bug crew, conclude that this can not stand! Enough! What happens next is a hilarious remedy cooked up by the bugs. It actually helps for a little while until Spike has to go all macho negative on it. The remedy is a play on dark and light and, in the end, it puts Spike off because it comes across as too easy to enjoy. The guy just thinks too much!

Now, think back to the last time we saw Spike with Buffy. Quite a heartbreaker. What did he say? Oh, yeah: “I don’t want to be the dark place you run to when things aren’t working.” Writer Victor Gischler, along with editors Scott Allie and Sierra Hahn, work with that idea wonderfully in this story. Is it possible to bring some light into Spike’s world? Yes, Buffy is proof of that. Do opposites attract? Yes! So, now what? Only his bugs, as best as they’re able, can try to talk some sense into him. They’re not saying Buffy is or isn’t the answer. They just want him to lighten up!

This issue to a pleasure. The art is tops. Paul Lee on inks. Andy Owens on pencils. Cris Peters on colors. Cover art by Jenny Frison. Alternative cover art by Steve Norris. It all adds up quite well. The color scheme is very inviting, playing off the interiors of the blimp and its crew with earth tones and greens. We are easily swept up by the narrative with bold and smooth artwork. It looks very effortless, very in tune with the story. I don’t think I would ever tire of views from inside that blimp! And those bugs are amazing.

But, there is a big “meanwhile” story going on. You didn’t think that Spike would be left to have some quiet time for feeling sorry for himself did you? Oh no, if it’s not one thing, then it’s another. Didn’t you know there’s life on the moon?

“Spike” comes out August 22. Visit Dark Horse Comics.

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August 6, 2012 · 4:22 am

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #12 Review

Buffy has gotten under my skin, as I’m sure she has for many of you faithful readers. And look at where she’s at now, right in the thick of the everyday mortal social/status/career morass we accept as our lives. Well, we don’t entirely accept it and Buffy, we’re pretty sure, is just biding her time until she can plot her next move, something we’re all doing ourselves in our own ways. And what an ironic showcase assignment for our Buffy to have: securing the safety of a Mort Zuckerberg-like character, one of these social media kingpins who promised to make our social/status/career thing run oh so smoothly. Just believe! Just add a new Friend or Like something!

Horror and biting social commentary can often make a good mix. And it can work for vampires or, more to the point here, vampire slayers, er, former vampire slayers. The key thing here is “former” vampire slayer. Buffy’s nose will continue to be rubbed in that harsh fact. She ain’t no slayer now. Who’s your slayer? Not Buffy, no way. She been downsized and upgraded, turned inside out, and gone corporate. But how long can it last, really? One thing we like about Buffy is that this girl can focus and her job right now is to keep one dumbass CEO of the latest and greatest social media, “Tin Can” from getting eaten up alive by some major demon mofos. And why would that be, you may ask. Because this Tin Can thing is geared up to the very depths of hell, that’s why! The guy made some bargain with some devil and now he’s looking for Buffy and her crew, well, actually Kennedy’s crew of elite security to save his sorry self.

This is one of the funniest and most enjoyable Buffy reads yet. It’s very bright, techy and geeky without trying and something that will put a nice kick in your day. This next issue comes out August 8. As always, please visit and enjoy our friends at Dark Horse Comics.

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July 26, 2012 · 3:37 am

BEASTS OF BURDEN: NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH Review

Have you been meaning to pick up a copy of “Beasts of Burden” but not sure where to jump in? Well, this upcoming Wednesday, August 1st, you can try out the Dark Horse One-Shot, “Beasts of Burden: Neighborhood Watch,” which collects three stories that were previously seen in “Dark Horse Presents” and it will only set you back $3.50.

If you’re completely new to this mix of adventure/mystery/horror then you’re definitely in for a treat. This is the Eisner Award winning series written by Evan Dorkin (“Milk and Cheese”) and drawn by Jill Thompson (“Scary Godmother”). So, let’s get to what makes this comic so good.

If you were mesmerized by the rabbits in “Watership Down,” then you’re going to have a ball with the animals in this comic. They are not your conventional sort of cuddly animal characters, although they can look cute. In our first story, “Food Run,” we find a goblin doesn’t know when to quit after he is chased away from the local hen house by Orphan, the tabby, and Rex, the Doberman. It’s the goblin who acts like a primitive brute compared to Rex and Orphan’s more refined tastes.

They would all love a nice chicken dinner but that slimely, smelly and oafish goblin is not welcome. The story itself is pretty wacky and fun. You easily get lost in it. The animals, even the goblin, are all rendered in a loose yet precise style. In one panel, you will see Orphan running in a simple pose and, in the very next panel, you have a beautifully executed study of the same cat perched on a limb, his entire vertebrae articulated with panache.

“Story Time” gathers the pups together for a bone-chilling retelling of a tale from the Dark Ages. And “The View From The Hill” is a wonderful take on ghosts who are nowhere near ready to have Jennifer Love Hewitt, or anyone else, help them crossover. In this case, it’s a flock of sheep along with its guardian dog. Sadly, they all perished in a horrific fire. But to the casual observer, they look fine. It takes Jack, one very observant Beagle, to find out the truth which is scary. “Beast of Burden” pulls no punches: cats and dogs get beat up, they get scared to hell and it all just makes sense.

Pick up “Beast of Burdern: Neighborhood Watch” at your local comics shop or order a copy from Dark Horse Comics.

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July 25, 2012 · 4:55 am

ANGEL AND FAITH #12 Review

Quor’toth, the hell within a hell, never looked worse to Angel. His son, Connor, thinks it’s about the same since the last time he saw it. The family trip from hell, rather, to hell, was only meant to be a quick day trip in order to restore Willow’s magic which may lead to greater things like bringing back magic to the world and even resurrecting Giles. But to get all this, it meant going back to Quor’toth and sorting out the right mojo. As fate would have it, this would not be just a simple day trip. For starters, Willow drops a bomb with her declaring she is going to need a lot of time to get her magic groove thing back.

Part 2 of “Family Reunion” finds us deep in Quor’toth for much of the story where we find some marvelous ghoulies thanks to Rebekah Issacs’s wicked drawing. We begin with these muscular gorgons with dragon wings and bulbous heads with multiple eyes and sphincter-like faces. They are ready to attack until they get a look at Connor and declare his return, since his days as a boy, as the Second Coming, and the Wrath of the Destroyer.

It’s not long before Angel and Connor find old relics indicating that Connor was looked upon as some sort of god. All this overwhelms Angel and he feels sorry for the great burden that Connor has had endured. Here, Christos Gage’s writing comes back to family values and Connor reassures Angel that he’s been a good father to him: “You gave me what I needed to survive until I could stand on my own. That’s what a parent does, right? A good one, anyway.”

And to top off all the good feeling, Connor comes into contact with another band of creatures who utterly adore him because they came to understand that his power came from love and understanding! These are very faithful creatures and it makes sense they resemble shaggy dogs. They are in total of awe of Connor and his gospel of love. It leads Faith to snicker at Connor, “Look at you. Hipster Jesus!”

Away from this Edgar Rice Burroughs adventure, back in London we get to see what the Ab Fab sisters have been up to which isn’t much aside from being drunk and irresponsible. This sordid arrangement could only last for so long before something went awry. And something does go awry, very awry.

Angel and Faith is out now, June 25! Visit Dark Horse Comics!

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July 5, 2012 · 4:50 am

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #11 Review

“BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9” takes another well-defined turn in the new story arc, “Guarded,” by Andrew Chambliss. Buffy, in many ways, is an artist. Her work as a Slayer has a singular vision. She is a Slayer down to the tips of her toes. And, like any good dancer or mime, she is completely dedicated to her art to the neglect of any kind of retirement plan. The world, magicless as it is, has pulled the rug out from under her. Barista work doesn’t seem to be cutting it anymore. Enter Kennedy, a savvy ex-Slayer, who offers Buffy that thing she’s been craving: stability, a “real” life. But, as any real artist knows, comfort comes at a price. Buffy doesn’t want to be a flake but she also doesn’t want to be a sellout. Buffy can’t stop being Buffy so her solution will forever be complicated. As she tells Kennedy, “I can’t just shut it off like you.”

But what’s a girl to do? So, Buffy goes corporate, sort of, and joins Kennedy’s venture, a highend security service where ex-Slayers are hired out as bodyguards for rich clients. Like it or not, Kennedy has breathed life back into a bunch of Slayers who were down in the dumps. Buffy and Kennedy are walking through the company training camp when Kennedy observes, “There’s not a lot ex-Slayers are suited for in a world that’s minus the magic. Most of us didn’t even finish high school.” Yeah, so it makes sense. What do you do after you’ve run away to join the circus? Maybe take the next job with a decent 401K? Of course, Buffy is hardly a circus act, but a harsh economy doesn’t care.

Buffy, the artist, is also a soldier who is not whole outside the fight. It plays with her mind. She can’t focus. Her big fail in training speaks volumes. Her goal was clouded at the first sight of a demon roaming the hotel corridor she was supposed to protect. It turns out that the demon she tackled into the maid’s closet was actually a bellhop and it was the maid who she should have had her eyes on. Try as she might, Buffy can’t push the pause button on who she is. Chambliss does a wonderful job of expressing the conflict Buffy feels as she struggles to do what she thinks she is supposed to do, earn a decent living in the modern world, as opposed to just doing what comes natural. Kennedy goads Buffy to go against her instincts. She chides her for not willing to try something new. She taunts her needing to do something larger-than-life. The simple fact remains that Buffy really is larger-than-life! It’s the way countless aspiring painters and writers feel as they toil away as receptionists and waiters. Chambliss knows. And Buffy feels your pain.

“Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 9,” #11, is available June 11, which also happens to be the first day of the San Diego Comic-Con! I will be there to see what all the fuss is about. Be sure to LIKE the brand new snazzy Comics Grinder Facebook Page. And check out the merch at the Comics Grinder store. And, as always, be sure to visit Dark Horse Comics.

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July 3, 2012 · 5:07 am

COMIC-CON 2012: DARK HORSE DELUXE

Dark Horse Comics is your overlord at San Diego Comic-Con 2012!

Press release follows:

DARK HORSE DELUXE ANNOUNCES

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2012 EXCLUSIVES!

July 2, MILWAUKIE, OR—The largest and most highly anticipated pop culture event of the year is right around the corner, and Dark Horse is bringing you the latest and greatest in exclusive products from Dark Horse Deluxe!

2″ Pirate Domo Qee(Limited Edition of 1,500)

These popular 2“ Qee figures have continually sold out, appearing in stores and galleries worldwide. Who wouldn’t want a Pirate Domo Qee? Get one while they last!

Marvel Classic Character: Iron Man Gold Variant (Limited Edition of 200)

Iron Man was originally portrayed in a silvery iron suit when he was introduced to the world by Marvel. Very shortly thereafter he transitioned into this gold-colored iron suit. This Comic-Con exclusive limited-edition Syroco-style statuette stands 4 3/4″ tall and comes in a litho-printed tin box, with a pin-back button and a booklet.

Marvel Classic Character: The Hulk Green Variant (Limited Edition of 200)

We’ve turned the original short-lived gray Hulk to his familiar green just for Comic-Con in this very limited-edition Syroco-style statuette. Hulk stands 4 3/4″ tall, and comes in a litho-printed tin box, with a pin-back button and a booklet.

2.5″ Good Luck Troll: Black-Light Green (Limited Edition of 1,500)

Trolls became one of America’s biggest toy fads in the early 1960s, and again over the years in various revivals from many toy manufacturers. They’ve been off the market for nearly a decade; now Dark Horse is bringing them back with a mystery-box program. However, our San Diego Comic-Con exclusive is no mystery. This green Good Luck Troll with white hair glows under black light and is limited to 1,500 pieces!

Make sure to stop by booth #2615 to check out all this awesome stuff, only available at San Diego Comic-Con 2012!

About Dark Horse

Founded in1986 by Mike Richardson, 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. 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 Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, including The Mask,Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.

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