DARK HORSE COMICS FOR NOVEMBER

AXE COP VOLUME ONE (TPB)

Written by Malachai Nicolle, penciled by Ethan Nicolle. Bad guys, beware! Evil aliens, run for your lives! Axe Cop is here, and he’s going to chop your head off! We live in a strange world, and our strange problems call for strange heroes. That’s why Axe Cop — along with his partner Flute Cop and their pet T. rex Wexter — is holding tryouts to build the greatest team of heroes ever assembled. Created by 5-year-old Malachai Nicolle and illustrated by his older brother, the cartoonist Ethan Nicolle, Axe Cop Volume 1 collects the entire original run of the hit webcomic that has captured the world’s attention with its insanely imaginative adventures. Whether he’s fighting gun-toting dinosaurs, teaming up with Ninja Moon Warriors, or answering readers’ questions via his insightful advice column, “Ask Axe Cop,” the adventures of Axe Cop and his incomparable team of crime fighters will delight and perplex even the most stoic of readers. 120 pages, black and white, $14.99, in stores on Dec. 22.

BALTIMORE: THE PLAGUE SHIPS #4

Written by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, art by Ben Stenbeck, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Mignola. While hunting the vampire responsible for the death of his family, Lord Baltimore gets stranded on a haunted island, where horrible fungus spores cover the beaches and rotting corpses don’t stay dead. 32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 3.

BILLY THE KID’S OLD TIMEY ODDITIES AND THE GHASTLY FIEND OF LONDON #3

Written by Eric Powell, art by Powell and Kyle Hotz, colored by Dan Brown and Dave Stewart, covers by Powell and Hotz. Jack the Ripper stands revealed! The bad news is he’s kidnapped a member of the traveling sideshow where Billy the Kid serves as a hired gun! Now Billy and the four-armed leader of the troupe must race to save their friend from the demented killer. Of course, it doesn’t help that Billy is a suspect himself, with the London police hot on his heels! Goon back-up story by Powell. 32 pages, $3.99, in stores on Nov. 10.

BLADE OF THE IMMORTAL VOLUME 23: SCARLET SWORDS (TPB)

Written and art by Hiroaki Samura. To atone for the atrocities committed under his watch, Habaki Kagimura is no longer the top general for Edo castle and the shogunate, and he must commit ritual suicide. While his replacement gave the despised Itto-ryu gang a reprieve and an order to leave Edo and remain in exile, Kagimura still has one shot to redeem himself. Desperate and with very little time left, he’s assembled his Rokki-dan warriors–with Kagimura’s own daughter among their numbers–and he now seeks to hunt down and wipe out the Itto-ryu for good. But in his haste, will he fall for a string of traps planned by Anotsu, their devious leader? Freed and unfazed by his time in Edo’s dungeons, Manji searches for his missing limb, and a few old friends return to the pages of this action-filled, epic manga series. 224 pages, black and white, $19.99, in stores on Jan. 26.

B.P.R.D.: HELL ON EARTH — NEW WORLD #4

Written by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi, art by Guy Davis, colored by Dave Stewart, cover by Davis. Trapped in a massive firefight with a horrific tentacled behemoth, the B.P.R.D. are rescued by another wild monster, while one agent chases the evil responsible for this chaos. 32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 10.

BRIDE OF THE WATER GOD VOLUME 7

Written and art by Mi-Kyung Yun. Soah, our heroine, is saved from a strange, sacrificial ritual by Habaek, the young Water God. While Soah has come to appreciate the Water God and his kingdom, the heavenly Suguk, she’s also fallen in love with a mysterious man named Mui. What she doesn’t know is that Habaek is Mui–he’s been cursed to appear as a little boy during the day while he lives in his true adult form at night! Will Soah discover that she’s torn between two versions of the same person, or will other sinister forces drive them apart? Soah and Habaek try to overcome a kidnapping, memory loss, pride, conflicting passions, and an array of devious interlopers on their paths to true love! 192 pages, black and white, $9.99, in stores on Jan. 19.

BRODY’S GHOST BOOK 2

Written and art by Mark Crilley. Brody knew that being mixed up with Talia, a dead girl turned ghost, was going to change his life forever. He just didn’t realize it was going to involve going head to head with one of the most vicious gangs in the whole city. But here he was, giving himself over to the bizarre training methods of Kagemura, an ancient samurai ghost, to transform himself from a flabby slacker to a peak-condition fighter capable of bringing the city’s most dangerous criminals to their knees. 96 pages, black and white, $6.99, in stores on Jan. 12.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #38

Written by Joss Whedon and Scott Allie, penciled by Georges Jeanty, inked by Andy Owens, colored by Michelle Madsen, covers by Jeanty and Jo Chen. “Last Gleaming,” part 3 of 5. While Super Buffy is fighting side by side with Spike in Sunnydale, Angel is on the other side of the world fighting demons of his own. As Twilight he was given a clear mission in regard to Buffy–help her reach the next plane, together create a new world, and end all suffering. But Buffy doesn’t play by the rules, and this “higher plane” and a lifetime of happiness with Angel wasn’t gonna cut it–not if she had to sacrifice her family to keep it. And now Angel has to answer for his failings as Twilight–willingly or not. Back in Sunnydale everyone is fighting for their lives against a horde of demons, and someone close to Buffy joins forces with a villain from the past to strive for a common goal–protect the seed. 40 pages, $2.99, in stores on Nov. 3.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: TALES

Written by Joss Whedon, Amber Benson, Jane Espenson, and Drew Goddard, art by Gene Colan, Tim Sale, Paul Lee, Steve Lieber, Andy Owens and more. Before Season Eight, Joss Whedon brought generations of Slayers and vampires to comics with the help of his acclaimed TV writing team and some of the best artists to ever grace the comics page. Now all those stories, plus selected stories from Season Eight, are collected in one deluxe hardcover with a new cover by Jo Chen. Joss writes multiple tales: a somber vamp tale, drawn by Cameron Stewart; the story of the first Slayer, drawn by Leinil Yu; and more. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales also reprints for the first time new Season Eight stories written by novelist Jackie Kessler and Becky Cloonan, featuring vampires living in the public eye, killing Slayers and killing each other. This hardcover collects stories from MySpace Dark Horse Presents #31 and #32; Tales of the Vampires: Carpe Noctem parts 1 and 2; Buffy: Tales of the Vampires one-shot; Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales of the Vampires #1#5; Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales of the Slayers #1–”Broken Bottle of Djinn”; Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales of the Slayers TPB. 296 pages, $29.99, in stores on Jan. 19.

CONAN: THE FRAZETTA COVER SERIES #6

Written by Timothy Truman, art by Tomas Giorello, colored by JosŽ Villarrubia, cover by Frank Frazetta. The sixth installment in Conan: The Frazetta Cover Series features Frank Frazetta’s iconic Conan cover painting, The Indomitable, and an expansion on Robert E. Howard’s “Hand of Nergal” story fragment. Writer Timothy Truman is joined by Tom‡s Giorello on pencils and JosŽ Villarrubia on colors in this exploration into the horrors of Howard’s Hyborian world. With zombies, a demonic army, an unearthly behemoth, a sorcerer, and a young witch on his hands, Conan is tasked not only with saving a beautiful princess–but saving his entire world from the evil god Nergal. This issue also ties into events seen in Conan: The Frazetta Cover Series issue #4! Collects Dark Horse’s Conan #49 and #50! 72 pages, $5.99, in stores on Nov. 3.

DOCTOR SOLAR, MAN OF THE ATOM #4

Written by Jim Shooter, art by Roger Robinson, cover by Michael Komarck. Surya the Sun God, Moloch the Devourer, and hordes of monsters made of living stone assail Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom, pressing him to the limit. Help comes from an unlikely source as Solar’s former foe Leviathan pits his awesome strength against the terrifying forces massed against “Red Suit,” but even Leviathan’s might can only delay defeat and death. But the key to the Man of the Atom’s power is his indomitable will, and, his spirits buoyed by beautiful Dr. Gail Sanders, the woman he is falling for faster than the speed of light, Solar will need every quantum of his power and purpose to rally and administer the greatest atomic ass-kicking of all time! 40 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 17.

FEAR AGENT #32

Written by Rick Remender, penciled by Mike Hawthorne and Tony Moore, inked by John Lucas. “Out of Step,” part 5 of 5. The End! 32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 24.

GANTZ VOLUME 15

Written and art by Hiroya Oku. Gantz is getting absolutely intense! Our protagonist, the eternally awkward otaku boy named Kei, has hunted a bevy of odd and dangerous aliens living in Japan. The Onion Alien was strange enough, but then there were the dinosaur aliens and eventually some vampires who might not be aliens at all. Gantz moves along at a furious pace, drowning readers in blood and violence, but then holds back for a few tender (and sometimes excessively sexy) moments here and there. It’s a crazy ride so far, a guilty pleasure for many readers. See whom Kei is told to hunt next! It will certainly be a surprise. 224 pages, black and white, $12.99, in stores on Jan. 5.

GHOST TALKER’S DAYDREAM VOLUME 5

Written by Saki Okuse, art by Sankichi Meguro. Saiki Misaki, our albino dominatrix necromancer hero, can’t seem to get away from dead people. Even while on vacation! Far from home, resting at a spa resort, Misaki still seems to be a magnet for tragic stories and creepy scenes. And sometimes the creepy stuff just comes looking for her. In volume five of Ghost Talker’s Daydream, Misaki’s partner from back home is racing to find her with a few colorful characters in tow, namely the young stalker who’s obsessed with Misaki, and a young girl who is also a budding necromancer. The result is a long trip to the world of the dead. 240 pages, black and white, $10.99, in stores on Jan. 12.

HEART TRANSPLANT  (GN)

Written by Andrew Vachss and Zak Mucha, art by Frank Caruso. For more than three decades, best-selling author Andrew Vachss has battled the lowest bullies: child abusers. In his law practice, he’s represented children and youth exclusively. As art director for King Features for two decades, Frank Caruso has developed a style that speaks to all ages, for all ages. The two are now joining forces to attack school bullying. Universally decried, bemoaned, and condemned. And on the rise. Heart Transplant is aimed at radically changing the way we deal with this most critical issue. The anchoring essay–by clinical social worker Zak Mucha–explains in detail what the reader has experienced . . . and why that experience could change our world. 100 pages, $24.99, in stores on Oct. 13 (Limited edition, $99.99, in stores on Oct. 13).

HELLBOY: DOUBLE FEATURE OF EVIL  (one-shot) 

Written by Mike Mignola, art by Richard Corben, colored by Dave Stewart, covers by Mignola and Corben. A bloodcurdling double-feature comic with Hellboy entering two very different, but very deadly, houses–a carnivorous home and a pagan temple, both hungry for human sacrifices. 32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 17.

JOHN CARTER OF MARS: WEIRD WORLDS    (TPB)

Written by Marv Wolfman, art by Howard Chaykin, Murphy Anderson, Gray Morrow and Sal Amendola, cover by Joe Orlando. Since his serialized debut in All-Story magazine in 1912, the spacefaring adventurer John Carter of Mars has become one of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ most beloved characters. The star of decades worth of novels and comic books, he’s soon to be immortalized on the silver screen as well, in the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures major film release John Carter of Mars! In this volume, John Carter, an ex-soldier turned prospector, is transported to Mars–”Barsoom,” as it is known to its natives–under mysterious circumstances, and becomes a champion dedicated to protecting his new home and newly found love, the princess Dejah Thoris, from warring alien civilizations and a host of deadly Barsoomian beasts! Collecting stories originally published in Tarzan #207#209 and Weird Worlds #1#7. 112 pages, $14.99, in stores on Jan. 12.

KULL: THE HATE WITCH #1 (L.S. OF 4)

Written by David Lapham, penciled by Gabriel Guzman, colored by Dan Jackson, covers by Tom Flemming and Fabio Cobiaco. The stoic Kull presides over a kingdom on the edge of revolution. Enter the Hate Witch — an ancient enemy eager to use Kull to destroy the great city of Valusia and with it, the whole of humanity. A string of murderers and noblemen looking to overthrow the king forces Kull to return to the land of his exile — Atlantis. An epic tale that tests King Kull’s mettle as ruler of all Valusia, and reintroduces readers to Brule, Tu, and Queen Igraine. 32 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 24.

MAGIC KNIGHT RAYEARTH VOLUME 2

Written and art by CLAMP. Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu have returned to Earth from Cephiro, but all three know they have been forever changed by their adventures there. Haunted by the decisions they made and the unresolved war between Zagato and Emeraude, the Magic Knights journey to Cephiro once more, this time with a sense of duty. But who was it that had the strength of heart to summon them again, if it was not the Princess Emeraude? Is it the person who, as Clef says, could replace her as the Pillar of Cephiro? 640 pages, black and white, $19.99, in stores on Jan. 19.

METALOCALYPSE/DETHKLOK #2

Written by Brendon Small, Jon Schnepp and Jeremy Barlow, penciled by Lucas Marangon, inked by Eduardo Francisco, cover by Eric Powell. An especially brutal Dethklok gig has resulted in the destruction of Helsinki, in no small part due to a gargantuan troll accidentally awakened from the depths of Lake Bodom. Now Dethklok have returned to the scene, seeking to make amends, not knowing that there are worse things waiting for them in the blackness of the lake. Meddling with the supernatural can only lead to one thing . . . new pets for the band? 40 pages, $3.99, in stores on Nov. 17.

MICHAEL MOORCOCK’S ELRIC OF MELNIBONE VOLUME 1 (TPB)

Written by Roy Thomas and Neil Gaiman, art by P. Craig Russell and Michael T. Gilbert. Michael Moorcock’s brooding albino, Elric of the Emerald Isle, represents a landmark of sword-and-sorcery fantasy to millions of readers worldwide. Heir to a legacy of tens of thousands of years, Elric sees the power of his decadent empire waning as the Young Kingdoms of humankind begin to stir. The 428th sorcerer-emperor to hold the ruby throne, he is unusually introspective and weak for his race–a combination that proves too tempting for his scheming cousin, Yyrkoon! As Elric is forced to call upon Arioch, Lord of Chaos and Duke of Hell, to rescue his beloved Cymoril from Yyrkoon’s clutches, so too will fate lead him to Stormbringer–a bloodthirsty magic sword with a mind of its own–and a dimensions-spanning encounter with the Four Who Are One. 400 pages, $29.99, in stores on Jan. 26.

NEON GENESIS EVANGELION: CAMPUS APOCALYPSE VOLUME 2

Written and art by Ming Ming. Now that he’s received his Eva, Shinji Ikari commits himself to doing battle with the Angels terrorizing the NERV Foundation Academy. However, when he finds out what’s going on between Kaworu and Rei, Shinji begins to feel nagging doubts about truths, facts, relationships . . . even his own existence! Is he a burden to his teachers, friends, and family, or does he have a greater destiny? The second installment of Neon Genesis Evangelion: Campus Apocalypse presents Shinji with his toughest challenge yet! 160 pages, black and white, $10.99, in stores on Dec. 29.

THE OCCULT FILES OF DOCTOR SPEKTOR ARCHIVES VOLUME 2

Written by Donald Glut, art by Jesse Santos. The inquisitive and adventurous Dr. Adam Spektor is an occult detective, myth researcher, and demon hunter who travels the world over to investigate the strange and the supernatural, aided by his assistant, Lakota Rainflower. Cocreated by writer Donald Glut in 1972–who also provides this volume’s insightful introduction–the character came into his own when artist Jesse Santos was assigned to Spektor’s ongoing comic-book series. In Doctor Spektor Archives Volume 2, you’ll discover the thrilling chronicles of a strange protector–a character who often breaks the fabled “fourth wall” to address readers directly while narrating disturbing tale after tale from his vast files. As a bonus treat for Spektor spawns and disciples. The Occult Files of Doctor Spektor (1960s comic-book series) #8-#12 plus, Spektor appearances from Spine-Tingling Tales #4, Mystery Comics Digest #10, #11, and #21, and Golden Comics Digest #25, #26, and #33. 192 pages, $49.99, in stores on Jan. 19.

SINFEST: VIVA LA RESISTANCE (TPB)

Written and art by Tatsuya Ishida. Sinfest is back, and better than ever! Viva la Resistance features over a year and a half of never-before-collected strips from the webcomic phenomenon that’s “head-and-shoulders above the rest [. . . and] superior to most print comic strips, too” (R. C. Harvey). What other series has had the chutzpah to make characters out of God, the Devil, Jesus, Buddha, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, and corrupt Wall Street CEOs? As the Onion’s AV Club remarked, Tatsuya Ishida’s Sinfest is “irreverent and playful . . . [crossing] lines that few cartoonists would dare toe.” 208 pages, black and white, $14.99, in stores on Jan. 5.

STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES — JANGO AND BOBA FETT #4

Written by Tom Taylor, art and cover by Chris Scalf. Boba Fett is on a mission to uphold his father’s honor. But when a bounty is paid, and the crime lord who issued it still refuses to call off his vendetta, Boba Fett’s own sense of honor is offended. Forget about bounties; now there’s hell to pay! Boba Fett takes on a crime lord. Check. And the crime lord’s army of minions. Check. And a giant, rampaging rancor. Check and double-check! 40 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 24.

STAR WARS: DARK TIMES VOLUME 4 — BLUE HARVEST

Written by Mick Harrison, penciled by Douglas Wheatley, coloed by Dave McCaig, Chris Chuckry and Dan Jackson, cover by Wheatley. Three months after the events in Revenge of the Sith . . . In a time when all Jedi are fugitives, surviving Jedi Dass Jennir is trying to live as an outlaw without actually becoming one. Accepting a job from a mysterious beauty, Jennir sets out to rid her town of a gang of slave runners. But when he finds that his employer hasn’t been completely honest with him, he begins to doubt the course she’s set him on. Outlaw or not, there’s one thing he knows for certain: he has vowed to save this town–and a Jedi never gives up! Meanwhile, Darth Vader makes a discovery that has him questioning his own future and the plans of Emperor Palpatine. There are many questions and few answers in these dark times! Explore the uncharted Star Wars era between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope! Collects Star Wars: Dark Times #13#17, and the prologue from Dark Times #0. 136 pages, $17.99, in stores on Nov. 10.

STAR WARS: KNIGHT ERRANT — AFLAME #2

Written by John Jackson Miller, art by Federico Dallocchio, colored by Michael Atiyeh, cover by Joe Quinones. Jedi Knight Kerra Holt thought she was prepared for anything that could happen on the volunteer mission that took her deep into Sith space. But now, trapped behind enemy lines, Kerra looks toward a life without the support of the Republic . . . and if her headstrong ways continue to lead her actions, she may end up without any support at all! 40 pages, $2.99, in stores on Nov. 10.

STAR WARS: LEGACY VOLUME 10 — EXTREMES

Written by John Ostrander, penciled by Jan Duursema, inked by Dan Parsons, colored by Brad Anderson, cover by Sean Cooke. One hundred thirty-three years after Luke Skywalker made his final stand against the Emperor and Darth Vader, the Galactic Alliance, Emperor-in-exile Roan Fel’s forces, and the reunited Jedi Order are finally ready to take on the Sith Empire. Everyone is out of hiding, and the battle lines have been drawn! Cade Skywalker is back in action, as well–leading a personal vendetta against the Sith, and brought to the brink of having to accept his family legacy or deny it once and for all! Collects Star Wars: Legacy #47#50. 104 pages, $15.99.

STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC #5

Written by Alexander Freed, penciled by Dave Ross, inked by Mark McKenna, colored by Michael Atiyeh, cover by Benjamin Carre. “Blood of the Empire,” part 2 of 3. The hunt for the emperor’s apprentice continues in this tale of Sith vs. Sith! Proving his worth to the Dark Council by capturing Exal Kressh may be the end of young Sith Teneb Kel; and a brief encounter with his skilled prey brings some questions to the surface . . . Why would a loyal apprentice betray her emperor and the entire Sith Empire? 40 pages, $2.99, in stores on Nov. 3.

THE TERMINATOR: 1984 #3

Written by Zack Whedon, art by Andy MacDonald, colored by Dan Jackson, cover by Massimo Carnevale. The future of humanity seems more uncertain than ever as Kyle and Ben are forced to battle an entirely new Terminator threat alongside a very pregnant Sarah Connor! It’s the blowout conclusion to Zack Whedon and Andy MacDonald’s inspired reimagining of the original Terminator saga! 40 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 24.

TUROK, SON OF STONE #2

Written by Jim Shooter, art by Eduardo Francisco, cover by Raymond Swanland. Swept through a cataclysmic rift in space-time to a timeless land where dinosaurs rampage and wonders abound, Native Americans Turok and young Andar struggle to survive. The invincible wizard-warrior Thunder-Hand leads the army of the Aztec god-king Maxtla against the proud, fierce Panther Warriors, mowing them down like wheat before the scythe. Maxtla’s bloodthirsty warriors overrun the tree fortress of the Panther People, where Turok and Andar have been taken. The invaders seize Andar, and Thunder-Hand has his sights on the alluring Aasta, goddess of the Panther People. Standing in Thunder-Hand’s way is Turok, Aasta’s champion, protector . . . and lover? 40 pages, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 24.

USAGI YOJIMBO #132 AND #133

Written and art by Stan Sakai. These issues form both halves of “Taiko,” a special double-issue story line. A group of drought-stricken farmers commission an enormous taiko drum to show their devotion to the gods, and pray for rain. But the bloodthirsty Red Scorpion Gang threatens to destroy the drum unless the farmers pay up, so the farmers must turn to rabbit ronin Usagi to protect the drum, lest they face starvation from drought! When the Red Scorpion Gang burns down the farmers’ temple and the drum is in jeopardy, Usagi must figure out how to rescue it and fight the Red Scorpions at the same time, or all is lost! 24 pages, black and white, $3.50, in stores on Nov. 24.