Keeping the tradition of its creator-owned mentality, Dark Horse Comics has announce its newest venture with Mike Norton—Battlepug

“I was really happy when people first reacted to the comic. It’s hard to predict if the public needs another ‘Giant Pug Epic Fantasy’ story. I mean, we all know those are a dime a dozen, right? Luckily, the story of a barbarian’s quest for revenge with the aid of our favorite four-legged freak seems to have legs,” said Norton.

“When I first made the Battlepug T-shirt, people kept asking when the comic was coming out. So, I put out the webcomic and now everybody wants to know when the book is coming out! I guess now people will want to know when the movie is happening?” This volume collects the first year of Mike Norton’s Battlepug—the perfect opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the fan-favorite webcomic by Mike Norton, Allen Passalaqua, and Crank.

Join Moll and her dogs Mingo and Colfax, as she recounts the legend of “The Warrior and the Battlepug”—a tale of a fearless barbarian, his trusty and freakishly large pug, and evil baby harp seals.

“I’m a huge fan of Dark Horse and couldn’t be more excited to have Battlepug published by them. Hellboy, B.P.R.D., Buffy, Star Wars—they put out some of the best comics currently being made and it’s humbling to even be on the same shelf with that kind of product! I’m super excited for people to read it and look forward to much more in the future!” stated Norton.

Mike Norton’s Battlepug Volume 1 is on sale July 4, 2012. Also (re)joining the Dark Horse Family is Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, bringing their epic Dark Horse Presents tale of an alien hero named Harry to a fully fledged series beginning with Resident Alien #0. 

“I blame Steve Parkhouse. Having collaborated with him long ago on a couple of stories for The Dreaming, I was keen to do so again—and anyone who’s ever seen Steve’s work (on The Bojeffries Saga or The Milkman Murders, to name but two) already knows the reason why: he’s stunningly good,” stated Hogan.

“We introduced our friendly alien to the world in the pages of Dark Horse Presents last year, and those installments have now been collected into Resident Alien #0. Over the next few months, you’ll learn a bit more about Harry and his supporting cast and watch as he attempts to catch a murderer—and that’s just for starters. This alien is here to stay.”

A stranded alien seeks refuge in the small town of Patience, USA, where he hides undercover as a semiretired doctor, masking his appearance using his unique mental abilities. Now known as Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, all the alien wants is to be left alone until he’s rescued. However, when the town’s real doctor dies, “Dr. Harry” is pulled into medical service—and also finds himself smack dab in the middle of a murder mystery!

He’d rather be fishing. Acclaimed creators Peter Hogan (2000 AD, Tom Strong) and Steve Parkhouse (Doctor Who) deliver a truly unique sci-fi adventure tale.

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The second issue for House of Night heralds continued pressure for fledgling misfit Zoey Redbird.

The vampyres of this world attend a boarding school called the House of Night and here they receive training and guidance not unlike those at a mortal school. However, newcomers to the series, regardless of age, will recognize the historic references scattered throughout the pages.

Based on a novel written by mother and daughter team P.C and Kristin Cast, this is a new comic series where puberty for some select teenagers will lead not only to odd skin and hormone changes, but adopting new vampire powers as well. With art by Joelle Jones and Joshua Covey, House of Night is drawn beautifully, with each page filling out the story wonderfully. Available here to order at Dark Horse Comics and on store shelves near you.

The cover was done by Jenny Frison, with lettering by Nate Piekos of Blambot and annoyingly authentic teenage conversations scripted by Kent Dalian. The conversations and tone in this comic will ring true to anyone within close proximity to a teenager. The series continues to deal with the drama of growing up as well as the harsh reality of not fitting into your own life.

From the first issue readers will know Nyx, the Vampyre Goddess, has given Zoey the task of learning 5 lessons of leadership with which each associated lesson correlates with a basic element. In issue two Zoey exhibits more confidence in her actions, no longer hiding behind a hooded sweatshirt like an outcast. She displays her ceremonial markings proudly and doesn’t appear concerned with the stir that it might still cause.

Zoey’s main concern is how she will lead the Dark Daughters, a student group that functions as a fledgling support group. The history of the Dark Daughters is revealed within this second issue, so readers from the first issue will have a more clear idea of just how their society functions. Whereas the first issue was rather light-hearted in many respects, this second issue is filled with dark themes and eventual rebirths.

Zoey’s arch nemesis, Aphrodite, is the former leader of the Dark Daughters. Her personality shows the archetype image of the female bully with emotional baggage. For the most part she has belittled, embarrassed, and bullied classmates she believed to be lesser than her. While her story will soon unfold, it is likely that she has a bigger part to play than just the mere bully of an international finishing school.

The newness of the series will make for surprising twists and turns while hopefully avoiding the pitfalls of vampire fantasy. These are all young people in the story, but the themes set deep into the plot are classic storytelling tools that guide a reader along on a journey that often mirrors life. The start of a new comic series, especially when the source material is a novel, should make for a very engaging storyline. So far, this has rung true, with the plot moving along at the proper moments.

This comic is hugely entertaining and gives a visual representation of characters from a long standing novel series, which should do well with fans and new readers alike. It is likely that fans will wait to see their favorite storyline moments unfolding while new readers of the comic will go to the novels for further reading. Pre-orders are also available for the next two issues through Dark Horse as well.

The article Comic Review: House of Night Issue #2 Where Zoey Meets Air appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

The second printing of “The Good: Wicked Inclinations” Volume 5, a collection of Issues #14-18, has come out this November 30, almost exactly five years after its original publication in 2006. Featuring an all-new design for the cover illustrated by author, Eric Powell, the second edition of “Wicked Inclinations” offers a humorous and action-packed look into the world of The Goon.

Volume 5 opens with a brief background of one of The Goon’s allies, The Buzzard, who has discovered the Priest’s real name. Armed with this information, he successfully scares The Priest into not calling up any more of the undead, but The Priest is determined, and he manages to create an unholy army of minions set on destroying The Goon.

Meanwhile, Goon and his friend, Franky, defend their territory from several local crime families, as well as help the owner of the bar they frequent from a powerful gypsy bent on getting revenge.

For someone who hasn’t read the first four volumes of “The Goon” series, the beginning comes off as being very serious and a little dark. But as the story continues, the humor shines through. Although it can be easy for humor to overpower or detract from a relatively serious plot, Powell manages to keep the tension going, while at the same time encouraging his readers to have a few laughs along the way.

Originally, Powell had planned on making Issue #18 an independent piece called “Satan’s Sodomy Baby,” but word got out about its possibly blasphemous nature, and it began to be boycotted even before its release. As a result, Powell ratcheted up the offensive content and Dark Horse Comics released it separately as a one-shot.

The title on the cover was changed to “Satan’s **** Baby” with a parental advisory sticker on the front, and plastic wrapping was put on it so no one could accidentally be offended by browsing through its pages. Because of the controversy, “Satan’s **** Baby” will never be put into a collection, but Powell does reference it in “Wicked Inclinations.” Franky finds a copy of the comic and makes several humorous comments about it to Goon.

Eric Powell is most well-known for his work in “The Goon” series, but he has also been involved in a number of other popular comic series such as, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Hellboy: Weird Tales, Star Wars Tales, and The Incredible Hulk. Powell is a talented writer and author, and both abilities shine through in “Wicked Inclinations.”

Stirring violence mixed with humor that is often irreverent, “The Goon: Wicked Inclinations” is a riveting and amusing journey into a mix of 30’s noir, zombies, and fantastic creatures. The winner of the 2005 Eisner Award for Best Humor Publication and Best Ongoing Series, this comic is a must-read for anyone looking for a high-quality humorous tale.

The article “The Goon: Wicked Inclinations” Volume 5 Review appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Marvel fans rejoice! An array of new comics are on their way as you can join the hunt for Blink in this first look at New Mutants #35. Just as Dani Moonstar and her team have the renegade mutant fall into their laps, they must go head to head against chaotic forces summoned by a group of death metal rockers. Can the New Mutants put an end to the music AND get Blink back in time? Find out in New Mutants #35.

February is going to be an action packed month for another addiction, Venom, but before the insanity begins we’ve got your first look at January’s jaw dropping Venom Variants.

Brought to you by some of the best artists in the industry, get ready for a unique look at your favorite Marvel heroes as they get infected by symbiotes.

Kicking off February with a bang, Venom makes unholy alliances with Red Hulk, Ghost Rider & X-23 to save Sin City, Las Vegas, from total chaos in Venom: Circle of Four. Then, just as Rick Remender and Gabriel Hardman take the reins as the new creative team of Secret Avengers, they draft Venom to the team’s lineup!

Finally, your first look at Secret Avengers #20 is right here – the Secret Avengers are dead and only the Black Widow can save them.

Fan favorite creators Warren Ellis & Alex Maleev send the Black Widow on her most secret mission yet; even her teammates don’t know she’s on it. Can the world’s greatest secret agent save the team alone? Find out as Ellis’ critically acclaimed run on Secret Avengers continues in Secret Avengers #20. Run the mission. Don’t get seen. Save the world!

Want to know more about X-Men Regenesis, Venom and the Secret Avengers? Head on over to Marvel.com and get in on the action.

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“Baltimore: The Plague Ships,” the first comic in the Baltimore series by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, focuses on Lord Baltimore’s journey to find and kill the evil vampire, Haigus. Both volumes of the comic series are based on the book “Baltimore: The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire” by the same authors. Set during the events of the book, they offer a deeper look into the world of Baltimore.

With him on his journey is a young woman named Vanessa Kalderas that he met in the town of Yillefranche, France. Wishing to flee the plague, and the feelings of hopelessness that accompany it, Vanessa insists that Baltimore bring her with him when he leaves the city.

Her grandmother has a number of supernatural abilities, which she uses to help Baltimore fight off vampires that are attacking the city. But despite her willingness to help him, she believes wholeheartedly that Baltimore is a cursed man. As a result, when Vanessa expresses her desire to leave with Baltimore, her grandmother is very concerned about her welfare.

After leaving the city, Baltimore confronts a horde of fungus-covered plague victims that rise from the depths of the ocean. Baltimore is faced with seemingly insurmountable odds when given the task of dispatching a seemingly endless wave of enemies armed with only a crucifix, a sword and a pistol.

Unlike Mignola and Golden’s “The Curse Bells,” “The Plague Ships” goes into greater detail about Baltimore’s past, the origins of the plague, and just why he is so focused on tracking down Haigus and finally killing the vampire. Baltimore tells Vanessa of his first meeting with Haigus on the battlefield against the Hessians when he lost his leg and the plague began.

For those who have not read the book that both comics are based on, this inclusion of the back story is a pleasant addition. For those who know the original story, it is exciting to see the events from the book unfold visually. The artwork, done by Ben Stenbeck, is superb and it adds an important element to the telling of the story. When the vampires are in their bat form they are quite intimidating, and the drawings of the plague victims covered in a strange fungus are both grotesque and compelling.

The story moves along at a fast pace, drawing the reader in with intense action sequences between Baltimore and his foes. Baltimore’s origin story, as well as the inclusion of Vanessa’s character, serves to create a greater depth to the story and make it more than just a simple revenge plot. An added layer to the tension is the man from the Inquisition who begins to hunt Baltimore down for his violent actions.

Written by one of the same authors as the popular “Hellboy” series, “The Plague Ships” tells the story of one man’s struggle to find revenge, while also trying to absolve himself of his part in the creation of the plague. Often forced to balance his need for revenge with other’s insistence that he use his abilities to help those around him, Baltimore is a complex character within a riveting story. “The Plague Ships” is recommended for anyone who enjoys action comics coupled with three-dimensional characters.

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When I was offered the chance to review the first issue of The Occultist, I was excited. I’m a huge fan of contemporary fantasy, and the series description sounded intriguing. I was expecting something like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but alas my hopes were dashed.

The hero of the series is Rob Bailey, a college student who has received mystical powers from an arcane artifact called “The Sword.” Now he must learn to use his new-found powers while avoiding death at the hands of  a bunch of “hit mages.” Apparently, this series is based on a one-shot comic that appeared last year.

I haven’t read it, but the writers do a decent job of getting the newbie reader up to speed on what’s come before. Apparently, Rob’s friend/mentor Jacob Elder died in mysterious circumstances, and Rob feels some regret that he was not able to save him. The police get involved, and they suspect that Rob might be hiding information, but he’s able to divert their attention by means of his magical mojo.

But when the buxom lead detective goes hunting for clues, she inadvertently stumbles onto something much more sinister, setting the stage for an epic battle between Rob and a bunch of supernatural baddies. Throughout the issue, it’s clear that writers Mike Richardson and Tim Seeley are determined to keep things as mysterious as possible.

The reader doesn’t learn much about Rob’s power. Rob’s hand is green, and when he gets frustrated, his eyes glow green as well. He’s able to manipulate the mind of the detective who comes to visit him and survive a leap from the roof of his dorm, but it’s clear that Rob himself is as much in the dark as we are as to the exact nature of his “gift.”

Unfortunately, despite the promising setup, the first issue ends up falling flat. The writers are so busy trying to be mysterious that they forget to make the reader care about the main character. Rob isn’t particularly interesting, and his power isn’t well established enough to draw the reader in.

We know he’s in some kind of danger, but it’s all kind of vague at this point. The issue ends with the promise of a big battle, but the whole thing is set up at the last minute, making it hard to get terribly excited about it. Art-wise, The Occultist is quite well done, though artist Victor Drujiniu seems to be a bit unsure of how to portray Rob, and his appearance varies from page to page.

Drujiniu is clearly targeting a male audience, as almost every woman in the issue has mountainous breasts and isn’t shy about showing them off. The Occultist has an interesting premise, but fails in the execution. There are some tantalizing hints of interesting things to come, but right now the story is just too inchoate to be interesting.

OVERALL GRADE: C

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The second issue in the “Orchid” series came out last week on November 9, and it is already gaining interest. Set in a dystopian future, “Orchid” follows the life of a prostitute and her little brother as they struggle to survive. In the first comic she meets up with Simon, who has been involved in a group trying to fight those oppressing their human slaves that they use for manual labor.

Similar to the first issue, “Orchid” #2 starts off by giving some more details into the history of this universe and how things got to where they are. The details are gruesome and compelling, adding some depth to the story. By juxtaposing the present with the past, it helps the reader to slowly gain more insight into the motivations of the characters, and adds to the storyline.

The idea behind the story is one that has been told before, but the author, Tom Morello, has added some interesting elements, such as the fantastic creatures and the sometimes unexpected interactions between the characters. All of the animals have become behemoth mutant creatures, pushing the humans to the bottom of the food chain.

In addition to Morello’s work with the “Orchid” comic, he has been the guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, and after leaving the band, also played in Audioslave and Street Sweeper Social Club as well as having a solo career as The Nightwatchman. Morello is a strong supporter of the Occupy movement, and his views on the oppression of the underclass are made quite clear in “Orchid.”

He feels very strongly about protesting against the oppression of the underclass, and has even begun travelling around to various cities to sing at the different Occupy demonstrations to help bring awareness to the movement and solidarity to those who are protesting.

Music is a large part of his life, and he has managed to bring that passion to his “Orchid” comic as well. He has provided theme music for each of the first two issues, and this innovative idea adds a nice unexpected element to the story. While it is not clear exactly how the audio is supposed to accompany the comic itself, the tone of the music does seem to reflect the tone of the story.

In the music for the second issue of “Orchid,” the track titled “The Deluge” starts off softly with the sound of waves gently lapping up against the shore. Then as the track continues, a single guitar begins playing, followed by a full orchestra. The music is morose and poignant, and it creates just the right mood for the story.

Because it is only four minutes and sixteen seconds long, it is not really possible to read the entire issue before getting to the last page. The track seems to be a musical rendition of this part of “Orchid” and even though it may not be understood by everyone, it is certainly a nice addition to the story.

Scott Hepburn is the main artist for “Orchid” and he does very detailed drawings. One of the visual appeals to this series is all of the strange creatures, such as the six-legged bear with a scorpion tail that is featured on the cover. Hepburn first worked on several Star Wars comics, but he has been very excited to work on this project with Morello and to draw numerous fantastic creatures, according to an interview with comicbooked.com.

The second issue of “Orchid” delves deeper into the story, ending with a compelling mystery that is sure to leave readers waiting anxiously for the next issue to come out. While “Orchid” is not groundbreaking as far as the theme of the story goes, it is an enjoyable read, and is very visually appealing.

The addition of the musical soundtrack for each issue adds a certain depth that would otherwise be missing. “Orchid” is a good story that compels the reader to consider wealth and class, not only in the context of the comic, but in our society as well.

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