“Buffy: The High School Years” and “Plants vs. Zombies” Provide a Tale for All-Ages to Devour
Dark Horse Comics is excited to feature stories from Buffy: The High School Years and Plants vs. Zombies: Unrest in the Old West™ in our all-ages issue for Free Comic Book Day on May 6, 2017!
Kel McDonald (Misfits of Avalon), Yishan Li (Buffy: The High School Years, Paradox Girl), Rod Espinosa (The Courageous Princess, Neotopia), and Tony Galvan (Gold Digger, Ghost Cop) show us that the #SlayerStruggleIsReal in a new Buffy: The High School Years story. The FCBD all-ages issue finds sixteen-year-old Buffy trying to reconcile her Slayer duties with typical teenage problems—bad luck and demon battling can really destroy a girl’s confidence.
Eisner Award–winning writer Paul Tobin (Bandette, The Witcher) and Plants vs. Zombies senior artist Rachel Downing deliver another sidesplitting tale from the hit series Plants vs. Zombies! Our favorite characters take a time-traveling journey to the past, where they learn they must work together to defeat the devious Sheriff Tarnation.
Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book specialty shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely free to anyone who comes into their shops. Visit FreeComicBookDay.com to learn more!
Last week, Dark Horse announced a Gold Free Comic Book Day offering featuring James Cameron’s Avatar and Brian Wood’s Briggs Land.

Brian Wood and Andrea Mutti’s hit creation “Rebels” to get second series in March 2017


Brian Wood and Andrea Mutti’s historical comic Rebels is getting a second series in 2017. Brian Wood (Briggs Land, DMZ) scripts the series, Andrea Mutti (Rebels, Prometheus: Life and Death) showcases his illustrative prowess, and Lauren Affe (The Paybacks, Ghost Fleet) colors the art. Matthew Taylor (Arcadia, Wolf) creates the beautiful cover art for all eight issues.
The first series, Rebels: A Well-Regulated Militia, debuted in April 2015 and garnered a passionate fan base of history lovers and comics fans alike. Set in 1775, Rebels told the story of Seth Abbott, who joins the fight to win America’s independence. The new series, Rebels: These Free and Independent States, finds his son, John, coming of age as Congress authorizes America’s famous first navy, “the six frigates.” John Abbott signs up to defend his nation from multiple threats: high seas terrorism, a hostile relationship with Britain, and intense political division between Americans. 
Rebels: These Free and Independent States cocreator and writer Brian Wood explains the political and cultural importance of this series in modern times: “This era of American history is always important, but since the first season of Rebels debuted, it’s reached a sort of fever pitch of relevance—in entertainment, in politics, and in real life. Our first season dealt with the War for Independence, homegrown militias, and veterans’ rights. This second series has the run-up to the War of 1812 as its focus, along with a young America struggling to find its identity and deal with partisan divide in its population.”
Rebels: These Free and Independent States #1 (of eight) goes on sale March 22, 2017.
Praise for Rebels: A Well-Regulated Militia:
“Entertaining. Enlightening. Enrapturing. Buy this book!”—Comic Spectrum
“Brian Wood has resurrected an era of American history that will satisfy the history buff and the lover of good comics alike.”—The Latest Pull
“Rebels is a standout in the historical comics genre.”—Newsarama
“Poignant and so incredibly powerful.”—PopMatters
“Absolutely entertaining, and thought-provoking. In today’s world where we’re still debating liberty and tyranny, Rebels is yet another timely relevant comic.”—Graphic Policy
“Brian Wood may be the best history teacher you never had.”—Paste Magazine
“Rebels #1 is that rare comic book that makes historical fiction come alive.”—Freak Sugar
“Rebels is a rare treat in the world of comic books today…The book offers a great start to a more intimate story of our country’s founding, and is something that speaks a lot of truths about the state of our nation then and now.”—Nerdist

Exclusive Dark Horse Comics digital comic book will provide fans with a unique look into the savage world in "Conan Exiles"


Funcom and Dark Horse Comics, Inc., are thrilled to announce that creative teams in both companies are now working on a new Conan Exiles digital comic book that will be made available in January. Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in the brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian. By reading the comic, fans will get a unique glimpse into the events that take place in the savage exiled lands. The creative team includes Michael Moreci (script), José Luis (pencils), and Andy Owens (inks), as well as Gavin Whelan (art director) and Anders Finér (senior concept artist) on the Funcom team.
“We are incredibly excited to work with Dark Horse Comics again,” says Funcom CEO Rui Casais. “Conan the Barbarian and the comic book format go hand in hand, and Dark Horse has brought the Conan stories to life for years. The Conan Exiles comic will give a unique context to what players themselves will be doing and the world they will explore in the game.”
Funcom and Dark Horse previously worked together on the exclusive digital comic book for Funcom’s 2008 massive multiplayer game, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. The comic book was distributed to gamers and Conan fans worldwide and was a key piece in the company’s marketing campaign for the 2008 best-selling game.
Funcom is also excited to announce that the studio will do a live gameplay stream on Twitch.tv/Funcom this Friday, December 16. Creative director Joel Bylos and community manager Jens Erik Vaaler will show the unique thrall gameplay live for the first time. Players will be able to capture enemy bandits, drag them back to their camp, and crush their will in the Wheel of Pain. Players can then place the thralls as guards, archers, and even special blacksmiths, tanners, and other craftsmen to unlock unique new recipes.
Conan Exiles is an open-world survival game set in the brutal lands of Conan the Barbarian, the world’s greatest fantasy hero. The game can be played on private and public servers, in either multiplayer or local single player. In the world of Conan Exiles, survival is more than tracking down food and water. Journey through a vast, seamless world filled with the ruins of ancient civilizations, uncovering its dark history and buried secrets as you seek to conquer and dominate the exiled lands. Start with nothing but your bare hands and forge the legacy of your clan, from simple tools and weapons to gigantic fortresses and entire cities. Enslave the bandits of the exiled lands to do your bidding by breaking them on the grueling Wheel of Pain. Sacrifice the beating hearts of your enemies on the blood-soiled altars of your deity to seize true power and glory. Summon the colossal avatar of your god and see it lay waste to your enemies and their homes. Conan Exiles will be released into Early Access on the PC on January 31, 2017, and will hit the Xbox One Game Preview Program in spring 2017.
Learn more about Conan Exiles on ConanExiles.com. Visit Blog.ConanExiles.com for the latest news and developer updates. 

Jay Baruchel (Goon, Goon-Last of the Enforcers, This is the End, Man Seeking Woman, How to Train Your Dragon) joins the Captain Canuck team to co-write the Free Comic Book Day edition of Captain Canuck: Year One for Chapterhouse Comics with Editor in Chief and series writer Kalman Andrasofszky. 

“Captain Canuck is a true Canadian icon and it is a humble honour to be involved in helping to shape the next generation of Canuck sagas for a new generation of readers and fans, as well as the die-hards that have followed Cap on his journey from the beginning”, says Baruchel. “Chapterhouse is doing very awesome stuff as they breathe new life into the world of Canadian comics. I am proud to be joining their ranks in this incredible adventure as we work hard to bring exciting stories and classic heroes to life for readers across Canada.”

“The Captain’s ranks keep growing” says Fadi Hakim, President of Chapterhouse and Captain Canuck Incorporated, “and we’re simply overjoyed to have a consummate talent and Canadian like Jay on board as we march forward!”

Canuck creator Richard Comely echoes Hakim’s sentiment: “Jay is one of the most prolific, well-spoken people I’ve met in this industry- I know the Captain is in good hands!”

The first of the three part series is drawn by Canadian superstar Marcus To (The Flash, Red Robin, Joyride) and features a cover by David Finch (Batman: The Dark Knight, Avengers, Ultimate X-Men). 
The issue also includes an 8-page backup story- Die Kitty Die: Summer Beach Party created, written and illustrated by Dan Parent and Fernando Ruiz of Archie Comics fame. 
  
ABOUT CAPTAIN CANUCK

Created and launched by Richard Comely in 1975 with over 250,000 copies sold worldwide, Captain Canuck was rebooted in 2013 beginning with an Animated Web Series starring Kris Holden-Ried (Lost Girl), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Laura Vandervoort (Smallville) and Paul Amos (Assassin’s Creed). The comic, published by Chapterhouse Comics was released with over 80,000 copies in May of 2015.

ABOUT CHAPTERHOUSE COMICS

Chapterhouse Comics, launched in May 2015 by Fadi Hakim, is Canada’s largest comic-book publisher with over 16 monthly titles in comic and prose format, including Captain Canuck, Northguard, Johnny Canuck, The Pitiful Human-Lizard, Spirit Leaves, The Fourth Planet, Life, Death and Sorcery and Die Kitty Die. 

ABOUT: 

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event founded on the belief that for every person out there, there’s a comic book that they’ll love. Every first Saturday in May, the industry comes together to give away free comics and encourage fans, both old and new, to flock to the best place in the comic book community: local comic shops. These are the hubs of our community, where fans can come together and discover new comics, make lifelong friends, and find a sense of commonality. Free Comic Book Day is May 06 2017

“Galaxy on Fire 3 – Manticore: Glowing Embers” Available on December 8, 2016


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MILWAUKIE, Ore., (Dec. 8, 2016)—Dark Horse and Deep Silver FISHLABS are excited to start their partnership with a coordinated release of the Galaxy on Fire 3 - Manticore game and the digital comic tie-in Galaxy on Fire 3 - Manticore: Glowing Embers. Matthew Ritter writes the comic while Agustin Alessio and Gabriel Rearte lend their illustrative skills. Ramon Bunge colors the art and Nate Piekos letters the issue. Anthony Palumbo creates the cover art.
Galaxy on Fire 3 - Manticore is the fourth entry in the Galaxy on Fire mobile game franchise. The events of the Glowing Embers comic, which serves as a bridge for fans, take place prior to the conflict of the new game. Galaxy on Fire 3 - Manticore and Glowing Embers are both set in the Neox Sector, a distant part of the galaxy located far outside the reach of the governing factions where pirates rage and crime lords rule.
The Galaxy on Fire 3 - Manticore: Glowing Embers digital comic and the Galaxy on Fire 3 - Manticore video game will be available on December 8, 2016. The game can be downloaded from the App Store free of charge. The comic is also free on all available platforms.
DOWNLOAD LINK FOR FREE DIGITAL COMIC "GALAXY ON FIRE 3 - MANTICORE: GLOWING EMBERS"
DOWNLOAD LINK FOR "GALAXY ON FIRE 3 - MANTICORE" GAME

About Dark Horse

For thirty 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.

About Deep Silver FISHLABS
Deep Silver FISHLABS is Koch Media’s mobile unit operating under the premium publishing label of Deep Silver. Having spearheaded 3D mobile gaming for more than a decade, the Hamburg-based studio has assembled an award-winning portfolio of international top titles such as the acclaimed Galaxy on Fire saga. In addition to developing their own IPs in-house, the 92-strong team of Deep Silver FISHLABS also provides comprehensive publishing services for co-operant independent developers from all over the world. To date, the games of Deep Silver FISHLABS have generated a total of 120+ million downloads.

SOLD-OUT INDIE HIT SUN BAKERYRETURNS THIS FEBRUARY THROUGH IMAGE COMICS


“Fun, inspired, and full of hyperactive energy.” —Fiona Staples

Indie phenom Corey Lewis (Sharknife, G.I. Joe: Deviations) will bring his comics anthology SUN BAKERY to Image Comics this February as an ongoing project.

The SUN BAKERY comics anthology features the following stories: “Dream Skills,” set in a city where guns are obsolete and the social culture is swordplay; “Arem,” the tale of a space adventurer on a quest to photograph the most beautiful galactic vistas; and “Bat Rider,” a supernatural skateboarding comic.

"Sentient paranormal skateboards, mecha-suited documentarian bounty hunters, and sword-culture spirit warriors,” said Lewis. “If you're a fan of high concept ideas with dynamic action in a retro pulpy flavor, this comic is for you." 

SUN BAKERY #1 (Diamond code: DEC160666) hits comic book stores Wednesday, February 22nd. The final order cutoff deadline for retailers is Monday, January 30th.

Select praise for SUN BAKERY:

"Sun Bakery is what happens when an artist makes the time and finds the conviction to turn their fistfuls of original ideas into reality. These stories are fun, inspired, and full of hyperactive energy that is efficiently transferred to us." —Fiona Staples (SAGA)

“I'm thrilled to see Corey's Sun Bakery hitting a wider audience; he's making some really fun, exciting work.” --Brandon Graham (KING CITY, PROPHET)

“Corey Lewis's art is face-meltingly cool and Sun Bakery only leaves me wanting MOAR!!!” —Comicbookgirl19

“With its no-f**ks attitude and restless energy, Sun Bakery #1 is an addicting collection.” —Multiversity Comics

“Books like Sun Bakery are why I read indie comics, and I wish more comics were to this level of talent.” —Comic Bastards

“From cover to cover, this anthology is jam-packed with stories teeming with life, every page exploding with action and snappy dialogue.” —Comicosity

PLANETOID WELCOMES
STANDALONE SEQUEL IN PRAXIS 
The second volume in critically-acclaimed sci-fi series expands original PLANETOID world
Image Comics is pleased to announce the highly anticipated second volume in the critically-acclaimed sci-fi series from Ken Garing in PLANETOID: PRAXIS. PRAXIS is set to hit stores this February 2017.

In PLANETOID: PRAXIS, the inhabitants of a distant planetoid have fought off their robot overlords and established a thriving settlement on the planetoid's mechanized surface. Now, years later, their de facto leader, Onica, must grapple with a new complication when their isolated way of life is threatened by the arrival of an unexpected visitor.

PLANETOID: PRAXIS expands the world created in the first volume, but is a standalone story that can be enjoyed by fans of the first volume, or discovered by new readers interested in a thoughtful science-fiction story with political undertones. 

Readers were first introduced to the PLANETOID world through Silas, an ex-soldier turned space pirate. Silas’ story of survival and resilience in a dystopian wasteland of roving cyborg militias, hostile aliens, and nomadic tribes resonated with critics at launch. 

Ain’t It Cool News called PLANETOID “richly and beautifully illustrated.” Multiversity Comics praised Garing’s ability to write each short issue as though it were a fully-fleshed out journey for the reader. The series garnered recommendations from iFanboy, Kirkus Reviews, Bloody Disgusting, Crave Online, and others. 

PLANETOID: PRAXIS #1 (Diamond Code DEC160672) hits stores on Wednesday, February 1st. The final order cutoff for comics retailers is Monday, January 9th. 

 Bruce Lee Lives in Darby Pop Publishing’s all-new Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises Vol. 1 trade paperback release
– The ultimate stocking stuffer –Los Angeles, CA (December 2, 2016) – Get in the holiday spirit this season with the ultimate stocking stuffer: Darby Pop Publishing's Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises trade paperback. With more than 80,000 Free Comic Book Day "preview editions" distributed, and 20,000 copies of Issue #1 sold, Bruce Lee is proving to be highly relevant 40+ years after his (supposed) death.
“We truly believe that Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises both honors the memory and continues the work of this multi-faceted man -- actor, philosopher, teacher and, of course, supreme martial artist,” said Jeff Kline, founder of Darby Pop Publishing. Kline is also the book’s co-creator, having teamed with Bruce’s own daughter, Shannon Lee.
Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises chronicles the return of the real-life superhero in a present-day, all-ages comedy/action/adventure story. The Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises trade paperback collects the entire inaugural arc of the first-ever officially licensed Bruce Lee comic adventure, and adds exclusive bonus materials including rare photos and Shannon Lee’s personal recollections. This first compilation will be available at comic book retailers starting on December 14, 2016 – and is available to order (OCT161693) RIGHT NOW.
Series Synopsis: It’s 2012, and Bruce Lee never died. And he hasn't aged. But he has no idea who he is, what's happened in the world in the past 40 years, or why so many "thugs" want a piece of him. With the help of a fly BFF from the '70s, Joe Toomey, P.I., and pair of precocious teens, Bruce will find himself forced to do battle with both an enigmatic villain and his very own conscience. The Dragon rises... and "walks on" once more!
Here’s just some of what Shannon Lee had to say about Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises:
• "I’m so excited to have our first official Bruce Lee comic book coming out for ALL AGES. It’s long been a dream of mine to introduce my father and his amazing legacy of action and philosophy to a whole new generation, and a comic book is a super fun way to do that."
• "My father and the way he lived his life have been a daily inspiration for me, and I’ve dedicated a big part of my life to finding ways to keep his message alive in the world. I hope you enjoy our book and develop your own passion for Bruce Lee and his phenomenal legacy of courageous action!"
Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises has consistently received only the highest praise from top "comic book" websites:
• “It gets a 9 out of 10! Bruce Lee is back and with it are his moves, a nice sense of humor, and a story that’ll make you wonder if it might be based on real life. You’ll want it to be, because you’ll be reminded just how badass Bruce Lee was as a fighter and a person." – Adventures in Poor Taste
• "Do you like action? Do you like intrigue? How about Kung Fu? Yeah? Then let me tell you, this is the book for you!" – What'cha Reading
• "The Dragon Rises succeeds on every level. The art is top notch; the story combines humor, action, science fiction, nostalgia, and martial arts. It's a new comic, with an old soul!" – Daddy Mojo
• "This comic captures the spirit of this great man." – Graphic Policy
• "Any Bruce Lee fan will enjoy seeing the master himself come back to life and kick butt again!" – Comic Wow
For a product listing of the Bruce Lee: The Dragon Rises Vol. 1 trade paperback, please visit http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/OCT161693.
About Darby Pop Publishing
Founder Jeff Kline started Darby Pop Publishing with the goal of using the visual medium of sequential art — aka comic books — to tell all-new stories. As a life-long lover of the form, Jeff convinced a small circle of his movie/tv friends to join him as he “broke into” comics after writing/producing more than 1000 episodes of television over the past two decades. Three years and nearly 50 books later, Darby Pop Publishing continues to be a creator-owned labor of love.
About Bruce Lee Entertainment
BRUCE LEE ENTERTAINMENT, LLC a production company with exclusive access to international icon Bruce Lee’s name, likeness, story, copyrighted and unfinished works and trademarks, aims to work with select, like-minded partners to create and produce content in all media that honors, embodies and upholds Bruce Lee and the Bruce Lee legacy not only as a source of entertainment but a continued source of motivation and inspiration for people the world over. Owned and operated by Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee Entertainment is a subsidiary of Bruce Lee Enterprises, the exclusive owner of all rights and marks relating to the use of Bruce Lee’s name, image and attributes worldwide.

A LAND CALLED TAROT, BELOVED ISLAND TALE, GETS HARDCOVER COLLECTION THIS FEBRUARY
Gael Bertrand’s serialized fantasy collected for the first time


Fan-favorite writer/artist Gael Bertrand will release his esoteric fantasy tale A LAND CALLED TAROT, originally serialized in ISLAND, in hardcover this February.

Follow the Knight of Swords as he explores and meets with the inhabitants of a Land called Tarot.

“Sometimes we yearn for closure and resolution, and sometimes all we need is going out for walk,” said Bertrand. “When in the mood for meditative meanderings, look no further than the great outdoors of A LAND CALLED TAROT.”

A LAND CALLED TAROT HC (ISBN: 978-1-5343-0026-2) hits comic book stores Wednesday, February 8th and bookstores Tuesday, February 14th. It can be ordered by retailers with Diamond code NOV160685, and it is available for preorder on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, and Indigo.