Darkhorse Comics June Solicitations

Modern horror masters Rob Zombie and Steve Niles join forces in The Nail !

Rock star, filmmaker, and horror maven Rob Zombie teams up with comics’ hippest horror writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) for the most outrageous comics thriller of the year! In the creepy, gore-drenched tradition of such cinematic ’70s classics as Duel and The Hills Have Eyes comes The Nail!

Small-time pro-wrestler Rex Hauser (a.k.a. The Nail) makes a living touring the small-town wrestling circuit with his family. It’s business as usual for this close-knit bunch until they unwittingly cross paths with a murderous gang of satanic bikers. But these aren’t your run-of-the-mill devil worshippers. In fact, Hauser and his family just might be up against the most un-Godly evil ever known to man!

“Blood, guts, wrestlers, the ’70s, and a satanic biker. Now that’s a recipe for a good time!” commented series co-writer Steve Niles. “Honestly, The Nail is one of the strangest projects I’ve ever worked on, and that’s a good thing!” Niles continued. ” I think this one will make people squirm… and that’s a good thing, too!”

The Nail is a four-issue series co-written by Rob Zombie and Steve Niles featuring art by Nat Jones with covers by Simon Bisley. It arrives on sale June 9 with a retail price of $2.99.

Sui Fashions Shi !
Celebrated Designer Anna Sui Dresses Blockbuster Comic Book

World-renowned fashion designer Anna Sui is sewing her way into a whole new artistic medium – comic books. To be more specific, Anna Sui will fashion the characters in the comic Shi, Billy Tucci’s acclaimed series now celebrating its tenth anniversary with a bold new installment, Shi Ju-Nen.

Sponsored by Tucci’s new publisher Dark Horse Comics and Sui Corp, Shi is a modern day samurai tale of one woman’s vengeance and redemption set primarily in Japan and New York City.

“Anna’s a master of what I’ve tried to emulate in the book for years.” stated Tucci, a graduate of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology, “Her eye for vivacious sophistication artistically blends both East and West with graceful lines that are an illustrator’s dream to put to paper.”

“The timing of this collaboration is serendipitous,” comments Anna. April 2004 will see Anna launch of newest her fragrance, “Dolly Girl”, and her cosmetic product line in Shanghai to add to the foundation of her Asian business. The Anna Sui Fashion Collection is sold in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, as well as hundreds of fine department stores and boutiques in the United States and Europe. The flagship store remains the one in New York City. Anna’s trademark colors of black and purple along with the vintage furniture showcase her fashion collections and accessories in the Soho shop on Prince and Greene Street. In Japan, the Anna Sui brand has grown with the help of the Isetan Company Limited and has risen to “tsunami” proportions. Anna Sui stores now number almost forty in the Far East and will continue to expand into China in the near future with plans to open Anna Sui stores in Shanghai and Beijing. This expansion into China has the possibility of tremendous future growth for the Anna Sui Corp.

Anna has been an inspiration to young girls all around the world and her expression “Live Your Dreams” not only dons her tee shirts, but have also become words to pattern the lives of her “fashion fans.” The Anna Sui runway shows continue to excite and inspire designers worldwide. Her design originality and style set trends for fashion and draw legions of devotees, including Nicole Kidman, Sofia Coppola, Lisa Marie Presley, Naomi Campbell, Liv Tyler, Katie Couric, Lucy Liu, Paris Hilton, Anna Nicole Smith, Brittany Spears, and Asian celebrities, such as Lee Mi Yun, Kim Hee Sun, Hitomi, Amei Cheung, and Ayumi Hamazaki.

“To say that we’re celebrating ten wonderful years of Shi with style is an understatement.” Tucci concluded, “It is truly an honor to have Anna bring Shi to a level of elegance never before seen in the world of comics.”

We at Anna Sui Corporation are excited to be included in the World of Shi and to be associated with Dark Horse Publications, publishers of Star Wars comics (incidentally, Anna’s brother and nephews are big fans). “The weaving of fashion and fantasy through a comic book character seems to be a dream that can become reality,” muses Anna. We wish Billy Tucci much success in his film project and a happy tenth anniversary for the Shi character and we positively know that, “Shi will look great in Sui fashions,” adds Anna.

The 32-page full-color Shi Ju-Nen #1 hits comic and bookstores this April and will continue shipping on a bi-monthly schedule concluding this October.

For more information please contact us via www.annasui.com, www.williamtucci.com and www.darkhorse.com.

About Billy Tucci.

Before signing with Dark Horse Entertainment, the award-winning Tucci served as Shi’s creator, writer and publisher since 1994. Through his Crusade Fine Arts, Ltd., Shi is printed in six languages, has sold more than 4 million comic books and grossed over $25 million worldwide. Both the artist and his creation have been showcased in many periodicals including Elle, Playboy, The NY Times, the NY Daily News as well as NBC, Fox and MTV. He recently inked a deal to turn Shi into a major motion picture with Mimi Gitlin’s Lion Eyes Entertainment (Trapped, Thelma & Louise). Tucci is slated to exec produce and pen the screenplay with Kevin Bernhardt (The Immortals, Nelson DeMille’s The Charm School)

Celebrate 20 Years with Usagi!
Usagi Yojimbo Volume 18: Travels with Jotaro

Throughout his journeys across feudal Japan, rabbit ronin Usagi has faced many dangers, crossed paths with some who have become his sworn enemies, and forged bonds of friendship stronger than any threat that might cross his path-but now he does it with
young Jotaro at his side! This volume of internationally acclaimed Usagi Yojimbo collects issues #61-68 of the multi-award winning ongoing series, and continues the adventures as “Uncle” Usagi struggles with keeping a secret from Jotaro that everyone else seems to know. Not only do their travels bring the perils of the Neko Ninja (in hot pursuit of Chizu, ex-leader of their clan and friend to Usagi), they also have a close encounter with a new and deadly organization-the Koroshi League of Assassins. The beautiful thief Kitsune is up to her old tricks, and Usagi relates a story from his youth about a goblin swordmaster. Finally, an evil artist targets Jotaro with a possessed ink set in the three-part “Sumi-E” story, which features the return of Sasuké the Demon Queller!

” Parents’ Choice Award winner.
” National Cartoonists Society Award winner.

Usagi Yojimbo: Travels with Jotaro features story and art by Stan Sakai. The softcover trade arrives June 9, with a retail price of $15.95. The limited edition hard cover featuring a signed and numbered tip-in-plate arrives in stores June 30 with a retail price of $59.95.

Star Wars: Jedi-Yoda
Don’t miss this double-sized Clone Wars special!

He is arguably the most respected Jedi Master of all time, but even the great Yoda cannot predict or control the outcome of every situation. As the violence of the Clone Wars spreads across the galaxy, Yoda is called upon to lead a clone army against the forces of a king who befriended him two hundred years before. Seeking a peaceful resolution by following the Force, Yoda is hampered by suicidal enemy soldiers, hotheaded young Jedi, single-minded Clone Commanders, and by the unwavering beliefs held by his one-time friend. It’s the diminutive Jedi’s most dangerous mission yet-where a single wrong move could change the course of the war!

Star Wars: Jedi-Yoda features story by Jeremy Barlow with art by Hoon. This 48-page one shot arrives on sale June 30 with a retail price of $4.99.

Star Wars Clone Wars Adventures
Double-sized Star Wars digests!

Inspired by the Cartoon Network’s Clone Wars cartoons, Dark Horse’s new Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures series uses the television show to tell new stories of heroism and villainy in the same striking visual style of the animated series. By acclaimed Star Wars writer Haden Blackman, Wonder Woman illustrator Ben Caldwell, and talented newcomers the Fillbach Brothers, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures debuts this June.

On the night-world of Nivek, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker must first overcome the limitations of fighting in the dark before they can take on the dreaded Shadowmen! Meanwhile, Jedi Masters Mace Windu and Saesee Tiin discover that push can come to shove when using the Force to fight battledroids. And, fresh from leading an underwater assault against Separatist forces on the water planet of Mon Calamari, Jedi Master Kit Fisto and his remaining clone troops reach the surface to find a new threat awaiting them!

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures will be presented in a 96-page Digest format, which should provide a satisfying chunk of incredible action, hot art, and lightning-fast pacing for readers of all ages.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Volume 1 arrives June 23 with a retail price of $6.95.

The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft
More horror tales to chill your spine!

Following the success of The Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, Dark Horse returns with another collection of bizarre tales by Eisner Award-winning artists Mike Mignola, Gary Gianni, Evan Dorkin, Jill Thompson, and Scott Morse. Mignola returns with another Hellboy story, and Thompson (Scary Godmother) and Dorkin (The Thing, Dork) return to the characters in their stunning “Stray” story, the surprise hit of the first volume in this series. Morse (Ancient Joe, Sam and Twitch) presents a haunting tale of old Salem, digging into the madness of the accusations leveled there, which ended more than thirty lives in a few short months. Filled with other stellar comics offerings, as well as a classic witch tale by Clark Ashton Smith and illustrated by cover artist Gianni, The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft conjures up weird tales of horror and magic the likes of which one seldom sees in the comics medium.

The Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft features the talents of Mike Mignola (W/A), Gary Gianni (A), Evan Dorkin (W), Jill Thompson (A), Scott Morse (W/A), and others! It arrives on sale June 23 with a retail price of $14.95.

Hellboy meets The Goon
This is the crossover event of the year!

The Goon and Franky have seen their share of supernatural-type hubbub. But when a big, red, stump-headed gorilla with a stone hand called Hellboy shows up on Lonely Street, they ain’t exactly prepared for the hell that’s about to break loose. And Hellboy ain’t exactly prepared for Franky and the Goon! This is the crossover event of the year, and we ain’t talking about pancakes and hot noodles! If you miss this, you might as well go crying home to mama!

Mike Mignola’s Hellboy and Eric Powell’s Goon team up for a historic comics event! This is guaranteed to be one of the coolest, funniest, and smartest crossovers ever.

The Goon #7 features story and art by Eric Powell and Mike Mignola. Cover by Mike Mignola. It arrives on sale June 23 with a retail price of $2.99.

DARK HORSE NEWS

Gentle Giant recognized with Diamond Gem award

Dark Horse Comics applauds the recognition of Boba Fett as winner of the Diamond Gem award for “Mini Bust of the Year”. We feel it richly deserves it, and our hat is off to Gentle Giant Studios, who is both creator and manufacturer of this fine item under license from Lucasfilm.

Dark Horse is proud to be the exclusive sales agent for Gentle Giant Studios’ series of Star Wars busts. It is in this capacity that we present their sculptures to the readers of Diamond Previews and their retailer magazine Diamond Dialog. Since we act in this capacity, it is understandable that we were credited as the publisher of this item. We hasten to point out that we are not, and want everyone to know that it is Gentle Giant’s skill and expertise that made this striking and highly collectible version of Boba Fett a reality.

Dark Horse acquires additional manga editor

Dark Horse is proud to announce the arrival of an additional manga editor to our staff!

Carl Gustav Horn has been a professional editor, writer, and publicist in the U.S. anime and manga industry for over ten years. His projects have included the English edition of Kaiji Kawaguchi’s Eagle, nominated for five Eisner Awards, and co-authoring Japan Edge, the first book on Japanese animation and comics to be recommended by Newsweek magazine. Carl joins us in Oregon by way of Northern California.

Hellboy display contest winners chosen!

To promote the upcoming Hellboy motion picture, Dark Horse Comics and Sony Pictures Entertainment teamed up to offer comic shops across the country an opportunity to win a free screening of Hellboy for themselves and their customers!

To win, comic shops had to put together the most dazzling Hellboy display that a panel of Dark Horse judges had ever seen. The results were astounding! Both the volume and creativity of entries exceeded our wildest expectations. Below is a link to pictures of the grand prize winning entries. Thank you to all of the great comic shops that participated!

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