Below you’ll find the solicitations information and cover artwork for all of Dark Horse Comics comic book titles that were released on May 25, 2016. There are quite a few goodies on the list. Lobster Johnson and Death Follows are my picks of the week!

Below you’ll find the solicitations information and cover artwork for all of Dark Horse Comics comic book titles released on December 30, 2015. My personal favorite is Conan The Avenger #21, as it’s a classic work that showcases what it means to be a Cimmerian barbarian.

Hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Volume 9: The Reign of the Black Flame
Paperback | Kindle Edition
Story by Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art by James Harren
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: September 10, 2014
Cover Price: $19.99

I’ve always felt that I could count on Dark Horse Comics to give me unparalleled supernatural stories. I mean, no matter what is going on, they always have some of the greatest (and darkest) writers around. Hell, Lovecraft would have read these comics! My one gripe, though, is that it’s sometimes difficult to jump into a series because of all the back story and history that goes into their long running books. Take this one, for instance: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Volume 9: The Reign of the Black Flame doesn’t just have a lengthy title, it’s also got a metric ton of plot lines that have preceded this one. Which leads me to my problem…

Lobster Johnson: Get the Lobster #3
Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
Art by Tonci Zonjic
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Clem Robins
Cover by Tonci Zonjic
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: April 2, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

Nostalgia is a funny thing. It has a tendency to “color correct” our memories so that the way we remember things is pleasant or, at the very least, less painful than the actual events. I know guys who collect “antique comics” and have to listen to them ad nauseam describe how the storytelling is more pure and how the artwork, while less detailed, is more involved because the artists were “pioneers of the craft.” These assholes take Comic Hipsterness to a whole new level, and the crown prince of douche”¦ is Todd. Don’t get me wrong, Todd is a relatively nice guy until you sit down and let him speak and last weekend that’s exactly what happened.

So this is the story of how Lobster Johnson kicked the comic hipster’s ass.

B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, Vol. 6
Written by Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Illustrated by Tyler Crook
Colored by Dave Stewart
Lettered by Clem Robins
Covers by Mike Mignola with Dave Stewart
Chapter break art by Ryan Sook
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: August 7, 2013
Cover Price: $19.99

Regardless of how well versed a comic book reader might be in the various comic book universes (DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, etc.), jumping into a new series can be a daunting challenge. Picking up an issue in the middle of a story arc can be just as challenging, if not outright frustrating. Mike Mignola, the creator of the Hellboy universe, has partially solved that problem by clearly demarcating the beginning, middle, and end of particular story arcs. It’s a major selling point Mignola and Dark Horse exploit smartly, but even then, the Hellboy universe can pose a significant challenge to hopeful new readers or casual readers. B.P.R.D. (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Development), Mignola’s long-running Hellboy spinoff unfortunately falls into this category.

Mignola first spun off the B.P.R.D. into a standalone series more than a decade ago. Short story arcs and self-contained miniseries were the norm at first, but they’ve grown increasingly more complex and, some might suggest convoluted, since then. The latest standalone story arc scripted by Mignola and John Arcudi, B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth, began with the New World miniseries three years ago and shows no signs of wrapping up anytime soon. The latest trade collection, The Return of the Master, is far from a jumping-on point for new or casual readers (they should begin at, well, the beginning and work their way up). As the title implies, The Return of the Master involves the return of a familiar B.P.R.D. and Hellboy villain, possibly Rasputin, but possibly another villain (or villains) altogether.