Below you’ll find the solicitations information and cover artwork for all of Dark Horse Comics comic book titles released on December 2, 2015. My personal faves this week are Mystery Girl #1 and This Damned Band #5!

KISS Solo #1: The Demon
Written by Chris Ryall
Art by Angel Medina
Colors by Romulo Fajardo
Covers by Romulo Fajardo, Keith Leroux, Angel Medina, Tone Rodriguez
IDW Publishing
Release Date: April 10, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

If there was ever a band that was destined to live beyond their years of rockin’ and rollin’ all night into a comic book legacy, then it has to be KISS. From almost the beginning of their career they were seen as larger-than-life superheroes, and it was inevitable that Stan Lee from Marvel would open the gates to them entering comic book history – complete with vials of their own blood added to the red ink.

Now, in the 21st century, as the band continues with their new album release Monster and consequent world tour, IDW continues comic book KISStory – and this time claiming new ground. Just like 35 years ago when the individual members released their own solo albums, IDW is releasing “solo comics,” each chapter focusing on one of the individual four-who-are-one.

The first installment of KISS Solo focuses on Gene Simmons, or rather The Demon, in KISS Solo #1: The Demon. Continuing on from previous issues of the IDW KISS line, The Demon finds himself in a city terrorized by potential war. He is intrigued by humanity, a species capable of such wide ranging emotional states that he has never experienced in his existence as one of the four warriors of the Elder.

Mars Attacks The Holidays
One-Shot
Written by Fred Hembeck, Bill Morrison, Ian Boothby & Dean Haspiel
Art by Fred Hembeck, Bill Morrison, Tone Rodriguez, Alan Robinson & Dean Haspiel
Colors by Phil Elliot, Ronda Pattinson, Kote Carvajal & Allen Passalaqua
Letters by Fred Hembeck & Chris Mowry
Covers by Bill Morrison, Dean Haspiel, Fred Hembeck, Phil Elliot, Alan Robinson, Kote Carvajal & Chris Giarrusso
IDW Publishing
Release Date: October 31, 2012
Cover Price: $7.99

Mars Attacks The Holidays runs the gambit. From goofy to heartbreaking and back again, it’s one heck of a great read. And I have to tip my hat to IDW Publishing for putting out an actual HOLIDAY special this year! They’re one ahead of any other company out there in that respect.

OK, there’s a LOT of ground to cover, so I’ll try and get right to it and not bog you down too much. First off, there’s four stories here, each representing a different holiday. Included are Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fred Hembeck’s Halloween story is typical Fred Hembeck. It’s set in the 1950s and follows a Happy Days like family on a trick or treat excursion, and later a Halloween party where things go…awry, thanks to three Martians who tag along. It’s funny and goofy from the first panel to last, and is, in my opinion, the best in the book.

Bizarre New World: Population Explosion
Written & Created by Skipper Martin
Pencils by Christopher Provencher
Colors by Wes Dzioba
Lettering by Ellen Everett
Cover Pencils by Tone Rodriguez
Ape Entertainment
Cover Price: $6.95; On-sale: now

By far, the coolest perk I’ve experienced with this whole “internet reviewer” gig was when creators actually started emailing me requests to review their comics. Me personally. When I got my very first such email, I was all at once shocked, nervous, and elated. I had finally arrived! Forget that I wasn’t making money doing it. Pfft. Who needed money? This was something MUCH more important”¦ MUCH more substantial.

People were giving me their comics.

How many years had I waited for that very thing to happen? To no longer have to go searching for the coolest stuff on the racks”¦ to actually have it come to me!

Well, come to me it has, folks. The first must-read book of 2008 just got dropped in my lap and I couldn’t be happier.