I'm proud to ring in the New Year by welcoming one of comics longest-running and best-loved creator-owned characters to Dark Horse, the Mecca of creator-owned comics. Sergio Aragonés' Groo takes his place alongside Concrete, Grendel, Sin City, American Splendor, Hellboy, Usagi Yojimbo, and Land of Nod with his first new issue in over two years. Sergio says, "There's nothing I like working on as much as Groo -- I'm as excited about this as all the fans put together."

The same team that brought you 140 issues from Marvel, twelve from Image, and a dozen more scattered among other publishers, is still on Groo today. Sergio brings with him colorist Tom Luth; letterer, Eisner Award-winner, and Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai; and award-winning comics and television writer Mark Evanier.

Having Mad's "marginals" artist of the past four decades join the Dark Horse stable is an honor on par with past and present relationships with such legendary artists as Jack Kirby, Joe Kubert, Al Williamson, Moebius, Ray Harryhausen, Russ Heath, and Burne Hogarth.

Please give the entire Groo team a big welcome, and have a Happy New Year, everybody!

--Scott Allie