Dear Reader (psst . . . that's you),MySpace Dark Horse Presents takes us into the New Year with some incredibly compelling content--can I just say . . . Star Wars, Buffy, and Usagi Yojimbo! Yeah, you heard right. Those three illustrious, critically acclaimed titles have found their way to the online anthology, and they're available to readers for . . . wait for it . . . free! I can hardly believe it myself-and I edit the freakin' thing.
Star Wars: Dark Times returns this month, exclusively on MDHP, creating enormous build-up for the new mini-series launching in April, featuring appearances by Dark Times regulars Bomo Greenbark and Darth Vader. This two-part tale, tentatively titled "Blue Harvest", written by Mick Harrison and beautifully illustrated by Doug Wheatley continues in the February issue, and follows one disenchanted Jedi, Dass Jennir, on a journey of re-discovery after all Jedi have been deemed criminals in a galaxy controlled by the dark side.
In January, Buffy Season Eight launches into a series of one-shots, written by a highly acclaimed cast of writers, including Jane Espenson, Steven S. DeKnight, Drew Greenberg, Jim Krueger, and Doug Petrie. In a word: awesome. Each story shares a common theme where vampires reign supreme. MDHP builds upon two of these standalone issues. This month we take a look at the hot new "reality" show Harmony Bites, straight from the pages Buffy the Vampire Slayer #21 (on sale now!). Written by Espenson and illustrated by Karl Moline, we see Harmony Kendall as she's never been seen before-a sexy star of her own show, which has turned sucking blood into the latest trend. In February we treat readers to a spin-off from Steven S. DeKnight's Buffy #22 one-shot, which stars an adorable Vampy Cat.
Throughout the New Year we'll celebrate twenty-five years of Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo, beginning with a special short story found only on MDHP called "Saya." Here, our hero Usagi is forced-despite his pleas--into an unruly duel. Also in January the ongoing series kicks off a new storyline that has Usagi battling zombies. The love continues later in the year when we'll feature a new Usagi story in the Free Comic Book Day comic that hits stores in May; and, in the fall readers will delight in the fully painted, wholly original graphic novel about Sasuke and the obankemono monsters.
Star Wars. Buffy. Usagi Yojimbo. Adventure. Sci Fi. Horror. Fantasy. We've got a little something for everyone, and as always, and as glaringly cheeseball as it sounds--it's an honor to share these stories with our readers (ahem, you).
I hope you continue to enjoy all that Dark Horse has to offer-then and now.
Sierra Hahn,
Editor, MDHP