Last year, with a Horsepower announcement, a special logo, and the oversight of Mike Richardson, the Dark Horse Originals line was solidified. Our goal was to make sure that our more genre-blind, adult-friendly, intellectual, and one-of-a-kind “original vision” projects by artists both renowned and unknown had a special place in the company—holding their own amidst “hard genre” blockbusters like Star Wars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Conan. It was an idea all of our editors working with eclectic, visionary creators rallied around, and it allowed us to consolidate and showcase a unique and stylish side of Dark Horse. Including the work of artistic visionaries including Jason Little, Carla Speed McNeil, and the Hernandez brothers, we proudly present our latest additions to the DH Originals line.
Just as we strive to present the best creators with the most unique visions to the world, we also like to give their stories and collections the best presentations possible, and we have high production and design goals when it comes to a Dark Horse Originals book. When it goes on sale in the beginning of December, take a look at Jason Little’s Motel Art Improvement Service, with its unique landscape binding, spot-varnish cover enhancements, and luscious color reproductions—it’s a perfect example of the Dark Horse Originals approach to design and presentation.
In early 2011, Tatsuya Ishida’s Sinfest: Viva La Resistance volume will bring some of the prolific creator’s never-before-collected webcomics to a new print audience. Tatsuya’s irreverent and hilarious commentaries on modern culture will make you blush and burst out laughing.
Carla Speed McNeil’s original graphic novel Finder: Voice goes on sale right after Valentine’s Day in 2011, with her first Finder Library volume arriving in stores a month later. Carla’s been working on stories in her Finder universe since 1996, and we’re excited to be able to bring her work to new readers.
When Mario and Gilbert Hernandez’s Citizen Rex is available in June 2011, you’ll see that the hardcover collection of this psychedelic sci-fi series contains a sketchbook section, behind-the-scenes material from Mario, and all-new artwork by brother Jaime Hernandez. We’re not only bringing you the work of indie comix titans; we’re delivering it in style!
So keep an eye out for these exciting Dark Horse Originals books, new and old, by the great batch of creators we’ve brought into the fold recently. With our DH Originals lines, we bring you great creators with original visions—making sure that their immensely personal work is seen by a large audience—and we also strive to give you the best presentation, packaging, and overall experience possible.
-Philip Simon, Editor