A gritty murder mystery and sordid tale of corrupted dreams will launch Dark Horse Comics' newest line of books, Dark Horse Venture. Blood Ties, which features the stunning art of Hermann - one of Europe's leading comic artists and the creator of Jeremiah, The Towers of Bois-Maury, Caatinga, Nick, Sarajevo Tango, Wild Bill, and many others - is the first in a series of high-profile European graphic novels that will be brought to the U.S. by Dark Horse.

While investigating a series of horrible crimes, junior detective Sam Leighton discovers the squalid reality of the big city. The murders are the work of Joe Beaumont - a man as powerful as he is paranoid. Joe only appears in public to attend the shows of his beautiful wife Gladys, an alcoholic and a frustrated cabaret dancer. Sam's mysterious partner, Phillip Meadows, puts Gladys in Sam's way hoping that she will lead them to Beaumont regardless of the danger to Sam!

Blood Ties, by Yves Huppen and Hermann, will be available as an 8-1/2 " x 11-1/2" 56-page, full-color, hardcover graphic novel starting November 29 for the suggested retail price of $14.95. Book collectors and devout Hermann fans will want to find the limited edition, 64-page version of Blood Ties, which measures 10" x 13" and includes a dust jacket, slipcase, and a full-color, signed-and-numbered print by Hermann. The limited edition retails for $59.95 and can be found wherever good comics are sold.