In the fall of 1997, Dark Horse brought forth a creator-owned comic that was so different from standard comics fare, most people weren't sure what to make of it at first. Eventually the series -- a dark, bloody tale, filled with equal parts horror, ancient history, and black comedy -- became the sleeper hit of the season. In November, Dark Horse is collecting the first series into a trade-paperback -- Kelley Jones' The Hammer!

"I'd been a fan of Kelley's work for years," said editor of The Hammer, Scott Allie, "and he was exactly the kind of creator that I thought needed to showcase his personal vision. And now that I've gotten to know him, I know that The Hammer is as close to its creator's unique vision as any comic out there can be.

Throughout the rural reaches of New England and the midwest, bad things are happening to innocent people. Monsters are consuming teenagers in the cow shed, young lovers aren't returning from their country picnics, and an ages-old evil is heralding in a new age of terror by brainwashing unsuspecting citizens. The world is rife with demons, witches, and unknown horrors, and only a warrior called the Hammer can stop the grisly menace from feeding off humanity.

"What Kelley did with the first Hammer series was give us an antihero who, unlike most similar characters in comics today, has a real reason behind his moral lapses," said Allie. "We've got someone willing and able to do anything in the interest of his cause, which is basically to save mankind against supernatural forces that we insist on messing with. The Hammer is firmly grounded in history, magic, and pop culture all at once."

The Hammer trade paperback arrives November 18, collecting the sold-out 1997 mini-series by Batman artist Kelley Jones. This full-color, 120-page book retails for $12.95, and combines the best elements of '70s horror comics and '30s pulp fiction with the outstanding, unsettling art of Kelley Jones.