Tag Archives: steve dutro

Synthetics Volume One #1 delivers a bleak look at the future, commenting on today

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Synthetics Volume One #1

On a dying Earth filled with expanding dead zones, humans form rage gangs to vent their anger at futures lost or escape into the cyber-void to avoid thinking about what’s coming. Our only hope of survival rests with a new kind of human. Will their appearance in a desperate world be met with acceptance—or destruction? Are they angels, devils, or the latest iteration of a Frankenstein’s monster? Synthetics Volume One #1 is an intriguing sci-fi series that feels like it’s a reflection on issues technology has today.

Written by J. Michael Straczynski, Synthetics Volume One #1 is a bleak debut. Set far in the future, the world only has a decade left before humanity is gone. The comic teases the calamity but doesn’t dwell on the reality, as the “how” of it all doesn’t really impact the story. Instead, Straczynski focuses on what individuals do, especially the rich and powerful tech oligarchy, when faced with the situation.

Where Synthetics Volume One #1 really shines is the debate it has about the use of technology, especially new technology. The comic’s true center is on the ability to regrow human body parts. Arms, legs, organs, this is an ability that exists in this world. And, with the ability to grow so much, it isn’t a stretch to grow full human bodies. What are the ethical boundaries of that? Where do humans become and synthetic beings begin? How much of your body needs to be replaced? Add in the dealing of memories like it was a drug, and it’s an interesting combination of moral lines and how far those with power will cross it. If you invent it, they will abuse it seems to be the mantra Straczynski is going for.

Tony Parker provides the art with Carrie Strachan on color and Steve Dutro lettering. The art is interesting as it has a sense of being both futuristic but also a little worn down in a way as well. It’s an interesting design choice. What’s nice is it all feels lived in and while futuristic, still realistic and doesn’t distract with the wonders of the future. The look of Synthetics Volume One #1 teases a world with technology far beyond our own but at the same time it hasn’t really improved things. There’s this sadness about the world design, a drab, ominous tone about it all. It works and works really well to set the feel of the comic and the world.

Synthetics Volume One #1 is a solid debut that throws out some ethical debate while also pondering the end of it all. It’s a different apocalyptic disaster with humanity either resigned to what will happen or scrambling in an attempt to survive what’s to come. But, through it’s entertaining premise and concepts, it feels like it has something to say about our state of the world, the present and what we’re denying is our future.

Story: J. Michael Straczynski Art: Tony Parker
Color: Carrie Strachan Letterer: Steve Dutro
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Synthetics Volume One #1

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Synthetics Volume One #1

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Tony Parker
Colorist: Carrie Strachan
Letterer: Steve Dutro
Cover Artist: Tony Parker

A new apocalyptic sci-fi epic from Joseph Michael Straczynski!

On a dying Earth filled with expanding dead zones, humans form rage gangs to vent their anger at futures lost or escape into the cyber-void to avoid thinking about what’s coming. Our only hope of survival rests with a new kind of human. Will their appearance in a desperate world be met with acceptance—or destruction? Are they angels, devils, or the latest iteration of a Frankenstein’s monster?

Synthetics Volume One #1

Don’t Be Driven Mad By The Shadow Out of Time

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Dark Horse Manga continues the English translations of masterful manga artist Gou Tanabe! Winner of the 2025 Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers of America, Tanabe’s adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft have also been nominated for the Eisner, Harvey, and American Manga Awards. His latest work to appear from Dark Horse, H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Out of Time, is adapted into English by Zack Davisson, translator of the two-time Eisner Award-winning Showa: A History of Japan by Shigeru Mizuki, and lettered by the Eisner-nominated Steve Dutro. This next terrifying tale will arrive just in time for Halloween 2025. 

Nathaniel Wingate Peaslee was once a respectable professor of political economy. Though he taught at Miskatonic University in Arkham, his temper was of a reasonable sort, not at all interested in the occult. That has changed. In 1908, standing in the lecture hall, Professor Peaslee saw his classroom suddenly twist into an uncanny, alien vista, and he collapsed unconscious.

What awoke was not the Nathaniel Peaslee his colleagues knew—at least, not his mind. Now associating with strange people, and speaking oddly of time, distant lands, and concepts of existence, his travels and research disturbed those who knew him, including his friends, wife and even children. It was not until 1913 that Professor Peaslee came back to his right mind, with no memory of his strange sabbatical. His search for understanding of those five missing years leads him—and readers—on a journey across the globe to a place where a long-vanished race still casts their shadow out of time.

Are you out of your mind? Don’t miss H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow Out of Time when the 370-page (5.125” x 7.25”) tankobon-sized paperback arrives in bookstores on October 28, 2025 and comic shops on October 29, 2025, for $21.99. Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore or comic shop.

H.P. Lovecraft’s The Shadow out of Time

J. Michael Straczynski, Tony Parker, Carrie Strachan, and Steve Dutro bring a dying Earth to life in Synthetics

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Dark Horse Comics brings together a stellar group of talent for an original, creator-owned series that bends genres. Creator of Babylon 5 and Marvel and DC modern legend J. Michael Straczynski, artist Tony Parker, colorist Carrie Strachan, and letterer Steve Dutro invite fans to dive into a new dystopian scenario where the meaning of life is only as important as the definition of life. Synthetics Volume 1 arrives in October 2025 as a four-issue comic mini-series.  

On a dying Earth filled with expanding dead zones, humans form rage gangs to vent their anger at futures lost. Others escape into the cyber-void to escape the existential dread of what’s coming. The only hope for civilization’s survival rests with a new kind of human. Will their appearance in a desperate world be met with acceptance—or destruction? Are they angels, devils, or the latest iteration of Frankenstein’s monster?

Focus on the future when Synthetics Volume 1 #1 (of 4) arrives in comic shops on October 29, 2025, for $4.99.

Synthetics Volume 1 #1

A new era of Grendel begins in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance Hardcover Collection

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Dark Horse Books presents the newest story arc in the epic saga of Grendel comics, Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance, now in one complete collected volume. This hardcover collection will be released in March 2025 and contains issues #1-4 of the original comic mini-series. Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance is a new era in the world of Grendel with writing and art by original Grendel creator Matt Wagner, with colors by Brennan Wagner, letters by Steve Dutro and Rob Leigh, and cover art by Matt and Brennan. The book also includes a cover art gallery featuring variant cover artwork by Brennan Wagner, Antonio Fuso, David Hitchcock, and Matt Lesniewski.

After spending years searching space for a replacement Earth, Grendel Prime has returned home, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity remaining in this post-apocalyptic world are ruled by Necro-Lords, and all things Grendel are outlawed! Grendel Prime must hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet. Is there even a place for him here anymore?

The Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance hardcover (96 pages, 6.625” x 10.1875”) will be available on March 4, 2025 in bookstores and on March 5, 2025 in comic shops. It will retail for $24.99 and is available for pre-order now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, TFAW, and wherever books and comics are sold.

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance

Dark Horse announces Plants vs. Zombies Vol. 24: The Big Spitball

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Eisner Award-winning writer Paul Tobin collaborates with the amazing artist Luisa Russo for a brand-new Plants vs. Zombies original graphic novel, with lavish lettering by Eisner-nominated Steve Dutro and gorgeous colors by Heather Breckel!

Zomboss visits his old model train, dubbed “Big Spitball,” in a gigantic train set that takes up a whole warehouse. Using the Big Spitball’s zuclear-powered engine and shrink ray, Zomboss miniaturizes the buildings of Neighborville and adds them to the huge diorama! He even shrinks down a building with Nate, Patrice, Crazy Dave, and some plants inside! Now the team and their plant pals need to reach the engine of the Big Spitball to unshrink themselves and save Neighborville!

Plants vs. Zombies Volume 24: The Big Spitball goes on sale on June 3, 2025.Pre-order now for $12.99 from TFAW, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or your local bookstore, or visit PRH Comics or Comic Shop Locator for more details and stores near you.

Plants vs. Zombies Volume 24: The Big Spitball

Grendel Prime returns to Earth in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Defiance

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Following Grendel: Devil’s Odyssey, the latest story arc in the epic saga of Grendel, comes an all-new Grendel tale in Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance, the first of three series in the all-new Grendel: Devil’s Crucible storyline. This series is written and illustrated by visionary creator Matt Wagner, colored by Brennan Wagner, and lettered by Steve Dutro and Rob Leigh. The first issue features a main cover by Matt Wagner and Brennan Wagner together, and a variant cover by Brennan Wagner, solo.

A new story arc begins: Grendel Prime has returned to Earth, but things are not as he left them. The pockets of humanity that remain and the “Necro Lords” that rule them have turned against the Grendels. Grendel Prime will need to hide his identity as he explores his suddenly hostile home planet.

Grendel: Devil’s Crucible—Defiance #1 (of 4) will arrive in comic shops on July 3, 2024. It is available for pre-order now at your local comic shop for $4.99. 

It’s new manga from Dark Horse this Monday!

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Dark Horse Manga heats up the winter months with some sure-fire hits arriving soon. Check out the latest list of titles available for pre-order from local bookstores and comic shops now!

Cthulhu Cat

Dark Horse invites cat lovers across the cosmos to experience a new take on the eldritch horrors of Lovecraftian lore with Cthulhu Cat, a one-shot, full-color gag manga from Pandania. This volume is a charming tribute both to Lovecraft’s stories and Lovecraft the cat lover, translated by Zack Davisson, with lettering by Steve Dutro.

An ordinary Japanese high school student takes home an abandoned supernatural cat left in a cardboard box. Maybe he shouldn’t have meddled with kitties beyond human comprehension—after all, it had tentacles where its whiskers should have been! But it’s too late now. With no Elder Sign on the cat door, soon the pick of the Mythos litter starts to invade his house, as furry and feline versions of Hastur, Yog-Sothoth, Nyarlathotep, and other adorable Lovecraftian horrors blast his mind, whisper impossible secrets, and generally get underfoot!

Ph’nglui mglw’nfah Cthulhu Cat R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagnya!

(“In his house in R’lyeh dead Cthulhu Cat waits dreaming, meow!”)

Cthulhu Cat (136 pages, 5.75″ x 8.25″) arrives in trade paperback on bookstore shelves September 17, 2024 and comic shops September 18, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $14.99.

Cthulhu Cat

Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2

Dark Horse Manga resumes the fan-favorite character Chiaki Nanami’s dedicated storyline in Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2. With over 800,000 copies in print, Dark Horse’s previous Danganronpa manga have become favorites of fans of the video game and anime franchise, and Chiaki’s story is shaping up to be no exception! Manga creator Suzuragi Karin and Spike Chunsoft bring the tech savvy high schooler’s perspective to light in this most dangerous game.

Nanami witnesses the unexpected power of Monomi against a fearsome guardian Monobeast, allowing students to access a new island at the tropical Jabberwock resort/prison! The island has a library, a diner, but strangest of all, it has Hope’s Peak Academy itself, mysteriously covered by a growth of trees and vines. Some believe video games cause violence, and Monokuma is out to prove it, as he challenges the class to play a game within their game—Twilight Syndrome, which he claims will reveal their next motive to commit murder. This is just the kind of dare that Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer, can’t resist, but she vows that whatever the playthrough, she won’t allow another class killing to take place!

The 186-page Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2 (of 3) spawns in trade paperback (5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″) on bookstore shelves July 23, 2024 and comic shops July 24, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $13.99.

Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2

Innocent Omnibus Volume 3

Explore historical drama like never before as Dark Horse Manga presents Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 collecting volumes 7-9 of the original Japanese manga, inspired by real historic figures and events. Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s series captures the beauty, romance, and brutality of 18th century France. Keep up with the dramatic, aesthetic saga and pre-order Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 before it hits store shelves in October 2024.

Change is on the horizon, as Marie-Joseph ascends the block. The rivalry between Charles-Henri and his sister has hit a peak. With Charles-Henri accepting his position as the head of House Sanson and Marie-Joseph rejecting all convention, the conflict threatens to shatter the family legacy. Meanwhile, Charles meets a young prince who invites him to the Palace of Versailles, but this is no place for an executioner.

Shin’ichi Sakamoto masterfully fictionalizes the true life of Charles-Henri Sanson, known as the Monsieur de Paris—“Gentleman of Paris,” who performed nearly 3,000 executions in 18th century France. Available in English for the first time and presented in a special omnibus edition collecting the final volumes 7-9 of the original Japanese manga series! 

Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 (664 pages) arrives in 5.75″ x 8.25″ trade paperback on bookstore shelves October 29, 2024 and comic shops October 30, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $29.99.

Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 

Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15

Dark Horse Manga continues to bring ONE’s popular manga to English audiences. Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15 continues the Harvey Award-nominated story from the creator of One-Punch Man. With the return of Mob Psycho 100 for a third anime season, and the live-action Mob Psycho 100 TV series on Netflix, there has never been a better time to jump into the wild world of Mob Psycho!

They say eighth grade is the time to have delusions, but Tome Kurata, president of the Telepathy Club, is now in the ninth, and she still hasn’t managed to make mental contact with aliens. With graduation from middle school coming fast, can the rest of the club put aside their goofing off long enough to help Tome achieve her dream? Maybe with the help of Reigen, Mob, and a mountain pilgrimage, they can! 

Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15 (200 pages, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″) arrives in trade paperback on bookstore shelves September 3, 2024 and comic shops September 4, 2024. Pre order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $11.99.

Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15

Cat + Gamer Volume 6

Available for the first time in English, Wataru Nadatani’s Harvey Award-nominated manga series continues with Cat + Gamer Volume 6. Translated by Zack Davisson and lettered by Susie Lee at Studio Cutie, this manga has everything: cats, video games, and adventure! Fans can catch up or update their collections now with Cat + Gamer Volumes 1-5 before volume 6 finds its way into bookstores and comic book shops in Fall 2024.

Office worker Riko Kozakura has successfully expanded to a two-cat party at home, and she continues to level up in pet ownership! Living with cats Musubi and Soboro every day is an adventure, and in her daily quests, Riko couldn’t ask for a better team! “Leveling up” in skills, surprises, and adventures, Riko discovers what it’s like living with two cats!

The next volume of Wataru Nadatani’s hilarious manga series, Cat + Gamer Volume 6, arrives in bookstores on October 22, 2024 and in comic shops on October 23, 2024. Pre-order this (5.125″ x 7.25″, 168 pages) volume and the rest of the series at your local comic shop, bookstore, or on Amazon, and Barnes and Noble for $11.99.

Cat + Gamer Volume 6

Cthulhu Cat is an adorable slice of life manga with an eldritch twist!

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Dark Horse Manga invites cat lovers across the cosmos to experience a new take on the eldritch horrors of Lovecraftian lore in Cthulhu Cat! A one-shot, full-color gag manga from Pandania, this collection is a charming tribute both to Lovecraft’s stories and love of cats. This new English edition is translated by Zack Davisson and lettered by Steve Dutro.

An ordinary Japanese high school student takes home an abandoned supernatural cat left in a cardboard box. Maybe he shouldn’t have meddled with kitties beyond human comprehension—after all, it had tentacles where its whiskers should have been! But it’s too late now. With no Elder Sign on the cat door, soon the pick of the Mythos litter starts to invade his house, as furry and feline versions of Hastur, Yog-Sothoth, Nyarlathotep, and other adorable Lovecraftian horrors blast his mind, whisper impossible secrets, and generally get underfoot!

Ph’nglui mglw’nfah Cthulhu Cat R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagnya!
(“In his house in R’lyeh dead Cthulhu Cat waits dreaming, meow!”)

Cthulhu Cat arrives in trade paperback (136 pages, 5.75” x 8.25”) on bookstore shelves September 17, 2024 and comic shops September 18, 2024. Pre order at your  local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $14.99. 

Cthulhu Cat

Dark Horse brings all-ages Star Wars and Plants vs. Zombies to Free Comic Book Day

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Dark Horse Comics has announced their Free Comic Book Day Silver offering featuring two new stories suitable for readers of all ages, with two separate stories set in the worlds of Star Wars and Plants vs. Zombies. This issue will be available at participating comic shops on Free Comic Book Day, which takes place on May 4, 2024. 

May the Fourth be with you in this all-new tale from Star Wars! 

In the story Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures—Sky Parade Rescue, journey to a galaxy far, far away with the younglings from the sensational Disney+ series Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, including characters from the hit Dark Horse comic series Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures!

The Star Wars short story features writing by Daniel José Older, art by Andy Duggan, colors by Dan Jackson, and letters by Comicraft.

And then, be prepared to learn about The Origin of Zomboss!

In Plants vs. Zombies: The Origin of Zomboss, a Brain-Z Entertainment film crew explores the many past jobs of Dr. Zomboss and what led to him forming a zombie army. The Plants vs Zombies short story features writing by Paul Tobin, art by Lusia Russo, colors by Heather Breckel, and letters by Steve Dutro.

Dark Horse Free Comic Book Day 2024
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