Dark Horse Presents
Encyclopedia
Dark Horse Presents was the first comic book
published by Dark Horse Comics
in 1986
and was their flagship title until its September 2000
cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, running from July 2007
until August 2010
. A third incarnation began in April 2011
, released in print form once again.
title and was the first comic to be released by the newly formed Dark Horse Comics
in 1986. The first issue featured Black Cross on the cover and was notable for the first appearance of Paul Chadwick
's Concrete
. The title became successful thanks to the increasing popularity of Concrete which quickly became the regular cover feature for much of the first few years of the title.
Concrete eventually spun off into its own title, and this was something which would happen to several characters and stories appearing in Dark Horse Presents. These included John Byrne's "Next Men" comic book, as well as Frank Miller
's Sin City
stories, with the very first "Sin City" story (Later retitled "The Hard Goodbye
") being serialized within the pages of the comic.
Dark Horse Presents was Dark Horse's longest running title, and provided a mix of material from established and new creators. The title ended with issue #157 in September 2000.
. The first issue of MDHP featured new talents as well as well-known writers like Joss Whedon
and Ron Marz
. MDHP ran from August 2007 to July 2010, a total of thirty-five issues which were collected in five trade paperbacks.
, a Crimson Empire story from the Star Wars universe, a new strip called Marked Man by Howard Chaykin
, a strip called Blood by Neal Adams
(his first work for Dark Horse), and a sneak peek of Frank Miller’s prequel to 300, Xerxes
. Two covers were available for the first issue, one featuring Concrete and the other featuring Xerxes.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
published by Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
in 1986
1986 in comics
-Year overall:* Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, a four-issue limited series written and drawn by Frank Miller and published by DC Comics, debuts...
and was their flagship title until its September 2000
2000 in comics
-February:*Strange Adventures vol. 2, #4, final issue cover-dated February - January :* January 5: Goseki Kojima, co-creator of Lone Wolf and Cub, dies at age 71.* January 6: Mad magazine fixture Don Martin dies at age 68....
cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, running from July 2007
2007 in comics
-January:*January 10: Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator released.*January 24: The Boys is canceled with issue #6.-February:*February 2: Newsarama reports that The Boys has been picked up by Dynamite Entertainment....
until August 2010
2010 in comics
-Events:*February 18: Jim Lee and Dan DiDio were announced as the new Co-Publishers of DC Comics, both replacing Paul Levitz.-January:*January 3: Tibet dies at age 78...
. A third incarnation began in April 2011
2011 in comics
-January:*January 4 Axel Alonso is named editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, replacing Joe Quesada.-September:*During the whole month of September DC Comics released 52 brand new titles as part of their The New 52 publishing scheme after canceling all titles in August.-Conventions:*July 2–3 -...
, released in print form once again.
Original incarnation
Dark Horse Presents was conceived as an anthologyAnthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
title and was the first comic to be released by the newly formed Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
in 1986. The first issue featured Black Cross on the cover and was notable for the first appearance of Paul Chadwick
Paul Chadwick
Paul Chadwick is an American comic book creator best known for his series Concrete about a normal man trapped in a rock-hard body....
's Concrete
Concrete (comics)
Concrete is a comic book series created and written by Paul Chadwick and published by Dark Horse Comics. His first appearance is Dark Horse Presents #1...
. The title became successful thanks to the increasing popularity of Concrete which quickly became the regular cover feature for much of the first few years of the title.
Concrete eventually spun off into its own title, and this was something which would happen to several characters and stories appearing in Dark Horse Presents. These included John Byrne's "Next Men" comic book, as well as Frank Miller
Frank Miller (comics)
Frank Miller is an American comic book artist, writer and film director best known for his dark, film noir-style comic book stories and graphic novels Ronin, Daredevil: Born Again, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Sin City and 300...
's Sin City
Sin City
Sin City is the title for a series of neo-noir comics by Frank Miller. The first story originally appeared in "Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special" , and continued in Dark Horse Presents #51–62 from May 1991 to June 1992, under the title of Sin City, serialized in thirteen parts. Several...
stories, with the very first "Sin City" story (Later retitled "The Hard Goodbye
The Hard Goodbye
"The Hard Goodbye" is the first Sin City story. It was serialised, as "Sin City," in the comics anthology Dark Horse Presents by Dark Horse Comics and named "The Hard Goodbye" in the trade paperbacks...
") being serialized within the pages of the comic.
Dark Horse Presents was Dark Horse's longest running title, and provided a mix of material from established and new creators. The title ended with issue #157 in September 2000.
Second incarnation: MDHP
Dark Horse Presents was revived online through the social networking website MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
. The first issue of MDHP featured new talents as well as well-known writers like Joss Whedon
Joss Whedon
Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon is an American screenwriter, executive producer, director, comic book writer, occasional composer and actor, founder of Mutant Enemy Productions and co-creator of Bellwether Pictures...
and Ron Marz
Ron Marz
Ron Marz is an American comic book writer, known for his work on titles such as Silver Surfer, Green Lantern, Marvel vs DC, Batman/Aliens and Witchblade.-Career:...
. MDHP ran from August 2007 to July 2010, a total of thirty-five issues which were collected in five trade paperbacks.
Third incarnation
Dark Horse Presents returned as an eighty-page anthology comic on April 20, 2011 with all-new stories including a Concrete story by Paul Chadwick, a Mr. Monster story by Michael T. GilbertMichael T. Gilbert
Michael Terry Gilbert is an American comic book artist and writer who has worked for both mainstream and underground comic book companies.-Biography:Michael T. Gilbert was born on May 7, 1951 and attended the State University of New York...
, a Crimson Empire story from the Star Wars universe, a new strip called Marked Man by Howard Chaykin
Howard Chaykin
Howard Victor Chaykin is an American comic book writer and artist famous for his innovative storytelling and sometimes controversial material...
, a strip called Blood by Neal Adams
Neal Adams
Neal Adams is an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who...
(his first work for Dark Horse), and a sneak peek of Frank Miller’s prequel to 300, Xerxes
Xerxes
Xerxes is a male name. Most notably, it may refer to Xerxes I of Persia . It may also refer to:-People:*Xerxes II of Persia, reigned 424 BCE*Xerxes of Armenia, Armenian king, assassinated around 212 BCE...
. Two covers were available for the first issue, one featuring Concrete and the other featuring Xerxes.