Neil Gaiman

Creatures of the Night (OGN; Dark Horse; w Neil Gaiman; a Michael Zulli). [From Dark Horse Comics: From the New York Times best-selling author Neil Gaiman comes a brand new hardcover collection, featuring two magical and disturbing stories lushly adapted to comics by veteran painter Michael Zulli. Newly rewritten by Gaiman for this graphic novel, these two ominous stories from the author¹s award-winning prose, Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions, feature animals and people not being quite what they seem. In "The Price," a black cat like a small panther arrives at a country home and is soon beset by mysterious and vicious wounds. What is he fighting every night that could do this, and why does he persist? "The Daughter of Owls" recounts an eerie old tale of a foundling girl who was left‹with an owl pellet‹as a newborn on the steps of the Dymton Church. She was soon cloistered away in a local convent, but by her fourteenth year word of her beauty had spread‹and those who would prey upon her faced unforeseen consequences.]

The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch (OGN; Dark Horse; w Neil Gaiman; a Michael Zulli). [From Dark Horse Comics: Come, come and hear of the strange and terrible tale of Miss Finch, an exacting woman befallen by mystery and abduction deep under the streets of London! This is the first comics adaptation of Gaiman's story "The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch," which saw print only in the U.K. edition of Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions and was recently interpreted for his Speaking in Tongues CD. The Facts in the Case of the Departure of Miss Finch is a "mostly true story" that combines the author's trademark magic realism with Zulli's sumptuous paintings, and has been newly rewritten for this hardcover. Join a group of friends, with the stern Miss Finch in tow, as they enter musty caverns for a subterranean circus spectacle called "The Theatre of Night's Dreaming." Come inside, get out of the pounding rain, and witness this strange world of vampires, ringmasters, illusions, and the Cabinet of Wishes Fulfill'd.]

Harlequin Valentine (OGN; Dark Horse; w Neil Gaiman; a John Bolton). [From Dark Horse: In this modern hardcover retelling of a classic commedia dell' arte legend of tomfoolery and hopeless, fawning love, creators Neil Gaiman (Sandman) and John Bolton (Manbat) update the relation of Harlequin and Columbine. A buffoon burdened with a brimming heart, Harlequin chases his sensible, oblivious Columbine around the city streets, having given his heart freely. Consumed with love, the impulsive clown sees his heart dragged about town, with a charming surprise to bend the tale in a modern direction. Gaiman's writing is poetic and as heartfelt as the subject matter. Bolton's art, a combination of digitally enhanced photorealism and dynamic painting provides sensational depth with bright characters over fittingly muted backgrounds. Those who have spent Valentine's Day alone are aware that the cold February holiday can be hard to swallow. Gaiman and Bolton want you to know that all it takes is a steak knife, a fork, and a bottle of quality ketchup! Contains an additional eight-page backup feature on the commedia dell' arte, written by Neil Gaiman with illustrations by John Bolton!]

The Last Temptation (Dark Horse trade; 3-issue mini by Marvel as Last Temptation of Alice; w Neil Gaiman; a Michael Zulli). [From Dark Horse Comics: Steven is afraid. Afraid of ghost stories, afraid of growing up...just afraid. That is, until he meets the mysterious Showman and his Theatre of the Real. Steven takes a ticket and watches the show on a dare, but getting out of the performance will be harder than he ever imagined. And then Steven learns what it is to be truly afraid. Neil Gaiman, internationally acclaimed and bestselling writer of both prose fiction (Neverwhere, Stardust) and graphic novels (The Sandman, Signal to Noise) and Eisner nominated artist Michael Zulli (The Sandman, Creatures of the Night) are the creators of this dark and brooding morality tale. This new black and white hardcover edition of The Last Temptation is the latest addition to Dark Horse's proud and growing library of Neil Gaiman hardcovers. Originally published as part of the short-lived Marvel Music line of the early Œ90s, Zulli's lush and beautiful duoshade artwork is now showcased in a new format for this stunning second edition.]

Mr. Punch (OGN; DC/Vertigo; w Neil Gaiman; a Dave McKean). [From DC Comics: A dark and frightening fully painted novella, MR. PUNCH tells the tale of a young boy's loss of innocence results from a horrific confrontation with his past. Spending a summer at his grandfather's seaside arcade, a troubled adolescent harmlessly becomes involved with a mysterious Punch and Judy Man and a mermaid-portraying woman. But when the violent puppet show triggers buried memories of the boy's family, the lives of all become feverishly intertwined. With disturbing mysteries and half-truths uncontrollably unraveling, the young boy is forced to deal with his family's dark secrets of violence, betrayal, and guilt.]

Murder Mysteries (OGN; Dark Horse; w Neil Gaiman; a P. Craig Russell). [From Dark Horse: One of the most celebrated writers in the history of comics teams up once again with one of the industry's most accomplished artists! For the first time in nine years, since the award-winning 50th issue of Sandman, Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell once again venture into the world of myth and angels. Constructing and maintaining all of heaven and earth is an immense task, which God has divided up amongst the various ranks and stations of angels. As with any such huge effort, there are bound to be casualties. This unique passion play sheds light on the hands behind creation, as well as one lonely man in Los Angeles who gets to hear the whole story of a most unspeakable crime: a murder in paradise! P. Craig Russell adapts Neil Gaiman's poignant short story with the subtlety and grace which earned him two Eisner Awards last year for his work on Dark Horse's Ring of the Nibelung series. The reunion of these two legendary comics creators is a guaranteed masterpiece.]

Neil Gaiman's Midnight Days (Swamp Thing Annual 5, Hellblazer 27, Sandman Midnight Theater; w Neil Gaiman, Matt Wagner; a Richard Piers Rayner, Dave McKean, Mike Hoffman, Mike Mignola, Teddy Kristiansen, et al.). [From DC Comics: A collection of nearly all of Neil Gaiman's previously non-reprinted VERTIGO work, including SANDMAN MIDNIGHT THEATRE and a previously unpublished Swamp Thing story. Among the often-requested stories in MIDNIGHT DAYS is the haunting John Constantine story "Hold Me" (from HELLBLAZER #27), illustrated by Gaiman's THE SANDMAN collaborator Dave McKean (who also provides a new cover for the collection). In addition, the Golden Age Sandman's surprising encounter with an imprisoned Morpheus in SANDMAN MIDNIGHT THEATRE (co-written by Gaiman and Matt Wagner, with painted art by Teddy Kristiansen) comes back to print as part of the MIDNIGHT DAYS collection, as does the Gaiman-scripted return of Brother Power, the Geek (illustrated by Richard Piers Rayner, Mike Hoffman and Kim DeMulder) and the offbeat "Shaggy God Stories," illustrated by Mike Mignola (both from SWAMP THING ANNUAL #5). Rounding out NEIL GAIMAN'S MIDNIGHT DAYS are a new introduction and commentary by Gaiman and Gaiman's 1986 DC Comics "audition" piece—a story of a 16th-century Plant Elemental, newly illustrated by the classic SWAMP THING art team of Stephen Bissette and John Totleben.]

Signal to Noise (OGN; w Neil Gaiman; a Dave McKean). [From Dark Horse: Originally serialized in The Face, Signal to Noise is the story of a film director dying of cancer. His life's crowning achievement, his greatest film, would have told the story of a European village as the last hour of 999 A.D. approached -- the midnight that the villagers were convinced would bring with it Armageddon. Now that story will never be told. But he's still working it out in his head, making a film that no one will ever see. No one but us. Signal to Noise is a poignant story, rich in humanity, depth, and communications theory. A beautifully designed and printed book, showcasing McKean's stunning artwork and Gaiman's story, Signal to Noise will make you re-evaluate your thinking about the potential of the medium and a book you will be proud to share with your friends. They will thank you for it!]

Stardust (OGN; w Neil Gaiman; a Charles Vess). [From DC Comics: In a Victorian-era tale of magic and romance, young Tristran Thorn falls in love with the town beauty and must go on an incredible coming-of-age journey in order to capture her heart. Living in the small countryside town of Wall, one night Tristran vows to his beloved to retrieve a fallen star that they witnessed crashing down from the heavens. Now to gain his love's hand, he must leave behind his home and embark on a journey that will define the meaning of true love. Told through breathtaking painted illustrations, this fairytale for adults is a true masterpiece in storytelling. ]

Violent Cases (OGN; w Neil Gaiman; a Dave McKean). [From Dark Horse: An exploration of the trappings of violence and the failings of memory, Violent Cases marks the beginning of the astonishing and award-winning collaboration between author Neil Gaiman and artist Dave McKean, offered again in its original softcover format.]

Neil Gaiman's web site.