How to Be a Dark Horse Comics Fan

Dark Horse is famous for having some of the best adaptations of modern films in the comic world. That means titles like Aliens, Terminator, Predator and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer can be found here. With many top selling titles, it’s odd to see how the Big Two--Marvel and DC--get all the attention while this major publisher is often a third or fourth choice for comic fans. If you want to be a Dark Horse comic fan, escape into odd realms of horror, fantasy and action.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Comic shop
• Time to read
• Money to build up a collection

1. 

   Fearing the Hunt:My personal favorites from the Dark Horse world are “Aliens” and “Predator.” There is even a major crossover series—and a good one—in the “Aliens vs. Predator” stories. The Aliens are about killing. If you haven’t seen the film, basically they are mindless killers who can kill even the toughest humans (or Predators). They have acid blood and they can bury themselves in your chest.The Predators, on the other hand, are like hunters in Africa on safari. They want a challenge, and they have challenged many. The films were quite good, but the comics tell an even deeper story.

2. 

   Choose Crossovers:For some reason Dark Horse usually puts together a good team of writers/artists for its crossovers. For example, Batman has battled both the Predators and Aliens, once both (in a failed title). The Predators and Aliens have battled many other super heroes: Superman and Judge Dredd included.

3. 

   Look to the Horror:Dark Horse is also the king of the modern horror. They may not have “30 Days of Night,” a classic horror series from another publisher, but they do have “The Secret,” “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and “The Blackburne Covenant.” The “Aliens” series could also be called horror in many respects.

4. 

   Being a Film Fan:The “Aliens vs Predator” crossover storyline began in comic form. Then it was made into a feature film, and a good one for a crossover story. You can escape into many of these films while also reading the comics. The stories are often integrated. For example, “Ripley” from the “Alien” franchise has appeared in comic books.

5. 

   Forgotten Legends:It’s important not to forget the legendary franchises, “Star Wars” and “Terminator,” which each have their own Dark Horse Comic book lines. These stories further the films in many ways, taking the heroes on new journeys in comics.

6. Collecting Made Simple:A good idea if you want to jump into the Dark Horse world is to apply for their online mailing list. This will provide you with plenty of information on the latest releases. Any serious comic shop will have plenty of Dark Horse titles. If you want to start collecting, however, it may be cheaper to go to sites like eBay.

Tips & Warnings

• There are some new editions being released by Dark Horse of former titles. For the price of a good hardcover book, you can get a 400-plus-page “Omnibus,” a book which has tons of your favorite stories. For example, there is an “Aliens vs. Predator Omnibus” now available.
• The superheroes of the Dark Horse world have almost been forgotten. There are new Omnibus additions being released, but you can probably find some in the cheap comic bins.