Dark Horse

Published by Dark Horse Comics (home of Hellboy) since 2013, ElfQuest is much older than that as it was launched in 1978. Back then, the Fantasy series created by Wendy and Richard Pini was self-published, taking advantage of the emerging Direct Market. Things didn’t start without a bump.

The first Elfquest story was the lead feature in Fantasy Quaterly #1. But with Independent Publishers Syndicate immediately going out of business after one issue, the adventure could have ended pretty quickly, especially as the publisher refused to give the Pinis back the work they already provided for issue 2. Richard had to take a very long trip to get everything back. After that, the couple learned as fast as possible how to become publishers. They formed WaRP Graphics and put ElfQuest #2 out.

ElfQuest became a success story, one of the most popular self-published comic books (and brand). There were difficult times through the years, like the 1990s bubble. WaRP Graphics was closed in 2003, but ElfQuest is still here.

The story of ElfQuest started with the “Original Quest.” It was about Chief Cutter and the Wolfriders being driven from their forest home by the threat of annihilation. As they wander an ever-changing landscape inhabited by excitable humans–and other odd creatures–they discover other elf tribes as well. Alliances are forged, enemies discovered, and savage battles fought…

It is an epic fantasy adventure with sci-fi elements about nature-loving elves trying to survive on a world that isn’t theirs to begin with.

Read More »ElfQuest Reading Order

Mostly known today for creating Hellboy and its expanded universe, Mike Mignola has also written (and sometimes drawn) a variety of other stories exploring similar themes full of supernatural, folklore, horror, and other paranormal elements.

With Christopher Golden, he co-created Baltimore in 2007, an illustrated novel that led to a comic-book series published by Dark Horse Comics, then to an expanded universe called “The Outerverse.”

Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire introduced us to Lord Henry Baltimore. The story begins in November 1914. A British officer during World War I, Lord Baltimore is left for dead on a battlefield in the Ardennes Forest. When he awakes, he sees the most unexpected scene: giant bat-like creatures are feeding on his dead men.

When he is attacked, he fights back and wound the vampire who tried to feed on him. This action inadvertently changes Baltimore himself, but also in the course of the war, and of human history. 

Read More »The Outerverse Reading Order, The Horror Universe by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden

Published by Dark Horse Comics, Harrow County is an Eisner-nominated horror comic book series created by writer Cullen Bunn and artist Tyler Crook that blends elements of folk horror, dark fantasy, and Southern Gothic traditions. It’s also part of our list of Horror Comic Books to read and the Best Dark Horse Comics Series.

The concept originated as a serialized prose story titled Countless Haints, written by Bunn and released online. When adapted into a comic form in collaboration with Crook, the story underwent substantial reworking, evolving into a visually rich, serialized narrative that debuted in May 2015. The story follows Emmy Crawford, a young woman in rural Harrow County, who discovers on the eve of her eighteenth birthday that she is mystically connected to the land around her and the supernatural beings—ghosts, haints, and monsters—that inhabit it.

The original Harrow County series ran for 32 issues from 2015 to 2018. It has since been collected in multiple formats, including trade paperbacks, library editions,  deluxe hardcover omnibuses, and a compendium.

Following its conclusion, the franchise continued with the spin-off series Tales from Harrow County (2019–2021), not to be confused with the Tales of Harrow County short stories, written by Bunn with art by Naomi Franquiz and later Emily Schnall. These stories expand the mythology and explore events set after the main series, focusing on Emmy’s friend Bernice and the lingering supernatural forces in Harrow County.

Read More »Harrow County Reading Guide to Cullen Bunn’s Horror series

The Hellboy Universe is vast and full of monsters. It’s also composed of multiple series and miniseries, stories published in a non-chronological order. The following article is not the ultimate reading order, it’s a reading guide, an attempt to offer a good view of one of the best comic book universes.

Created by writer-artist Mike Mignola (you can read about the origin of the creation of the character here), Hellboy is a half-demon who was summoned from Hell to Earth as a baby by the “Mad Monk” Grigori Rasputin for the Nazis. Adopted by Professor Trevor Bruttenholm, the man behind the United States Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (also called the B.P.R.D.), Hellboy grew up with humans and learned to hunt monsters. As an adult, he is easily identifiable. After all, he is red-skinned, huge with a tail, horns, and cloven hooves for feet, and his right hand is made of stone.

Working with the B.P.R.D., he hunts Nazis, witches, and other types of Lovecraftian monsters, teaming up with the amphibian humanoid Abe Sapien, and pyrokinetic Liz Sherman. As the years pass, Hellboy must confront who he really is and fulfill his destiny as the B.P.R.D. becomes the first line of defense against cosmic menaces.

Read More »Hellboy Universe Reading Order (Hellboy, BPRD, Abe Sapien), from the mind of Mike Mignola

A sequel series to Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra is an animated American television series with four seasons. The story picks up seventy years after the end of the Avatar: The Last Airbender and follows Korra as she faces the difficult challenges, duties, and responsibilities that come with being the Avatar.

Now, the adventure continues in comic book form, with most stories taking place after the conclusion of the show’s official run. Here is the official synopsis:

“Relishing their newfound feelings for each other, Korra and Asami leave the Spirit World . . . but find nothing in Republic City but political hijinks and human vs. spirit conflict! A pompous developer plans to turn the new spirit portal into an amusement park, potentially severing an already tumultuous connection with the spirits. What’s more, the triads have realigned and are in a brutal all-out brawl at the city’s borders–where hundreds of evacuees have relocated! In order to get through it all, Korra and Asami vow to look out for each other–but first, they’ve got to get better at being a team and a couple!”

What to read before The Legend of Korra?

Before going into The Legend of Korra, you can watch and read about Avatar: The Last Airbender, then (re)discover The Legend of Korra animated series.

Read More »The Legend of Korra Comics Reading Order, the sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender

Let’s bend the elements with Aang and his friends! Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, Avatar: The Last Airbender is an animated television… Read More »Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics Reading Order