From the publication of Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire in 2007 to the release of the final issue of Baltimore, The Red Kingdom in 2017, Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden invited readers to join the adventures of Lord Baltimore and his evil-hunting team in the Baltimore novel and comic books. This summer, Mignola and Golden are inviting readers back to that wonderfully weird world with a new comic book series, Lady Baltimore.
Set 13 years after the eerie occurrences of Baltimore, The Red Kingdom, and following the character Sofia Valk (who must contend with Nazis, vampires, and witches), Lady Baltimore is written by Mignola and Golden and features artwork by Bridgit Connell, along with covers by Abigail Larson and colors by Michelle Madsen.
Below, we have the official press release with full details, along with a look at Larson's cover art for the first issue, which is due out on June 10th from Dark Horse Comics. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates, and keep an eye on Dark Horse's website for further details.
Press Release: MILWAUKIE, Ore., (March 13, 2020)—This summer Mike Mignola, the legendary creator of HELLBOY, and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novelist Christopher Golden will reunite for an all-new series, LADY BALTIMORE. The five-part comic-book series from Dark Horse Comics is co-written by Mignola and Golden, with art by Bridgit Connell, colors by Michelle Madsen, and stunning covers by Hugo Award-winning illustrator Abigail Larson.
“It starts with a bloody trap and rumors of Baltimore’s ghost,” said acclaimed co-writer and novelist Christopher Golden. “And things only get bloodier and weirder from there.”
Her name was Sofia Valk. Once she lived in an Estonian village, before the evil came. But when Europe erupted with the early battles of World War II, it was time for Sofia Valk to embrace her destiny as Lady Baltimore.
“LADY BALTIMORE is the start of something big and unexpected,” said Golden. “The series springs from the pages of the BALTIMORE comics and novel, but it has a different sensibility and a dynamic new lead protagonist. It’s perfect for new readers, who can start with issue 1 and not miss a beat, while longtime fans will be thrilled to see how the BALTIMORE mythos evolves, as some familiar faces encounter brand new characters and fresh terrors.”
LADY BALTIMORE takes place 13 years after the events of BALTIMORE, THE RED KINGDOM, the final Baltimore series in which the Red King amassed power on his way to the Vatican coronation while his armies swept across Europe in an unholy war.
“I love the story and the hero that is Lady Baltimore. On the surface, she's this kick-ass heroine who gets the job done, but underneath it all is the turmoil revolving around learning how to carry the weight and legacy of her new title,” said artist Bridgit Connell, who is collaborating with Mignola and Golden for the first time. “And as an artist, it's a ton of fun for me to help create all these unique covens of evil witches and cool new monsters (like those creeptastic harpies) that'll be causing serious chaos throughout the series.”
“There are witches and Nazis and vampires, all kinds of crazy monster action—What more can you want from a comic?” asked Mike Mignola. “Oh, and there’s art by Bridgit Connell, who is great. I had the pleasure of going back and forth with her on some of the creature designs and it was a real pleasure. So happy to have her on board for this.”
In time, Sofia Valk became Lord Baltimore’s most trusted ally, but without him she must take on the fight herself. Can she fight monsters without becoming a monster herself?
“LADY BALTIMORE is just the beginning of a large, sweeping story,” said Golden. “We’re weaving a crazy dark tapestry of horrors in this book, telling intimate stories in the midst of broad scope action. We’re all having a blast. It’s the perfect time for readers to discover this universe.”
The first issue of LADY BALTIMORE goes on sale from Dark Horse Comics on June 10, 2020.
About BALTIMORE and LADY BALTIMORE:
After a devastating plague ends World War I, Europe is suddenly flooded with vampires. Lord Henry Baltimore, a soldier determined to wipe out the monsters, fights his way through bloody battlefields, ruined plague ships, exploding zeppelins, and submarine graveyards on the hunt for the creature who’s become his obsession.About Dark Horse Comics
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics is an excellent example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and transform a company with humble beginnings into an industry giant. Under a new partnership with Vanguard Visionary Associates, Dark Horse is positioned to further expand its reach globally with publishing, products, and filmed entertainment. Over the years, Dark Horse has published the work of creative legends such as Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Will Eisner, Neil Gaiman, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Mike Mignola, Frank Miller, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Wendy Pini, and Gerard Way. In addition, Dark Horse has a long tradition of establishing exciting new creative talent throughout all of its divisions. The company has also set the industry standard for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, including Aliens, Stranger Things, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra, Predator, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Game of Thrones, Mass Effect, StarCraft, The Witcher, and Halo. Today, Dark Horse Comics is one of the world’s leading entertainment publishers.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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