Darkness: Lodbrok's Hand artist Michael Avon Oeming signing at Comic Stop

January 21, 2009 – A real triple-header event, The Comic Stop in Lynnwood, WA is hosting a store signing with the creators of MICE TEMPLAR, followed by the debut of the world’s first real comic book band KIRBY KRACKLE and finished off with a party!

First off, the signing with MIKE AVON OEMING and BRYAN GLASS will take place from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday, January 31st. A perfect opportunity for you to get your Mice Templar HC signed by both creators, plus Mike will also have his brand new Darkness: Lodbrok’s Hand one-shot available as well.

In addition, Mike is celebrating his birthday that day, so make sure to swing by and wish him a Happy Birthday!

Immediately after the signing, KIRBY KRACKLE will hit the stage, playing cuts from their self-titled debut CD. KIRBY KRACKLE is the world’s first comic book band, a unique sound of music with lyrics based off of the best that pop culture has to offer. Their style of music can be called Geek Rock, Nerd Core and/or Comic Rock. Whatever you want to call it, it’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before.

After the show, the festivities don’t end as The Comic Stop hosts an after party with food and drinks, prizes and more!

The Comic Stop is the largest chain of comic book stores in Washington State with three locations to serve you. Visit us at http://www.comicstoponline.com

Kirby Krackle is the world’s first comic book band. Check them out at myspace.com/kirbykracklemusic

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Girls Entertainment Network reviews THE DARKNESS: LODBROK’S HAND

Summary: The unique stylings of superstar artist Michael Avon Oeming (POWERS, MICE TEMPLAR) are a perfect match for a Darkness and Vikings tale by current series writer Phil Hester!

In a barbaric age lost to history, mad kings sacrifice their subjects to strange gods, dragons fill the sky, witches weave their spells, warriors wade through bloodstained snow, and still The Darkness reigns. LODBROK’S HAND is Viking mayhem on an epic scale with an intense twist only The Darkness can provide!

Features a jaw-dropping variant cover by Massimo Carnevale (NORTHLANDERS, Y: THE LAST MAN)!

Review: What do you get when smooth, painted visuals and fine, old-fashioned storytelling come together? Well, in this case, you get The Darkness: Lodbrok’s Hand. READ MORE.

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The Darkness Lodbrok’s Hand review

By Phil Hester (Writer), Michael Avon Oeming (Artist), and Val Staples (Colorist)

The Story: A one-and-done comic set sometime long ago in The Darkness universe, Lodbrok’s Hand is a cautionary story about a man’s (good-intentioned) strive for power and the cost that it carries. Lodbrok, his sister, and some others are the few that remain of a village following a brutal raid lead by the tyrant Grimur. The group goes off in search of the legendary Forbidden Horn in the hopes of summoning The Black Captain and his twisted crew in order to even the odds against the might of Grimur. As with similar stories, there is a price to be paid for the powers called forth by the Forbidden Horn, regardless of the success or failure they bring.

What’s Good: I consider this one-shot to be such a success because the creative team manages to make a very familiar story feel like something fresh and almost brand new. First off, Phil Hester’s script effectively captures the feeling of a tale being spoken aloud by a master storyteller; something that is crucial to the book considering how the story told in Lodbrok’s Hand is framed. Secondly, the artwork by Michael Avon Oeming (colored by Val Staples) does a great job of capturing the dark, foreboding nature of Lodbrok’s quest. From the blood-drenched action scenes to the bizarre, supernatural nature of The Black Captain and his ship, Lodbrok’s Hand is a visual treat. READ MORE.

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Inked reviews LODBROK’S HAND

Whenever you have Michael Avon Oeming involved in a tale about Vikings you’re sure to have a quality title on your hands. Teaming up with writer Phil Hester for this one-shot, The Darkness: Lodbrok’s Hand transports us to the Northlands as we’re treated to a tale of one Vikings struggle with the Darkness as they battle fellow Northlanders.

The story opens with Lodbrok, a Viking longship captain, searching for something lost to him long ago. The story is narrated by one of the ships superiors who tells of how Lodbrok lost his hand. We’re transported back to a youthful Lodbrok who’s leading a rag tag band of fighters against a powerful warlord. Lodbrok is searching for The Black Captain, the Darkness wielder of that time, who can help him defeat the armies of the mad king. The Darkness agrees to help Lodbrok defeat his foes, but it exacts a price. The Black Captain will take the bravest warrior to be his shipmate and fellow warrior.

READ MORE.

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Every week we add new downloads, So be sure to check them out!.
This weeks new downloads only at topcow.com.



- 2 NEW wallpapers 1x Broken Trinity & 1x Darkness Lodbrok's Hand
- 1 NEW Darkness banner
- 2 NEW avatars from Darkness and Broken Trinity

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Phil Hester talks to CBR about THE DARKNESS: LODBROK’S HAND

Phil Hester, the writer who last year re-launched Top Cow’s “The Darkness” to much critical and commercial success, has teamed with superstar Michael Avon Oeming on a new Darkness one-shot called “Lodbrok’s Hand.” An artist himself, Hester tailors his scripts to the strengths of the illustrator he’s working with, and with that in mind, “Lodbrok’s Hand” does not follow the present Darkness wielder, Jackie Estacado, but rather one from a pseudo-historical Viking era. CBR News caught up with Hester to talk about the project.

“The Darkness: Lodbrok’s Hand” tells the story of a sea captain who makes a deal with the Darkness bearer of the time to help him seek out freedom for his enslaved village. The Darkness wielder does in fact free Lodbrok’s village, but he exacts a terrible price of Lodrbok in return. “Mike and I call this a ‘Frazetta Age’ story; it happens in a non-historical Viking setting, it’s really cooler than any real Viking tale ever could be. But it’s an out-and-out fantasy Viking story, with a ton of action and a ton of magic that Mike really just gets to cut loose on, and some actual moments of real horror and real pathos that I think we managed to squeeze out of it. I’m super proud of it, and I think he hit a home run with it.”

Hester and longtime “Witchblade” writer Ron Marz ran into Oeming at last year’s New York Comic-Con, and both were surprised to learn that the much sought after writer/artist of “The Mice Templar” and “Powers” had an opening in his schedule. “With someone as productive as Mike, you sort of assume that their dance card is full,” Hester told CBR. “Between ‘Mice Templar,’ ‘Powers,’ all of the various other writing gigs he has, you never think, ‘Well, what’s Mike Oeming doing, can I get Mike Oeming?’ because you don’t assume he’s on the market. So it was a real pleasant surprise to hear him looking for some gigs in New York.” READ MORE.

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Phil Hester on Darkness: Lodbrok's Hand

Last week, we brought you your first look at Darkness: Lodbrok’s Hand, a stand alone Darkness special coming from Top Cow by regular Darkness writer Phil Hester and drawn by Mike Oeming. Set in an age “lost to history,” the story tells of Vikings and magic – and the Darkness that comes to do your bidding, but exacts a terrible price.

We spoke with Hester about the one shot and where he sees it in relation to the rest of the Darkness story he’s telling.

Newsarama: First off Phil – what got Lodbrok’s Hand rolling? You’re writing Darkness, of course, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen a special set in the past...

Phil Hester: It actually came from a chance meeting at last year's NY Comic Con. I ran into Mike who let me know he had a little window of availability in his schedule. Top Cow okayed us for a one-shot the very same day, so I asked Mike exactly what kind of stuff he wanted to draw and I made the story fit his savage proclivities.
READ MORE.

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Exclusive Preview of Darkness: Lodbrok's Hand at Newsarama

Top Cow has provided Newsarama with your first look at next week's Darkness: Lodbrok's Hand special by Phil Hester and Mike Oeming. The solicitation for the issue reads: The unique stylings of superstar artist Michael Avon Oeming (POWERS, MICE TEMPLAR) are a perfect match for a Darkness and Vikings tale by current series writer Phil Hester! In a barbaric age lost to history, mad kings sacrifice their subjects to strange gods, dragons fill the sky, witches weave their spells, warriors wade through bloodstained snow, and still The Darkness reigns.
READ MORE.

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