Most Popular Books by Mike Richardson

From Mike Richardson, creator of The Mask, comes a superhero vision as dark as the night. Twenty-five years ago, a genuine masked crimefighter came out of nowhere to declare war on crime. All of America celebrated the exploits of the black-clad vigilante . . . and then he disappeared. But when down-on-his-luck investigator Jake Stevens is hired to find the long-missing avenger, his inquiries threaten to expose the myth behind the mask. Collects Cloaked #1–#4.

Each new year is marked by a monster''s attack on their mountain village. This year, young Jia and her friend Deshi have decided to fight back. For Deshi, it is the grand adventure he has always dreamed of. For Jia, it is revenge for the loss of her mother--who was taken by the monster five years before. But it will take more than mere pluck and courage to best the beast of the mountain, which is where the mysterious stranger who has befriended Jia and Deshi comes in . . . Based on an ancient Chinese legend, Jia and the Nian Monster blends fantasy, fable, and the invention of gunpowder into a tale of courage and friendship. Written by Mike Richardson (47 Ronin, Father''s Day, and The Atomic Legion), and illustrated by the amazing new artist Megan Huang, this could be a new children''s classic!

An alphabetically-arranged encyclopedia of comics.

America''s sole costumed crimefighter disappeared a quarter century ago, and investigator Jake Stevens is hired to discover why. But after two of Jake''s interview subjects are murdered, with Jake the prime suspect, his last hope to find the truth may lie within the twisted mind of the masked hero''s greatest nemesis--the deranged criminal known as the Lunatic! Written by Mike Richardson--creator of The Mask, producer of the Hellboy film franchise, and writer of the 47 Ronin graphic novel‚ and illustrated with gritty realism by Jordi Armengol.

Following the death of Imperial Guard turncoat Carnor Jax at the hand of the last Guard, Kir Kanos, the Galactic Empire suddenly finds itself devoid of a leader, and an Interim Council is assembled to rule the Empire until a new Emperor can be selected. But when Council members become targets for assassination, Kanos becomes the prime suspect and again stands at the center of a storm! *

This is a true story about the most interesting person you''ve never heard of: Arthur Cravan, major figure in pre-WWI cutting-edge art circles, was among the greatest mysterious figures of the Twentieth Century. A self-confessed thief, forger, and con-artist, he used a roster of assumed names and false identities. He was known, at various times, as a novelist, poet, painter, art critic, lecturer, publisher, and the lightweight boxing champion of France. Always a rebellious, restless spirit, this dedicated rule-breaker was a political radical whose friendship with Leon Trotsky earned him the surveillance of the U.S. government-even through his immigration to Mexico with his wife, the poet Mina Loy. In 1918, at the age of thirty-one, the fascinating physical giant vanished without a trace, and-despite several supposed sightings over the years-was never seen again. Is it possible that he became the mysterious, reclusive novelist B. Traven, who wrote The Treasure of the Sierra Madre?

For young Robby, surviving a plane crash was just the beginning of an incredible adventure. Swept away to a hidden fortress, built by a mysterious scientist known only as the Professor, Robby encounters monsters, robots, and superheroes from the past, all hiding from the cynical society that rejected them years ago. When the evil Dr. Rue Morgue kidnaps the Professor, it''s up to Robby to rally the misfit denizens of the fortress, to goad them into overcoming their fear of the modern world, and to push them into once again joining forces as the Atomic Legion!

To prevent a murder, would we become a murderer? Troubled charter pilot Fred Martin is caught in a bizarre and violent storm and loses control of his aircraft. Martin later awakens unharmed only to discover that he is thirty years in the past with the impossible opportunity to right the terrible wrong that ruined his future. Written by Mike Richardson, creator of The Mask and TimeCop, and illustrated by Gabriel Guzmán (Star Wars, Lady Death), Echoes is fantasy drama on a human scale, a provocative journey into how the past is always present.

Japan''s enduring national legend comes to comics! The tale of the 47 Ronin and their epic mission to avenge their wronged master epitomizes the samurai code of honor, and creators Mike Richardson and Stan Sakai have done justice to their story! Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated, this collection of the acclaimed miniseries recounts this sweeping saga of honor and violence in all its grandeur. Opening with the tragic incident that sealed the fate of Lord Asano, 47 Ronin follows a dedicated group of Asano''s vassals on their years-long path of vengeance! * From Mike Richardson (Star Wars: Crimson Empire) and Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo)! * Tons of bonus art and behind-the-scenes extras! "If you''re a fan of the samurai genre then this is a no-brainer... if you''ve never given it a chance then this is the perfect gateway book to the genre." —Comic Bastards "Stan Sakai makes Japan all the more exciting with this comic, and Richardson''s narrative builds an epic tale reminiscent of Kurosawa''s greatest films." —Graphic Policy

Two survivors of a global catastrophe disguise themselves as corpses to survive in a land of the walking dead. Soon the two friends save a lovely young gun-crazy woman named Betty, who becomes a source of rivalry between them. With hundreds of zombies out for a snack, the three try their best to blend in so as not become the next item on the menu. From the mind of Mike Richardson, creator of The Mask and The Secret, comes this hilariously frightening tale of Straw and Whip who have lived through a plague that''s left the world with seven billion brain-hungry zombies. * Be sure to catch this heart pounding and hilarious graphic novel with art by Ben Stenbeck, and cover by legendary Richard Corben (Hulk: Banner; Punisher: The End; and Hellboy: Makoma). * Collecting the three-issue miniseries.

The latest addition to the Dark Horse horror line is this chilling original graphic novel from writer and publisher Mike Richardson (The Secret, Cravan). Twentysomething Meagan Walters regains consciousness and finds herself locked in an empty room of an old house. She’s bleeding from the back of her head, and has no memory of where the wound came from — she’d been at a club with some friends... left angrily... was she abducted? When Meagan peers through the door’s keyhole, she starts to suspect that her captor isn’t quite human...

When a mysterious book of powerful spells binds itself to him, the fact that Rob''s life has been falling apart doesn''t seem like such a big deal. What do his girlfriend leaving him or his mountain of debt matter when mystics and demons are overrunning the town in search of the bookand him? To survive, Rob must learn to control the book''s unpredictable magic, while his life slips even further out of control. **Tim Seeley** (_Hack/Slash_) brings his rare mix of humor, horror, and heroes to the latest creation from Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson. Character design by Guy Davis! 

When a young girl is accused of murder for shooting her parents’ killers, her gunslinger grandfather must come out of retirement to rescue her from a hanging. It''s Josephine’s 12th birthday, and she and her farmer parents go into a small Western town for a treat. But her parents are murdered by a group of carousing cowboys, including the son of a rich local resident. When the son shows up at the sheriff’s office the next day to explain away the circumstances, Josephine takes the sheriff’s gun and shoots the son dead. As a result, his rich father insists she hang—especially when he finds out she’s kin to a famous retired gunfighter, Ethan Fuller. Ethan Fuller shows up in town to break Josephine out of town and take her someplace safe, but they’re pursued relentlessly by possies and hired gunmen, and Ethan has to make a last stand and answer for his past crimes in order to save his only remaining family.

Kir Kanos, the last surviving member of Emperor Palpatine’s Royal Guard, is ready to settle a score with Luke Skywalker and those others whom he blames for the death of his Emperor. But standing in Kanos’s path is his former adversary and almost love interest Mirith Sinn. And both of them have become pawns in a secret plot by an Imperial cabal! *The final chapter in the Crimson Empire saga!

Once a feared Chicago mob enforcer, Silas Smith has gone underground and found peace in seclusion. . . until his estranged daughter shows up on his doorstep with a major axe to grind. And though Silas abandoned his violent past, his former bosses are now on his trail with swcores to settle, intent on teaching Silas that crime doesn''t play! From Mike Richardson, creator of The Mask and TimeCop, Father''s Day is a white-knuckle crime thriller loaded with action, laughs, and heart.

"I know your secret." Tonight is Tommy Morris’s big chance: he’s been invited to party with the social elite of Franklin High and maybe even hook up with Pam, the girl of his dreams. But when a prank call turns sour, Pam goes missing, and Tommy gets sucked into her disappearance deeper than he bargained for. The Secret is a chilling coming-of-age mystery from Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson and Eisner-nominated artist Jason Shawn Alexander (Damn Nation, The Escapists).

When two strangers cast coins in a Central Park fountain, their dreams and desires become supernaturally intertwined. Cal wants fame and respect and Mary craves true love from her pro quarterback boyfriend, but destiny weaves a tangled fabric. From Mike Richardson (47 Ronin, Echoes) and Eisner Award winner Paul Chadwick (Concrete, The World Below) comes Best Wishes, a Woody Allen-esque tale of New York, meme madness, fame''s price, and secrets of the heart.

Explore the dark corners of the horror genre with this collection of spooky tales of witchcraft, ghosts, and the risen dead! Originally collected as a hardcover, these stories from the likes of Mike Mignola, Evan Dorkin, Jill Thompson, Gary Gianni, Robert E. Howard and more first appeared in the Dark Horse Book of Monsters, the Dark Horse Book of Witchcraft, the Dark Horse Book of Hauntings, and the Dark Horse Book of the Dead. Now available for the first time in paperback, these haunting shorts have lost none of their spine-tingling genius!

Tommy and Kyle have snuck inside the decrepit farmhouse where they hope to find some sign of Pam, who was abducted a year ago. When an ominous figure unexpectedly returns, they discover what he keeps in his horrific basementand they''re trapped in the middle. _The Secret_ is a chilling coming-of-age mystery from Dark Horse founder Mike Richardson and Eisner-nominated artist Jason Shawn Alexander (_Damn Nation_, _The Escapists_).