‘Dark Horse Presents’ New Carla Speed McNeil, Michael Avon Oeming, Sam Kieth, Richard Corben, Tony Akins And More [Exclusive Preview]

This year's winner of the Eisner award for Best Anthology, Dark Horse Presents has been one of ComicsAlliance's favorite titles since it was relaunched in 2011 to continue the classic and influential series' tradition of showcasing emerging talent alongside some of the greatest writers, artists and cartoonists mainstream and underground comics has to offer. Each issue comes with quirky, undiluted excursions into the minds of uniquely talented creators, usually with immersive new serials or idiosyncratic short stories but also in the form of recurring, cult favorite characters and properties for which Dark Horse has served as caretaker for many years.

We've formalized our Dark Horse Presents coverage with this first installment of a new regular feature that will spotlight the latest or upcoming issues with exclusive first-look artwork and remarks from DHP creators and editors. With issue #17 on sale today, series Assistant Editor Jim Gibbons tells us about the contributions of Finder creator Carla Speed McNeil and shows off pages by Sam Keith and John Layman (new Aliens!), Tony Puryear (new Concrete Park!), Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray and Tony Akins (new Deep Sea!), Richard Corben (new Edgar Allan Poe's The Sleeper!), Michael Avon Oeming (a new story, The Sacrifice!), Michael T. Gilbert (new Mr. Monster!) and more.Leading DHP #17 is the latest chapter in Carla Speed McNeil's Finder: Third World science fiction serial, which series editor Jim Gibbons told us is the longest ongoing feature in this anthology's modern era.

"This issue is probably most notable in that it's the first time Carla Speed McNeil's beautiful artwork has graced a DHP cover," Gibbons said. "It's a culmination to Dark Horse and DHP's commitment to Carla's amazing, dense, and fantastic world. After Finder editor Rachel Edidin, I don't think there's a single larger Finder supporter than [Dark Horse publisher] Mike Richardson. Finder is a bit more 'indie,' for lack of a better word, than some of our other DHP content, but getting it on the cover after such an impressive run of unique and amazing strips was a necessity."

Here are some additional images from Dark Horse Presents #17, including story pages we're showing for the first time on any comics site.

Crime Does Not Pay Presents City Of Roses by Phil Stanford and Patric Reynolds (click images to enlarge)

Edgar Allan Poe's The Sleeper adapted by Richard Corben (click images to enlarge)

The Sacrifice by Michael Avon Oeming (click images to enlarge)

Concrete Park by Erika Alexander and Tony Puryear

UXB by Colin Lorimer

Mr. Monster: Back From the Dead!!! by Michael T. Gilbert (click images to enlarge)