Dark Horse Comics will release an original hardcover written and drawn by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, launching a new universe Mignola co-created with Ben Stenbeck, under a new imprint in December.  Bowling with Corpses and Other Strange Tales from Lands Unknown, a 112-page hardcover, with art and story by Mignola, colors by Dave Stewart, and letters by Clem Robins, will drop in comic stores on December 4, and in the book channel on December 3.

The folklore-inspired fantasy stories in the new “Lands Unknown” universe will be published under the Curious Objects brand, Mignola’s new imprint at Dark Horse.  The universe will be built out in stand-alone stories created by Mignola and Stenbeck.

Mignola explained the genesis of the new universe.  “It all started with an Italian folk tale about a boy who goes bowling with corpses,” he explained.  “I fell in love with the story as soon as I discovered it but I wanted to play fast and loose when adapting it, so I created a whole new world.  Not TOO different than our world a few centuries ago, but with a lot more gods and monsters.  Once I created that world new characters and stories just started pouring out of it.  There is a whole lot to play with here and I expect to be at it for a very long time.”