New York Comic Con News -- New licensed projects dominated today’s announcements from Dark Horse Comics.

Dark Horse is joining forces with Nickelodeon for an Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novel series from writer Faith Erin Hicks (The Nameless City) and artist Peter Wartman (Stonebreaker).  The creative team will collaborate with Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, the producers and co-creators of the hit television series. The first volume from the new creative team will be out in fall 2018.  Under the previous creative team of Gene Luen Yang (New Super-Man) and Studio Gurihiru, Avatar has been a top-selling kids comics franchise (see “Top 10 Kids Graphic Novel Franchises - Spring 2017”).

The Nintendo Switch game Arms is coming to comics in fall 2018. The creative team is yet to be announced for the adaptation of the popular fighting game that lets players choose a variety of extendable arms to engage in fisticuffs.  The property is the latest in the partnership between Dark Horse and Nintendo, which includes licenses for Legend of Zelda (see “'The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia'”) and Splatoon (see “Dark Horse Has Splattitude”).

Joss Whedon is returning to the Buffyverse to co-write a four-issue miniseries about Buffy’s put-upon Watcher. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Giles is co-written by Erika Alexander (Concrete Park) and drawn by Jon Lam (Gotham Academy, Batgirl) with colors by Dan Jackson. Steve Morris (Buffy the Vampire SlayerSeason 11) and Arielle Jovellanos (Fresh Romance) will provide covers.  In the series, Giles returns to high school as a grown man in a teenager’s body to investigate mysterious disappearances.  The first issue will be on sale February 28.

Click on the Gallery for preview images.