MILWAUKIE, Ore., (July 11, 2017)—Writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dean Ormston have captivated readers and critics alike with their “sad, dark, and brilliant”* creator owned superhero saga Black Hammer, which follows the forgotten champions of Spiral City long after the age of heroes has passed. This fall, Dark Horse Comics will expand the universe of the Black Hammer with Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evil, written by Lemire and illustrated by artist David Rubín, for the first of several high profile mini-series featuring different artists. While the main, Eisner-nominated Black Hammer series focuses on the heroes of Spiral City—Abraham Slam, Golden Gail, Colonel Weird, Madame Dragonfly, and Barbalien—Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evil reveals the secret origins of the Black Hammer’s greatest villains.

“While working on Black Hammer I found myself having more and more ideas for other types of superhero stories,” said Lemire. “The main Black Hammer story continues to be the spine of these ideas, but I found them branching off into new directions and new characters as well. It occurred to me that there was a whole history here, a whole superhero universe all of our own, that I could explore and create within. So, Dean Ormston and I have decided to expand the world of Black Hammer and create an avenue to tell these other stories. The first mini-series will be Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evil, which will be illustrated by the incomparable David Rubín.”

“Lemire and Ormston have created a distinctive look and feel for Black Hammer,” said David Rubín. “When designing characters like The Horseless Rider, Doctor Star, Wingman and Black Stallion, I wanted to match the wonderful weirdness of the Black Hammer’s rogue gallery featured in Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evil.”  

“Lucy Weber, the daughter of the Black Hammer, is an investigative newspaper reporter, and her search for the truth about her father leads her to some very dark places,” said Dean Ormston. “In Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evil, Lucy heads to Spiral City’s infamous asylum to confront the world’s greatest super villains and the secrets they have locked away.”

“Black Hammer follows in the proud tradition of creator owned comics published by Dark Horse,” said Dark Horse Comics President and Publisher Mike Richardson. “Like its many fans, I can’t wait to see what Jeff, Dean and the all star artists have in store for us as the expanded Black Hammer universe unfolds.”

“The World of Black Hammer has become my favorite place to be,” said Lemire. “The last thing I want to do is exploit the fans of Black Hammer with needless spin offs or tie-ins that they have to read to get the whole story. So, these new mini-series, like the regular ongoing Black Hammer series, will stand alone and tell complete, self-contained stories."

Dark Horse Comics will publish the debut issue of the four issue Sherlock Frankenstein & The Legion of Evilmini-series on October 18, featuring a main cover by Rubín and a variant cover by legendary Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.

Praise for Black Hammer:

“Every so often, you read a comic that grabs hold of you and won't let go. Its world is fascinating, its characters are captivating and its art is mesmerizing.” — IGN

“I didn’t think something could be thrilling and sad at the same time but now there’s Black Hammer proving me wrong. Amazing, just flat-out amazing.”—Patton Oswalt

“A cosmic, reality-bending battle.”— THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

“I don’t read many comics these days and I can’t remember the last time I read a superhero comic, but I’m loving Black Hammer by Jeff Lemire, Dean Ormston, and Dave Stewart.”—Mike Mignola (Hellboy)

“Sad, dark, and brilliant… Ormston is a storytelling godsend, a master of pacing and delivery.”—THE NERDIST

“At once an epic, gripping superhero mystery, and a heartfelt meditation on why superheroes matter, Black Hammer is easily one of Lemire's best creations. Peopled with fantastic characters like the haunting Colonel Weird and the mysterious Madame Dragonfly—each made wondrously vibrant by Ormston's pen—Black Hammer is a place you too will find nearly impossible to leave.” —Scott Snyder (Wytches)

“Masterfully plays with all the many tropes and genres of superhero fiction over the past few decades.” — ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“Jeff Lemire's Black Hammer feels like it's walking two roads—one honoring the past of superhero comics, and one forging a path into the future of the genre.”—Cullen Bunn (Harrow County)

“Evocative.” —  LA REVIEW OF BOOKS

"On my pull list by the time I got to page five." — Mark Waid (Kingdom Come)

“Fascinating.” —  AM NEW YORK

“Black Hammer is the maddest, most brilliant comic I’ve read in years.”—Mark Millar (Kick Ass)

“As much a study of loneliness and isolation as it is a superhero deconstruction. If Black Hammer lives up to its early promise, it will deserve a place on the shelf right next to the Watchmen series.” —  PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (Starred Review)