February 2012 Archaia Solicitations

While nothing Archaia is planning on offering in February will help you knock the comic fans off your Christmas list, they'll still be worth checking out. The publisher has three titles shipping that month, all of which are worth your time.

The first title is Genetiks Vol. 1, written by Richard Marazano and illustrated by Jean-Michel Ponzio, clocking in at 104 pages for $19.95. Genetiks Vol. 1 depicts a pharmaceutical company on the cutting edge of biological science. Thomas Hale is one of the company's employees who also happens to be the first man to be privately owned by his employer.

The second title is Judge Bao Vol. 1: Judge Bao and the Jade Phoenix, written by Patrick Marty and illustrated by Chongrui Nie. The 160 page book was first published in France and is China's answer to Sherlock Holmes. Chinese Emperor Ren Zong gives broad magistrate powers to Judge Bao, who becomes a symbol of justice for the people of the land. Accompanied by his bodyguard Zhan Zhao, his page Bao Xing and his assistant and coroner Gongsun, he travels the length and breadth of the Middle Kingdom, crusading against corruption and all forms of injustice. $14.95.

Finally, The Secret History: Games of Chance is written by Jean-Pierre Pécau and illustrated by Damien. The 248 page beast will set you back $34.95 for a tale about the Arcana, strange decks of cards that first appeared in Sicily during World War II with the power to alter chance. Pandora has inherited a particularly powerful deck and is approached by The Vane Foundation to help her better understand her cards.

All three titles will hit stores in February. Full solicitations and covers after the jump.

ARCHAIA ITEMS SHIPPING IN FEBRUARY 2012

GENETIKS™ VOL. 1 Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
JUDGE BAO VOL. 1: JUDGE BAO AND THE JADE PHOENIX Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
THE SECRET HISTORY: GAMES OF CHANCE Original Graphic Novel Hardcover

OFFERING 1

GENETIKS™ VOL. 1
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $19.95 U.S.
Page Count: 104 pages
Format: Hardcover with dust jacket, 7.875” x 11.25”, full color
Ship Date: February 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-936393-42-8
Country: U.S.

Written by Richard Marazano
Illustrated by Jean-Michel Ponzio
Cover by Jean-Michel Ponzio

Following the success of The Killer, Okko and The Secret History, GENETIKS™ is part of the wave of new foreign titles Archaia is bringing over to English-speaking readers! Genetiks is a pharmaceutical company on the cutting edge of biological science. Thomas Hale is one of thousands of employees in the Genetiks labs. Like his colleagues, he had agreed to give a drop of blood to his employers—a drop of blood that will allow the researchers at the company he works for to decode his entire genome. As the drop of blood is the property of Genetiks, Thomas will become, in effect, the first man to be privately owned by the corporation he works for. Featuring hyper-realistic art, GENETIKS™ is a topical story on the intersection between commerce and biological science, touching on many hot-button issues such as genetic manipulation and the rise of corporate power.

T+13 (contains material suitable for teen readers ages 13 and above)

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

OFFERING 2

JUDGE BAO VOL. 1: JUDGE BAO AND THE JADE PHOENIX
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $14.95 U.S.
Page Count: 160 pages
Format: Hardcover with no dust jacket (paper over board), 7” x 5.25” (landscape), black and white
Ship Date: February 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-936393-43-5
Country: U.S.

Written by Patrick Marty
Illustrated by Chongrui Nie
Cover by Chongrui Nie

First published in France, Judge Bao is China’s answer to Sherlock Holmes! To combat the scourge that goes along with great prosperity, Chinese Emperor Ren Zong gives broad magistrate powers to Judge Bao. He becomes a symbol of justice for the people of the land. His aversion to corruption and dedication to justice make him a popular hero, with many enemies. Accompanied by his bodyguard Zhan Zhao, his page Bao Xing, and his assistant and coroner Gongsun, he travels the length and breadth of the Middle Kingdom, crusading against corruption and all forms of injustice. In the first volume, Judeg Bao and the Jade Phoenix, Bao finds himself in a small village where a mother mourns her son, languishing in prison, caught in a complicated love triangle and accused of a murder he says he did not commit. Will Judge Bao find the real murderer?

T+13 (contains material suitable for teen readers ages 13 and above)

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

OFFERING 3

THE SECRET HISTORY: GAMES OF CHANCE
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $34.95 U.S.
Page Count: 248 pages
Format: Hardcover with dust jacket, 6.875” x 10.25”, full color
Ship Date: February 2012
ISBN-13: 978-1-936393-35-0
Country: U.S.

Written by Jean-Pierre Pécau
Illustrated by Damien
Cover by Damien

In this spin-off miniseries to the critically acclaimed series The Secret History, the Arcana, strange decks of cards that first appeared in Sicily during World War II, appear to have the power to alter chance…and a new hand has just been dealt! Pandora, a wild child from New Mexico, has inherited a particularly powerful Arcana deck. The Vane Foundation, responsible for running the Arcana during World War II, offers to teach Pandora how to control her cards, but they’re not prepared for her fiercely independent nature. Enter Chance, an ex-marine, ex-professional player, wanted by the Mafia for his ties with Bugsy Siegel. He’ll take Pandora under his wing—unless she’s the one taking him under hers. Meanwhile, certain occult forces in Las Vegas, as well as the Sisters of Eternal Torment, seem quite interested in the young girl… An exciting storyline that branches off from The Secret History, set in the 1950s and 1960s! Translated from the original French edition.

Mature Readers (contains adult content and graphic violence)