Dear Readers-
Today is May 22nd, 2013. Dark Horse Comics released issue 24 of the Eisner & Harvey Award Winning, Best Anthology of 2012, — Dark Horse Presents.Inside this issue is a story called, Hunter Quaid in Armageddon Outta Here!
In 2011, Donny Cates and Eliot Rahal walked out onto the busy New York City Comic Con floor with 100 copies of our independently published, “zero” issue of Hunter Quaid in the No Name Dame.There we met a handsome looking Viking. He gave us his business card, and we left. Two months after the Con, we had a phone conversation with Mike Richardson. Two years later…. Today… Hunter Quaidmakes his national debut!
In honor of our celebration, here is the last page of the previously unknown pre-premier of Chicago’s favorite Private Detective, Hunter Quaid in the No Name Dame!
THE RECAP:
(In case you missed all the previous posts like a big dummy, here is EXACTLY what happened).
A “No Name Dame” got her brains blown out by an unknown assassin inside the office of Hunter Quaid - Private Detective.
We first meet Quaid in jail. He has been framed for the murder of the girl and is unable to recall his previous night whereabouts. Short of patience, and furios with questions, Hunter beats up the guard and breaks out of his cell.
His gun loaded and ready, Quaid makes his way to the seedy underworld refuge of Crony’s Barto meet Frenril Remington, the guy who’s got all the keys to the city, but sometimes forgets where the doors are. Fenril gives Hunter his answer, not a name but a place, The Drake Hotel.
Later that night, Hunter kicks in the door of a John Doe staying at The Drake. Hunter finds a discovers a room filled to ceilings with draconian looking future technology. Inside, waiting for Hunter, is a trap. Quaid is zapped to the ground with a light ray by an solemn unnamed Old Man Scientist.
The Old Man apologizes for his barbaric behavior, but states that it was necessary He tells Hunter that he has to show him something.
Quaid, down but not out, tries to resist. However, The Old Man scientist releases his gigantic eight foot tall guard dog, Holmes, the assassin from the beginning of the story,on Hunter.
Hunter manages a brawler’s fight but in the end is restrained, and held still by the monstrous hands of Holmes.
Then, something happens, a noise… The Old Man Scientist aks Hunter for forgiveness one more time, and everything goes white.
Hunter, transported, wakes to find himself surround by smoldering wreckage. He stands up, walks to the edge, looks out and says, “…Nuts.”
The Second City, Chicago, is on fire again…
Because aliens are blowing up the shit out of it!
Donny and I want to take this opportunity to thank anyone who read this original issue, or went out and bought HQ in Dark Horse Presents #24. We also want to thank our parents for believing in us, our women for their love, and our friends for their support.
We could not have done this book without our amazing talented Artist Melissa Curtin! She really out did herself with Hunter’s DHP issue. Also, this book would have nothing had it not been for our awesome Inker, Letterer, and Colorist — Lauren Affe. They are both super-stars.
Special thanks to John Schork, our first editor at DH who made sure Quaid found a home when he left for IDW.
Thanks to Jim Gibbons, an amazing editor and great to work with!
A big thanks to Aub Driver, for hearing our pitch and taking a chance.
And a final thank you to all of the staff of Dark Horse for making this experience so awesome.
There will be more Quaid to come, so keep an eye out!
Until then,
Always Remember kids…
Stay Plugged In, Stay Tuned, And Stay Alive!
Love
Eliot Rahal & Donny Cates
