Dark Horse Presents 102

Cover by Bernie Wrightson. In this conclusion to the "Aliens" story, the extraterrestrial scientists from last issue become fodder for the big bug, and their ship crashes into an earth jungle. Notables Bernie Wrightson and Ron Marz turn in a fast-moving, suspenseful, and beautifully rendered tale of everyone's favorite exoskeletal carnivores. "Mr. Painter" is the story of a disaffected artiste, Alan Bland -- a coffee addict and tuba aficionado -- who becomes obsessed with an old painting he finds in his parents' home. "The One Trick Rip-off" is a stylish, comics noir strip set in a near-future L.A. and focuses on a small group of thieves called the One Tricks. Paul Pope follows up on his Eisner-nominated THB with the second chapter of this twelve-part thriller. "Cal: Hairball" is a mystery featuring Cal McDonald, paranormal investigator, whose pursuit of some weird characters puts him on the trail of a murderer. And in "Sun Ra," Pekar and Sacco give a biographical profile on the band leader who first incorporated electric instruments with percussion and wind instruments to mix traditional African music with modern jazz. B&W