Dark Horse Comics celebrates their 30th anniversary this year and, to mark the occasion, the publisher has proclaimed Saturday, June 4 "Dark Horse Day." The anniversary celebration will occur in participating comic book stores, which will be given exclusive promotional materials. A commemorative "Dark Horse Day Sampler" comic will also be available on "Dark Horse Day." The 40-page sampler comic will feature a special cover by Steve Morris and contain:

"Just over thirty years ago, I gathered a group of would-be collaborators in the restaurant I owned and told them I was going to start a comics company," said Dark Horse president and publisher Mike Richardson in the press release. " I'm not sure whether their smiles were a result of excitement over the possibilities or amusement at the thought of it, but here we are all these years later making comic books. It's been an amazing journey and we've witnessed extraordinary changes both in the comics market and in our pop culture over three decades. We're excited to still be spending our lives in the career we love, and we hope that you all will help us celebrate thirty years of comics."

Details for retailers about participation levels and promotional support for "Dark Horse Day" events will be available in the April cover-dated issue of "Previews."

Official press release

DARK HORSE DAY 30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

TO TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 4!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MILWAUKIE, OR-2016 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Dark Horse Comics, and it's time to party!

To celebrate, Dark Horse is proclaiming Saturday, June 4, 2016, to be "Dark Horse Day," with events happening in comic shops around the country! We are inviting our retail partners to celebrate with us by offering exclusive promotional materials, ordering discounts on Dark Horse Comics backlist titles, and a commemorative Dark Horse Day Sampler comic!

"Just over thirty years ago, I gathered a group of would-be collaborators in the restaurant I owned and told them I was going to start a comics company. I'm not sure whether their smiles were a result of excitement over the possibilities or amusement at the thought of it, but here we are all these years later making comic books," remarked Dark Horse president and publisher Mike Richardson. "It's been an amazing journey and we've witnessed extraordinary changes both in the comics market and in our pop culture over three decades. We're excited to still be spending our lives in the career we love, and we hope that you all will help us celebrate thirty years of comics."

As Dark Horse Comics turns thirty, we present a look back at some of our top titles from past decades in an exclusive Dark Horse Day Sampler comic featuring classic stories including Aliens vs. Predator: Blood Time (1994), by Randy Stradley and Phill Norwood, Sin City: Daddy's Little Girl (1996), by Frank Miller, and The Umbrella Academy: Anywhere but Here (2008), by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá! Plus: a new Buffy the Vampire Slayer tale by Christos Gage! The forty-page Dark Horse Day Sampler comic features a special cover by Steve Morris and will be available in comic shops everywhere on June 4.

"It's hard to believe it has been thirty years-mainly because the memories of seeing our first comics on the stands and going to conventions and meeting fans for the first time are still so clear. If you're a Dark Horse fan, or if you've ever been a Dark Horse fan, I hope you join us for this milestone celebration!" added Dark Horse vice president of publishing Randy Stradley.

Fans: Make sure to tell your retailer you want your local store to participate in this awesome celebration!

Retailers: Look for the April cover-dated issue of Previews for details on participation levels, along with promotional support being offered by Dark Horse for the event!