WHEN I STARTED this site, it was with two intentions: 1) to relentlessly, unapologetically hype the hell out of projects I might might be working on, and 2) to relentlessly, unapologetically hype the hell out of projects various friends and/or associates of mine might be working on. So far, the site’s had a lot of 1) and not much of 2). Thankfully, that changes this week.

FIRST. MySpace Dark Horse Presents Volume Four is scheduled to hit comic book shops on Wednesday. Not only is Volume Four another welcome dose of the insanity that got MDHP nominated for an Eisner earlier this year, but it also features a comic written by the charming and beautiful Ann Romano, who dishes on Hollyweird’s hottest gossip via her One Day at a Time column in the Portland Mercury. (Hey! That’s where I work!)

If that’s not enough motivation to get your ass to a comics shop post-haste, consider this: Not only does Ann’s latest adventure costar a couple of beloved characters from Eric Powell’s The Goon, but it also features gorgeous artwork by the inimitable and admirable Kristian Donaldson. If you want to read Ann and Kristian’s story for free, okay, sure, fine, be a cheap bastard. If you aren’t a cheap bastard, though, buy Volume Four (for cheap!) here. You’ll be glad you did, as the collection also features work by Gilbert Hernandez, Farel Dalrymple, Kate Beaton, Carolyn Main, David Malki, Chris Onstad, and even more people who are preposterously and gasp-inducingly talented.

[NOTE: Thanks to a production error in the initial printing run of MySpace Dark Horse Presents Volume Four, the first page of Ann's comic is missing its dialogue balloons. Right-click here to download a .jpg of the story's first page, with Ann's words intact.]

SECOND. The aforementioned Kristian Donaldson (who, apparently, will go to all sorts of absurd lengths to get his name repeatedly mentioned on this site) also has a hand in another Dark Horse production: He drew several covers for Dr. Horrible, a one-shot based on Joss Whedon’s web series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. Dr. Horrible is written by Zack Whedon and boasts jaw-dropping art by the amazing and delightful Joëlle Jones. For everyone who loved Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog—i.e., everyone worth knowing—the comic won’t disappoint. Check out a six-page preview of the issue here, then buy it (for cheap!) here.

Cool? Cool. Hype: CONCLUDED.