Today X #0, the first issue of my new Dark Horse series (with superstar artist Eric Nguyen), smashes into comic shops and e-readers everywhere. This issue collects the three short X installments ("The Pigs") featured in Dark Horse Presents earlier this year, and sets the stage for the first full story arc kicking off in early May.

And while X is technically a superhero comic, it's really a down-and-dirty crime story, and possibly the most violent thing I've written. But it's not entirely my fault. Eric eggs me on, I swear!

Anyway, if you like my novels Fun & Games and Severance Package, I think you'd feel right at home with X, despite the cape.

You can read more about X in a Q&A I did with Newsarama's Albert Ching a few months ago, and there are more Q&As on the way.

I hope you'll give it a shot and let me know what you think.

Also, the sausage thing was totally inspired by the Lee Marvin/Gene Hackman flick, Prime Cut.