If you're looking for the perfect gift for the comic geek in your life, this lot in the Portland Mercury's online charity auction should fit the bill: Along with the original Joelle Jones page above, there's also a Dark Horse Comics lithograph signed by Joss Whedon, Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist Travis Charest, a limited edition Umbrella Academy t-shirt (as well as both collections of the series to date), the complete set of Dark Horse's "One Shot Wonders" books (including Joss Whedon's Sugar Shock, Hellboy, The Goon and Star Wars, as well as a Zack Whedon-signed Dr. Horrible) and Goon-branded soda. Yes, we said Goon-branded soda. Be warned: You'll be bidding against us in this one. The auction closes on December 11th, and for the concerned, they'll ship nationwide if you don't happen to live in Portland.

Zack Whedon announced today that he will be writing a six-issue Terminator series for Dark Horse. Whedon didn't reveal much about the comic itself, but it sounds like we'll be seeing his take on the world after Judgment Day:

I just turned in the first script and I'm very excited about it. I love Terminator. I think that movie is so good. Holy Toledo is it good. Now I get to play in that universe and make up Terminator stories of my own that people will get to read. I am not a big-time, famous dude and yet now I am choreographing action sequences set in a post-apocalyptic future overrun by evil cybernetic organisms hell bent on destroying the human race.

Zack Whedon Reveals New Terminator Series for Dark Horse [Techland via Whedonesque]

Zack Whedon's one-shot Dr. Horrible comic hits stands on November 18th and will delve into Billy's childhood, his first meeting with Captain Hammer, and his drive to join the Evil League of Evil. Whedon told Newsarama that Penny will make a small appearance, though sadly there will be no singing.

The full seven-page preview is available at MTV and offers some insight into what drove Billy to become Dr. Horrible.

[via Whedonesque]

Moist: Humidity Rising is the second in a planned series of webcomics highlighting the background characters of the Whedon family's musical; next up, according to Zack? An Archies-style flashback to the musical's groupies in high school:

Captain Hammer fits the teen idol mold a little bit better... I picture them all being friends in high school, and gossiping about Captain Hammer, and going to see Captain Hammer at the mall and whatever other public appearances he makes.

It's either genius or insanity. Or somehow both.

Moist: Humidity Rising [MySpace]

Horrible co-creator Zack Whedon told MTV that he's already working on the next Dr. Horrible comic strip, to star the Doctor's less-evil best friend, Moist. After that, look for Fake Thomas Jefferson to take center-stage (written by Lost and Cloverfield writer Drew Goddard, who played the faux President in the musical) and then... well, the sky's the limit, according to Whedon:

All of the Evil League of Evil characters have elaborate and hilarious backstories. You could even do one about the groupies in an Archies comics style. Anyone who is seen in the web musical is a candidate for an eight-page comic in my book.

And if you're bummed because you didn't appear in the web musical, all hope is not lost. Just pay attention to this page for upcoming details about how you yourself can audition to join the Evil League of Evil; the three best audition tapes will appear on the Sing-Along Blog DVD, letting the entire world know just what you would do with your own Freeze Rays.

Dr. Horrible Sings Again, Gets Moist [MTV Splash Page]