Dark Horse Presents #86

Andrew Robinson's cover for Dark Horse Presents #86 is hard to look away from — a wide-eyed young woman stands at the center, clutching a small green creature to her chest while dozens more of the bulgy-eyed little things swarm adoringly around her feet, red hearts floating through the air around them. The triptych of portrait vignettes along the left side previews the anthology's three stories: "Star Riders" by Gagnon and Racine, Lawrence Watt-Evans and Robinson's own "A Breath of Fresh Air," and "The Eighth Wonder" by Janes and Plunkett. For readers who appreciate dark, slightly surreal humor alongside genuine warmth, this 1994 anthology issue offers a pleasingly offbeat mix.