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The Barb Wire Compendium set to bring the 90s heroine back in definitive form

Fans of the hard-hitting 90s heroine will have quite the tome to pick up, when the Barb Wire Compendium arrives in stores.

Now that’s sharp

Hot as an iron for basically the entire decade of the 1990s was Barb Wire. The leather-clad bounty hunter first debuted in the pages of 1993’s Comics’ Greatest World, before going on to star in several books of her own, and even got a big screen outing that starred the iconic Pamela Anderson.

Now Dark Horse Comics has revealed that she’ll be coming back for a “comprehensive volume” that’ll be “collecting every main line Barb Wire comic and a bounty of bonus material.” The tome will include a killer list of talent in its pages too, with “writer/artist Chris Warner along with John Arcudi (B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth), Adam Hughes (Wonder Woman), Patrick Olliffe (Edgeworld), Paul Gulacy (Master of Kung Fu), Tim Bradstreet (Hellblazer), Dan Lawlis (Agents of Law), Mike Manley (The Phantom), Adam Warren (Empowered), Dave Dorman (Star Wars: Crimson Empire), Mike Mignola (Hellboy), Andrew Robinson (The Fifth Beatle), and more!”

Look for the Barb Wire Compendium to hit bookstores on February 17th, 2026, and comics shops on February 18th.

The biggest, baddest Barb

Steel Harbor is the American dream turned nightmare. This once great city was a monument to American industry and ingenuity; now, it’s a scrap heap of shuttered factories, decaying neighborhoods, and wasted potential being carved up and fought over by superpowered street gangs. 

But where others see a warzone, Barb sees opportunity. When a bounty can punch through a wall, summon a tornado, or fly, they tend to have a big fat price on their head, which is just what Barb needs if she’s going to keep her money-pit hard rock bar from being shuttered. The trick is staying alive long enough to collect. 

This collection features cover art by Hughes and contains Comics’ Greatest World: Steel Harbor Week 1: Barb WireComics’ Greatest World: Steel Harbor Week 2: The Machine, Comics’ Greatest World: Steel Harbor Week 3: Wolf GangComics’ Greatest World: Steel Harbor Week 4: MotorheadBarb Wire #1-9, San Diego Comic-Con Comics #3: Barb Wire: No FearBarb Wire: Ace of Spades #1-4, Barb Wire (Volume 2) #1-8, and, as a bonus, Chris Warner’s original character designs and redesigns for the series, and the movie adaptation comic Barb Wire Movie Special.

This is the biggest and baddest Barb has ever been! The Barb Wire Compendium 648-page (6.625×10.1875”) paperback will be available in bookstores on February 17, and comic shops on February 18, 2026, for $39.99. Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore or comic shop. Visit Comic Shop Locator or Bookshop.org for more details and stores near you.

Dark Horse Comics press release

About Jason Micciche

Jason's been knee deep in videogames since he was but a lad. Cutting his teeth on the pixely glory that was the Atari 2600, he's been hack'n'slashing and shoot'em'uping ever since. Mainly an FPS and action guy, Jason enjoys the occasional well crafted title from every genre.

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