ICv2 brings word tonight that American publisher Dark Horse Comics has licensed the Clover manga, which they will (re-)release in January 2009. Yes, it's not exactly the first time it's being released in North America (Tokyopop did it in 2001-2002), but Dark Horse is going for a different format: they will pack the entire Clover manga series (four volumes) in a 512-page omnibus edition with 32 pages of color, priced at $19.95.

The story is set in a dark, dystopian future, where a totalitarian government tries to control a breed of children gifted with special powers, known as "Clovers". The Clover manga was originally created by CLAMP and published by Kodansha in Japan between 1997-1999. Talk about late licenses...