If I were forced to choose, I'd probably say my favorite modern comic book art talent is Francesco Francavilla. His lush and rich dark images resonate with my pulp tastes and by and large run contrary to the modern stylings which often lack heft and depth. Francavilla's work is loaded with both.
I first found Francavilla's pulp hero The Black Beetle in the pages of the knockout tome titled No Way Out, which gathers up his first adventure against mob forces seeking to get the upper hand in Colt City. As the mob kills one another, they also seek out potent powers also sought by the Nazis and Black Beetle is in the middle of that brew.
His work is fully on display in Karabocek, a shorter one-off tale in the Black Beetle universe first introduced some years ago at Dark Horse. "Karabocek" is the name of a gun, a most curious and peculiar gun which is astonishingly ancient and apparently most desirable. We first encountered the gun in the debut Black Beetle adventure and now we learn more.
Francavilla is one of those talents who can with an air of authenticity blend the supernatural, super-science, and heady pulp adventure into a simmering brew. It's a bare bones story telling which has real pace and which doesn't disappoint with cliffhanger endings. There is resolution, even if there are mysteries yet to be plumbed. I hope he explores them sooner than later.
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