Sadly, he left that riotous character for greener (blacker?) pastures and I've followed his progress as he made a name for himself. He has an engaging and attractive style which if full of energy and slathered with atmosphere, the perfect artist to draw a classic pulp adventure. And it's good news for one and all that he has done just that.
The Black Beetle is a hard-nosed take-no-prisoners action hero in the mythical but nonetheless recognizable Colt City during the momentous year of 1941. He's a hero in a world ripe with villains across the globe as the Nazis prowl the streets for dark and evil secrets and gangsters murder and plot their way to riches and revenge.
The first story in this collection is titled "Murder in the Museum!" and delivers just that. The savage Third Reich is in the skies and seeking ancient plunder and only the Black Beetle can stop them. This is a tasty into to the world and the character and if any fault can be found with this collection, it's that the story started here is largely stalled while another gangster epic commences. I yearn to see what happens next, but like everyone else I'll have to wait. More on that later.
When not fighting European armies, the Black Beetle fights the Mob and the four-issue story title "No Way Out" describes his conflict with a mysterious villain named "Labirynto", an enigmatic killer who stalks the gangsters of Colt City wherever they seek to hide themselves. The Black Beetle finds himself in the odd position of tracking down this weird assassin, and discovering why all the bad guys are being dispatched.
This a great action-filled story which reads with wonderful pace. The artwork is lush and propels you along. I wanted to read it again immediately after I finished it the first time.
Sadly, though it's not the story yearned to read most. After the great introduction, I really wanted to learn more about the Nazi plot to get hold of an ancient trinket called "The Hollow Lizard". That's the story which will be told in the next Black Beetle adventure which is advertised at the end of this wonderful collection.
"Necrologue" was to be the limited series which followed on after the sterling beginning but after time passed and deadlines were missed the story eventually fell off Dark Horse's schedule and has not been seen to my knowledge to this day.
Francesco Francavilla's 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.
Following his first adventure against mob forces seeking to get the upper hand in Colt City, the Black Beetle is missing for some time.
But eventually I find his work is fully on display in Karabocek, a shorter one-off tale in the Black Beetle universe. "Karabocek" is a maguffin in this yarn which pits the Black Beetle against some more exceedingly lethal and determined Nazis. Turns out it's 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 about what it can do and why the Nazis might want it.
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. I crave more Black Beetle.
Rip Off
(Fist Drawing of Black Beetle by Francavilla)
The first story in this collection is titled "Murder in the Museum!" and delivers just that. The savage Third Reich is in the skies and seeking ancient plunder and only the Black Beetle can stop them. This is a tasty into to the world and the character and if any fault can be found with this collection, it's that the story started here is largely stalled while another gangster epic commences. I yearn to see what happens next, but like everyone else I'll have to wait. More on that later.
When not fighting European armies, the Black Beetle fights the Mob and the four-issue story title "No Way Out" describes his conflict with a mysterious villain named "Labirynto", an enigmatic killer who stalks the gangsters of Colt City wherever they seek to hide themselves. The Black Beetle finds himself in the odd position of tracking down this weird assassin, and discovering why all the bad guys are being dispatched.
This a great action-filled story which reads with wonderful pace. The artwork is lush and propels you along. I wanted to read it again immediately after I finished it the first time.
Francesco Francavilla's 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.
Following his first adventure against mob forces seeking to get the upper hand in Colt City, the Black Beetle is missing for some time.
But eventually I find his work is fully on display in Karabocek, a shorter one-off tale in the Black Beetle universe. "Karabocek" is a maguffin in this yarn which pits the Black Beetle against some more exceedingly lethal and determined Nazis. Turns out it's 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 about what it can do and why the Nazis might want it.
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. I crave more Black Beetle.
Rip Off
A very good artist and his style fits well with the titles he's chosen to illustrate. He horror work for Archie is striking.
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice lush style with a handsome throwback feel. Love his stuff.
DeleteAn excellent artist . As John says his Archie horror line art was wonderful as was his run on DC's Spirit title. I will certainly be looking out for his "Black Beetle" comic now. He would be great on Batman.
ReplyDeleteHe'd be great on Batman, and any of the mystery heroes like The Question or maybe The Spectre.
Delete