THE BLACK BEETLE #0 NIGHT SHIFT SELLS OUT!

Dear Beetlemaniacs,

#0 of your new favorite pulp comicbook has SOLD OUT! 

Thank you for all the support, my friends, and please keep it coming enjoying the new mini which starts next week. The better the book does, the more stories I get to draw, it's that simple :)

Here's the Press Release Dark Horse Comics sent out today to announce the great news!
~~~~
Dark Horse Press Release

January 7, MILWAUKIE, OR: In another amazing show of demand for Dark Horse comics, The Black Beetle: Night Shift has sold out of its entire printing!
Written and drawn by Eisner Award winner Francesco Francavilla, this now-rare “zero issue” collects three Dark Horse Presents stories, from issues #11–#13, and acts as an introduction to Francavilla’s costumed pulp detective.

“[Francavilla] proves that a good, old-fashioned adventure story can still raise the bar in comics, whatever genres one may care to throw into the mix,” Hannah Means-Shannon said in her review of The Black Beetle: Night Shift on The Beat. “The Black Beetle certainly has the potential to become an enduring ‘cult classic,’ inspiring readers to roll up for more ‘twisted thoughts’ from Francavilla in 2013.”

And readers are in luck, as the first full-length series for Francavilla’s The Black Beetle premieres this month with The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1, on sale January 16, 2013!

Coming soon in No Way Out #1, Black Beetle’s investigation of two local mob bosses is interrupted when a mysterious explosion murders them and a pub full of gangsters—taking out most of Colt City’s organized crime in one fell swoop. Who could pull off such a coup, and what danger might that murderous bomber do to Colt City and Black Beetle?

Be sure to head to your local comics retailer next week to check out The Black Beetle #1 before it’s gone for good!

Read a 10 Page Preview of The Black Beetle #1 now!

Praise for The Black Beetle:

“If there’s one comic book that we’re most excited for in 2013, it’s Francesco Francavilla’s The Black Beetle. So far, it looks to be a throwback to the serials and film noir of the late ’30s and early ’40s. And now Dark Horse Comics has provided a taste of what to expect with this prologue issue.”—Complex

“Murder! Intrigue! Nazi werewolves! Is there anything else you really need in a book? Considering that everyone from Jim Steranko to Matt Wagner to Warren Ellis is raving about the book, we suggest you hightail it down to your local comic book shop and snag a copy before the trail goes cold.”—Nerdist

“Francavilla is a master of his craft . . . If you enjoyed Francavilla’s work at DC then you owe it to yourself to get on this. The Black Beetle is a delightful slice of skewed madness from one of today’s finest artists.”—Comic Book Resources

“Uncommonly beautiful . . . The Black Beetle is the purest expression yet of Eisner-winning artist Francavilla’s love for pulp, mystery, noir and superhero aesthetics, qualities that art fans have seen on display in a major way with his more than 70 cover illustrations released in 2012 alone.”—ComicsAlliance

The Black Beetle NO WAY OUT #3 (of 4)

~~ Click on the images for biggie ~~

Hello Beetlemaniacs,

    Time to reveal the third issue of the series now available for pre-orders: you can see the cover above (first cover showcasing the name of the city BB operates in too) and here is the solicits text to tease you while you wait for the release (in March) ;)

The Black Beetle: No Way Out #3
Written by Francesco Francavilla
Art by Francesco Francavilla
On sale March 20, 2013     
Under the watchful gaze of the mysterious Labyrinto, Black Beetle fights for his life! Is this the doing of a man that Black Beetle thought was dead? Could a zombie mobster be commanding the foes of Colt City’s dark avenger?! If he survives the night, the investigative insect will be left with questions to ponder as he takes his investigation . . . to the morgue!  

    Next we have a sneak peek at NO WAY OUT #1 that my editor Jim Gibbons kindly gave in his blog post on the Dark Horse website. I suggest to click on the image to really enjoy this spread in all its glory :)

    THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 is still available for pre-orders: here's a pre-order form Dark Horse put together to make things easy for you. Just click on the image, print out the form, bring it to the shop, and -voila- it's done! :)



THE BLACK BEETLE NO WAY OUT #1 will be in stores in less than two weeks. Can't wait for you guys to dig in :)

   And the love keeps coming! BLACK BEETLE NIGHT SHIFT (aka #0) came out 2 weeks ago but the great reviews and kind words about it keep coming!

    I am seriously overwhelmed by all the BB love that is pouring on the first issue: definitely grateful and humbled by the readers' appreciation but also fueled by it to do more and better, and hopefully it will show already in the next issue from the NO WAY OUT mini.

   But really, THANK YOU, GRAZIE MILLE, everyone, I am so glad y'all are enjoying the character and the stories :)

    And now here some more, recent, reviews.

FOLLOWING THE NERD
COMIC REVIEW: FTN reviews Black Beetle #0 5/5★ 
   Based on the strength of this issue and the gorgeous art, I’ll definitely be picking up the next Black Beetle adventure and if it upholds the quality set here, we are all in for a treat.

COMIC ADDICTION
REVIEW: The Black Beetle #0 
   There is an obvious pulp feel to this book that reminds you of classic characters like The Shadow, The Spider, Green Hornet, and others.  Francavilla’s decision to create a new character in that same vein really plays to his amazing art style that could easily fit into that era of comic book history and stand toe to toe with them.

BATMAN-NEWS
Break From Batman: Wonder Woman, Vol. 1 and best December comics list
   This was absolute no-nonsense pulp at its best.

COMICS & GAMING MAGAZINE
The Black Beetle in Night Shift #0 4.5/5★
   There’s something really iconic about every aspect of this book, from the title to his character to the artwork and more. The visuals are superb, heavy shadows and a very simple colour palette. [...] It’s a meticulously created mythos and I’m excited to read the rest.

MULTIVERSITY COMICS
Comics Should Be Cheap! (12/19/2012)
   If for whatever reason you are hesitant about checking out the new mini, pick this issue up and you’ll have your mind changed.

THE WEEKLY-CRISIS
Post-Crisis Comic Book Previews for 12/19/12
   I shouldn't have to remind you of how good Francesco Francavilla is.

DANGER ROOM COMICS
Featured First
   Masterfully-illustrated, pulpy adventure! HIGHLY recommended!

THIRD EYE COMICS
This Week’s Highlights at Third Eye Comics
   BLACK BEETLE: NIGHT SHIFT #0 BRINGS THE PULPY AWESOMENESS OF FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA’S MYSTERYMAN TO LIFE! GORGEOUS ART FROM THE MAN WHO BROUGHT US BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR.

IMAGES AND NERDS
Derekommendation of the Week: The Black Beetle #0
   Love, love, love the retro vibe.  I guess I really like Francesco Francavilla.

Cheers,
Francesco

BLACK BEETLE Is A SMASHING Success!

Hello Pulp Friends,

     I am so happy to see that Black Beetle #0 (collecting the NIGHT SHIFT 3-parter published in DHP plus extra material) was received so well by critics and fans (lots of BB love on Twitter) - makes me even more excited to get the new mini NO WAY OUT rolling this year.
If you haven't picked it up yet, please do: I heard of several store being sold out already and I don't want you to miss out on the fun that Black Beetle is :)

Here some of the reviews (click on the links for the full reviews).

~~Ŧ~~

THE BEAT
REVIEW: THE BLACK BEETLE #0, “Night Shift”
   BLACK BEETLE certainly has the potential to become an enduring “cult classic”, inspiring readers to roll up for more “twisted thoughts” from Francavilla in 2013.

COMICOSITY
Review: BLACK BEETLE: THE NIGHT SHIFT #0 9/10★
   Francavilla truly understands the economy of excellent storytelling, both in character movement and illustrative detail.

COMICS ALLIANCE
Francesco Francavilla's 'The Black Beetle: Night Shift' is the Hottest Cape Comic You Can Buy This Week
   The Black Beetle is the purest expression yet of Eisner-winning artist Francavilla's love for pulp, mystery, noir and superhero aesthetics

GEEKS OF DOOM
Comic Review: The Black Beetle: Night Shift #0
   The Black Beetle: Night Shift #0 is all set up and all AWESOME! Let’s be honest, there’s plenty of pulp heroes running around these days, but The Black Beetle is all sorts of fun. No downbeat, depressing, down on humanity story here, just some fantastic action and adventure!

CBR
The Black Beetle: Night Shift #0 Review 4/5★
   "The Black Beetle" is a delightful slice of skewed madness from one of today’s finest artists.

LOGO GO /NO GO (Tom Muller)
GO: THE BLACK BEETLE — NIGHT SHIFT
   The Black Beetle is Francesco Francavilla’s love letter to the pulp fiction serials of the 30s and 40s. Francavilla is pulling out all the stops to really capture the finer points of the pulp design language, both for the cover designs and the related promo material to create a fully realised design language that is flexible but immediately recognisable.

COMIC VINE
Best Comic Covers of the Week
   We loved the really pulpy cover to THE BLACK BEETLE: NIGHT SHIFT #0 by Francesco Francavilla this week. It reminded us of those old 1950's mystery paperback covers in the way it is styled, and the way Francavilla plays with light and shadows is simply awesome.

SCIFI PULSE
In Review: The Black Beetle #0 A
   Francesco Francavilla has got a mastery of this universe and shifts us around it expertly. I cannot wait to see where he takes us next!

COMICBOOKBIN
The Black Beetle #0 Review 9/10★
   Easily one of the year's best debut issues, The Black Beetle #0 is opening salvo of what looks to be one of the best ongoing series of its kind.

COMIC ATTACK
Dark Horse Reviews: The Black Beetle #0 5/5★
   The quality of this issue is unsurpassed.

COMIC BASTARDS
Review: The Black Beetle #0 4/5★
   The story and artwork flows seamlessly together, a beneficial effect of having a single creative mind at work, and the plot is masterfully paced with no dull moments to be found.

NOSTALGIC Books and Comics
Picks of the Week: 12/19/12
   This handsome collection features three Dark Horse Presents stories originally published in issues #11–#13, from Eisner Award winning talent, Francesco Francavilla (Batman: The Black Mirror). Pure masterful pulp at its finest. This buzz-worthy read is as beautiful as action/adventure gets!

EXAMINER
‘New York Times’ best-selling artist creates pulp hero the Black Beetle
   Through the Black Beetle, Francavilla is able to explore all he loves about classic pulp-noir characters adding his own storytelling sensibilities by writing and drawing a story with no limits.

GEEKSUNLEASHED
Wednesday Watchlist
   I’d seriously consider buying a Russian telephone directory if it was illustrated by Francesco Francavilla.

COMICBOOK THERAPY
Advance Review 4/5★
   It’s a throwback comic that is worth your time and money.

NERDIST
Top Picks
   The Black Beetle is Eisner Award winner Francesco Francavilla’s chance to flex his mystery muscles in this hardboiled pulp-noir tale with a superheroic twist.

BIFF BUMP POP!
You Won’t Throwback The Black Beetle #0 On The Wednesday Run
   The comic book seamlessly mixes the noir and superheroes genres, is beautiful to look at and, most importantly, it’s super fun to read!

COMICS CRUX
The Black Beetle: Night Shift #0
   This Wednesday, grab The Black Beetle #0, smooth as silk and a reading adventure like you won’t believe. The Black Beetle earns every bit of your reading dollar.

THIRD EYE COMICS

Picks of the week.
   FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA, the incredibly talented artist of BATMAN: THE BLACK MIRROR, totally blows our minds with the first issue of this mini-series that debuts his tribute to the pulp era, the BLACK BEETLE.

REVIEWFIX
The Black Beetle: Night Shift Review: Worth Getting Excited About
   “The Black Beetle: Night Shift” is a well written pulp comic that is a joy to read from begging to end. It is well written, a page turner and has some of the best art the genre has seen this generation. “The Black Beetle” series and Francesco Francavilla are going places and those places will be huge.

COMICOSITY
THE HONOR ROLL
   It may have been the most flat out entertaining book of the week.

COMIC-PER-DAY REVIEWS
Black Beetle #0
   This is a moody, atmospheric piece that really hits the pulp target.

ROBOT6
Chain Reactions | The Black Beetle #0
   If you like pulp heroes or Francavilla’s awesome artwork, this might be the book for you

THE WEEKLY-CRISIS

BLACK BEETLE: NIGHT SHIFT #0
   This is a story of high adventure, where moral dilemmas are pretty black and white, and it's an awful fun adventure to be on.

DEN OF GEEK
Black Beetle #0 (Dark Horse), Night Shift, Review 9/10★
   While reading the full color comic, I could practically hear the breathless tones of an old radio drama, or see the Black Beetle as the star of his own Republic serial. There's no doubt about it, boys and girls! The Black Beetle #0 was the best thing I read all week!

THE PARADOX COMICS GROUP
BLACK BEETLE #0 8/10★
   Clandestine Nazi agents, ancient mystical artifacts and an ice-cool, gun-wielding costumed crimefighter, presented in the comic format with style and aplomb? How could I not sign up for this?

MAJOR SPOILERS

Staff Picks of the Week

COMICS: THE GATHERING

Black Beetle : Night Shift #0 Review 8/10★
   Francavilla’s writing is straight forward with colourful characters, pulse pounding action and suspense.

GEEKING ALLY

The Weekly Pull: ‘Black Beetle: Night Shift’
   Pulp heroes, noir and fantastic art; this might just be the best $3 you spend all week!

COMPLEX
Review
Using heavy inks, deep colors, and powerful composition, Francavilla brings the fictional world of Colt City to life in style.

COMICS! THE BLOG
You Read These With Your Eyes!
   Artist Francesco Francavilla wears his pulp influences on his sleeve. From his colouring choices, to his sense of panel design, the majority of his work feels like it emerged from the radio drama days of old, when characters like The Shadow and The Spider reigned supreme.

ROBOT6
Food or Comics? | Black beans or Black Beetle

UPROXX
Early Panels: Three Comics To Look Forward To Tomorrow
Francavilla knows his way around the pulps and the art is every bit as gorgeous as you’d expect.

BLOODY DISGUSTING

Review: ‘Black Beetle’ #0 3/5★
A fun book to read. It’s got a strong aesthetic narrative to it.

CHUD.COM
THOR’S COMIC COLUMN 12/28
It’s stunningly visual with a great sense of design.

~~Ŧ~~

What a great way to end 2012 and start the New Year.
Happy New Year to you all! Look for more Black Beetle action on the shelves all year long, starting this January with NO WAY OUT #1! :)

Cheers,
Francesco

THE BLACK BEETLE "NO WAY OUT" #1 Preview

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Hello Pulp Friends,

     I am so excited to share the latest 2 lobby cards with some support words from two comicbook legends and a huge inspiration of mine: Jim Steranko and Warren Ellis. I am lucky enough to call Jim a friend and he has always been enjoying The Black Beetle since the ashcan from a few years ago, so having his stamp of approval (being the Pulp authority he is) really means a lot to me.
     And to add another cherry to the pie, Warren asked to see the pages from issue 1, enjoyed it and gave me the blurb I used on the lobby card below. More thumbs up from these greats means I might be doing this right :) Let's hope I don't screw it up along the way ;)


     Issue #0 (collecting the NIGHT SHIFT 3-parter published in DHP plus extra material) is coming out in less than two weeks and there is still time to put in pre-orders for issue 1 coming out in January.

     Speaking of issue 1 of NO WAY OUT, here's an excerpt of an interview that was recently published on CBR (done with Daniel Glendening) in which I talk a bit of the story, The Black Beetle, and show some sneak peek of the book (first 3 pages).

~~Ŧ~~

     Back alleys shrouded in darkness and long shadows cast by dim streetlights, all-night diners and wise guy gangsters, esoteric artifacts and Nazi secret agents: this is the world readers have come to associate with classic noir, and the world readers will find in writer/artist Francesco Francavilla's "The Black Beetle" from Dark Horse Comics. With the release of "The Black Beetle" #0, collecting the three-part story "NightShift" that originally ran in Dark Horse's anthology series, "DarkHorse Presents," on December 19 and the subsequent launch of "The Black Beetle: No Way Out" four-issue miniseries on January 16, Francavilla continues his impressive rise in the comic book industry. Francavilla nabbed the 2012 Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist as well as the 2012 Eagle Award for Favourite Newcomer Artist. He brings his signature graphic, pulp aesthetic to every panel of his developing series, eagerly sharing the process on his "Black Beetle"-centered blog.

     "We are still at a very early phase of the Black Beetle's history," Francavilla told Comic Book Resources. "We know he operates in Colt City and we know he is some sort of masked vigilante or hero. The events in 'Night Shift' span one night -- We've learned what the Black Beetle is capable of, and where his 'base of operations' is located."

     The Black Beetle is a hero, to be sure, and he's willing to take a bullet in defense of the innocent. However, he is not without his flaws, as hinted at in "Night Shift," and Francavilla compares him to Humphrey Bogart's character Rick Blaine in the 1941 film, "Casablanca."

     "[The Black Beetle] operates outside the radar of the law, which allows him to get information on criminal activity in Colt City and act accordingly, sometimes adopting unorthodox measures," said Francavilla. "He is a hero, after all -- not a perfect hero, but still a hero."

[...]

      "There is something else going on more than just simply 'protecting the citizens of Colt City,'" said Francavilla. "What is that 'something else?' That's one of the major plot-points that we'll discover a bit at a time through the next several issues in the series."

[...]

    "A main goal I had for this book is to explore several genres of the pulps," Francavilla explained. "'Night Shift' was a mix of spy-war story with some supernatural elements, while 'No Way Out' is more of a crime-mystery story."

     Francavilla cites the pulp and noir films and serials of the 1930s, '40s and '50s as direct influences on The Black Beetle, as well as classic pulp crime fiction writers like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. The series is also clearly indebted to early masked-heroes like The Shadow and The Spider.

     "I always loved the high entertainment value of those stories," said Francavilla. "You didn't need to know much going in except that some bad guy is going to do something bad and The Shadow or The Spider was going to take care of him. Same goes with the gangster or crime movies from that period: you were going in without any pre-conception or knowledge of the characters; getting to meet the hero (or anti-hero) during the movie, and deciding to like or hate him or her at the end. You probably thought you knew how the movie was going to end, but somehow the whole experience wasn't as predictable as you thought. And that made it fun, entertaining. Hopefully I will be able to achieve the same effect with 'The Black Beetle.'"

~~Ŧ~~

So please spread the word about BB, pre-order #1 and #2, tell your store to order some extra copies, and -last but not least- have a wonderful Pulp Sunday, everyone :)

Cheers,
Francesco

The Black Beetle Returns!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

I AM SUPER-EXCITED to officially announce that THE BLACK BEETLE is getting a new mini titled NO WAY OUT and will be in stores this coming January 2013 thanks to the fantastic and awesome friends of DARK HORSE COMICS.

NO WAY OUT will be the first BB mini, with more minis coming after that.
And to get you in that perfect BB mood, NIGHT SHIFT, the Black Beetle's first tale published in 3 parts in the pages of DARK HORSE PRESENTS, will be released as a special one shot (or issue 0) this coming December: 24 pages plus some extras and a brand new cover! (see above)

Here's DARK HORSE's official press release :)
~~~~~

Dark Horse Press Release

Dark Horse Comics is thrilled to announce a new creator-owned series from Francesco Francavilla, the 2012 Eisner Award winner for Best Cover Artist!

Francavilla’s critically acclaimed The Black Beetle returns in December with The Black Beetle #0, which will collect the three-part story entitled Night Shift that originally appeared in the pages of the Eisner Award–winning Dark Horse Presents. The issue will feature a brand-new cover, twenty-four story pages, and bonus sketch material and art!

January brings The Black Beetle: No Way Out, a four-issue story that marks the first full series for Francavilla’s Black Beetle, continuing from the self-published, limited-edition ashcan comic of the same name—the first appearance of this exciting new pulp hero!

In Night Shift, an ancient artifact known as the Hollow Lizard—a powerful totem of dark magic—shows up at the Colt City Natural History Museum. Hitler sends his fearsome Werwolf Korps to collect the piece in hopes it will help him unlock the secrets of ancient Egypt’s Black Priests. Unfortunately for the führer, Colt City’s protector, the Black Beetle, is on the case!

In No Way Out, Black Beetle’s investigation of two local mob bosses is interrupted when a mysterious explosion murders them and a pub full of gangsters—taking out most of Colt City’s organized crime in one fell swoop. Who could pull off such a coup, and what damage might that murderous bomber inflict upon Colt City and Black Beetle?

Francavilla’s The Black Beetle series will also showcase a letter page so fans have the chance to have their thoughts, comments, and compliments answered by the creator himself! E-mail blackbeetle[at]darkhorse[dot]com for a chance to see your letter in The Black Beetle: No Way Out!

“Francavilla delivers the pulp noir that suits his style perfectly.”—Comic Book Resources

Look for The Black Beetle #0 on comic store shelves everywhere on December 19, 2012!

About Dark Horse
Founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson, Dark Horse Comics has proven to be a solid example of how integrity and innovation can help broaden a unique storytelling medium and establish a small, homegrown company as an industry giant. The company is known for the progressive and creator-friendly atmosphere it provides for writers and artists. In addition to publishing comics from top talent such as Frank Miller, Mike Mignola, Neil Gaiman, Brian Wood, Gerard Way, Felicia Day, and Guillermo del Toro, and comics legends such as Will Eisner, Neal Adams, and Jim Steranko, Dark Horse has developed its own successful properties, including The Mask, Ghost, Timecop, and SpyBoy. Its successful line of comics and products based on popular properties includes Star Wars, Mass Effect, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aliens, Conan, Emily the Strange, Tim Burton’s Tragic Toys for Girls and Boys, Serenity, and Domo. Today Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the US and is recognized as one of the world’s leading publishers of both creator-owned content and licensed comics material.~~~~~
Stay tuned for more great Black Beetle news!

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

The Black Beetle's "NIGHT SHIFT" Pt.3 Preview

(click on the page for larger view)

Hello B-Beetle Friends,

part 3 of THE BLACK BEETLE's NIGH SHIFT (inside DARK HORSE PRESENTS #13) is finally here: above you can enjoy the first 3 pages of what you will find in the issue out tomorrow :)).
Hope you guys will enjoy the final chapter and stay tuned for some more exciting Black Beetle news coming soon :)

DHP #13 comes out tomorrow in all the stores around the Country: pls pick up a copy or two (and recommend it to friends)) and be there when this all started :)
Looking forward to hear your thoughts on it.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

The Black Beetle's "NIGHT SHIFT" Pt.2 Preview

(click on the page for larger view)

Hello B-Beetle Friends,

part 2 of THE BLACK BEETLE's NIGH SHIFT (inside DARK HORSE PRESENTS #12) is finally here: above you can enjoy the first 3 pages (the double spread will have balloons on it, I just avoided here so not to ruin the reading experience tomorrow :)).
Hope you guys will enjoy the new chapter and, agin, pls let me know if you do (or if you don't :))

DHP #12 comes out tomorrow in all the stores around the Country: pls pick up a copy or two (and recommend it to friends)) and be there when this all started :)
Looking forward to hear your thoughts on it.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

The Black Beetle's "NIGHT SHIFT" Pt.1 Preview & Interview!

Hello B-Beetle Friends,

Are you as excited as I am for the Black Beetle finally hitting the shelves all over the Country tomorrow? :D
I really hope you will enjoy "NIGHT SHIFT" cause I have big plans for BB and if he gets enough love, those plans will go in motion :)

To get you in the mood here's some preview pages and an extract from an interview that went up a couple of weeks ago on the excellent iFanboy website thanks to Paul Montgomery - thanks for all the support, guys :)


(click on the page for larger view)

iFanboy – Let’s give the people some history. How long have you been tinkering with the Black Beetle character? How personal is this creation to you and what does it mean to see him in the pages of Dark Horse Presents?
FF: I’ve been tinkering with what came to be THE BLACK BEETLE for a few years now—the quintessential pulp hero protecting the streets of a fictional city—but the very first Black Beetle as we know him today came to paper at the beginning of the past decade.

Once I had defined his character, name, look, and setting, I slowly started to build the universe (including Colt City) around him. The story itself has evolved and now it’s a much bigger, wider scheme which I can’t wait to unveil to the public, one page at the time.

I’ve been self-publishing some web stories and print ashcans for the last several years, but having him now in the pages of Dark Horse Presents is like seeing your kid graduating and getting out there in the world to start building his own future. Once again, a huge thanks to Mike Richardson and all the folks at Dark Horse for asking me to bring THE BLACK BEETLE to DHP: I can’t think of a better publisher to get these stories out to a much wider audience.


(click on the page for larger view)

iFanboy – Just as your name is synonymous with a revival in a pulp style of art, the Black Beetle carries the torch for a bygone era in serial adventures. What characters or stories inspired his creation?
FF: I guess the short answer for the inspiration is: all and none. Definitely the BLACK BEETLE does owe a lot to the many pulp and noir movies and serials from the 30s to the 50s I’ve been watching all my life, and also to more recent productions.

And I’d say it’s also owes a good bit to classic crime and pulp writers like Hammett and Chandler. So I’ve tried to take all those influences and put a unique spin and my own stamp on it to really make The BLACK BEETLE its own thing with clear pulp and noir influences, but I’m also trying to bring something new and fresh to the genre. Time (and readers) will tell if I’ve succeeded.


(click on the page for larger view)

iFanboy - What can you tell us about the latest adventures of Black Beetle? Is it all under the cowl or does his civilian life play any kind of role?
FF: When approaching “Night Shift” for DHP, I wanted to make sure the story was accessible to everyone, both those who are already familiar with The Black Beetle and those who get to meet him for the first time. The format itself (3 short installments of 8 pages) played in my favor and let me focus on our hero and introduce the vibe/mood of the Black Beetle.

I can’t give too many details on the story because I don’t want to spoil it, but I am confident it will entertain the readers and introduce the Black Beetle to a wider audience.

For the same reason, we will not get to see his civilian alter ego (which is a major plot point in a future story) in Night Shift, but I will be revealing something that will play a major role in the Black Beetle mythology.


(click on the page for larger view)

You can read the whole interview on the iFanboy page.

DHP #11 comes out tomorrow in all the stores around the Country: pls pick up a copy or two (and recommend it to friends)) and be there when this all started :)
Looking forward to hear your thoughts on it.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

"THE BLACK BEETLE: NIGHTSHIFT" Exclusive First Look at Pt. Two!

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Hello guys,

Here's an exclusive (and spoiler free) first look at my upcoming "NIGHT SHIFT" Part 2, the tale of The Black Beetle in 3 parts that will appear on Dark Horse Presents starting with issue 11.
The above preview is from the pages appearing in #12 of DHP, out in May and now available for pre-orders.
I am very excited about this story and very proud of it too so I hope you guys are gonna pick thiis up and help me spread the word out there :)

Cheers,
Francesco

DHP #11 comes with two covers; if you want to make sure to get The Black Beetle cover (shown on the left) , pls preorder the book at your LCS using the code FEB12 0052.

Dark Horse Presents #11 (with the Black Beetle cover) will be on sale on APril 18.

Artwork © 2012 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

The Black Beetle's "NIGHT SHIFT" Pt.1 is coming!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

I did a little print out of the interiors for The Black Beetle's NIGHT SHIFT pt.1 and thought to share a sneak peek (no spoilers as you can see) :)
There is still time to preorder #11 of Dark Horse Presents - the issue the above pages will be in - and you guys can go ahead and pre-order #12 and #13 too so you make sure you don't miss any chapter of BB's tales :)

DHP #11 comes with two covers; if you want to make sure to get The Black Beetle cover (shown on the left) , pls preorder the book at your LCS using the code FEB12 0052.

Dark Horse Presents #11 (with the Black Beetle cover) will be on sale on APril 18.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, THE BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

Francavilla Steps Forward With BLACK BEETLE in DHP

Hello B-Beetle Friends,

A new interview regarding The Black Beetle just went live yesterday on the esteemed NEWSARAMA website. Once again, I want to thank all the press for giving a spot to BB, specially now that the first issue (in DHP #11) is solicited in Previews so you guys can pre-order it (see below the info on how to get the Black Beetle cover).

Big thanks to Chris Arrant who conducted this interview.

Here's an extract:


Newsarama: Francesco, you’ve written comics before, but never on this big of stage – what’s it like to be able to do it here at Dark Horse Presents and now with your own creation, the Black Beetle?
FF: I have written short stories here and there for a few anthologies, but this is definitely a new experience for me in terms of structure (longer story, divided in three acts) and audience, and I am very thrilled and thankful for the opportunity. As someone who has still lots of stories to tell, I consider this debut in Dark Horse Presents to be very important and possibly something that could set a new path for my future career as a full-on storyteller.

Nrama: For people that may be following you to this from your Marvel and DC work, who is Black Beetle?
FF: The Black Beetle is the protector and hero of our story. His mission is to fight crime in Colt City. We don’t know who he is, not yet anyway. When we meet him in my three-part Dark Horse Presents story Night Shift, we learn that he’s patrolling the city streets and protecting the citizens the best he can. How he came to be in this position and why he feels compelled to protect others is something we’ll discover as we go along. This is definitely an action-packed thriller with lots of twists and turns, so I hope fans will come along and enjoy the ride!



Nrama: What kind of world does Black Beetle live in, Colt City and beyond?
FF: Colt City itself is used as a character and is featured prominently in the series. It’s a fictional city set in the late ‘40s America on the East Coast and has a very pulp-noir vibe to the environment and inhabitants. Located on beautiful Colt City Bay, it is home to Black Beetle and is the main location for his tales & adventures. And of course, being a metropolis, it comes with all the bad guys, criminal elements, and villains that will make life in Colt City quite interesting.

You can read the whole interview on NEWSARAMA.

DHP #11 comes with two covers; if you want to make sure to get The Black Beetle cover (shown on the left) , pls preorder the book at your LCS using the code FEB12 0052.

Dark Horse Presents #11 (with the Black Beetle cover) will be on sale on APril 18.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

"THE BLACK BEETLE: TURNO DI NOTTE" Rare Italian Edition!

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Hello Pulp Friends,

The above "TURNO DI NOTTE" cover is a "rare" Italian edition of my upcoming "NIGHT SHIFT", a tale of The Black Beetle in 3 parts that will appear on Dark Horse Presents starting with issue 11.
The first installment has benn turned in, lettered and all, and I couldn't be happier with - can't wait for you all to read it :)

DHP #11 comes with two covers; if you want to make sure to get The Black Beetle cover (shown on the left) , pls preorder the book at your LCS using the code FEB12 0052.

Dark Horse Presents #11 (with the Black Beetle cover) will be on sale on APril 18.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, THE BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

Dig Deeper into The Black Beetle

Hello Black Beetle Friends,

This past week I took care of a few interviews about our favorite pulp hero: The Black Beetle. I want to thank all the press for giving a spot to BB, specially now that the first issue is solicited in Previews so you guys can pre-order it (see below the info on how to get the Black Beetle cover).

Here's the second interview which went up yesterday on the fan-favorite ComicVine website thanks to Tony Guerrero(thanks, Tony :)).

Here's an extract:


CV: Will the 24-page story be the beginning of more adventures for the Black Beetle? Do you have more stories to tell?

FF: I most definitely have plenty more stories to tell. Some are already outlined in detail; others are simply at plot or idea stage.
NIGHT SHIFT (the 3-part Black Beetle story that will appear in Dark Horse Presents starting with #11 in April) is an introductory story, accessible to everyone, that will hint at things that make The Black Beetle universe so interesting.
I am halfway through another story, KARA BOCEK, that ‘aired’ on my Pulp Sunday blog last year and which I plan to release in print when it’s completed.
And a few ‘lucky’ fans got a little taste of BB in the NO WAY OUT limited ashcan I put out a couple of years ago (now sold out). When it’s finished, NO WAY OUT will be on a much larger scale in terms of BB stories (full length GN).
And there is plenty more after that. It all comes down to how well received NIGHT SHIFT will be now that BB is reaching a wider audience, so make sure to buy Dark Horse Presents #11 and praise The Black Beetle.

CV: If you could do a crossover with the Black Beetle and any other character, who would be the best fit and who would be your dream team up (if they're not the same)?

FF: Given the nature of the character and the time settings, The Black Beetle could easily cross over with Mike Mignola’s awesome Lobster Johnson, if we want to stay in the Dark Horse territory, or more generally with The Shadow or the early 1930/1940s Batman.

You can read the whole interview on the ComicVine page.

DHP #11 comes with two covers; if you want to make sure to get The Black Beetle cover (shown on the left) , pls preorder the book at your LCS using the code FEB12 0052.

Dark Horse Presents #11 (with the Black Beetle cover) will be on sale on APril 18.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

Francesco Francavilla: Presenting The Black Beetle

Hello B-Beetle Friends,

This past week I took care of a few interviews about our favorite pulp hero: The Black Beetle. I want to thank all the press for giving a spot to BB, specially now that the first issue is solicited in Previews so you guys can pre-order it (see below the info on how to get the Black Beetle cover).

The first interview went up a couple of days ago on the excellent Comics Bulletin website thanks to Chris Kiser (thanks, Chris :)).

Here's an extract:


CB: For starters, would you tell our readers a little about the premise of The Black Beetle? What kind of comic should people be expecting?
FF: Someone defined it as “neo-noir,” a definition I quite like. Think action, mystery, suspense, more action, thriller, with a pinch of horror. It’s what I call “all the good stuff.”
NIGHT SHIFT, the three-part story that will start in Dark Horse Presents #11 this April, takes place in the home of the Black Beetle, Colt City. When a very rare amulet arrives at the Colt City museum things get really complicated. A team of dangerous individuals isn’t far behind—they want the amulet and will stop at nothing to get it.

CB: How about the Black Beetle himself? How would you describe his personality or motivations?
FF: His mission is to fight crime in Colt City. We don’t know who he is, not yet anyway. We do know that he has access to some advantaged technology that allows him to take care of the many threats the citizens have to face from time to time. Black Beetle is definitely the hero and protector of Colt City.

CB: This is a character who appeared before in some of your self-published work, both on the web and in a limited edition print comic. Was it always conceived as something that you would want to later return to and expand upon?
FF: Definitely. The ashcan was the introduction to NO WAY OUT, a longer story I was and still am planning to tell. And I’m running (sporadically) the KARA BOCEK story on my website. I’ve been plotting more stories and creating a whole set of characters (including some very dangerous villains) waiting for the moment The Black Beetle would land on shelves, and it seems that moment has arrived.

CB: How did The Black Beetle end up at Dark Horse? Was it something the publisher approached you about specifically, or did it come as a result of you pitching it to them?
FF: Mike Richardson is a big fan of my Pulp Sunday blog http://pulpsunday.blogspot.com/ and that’s where he saw the Black Beetle for the first time. He is a huge lover of all things pulp so he asked me to bring my hero to Dark Horse and create a special story for Dark Horse Presents. As a long-time fan of Dark Horse and the long line of writer/artists that label represents, it didn’t take more than 2 seconds for me to say: YES!

You can read the whole interview on the CB page.

DHP #11 comes with two covers; if you want to make sure to get The Black Beetle cover (shown on the left) , pls preorder the book at your LCS using the code FEB12 0052.

Dark Horse Presents #11 (with the Black Beetle cover) will be on sale on APril 18.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla

"THE BLACK BEETLE: NIGHTSHIFT" Exclusive First Look!

~~ Click on the image for biggie ~~

Hello Pulp Friends,

Here's an exclusive (unlettered) first look at my upcoming "NIGHT SHIFT", a tale of The Black Beetle in 3 parts that will appear on Dark Horse Presents starting with issue 11.
Hope you enjoy this preview and can't wait to hear from you guys.

DHP #11 comes with two covers; if you want to make sure to get The Black Beetle cover (shown on the left) , pls preorder the book at your LCS using the code FEB12 0052.

Dark Horse Presents #11 (with the Black Beetle cover) will be on sale on APril 18.

Cheers,
Francesco

Artwork © 2011 Francesco Francavilla
KARA BOCEK, BLACK BEETLE & COLT CITY created by, ™ and © 2006-2012 Francesco Francavilla