If you happen to grab “Dark Horse Presents” #11 through 13, either from a shop or off your own shelves, you’ll find in it a charming and entertaining little yarn entitled ‘The Night Shift.’ If you should so find ‘Night Shift,’ you’ll in turn read a highly entertaining three-part story starring the Black Beetle, a character created by Francesco Francavilla who also writes and illustrates the series. And if you should so find ‘Night Shift’ and read it and enjoy it as much as we did/do, you will be pleased to learn the following: the Black Beetle is spinning out of “Dark Horse Presents” and coming as a mini to a shop near you.
Starting in January of next year, the Black Beetle will star in a brand new mini-series entitled ‘No Way Out,’ written and illustrated by Francesco Francavilla. It’s the first of a few planned minis by Francavilla to give the character some legs of its own out there, but if everything he’s shown on his blog Pulp Sunday is to be taken into consideration, it should be quite great. ‘The Night Shift’ will also be collected into a one-shot in January.
“Dark Horse Presents” has seen a lot of series get life these days, including Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Noto’s “Ghost” relaunch as well as Pete Hogan and Steve Parkhouse’s “Resident Alien.” Even Brian Wood’s new series “The Massive” originally debuted in Dark Horse Presents. It is exciting to see “Black Beetle” join those ranks, and one can only hope that the character, creator and series will be afforded a long and fruitful run in comics.
We’ll get you more news as it is revealed, but for now enjoy that sleek Francavilla cover above and get ready for some pulpy goodness.
Update (8/28/2012): Now with a press release from Dark Horse.
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.
