An interesting recent hero-pulp inspired comic book character is The Black Beetle created by Italian writer-artist Francesco Francavilla, who has been teasing information about this character on his website, The Art of Francesco Francavilla.
It’s clear from what we have that he has built a whole universe and history about this character, of which we’ve seen only a little bit. After teasers about the character on the website and unfinished work, he appeared in print in a mini-series published within “Dark Horse Presents” #11-13 in 2012, which was later reprinted as “The Black Beetle” #0: “Night Shift.” This lead to the first mini-series “No Way Out” #1-4.
This was supposed to be followed by a second mini-series to be called “Necrologue” in 2013/2014. But after over a year, it has yet to appear and no idea when it will be.
The five issues so published have been reprinted in hardback, with extras. Francavilla has been doing comic book work, but there have been no updates on his website. I can only assume his other work is preventing him from more Black Beetle work.
The Black Beetle is a very mysterious character. He works alone, protecting Colt City. There are hints of an Egyptian background, and his fighting against occult groups like The Black Priests. The Beetle has no powers, but an array of weapons, including a mysterious ray gun. We don’t know who he is or his background. And we know there are past cases and foes he has fought, as we get hints of them.
The first story set in January of 1941, “Night Shift,” has The Black Beetle stopping a group of Nazi agents, the Werwolf Korps from stealing a occult object from the Colt City Natural History Museum: the Hollow Lizard. The Beetle stops them, saves Dr. Antonio Howard, and takes the Lizard for safekeeping. At the end we see him insert the Lizard into a strange stone column that appears to be in a secret chamber below the museum, and hints that an occult order he had fought in the past is coming for him.
The next story is set a few months later. “No Way Out” has the Black Beetle dealing with a gang war, and trying to figure out the mystery behind it and his foe Labyrinto. Along the way, we learn more about the Beetle’s tactics and weapons, but not more about him. In the background, we see that occult order working on taking him on through Dr. Howard.
Hopefully, this would have continued in the next storyline. But we’ll have to wait until it comes out. If you missed The Black Beetle, get the collection.
