The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1
Written by Francesco Francavilla
Art by Francesco Francavilla
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: January 16, 2013
Cover Price: $3.50

I know it’s pretty early in the game, but I’m willing to bet that The Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 is going to be nominated for at LEAST one Eisner award. This is one of the best comics that I’ve had the pleasure of reading in a long time. And I can’t see any of the following issues declining in quality at all.

Francesco Francavilla crafts an absolutely perfect take of an old time pulp hero. He’s one with flaws. I don’t mean he’s crazy of drunk or a pervert flawed; I mean that’s he’s not the perfect hero flawed. He falls, he misjudges things, he’s not like Batman who can hit a man on a motorcycle from 100 yards away with a gas pellet. He’s got a neat array of gadgets and toys that help him fight crime, but he’s not a perfect super hero…yet. This is a great mix of crime noir drama mixed with pulp hero action. The only thing missing? A secret identity. That was touched upon in the Black Beetle #0 issue, but not much. It’s a very interesting turn on the genre. Most of the pulp books feature heroes with millionaire (this IS the 30s & 40s) playboy secret ids, but here, there’s none of that, and honestly, I found myself not missing it. Again, this is a GREAT crime/mystery/thriller. Very well written with a great plot.

As far as art goes, it’s Francesco Francavilla. Again, Eisner time. Francavilla creates a world that’s genuine and detailed and yet vague at the same time. The super heroics are fantastic, the action is rendered great, this is just an all-around fantastic looking book. The coloring in this book really makes some of the pages, also.

Get this now!!! It’s a fantastic book that will satisfy just about ever comic fan out there today. It’s got everything! This is as close to perfection as comics get!!