A weekend leisure reading review…because sometimes Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!
Francesco Francavilla. The Black Beetle: No Way Out. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Comics, August 27th 2013. 152 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
I almost didn’t read this comic book. After all who wants to read a superhero that’s named after a bug (beetle) that I find gross? But the pulp feel of the comics in which the stories takes place in early 1941 and the beautiful colors and artwork that I gleamed from flipping through the book made me reconsider to give this comic book a chance. And boy did the writer and illustrator did not disappoint! I give this work a five out of five since the writer and artist Francesco Francavilla gave us a new comic character, a wonderful story and an interesting mystery. I also appreciated that this book had a noir mystery feel and yet it was clean.
The character is somewhat of a cross between the Shadow and Batman. The Black Beetle fights crime and doesn’t have extraordinary power but uses martial art skills, wit and gadgets to investigate and fight criminals. Like Batman his intent is not to kill and murder. I also like how this story is different than most of the comics out there on Batman and Shadow in that the story is largely told from the first person perspective of the Black Beetle. Yet while we see him narrate the chain of events the Black Beetle manages to shroud himself with mystery; there’s a lot you don’t know about him nor even know what does his face looks like but he somehow manage to be interesting enough for the readers to stick around and want to know more about him. Even the one time in the book when you think you see what he looks like there’s more than meet the eye with his disguises!
This is a fun read and after I completed the story I was looking up for more information for more stories and comics on the Black Beetle. It seems though that the publisher Dark Horse has discontinued issues on the Black Beetle which I really am sad to hear especially since the story was well told and illustrations well done. The characters are also interesting including the hero himself. Overall I recommend this story on the Black Beetle.
Fun, Pastor Jim!
Thanks! It was a fun light hearted read. I hope you are having a blessed Saturday evening/night. I got done with sermon prep early and about to meet up with someone in church who is looking for someone to open up things with, pray for that if you are led Maria. Thank you.
All is well – thank you! Yes, I will pray, brother!
I must say never heard of the Black Beetle but I guess is better than the Black Cockroah, my insect hate 😄
Glad to see you enjoying some good fun Pastor Jim.
Have a Blessed Lord’s Day
Oh wow, if it was called Black Cockroach, that’s game over for me! That’s gross lol. This comic story was really clean and fun but I wonder if the name “beetle” kind of killed some of the potential audience. I don’t know if you get the jitters when a big beetle keeps on flying into you…at those moments beetles can feel like roaches in the air.
Here they called Christmas beetles because they only came out a few days before Christmas. And you a so right they fly into you… I totally hate them and scream in petrified horror in one touches me …lol
Sounds like an enjoyable read! You almost make me wanna drive over to the comic shop and pick up a copy. 🙂
If you ever finish your review of Silver Age comics (LSH, etc) I think this would be a good place to start with contemporary comics…want me to order this as a Christmas gift for you?
I’m almost halfway though my LSH Siver Age series so I have about nine more months to go. Thank you for the kind offer, brother! I’m going to stop in at one of the local comic shops in a couple of months (haven’t stepped foot in one in five years except to buy two one-off Legion spoofs) and ask about the Black Beetle.
Enjoy comics as long as I don’t have to pay 4.99. lol In Prayer for Sunday’s best. Love in Christ.
I feel you. Truth be told I borrowed this from the library…reading is an expensive hobby but fortunately there’s the library and also free books from publishers to review books on this blog. God is good. Hope you have a blessed Lord’s Day today sister!
TY. Love in Christ.:))
Sounds good! The only character I knew in superhero comics named Beetle, was one of the ‘Spiderman’ villains.
Ah I see though I never heard of him. This character Black Beetle was very promising and stood out among all my comic book readings and I think you will like it! Too bad it was discontinued…hope you are doing well!
I’m doing well for me, though I am a bit tired. Tried to make a household repair yesterday and had to get bailed out by my father. Used up most of the little bit of stamina I had, but I had to try, you know?
[…] I almost didn’t read this one but it was fun and clean. My review here. […]
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How fun!