Tag Archives: the black beetle: night shift

Celebrate Pulp, Peril, and Pure Style with Francesco Francavilla’s Black Beetle Omnibus

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Dark Horse Books presents The Black Beetle Omnibus, Francesco Francavilla’s love letter to classic crime busters. The Black Beetle Omnibus will collect every thrilling Black Beetle tale written and illustrated by Francavilla for the first time, including the full-length adventures No Way Out and Kara Bocek and the one-shot, Night Shift. The paperback book also collects never-before-seen bonus content, including concept art, layouts, character studies, vintage-style lobby cards, behind-the-scenes material from Francavilla’s sketchbook, and a brand-new cover by Francavilla.

After witnessing an explosion that decimates the city’s organized crime community, killing dozens, the Black Beetle—Colt City’s sleuthing sentinel—is on the hunt for answers and justice in the story, No Way Out.

In Kara Bocek, the masked American hero ventures to the Middle East incognito (as Tom Sawyer) to fight Nazis in pursuit of a mysterious object of terrible power—a weapon of unknown origin, older than the pyramids, which could fuel the Thousand-Year Reich of Hitler’s dreams.

Finally, in Night Shift, the Black Beetle is on the case when a powerful totem of magic shows up at Colt City Natural History Museum, prompting Hitler to send his fearsome Werewolf Korps to collect the piece.

The Black Beetle Omnibus (paperback, 216 pages, 10.1875 x 6.625”) will be available in bookstores and comic shops on September 22, 2026. It is now available for preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comic shop and bookstore for $29.99.

The Black Beetle Omnibus

Francavilla’s The Black Beetle #0 Sells Out! Plus a Preview!

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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.

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 to check out The Black Beetle #1 before it’s gone for good!

blackbeetle1preview

Francavilla’s The Black Beetle Returns!

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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!

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