Review: Dark Horse Presents #11

Any comic that begins with Francesco Francavilla, Ends with Joe Kubert School graduate Luke Radl and is stuffed full of Steve Niles, Evan Dorkin, Tim Seely, Neal Adams and a host of other amazing creators is OK by me. Reading Dark Horse Presents is akin to going to the candy store. you get there, and there are so many great colours and flavours, you just want to try a bit of everything. You like some more than others, but they are all good. In Dark Horse Presents 11, we are treated to 10 delicious and beautiful tales that tantalise the taste buds of our imagination.


Francesco Francavilla introduces us to The Black Beetle, which will no doubt appear in a longer format down the track. While the dialogue is a little clumsy and melodramatic, the art is, as one would expect, phenominal. There's a great period/pulp feel to it, Like a cross between Tonci Zonjic's work on Lobster Johnson and Sean Phillips' stuff on Fatale. Beautiful. The final part of Steve Horton and Michael Dialynas' pirate tale 'Amala's Blade' was as charming as it was action packed - a fitting end to a fun story. Next up is a story that I'm really intrigued about - Carla Speed McNeil's 'Finder'. It's about a man who purportedly cannot get lost. It's visually stunning, and one of those stories that just has you hanging out for more.

Steve Niles and Christopher Mitten continue writing exciting and creepy stories in Criminal Macarbre. Evan Dorkin is nothing short of hilarious in House of Fun featuring Milk and Cheese. Tim Seeley and Victor Drujiniu's work on Mike Richardson's the Occultist was a stand out for me - creepy supernatural horror with real, deep characters that are emotionally relatable. John Arcudi's the creep is a heartfelt powerful story about one man's choices in life. A real tearjerker. The emotional blows keep rolling, as Andrew Vachss provides a compelling prose piece that highlights his passion for giving legal representation to children. possibly the most visually stunning story comes right at the end, as Luke Radl beautifully illustrates a story by Frank J Barbiere from their future project "The White Suits". it is a poignant noir tale about mafia and the choices people make in life.

Dark Horse Presents truly is the perfect way to experience an array of different comic book flavours. Check it out.