Blacking Out

Hardcover
$19.99 US
0"W x 0"H x 0"D   | 20 oz | 12 per carton
On sale Oct 01, 2024 | 64 Pages | 978-1-5067-4091-1
| Rated T+
Bad people doing bad things in a tale of fire and murder in Southern California.

A disgraced ex-cop, Conrad, seeks redemption by unraveling an unsolved murder during Southern California's fire season. Conrad follows a lone clue—a discarded crucifix—to unravel the death of Karen Littleton, whose body was found amid a blaze that scorched 10,000 acres. The search leads him to clash with the victim's father and prime suspect, Robert Littleton, as well as hostile former colleagues on the local police force. All the while, Conrad combats his consuming alcoholism and fading faculties.

Will his “questionable” methods net him a murderer, or will the grizzled detective be brought to his knees by heartbreak and addiction? Find out, in this all-new edition of Blacking Out, a scorching crime noir comic set in a small town in the dry California desert.

From the minds of comics industry veteran and writer Chip Mosher (Left On Mission) and legendary artist Peter Krause (The Power of Shazam!, Irredeemable) with colors by the amazing Giulia Brusco (Scalped, Django Unchained), and letterers from Ed Dukeshire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Basilisk)
CHIP MOSHER has worked in comics wearing a variety of hats since the ‘80s. Starting out working at his local comic shop in high school, Mosher has worked at Capital City Distribution, Adhesive Comics, Oni Press Entertainment, Graffiti Designs, BOOM! Studios, comiXology, and most recently co-founded new comics publisher DSTLRY, where he serves as Chief Creative Officer. Besides BLACKING OUT, co-created with Peter Krause, Mosher also wrote the graphic novel LEFT ON MISSION with artist and co-creator Francesco Francavilla. Mosher remembers clearly buying DARK HORSE PRESENTS #1 off stands when it came out and is honored to see the Dark Horse Comics brand emblazoned on BLACKING OUT. Mosher currently serves as Co-Chair on the Steering Committee for the Harvey Awards.
“… as dark as the smoky California skies that fill its pages. And like smoke, this noir clings to you. Redemptive, surprising, & bleak.”—Brian Azzarello, 100 Bullets, Moonshine
 
 “A tasty comics noir for your lockdown reading. A fast-paced page turner that really delivers.”—Derf Backderf, My Friend Dahmer, Kent State
 
 “Start with the inky atmospheric drawings. Take the narrative familiars: bad cop seeking redemption, small town with big secrets, people wanting what they can’t have. Toss them in the spin cycle.”—Betsy Willeford
 
“… a lovely fire-scorched brick to the head, in the  Sweaty Noir tradition of Hell or High Water and Dragged Across Concrete… no one does this kind of hardscrabble tale better.”—Bill Willingham, Fables
 
“…a hard drinking, hard boiled mystery with a finale that lands like a ton of bricks—do not miss it.”—Gerry Duggan, Dead Eyes, Deadpool, Marauders
 
 "A rural crime tale with more twists and turns than a backcountry road.”—Ed Brisson, Sheltered, Old Man Logan
 
 “Hardcore characters in search for what they can’t name on a road they shouldn’t travel. A gut punch of crime fiction by Mosher and Krause.”—Gary Phillips, The Be-Bop Barbarians

About

Bad people doing bad things in a tale of fire and murder in Southern California.

A disgraced ex-cop, Conrad, seeks redemption by unraveling an unsolved murder during Southern California's fire season. Conrad follows a lone clue—a discarded crucifix—to unravel the death of Karen Littleton, whose body was found amid a blaze that scorched 10,000 acres. The search leads him to clash with the victim's father and prime suspect, Robert Littleton, as well as hostile former colleagues on the local police force. All the while, Conrad combats his consuming alcoholism and fading faculties.

Will his “questionable” methods net him a murderer, or will the grizzled detective be brought to his knees by heartbreak and addiction? Find out, in this all-new edition of Blacking Out, a scorching crime noir comic set in a small town in the dry California desert.

From the minds of comics industry veteran and writer Chip Mosher (Left On Mission) and legendary artist Peter Krause (The Power of Shazam!, Irredeemable) with colors by the amazing Giulia Brusco (Scalped, Django Unchained), and letterers from Ed Dukeshire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Basilisk)

Creators

CHIP MOSHER has worked in comics wearing a variety of hats since the ‘80s. Starting out working at his local comic shop in high school, Mosher has worked at Capital City Distribution, Adhesive Comics, Oni Press Entertainment, Graffiti Designs, BOOM! Studios, comiXology, and most recently co-founded new comics publisher DSTLRY, where he serves as Chief Creative Officer. Besides BLACKING OUT, co-created with Peter Krause, Mosher also wrote the graphic novel LEFT ON MISSION with artist and co-creator Francesco Francavilla. Mosher remembers clearly buying DARK HORSE PRESENTS #1 off stands when it came out and is honored to see the Dark Horse Comics brand emblazoned on BLACKING OUT. Mosher currently serves as Co-Chair on the Steering Committee for the Harvey Awards.

Praise

“… as dark as the smoky California skies that fill its pages. And like smoke, this noir clings to you. Redemptive, surprising, & bleak.”—Brian Azzarello, 100 Bullets, Moonshine
 
 “A tasty comics noir for your lockdown reading. A fast-paced page turner that really delivers.”—Derf Backderf, My Friend Dahmer, Kent State
 
 “Start with the inky atmospheric drawings. Take the narrative familiars: bad cop seeking redemption, small town with big secrets, people wanting what they can’t have. Toss them in the spin cycle.”—Betsy Willeford
 
“… a lovely fire-scorched brick to the head, in the  Sweaty Noir tradition of Hell or High Water and Dragged Across Concrete… no one does this kind of hardscrabble tale better.”—Bill Willingham, Fables
 
“…a hard drinking, hard boiled mystery with a finale that lands like a ton of bricks—do not miss it.”—Gerry Duggan, Dead Eyes, Deadpool, Marauders
 
 "A rural crime tale with more twists and turns than a backcountry road.”—Ed Brisson, Sheltered, Old Man Logan
 
 “Hardcore characters in search for what they can’t name on a road they shouldn’t travel. A gut punch of crime fiction by Mosher and Krause.”—Gary Phillips, The Be-Bop Barbarians