F.M. :: RISSO EDUARDO

Flashpoint Batman Knight of Vengeance 1 page 17 by Eduardo Risso

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Artwork Details

Title:	Flashpoint Batman Knight of Vengeance 1 page 17 by Eduardo Risso
Artist:	Eduardo Risso (All)
Media Type:	Pen and Ink
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	NFS
Views:	533
Likes on CAF:	11 12
Comments:	13
Added to Site:	5/28/2023
Comic Art Archive:

Description

Interestingly enough, this is my first published piece by Eduardo Risso, an artist whose work I have been following forever it seems, on both the US and Franco-Belgian markets.

Mr Risso is a master storyteller and while it could be argued that all artists “think in b&w”, I firmly believe that there is no one else who is today more apt at the spotting shadows/negative space game than he is. He is one of those few artists whose work should only be presented in b&w. To the point that some of his original pages may sometime take time to be accustomed to, as he lets color talk quite a lot.

Here we have the (even more brutal) Batman of the Flashpoint timeline fighting Croc in the sewer. How fun.

Except he is not doing so well in panel one apparently drowning. I love the dramatic sense infused in that establishing panel by only showcasing on the air bubbles gasping out of his mouth. The bubbles on top of the open panel really pulls the reader into the page. Also of note, the great delineation between the nose, the skin and the costume. There are real people under the hood…That shot is quite the economic way to set up the whole scene and yet it tells you all you need to know about the hero’s situation. Alex Toth would be proud.

Then in panel 2, the hero is coming up with a solution to his problem while we enjoy a great shot of a MASSIVE Croc drowning the Bat with but one hand. That second panel gives you what you were missing from the first, the antagonist. Many lesser artists would go with a full rendition of the scaly foe but Risso goes again for the economy with a few scales and spikes that tell you all you need to know about his skin (condition). The way Risso lit the whole scene is fantastic, especially the way he chose to obscure the front of Croc’s face.

In the third panel, we understand that the Bat’s arm was not grasping air out of panic and desperation but went for quite the dirty trick to free himself, a thumb buried deep into Croc’s eye socket. The fact that we don’t see the afflicted eye tells you how deep the thumb went. And after a shadow covered face, we get to experience Croc’s in this close-up.

The reaction is instantaneous and obviously quite painful for Croc. The fact that we only get to see his lower jaw tells you how much he is screaming. The Bat comes up gasping for air in a way that show how close to the end he was. Nothing heroic in his stance here, he is in pain, which is enhanced by the fact that, again, his face is covered in shadows.

Let’s not forget to mention a brilliant choice in designing the page which is leaving the water entirely white. Many would have reversed the black and white here but by doing so, Risso allows for great dramatic effects. The shadows of the sewers are surrounding the two enemies, defining them even, and the white cleaning waters (yeah, right) are splashing around them. The way Risso used white out for the droplets in the last panel is fantastic.

I don’t think Risso is even capable of conceiving a bad page but this one is very nice, offering a great example of his mastery of b&w.

(No published page here as you have all that you need in front of you ;)

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	F M Premium Gallery Owner
Joined:	May 2005
Last Login:	September 2025
Country:	BELGIUM
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Comments on this Artwork

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Timothy Guerrero
Member Since 2009

1 - Posted on 5/28/2023

A very nice page indeed! Love your description of the piece.

John C
Member Since 2014

1 - Posted on 5/28/2023

Things aren't going to get any better for Croc in this issue.

Boris B
Member Since 2012

1 - Posted on 5/28/2023

Love the last panel

Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 5/28/2023

The art in the first panel actually reminds me a lot of Mike Mignola's and P. Craig Russell's art circa the late 1980's. It's a nice page with very nice lighting techniques, naturally, as that is one of the things Risso is best known for. I've always wondered how popular he would've become with the masses had he been a regular artist in the mainstream American market rather than an indy artist on 100 Bullets for so many years. VERY popular, I have no doubt.

Mark V
Member Since 2021

1 - Posted on 5/28/2023

While I prefer Risso's work more on noir-influenced stories, what's amazing is how he's able to be so effective an artist regardless of the material. This page makes me want to see an entire Croc book by him. Very strong stuff.

Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 5/29/2023

At least it's implied eye violence instead of being graphic! Actually it is graphic, but in a more subtle way.

Bob Kopman
Member Since 2007

1 - Posted on 5/29/2023

Brilliant page. I really like Russo's art and you have a great example here. Congratuations.

Yo Kuri
Member Since 2019

1 - Posted on 5/30/2023

Great page and super analysis. I really enjoyed reading your observations.

Jared Michalski
Member Since 2004

1 - Posted on 6/2/2023

As a Risso fan, I congratulate you on this gem. However, as someone who appreciates a great write up, my sincere thanks to you for spending the time to so thoughtfully articulate Risso's positive/negative storytelling mastery.

Gal Schwartz
Member Since 2005

1 - Posted on 6/12/2023

Really terrific piece ! Risso is a master in using extreme contrast to create focus and drama !

Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017

1 - Posted on 6/13/2023

Beautiful description, F M, which does justice to this great page! Incredibly stylistic and brilliant black and white storytelling - just as one would expect from Eduardo. A fantastic panel 1, but my favorite -might- be panel 2, with its beautiful use of negative space, monolithic slab of a figure for Croc (great skin details!), and the lone, black arm of Batman desperately shooting out of the water... Panel 3, though, is -so- awesome and really feels like a Dragotta panel to me, too. Love it, and you can all but hear the roar of pain in panel 4... Too, too cool, F M! Awesome page - congrats!

K Gearon
Member Since 2011

1 - Posted on 6/13/2023

This was a great read and Risso's style matched perfectly! Awesome top to bottom storytelling here. Congrats!

Tommy Kohlmaier
Member Since 2008

1 - Posted on 6/13/2023

Amazing and powerful hardcore b/w piece by this superb modern artist !

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