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THE
BLACK GIFT ("IL DONO NERO")
Writer S.Billotta
Artist E.Mammucari
Series of 3 episodes
published by Montego € 2.32
Daniele
Croce is a night security guard,
. who is also a vampire. He
is not the usual type of horror vampire: he doesnt have pointed
canine teeth, nor does he rest inside a coffin. He looks like a regular
thirty-year-old guy, with a regular kind of job, although his thirst
for blood leads him to attack his victims and turn them into vampires
albeit in a relatively painless way: with a syringe. Shame that his
thirst gets worse and worse, until it combines with an ever more increasing
and uncontrollable lust. The guy seems to have forgotten about his
curse when he meets Aurora, a girl whom he had secretly followed for
a while. But when Aurora is killed, her death removes all Danieles
psychological restraints and his thirst for blood becomes revenge
and explodes into an ever-increasing murdering madness.
This short series launched by Montego is a bizarre work. The story
takes place in Italy which doesnt really matter a lot
and may be regarded as a horror story, although it can be hardly
catalogued. As its plot develops, its language varies, going from
splattering to a "metaphysical" horror language to mystery.
Bilottas approach almost seems post-modern, although his plot
stands out for his intention to keep away from any specific trend
and avoids quoting other stories or movies. Therefore its rather
difficult to find specific reference points for this story, which
somehow reminds us of some minor and difficult movies such as those
by Abel Ferrara or by David Croneberg, populated by hopeless characters
moving in sordid environments. While Povero Pinocchio, which had been
previously published by the duo Bilotta-Mammucari, is featured by
a generous narration although a bit over the top Il
Dono Nero, on the other hand, is more clearly written. Its almost
incredible to see how well the young writer and artist get on. Bilottas
narrative style is doubtless strong but he cleverly avoids any kitsch
details, typical of a class 2 horror, and keeps the dialogues simple
while distributing his characters monologues wisely. Mammucaris
art, apart from some minor mistakes in the featuring of the characters
(which may have profited from a more precise style), is very professionally
delivered. Although he clearly inspires his art from Toth, Mari and
Ambrosini, his style is surely very personal. His female characters
are effectively rendered, and so is the reconstruction of the city
with no name, which is always in the dark and deserted, and which
is the real character of the story, and not its simple background.
We should also say that Il Dono Nero is not a story suitable for everybody:
Dylan Dogs fans, for instance, may be disappointed. In Il Dono
Nero there is no such a "laic humanism" which is typical
of Sclavi. Theres no sun through the dark, no punch line which
mitigates the horror atmosphere. Those who love sordid stories and
characters with no-redemption chances, should like Il Dono Nero, which
is surely one of the most interesting "made in Italy" horror
stories of the last few years.
M.M.
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