Frank Harding is a hard-boiled P.I. in 1940s Los Angeles who finds himself fighting not only the usual cadre of criminals and ne’er-do-wells, but also the occasional demon and other malevolent supernatural beings. 1 VOLUME RELEASED - INDEPENDENT STORIES. Battling the forces of darkness is another day at the office for Frank, but his current case, tied into his own past and L.A.’s all-too-real history of prejudice and discrimination, may be the one that puts Frank out of business…for good. Hard Bargain, the long-awaited debut graphic novel from film and tv powerhouse Steven S. DeKnight (Buffy, Angel, Daredevil), combines the appeal of classic Noir crime storytelling with a well-wrought fantasy world of demons, monsters, and magic, all against the backdrop of a gritty Los Angeles. DeKnight's crackerjack storytelling paired with Carvalho's dynamic visuals builds a story that is energetic, fun, and compelling, while simultaneously revealing a complex engagement with history, bigotry, revenge, and the sins of one generation being dealt with by the next.