Thomas Ott is a Swiss visionary who redefined the silent graphic novel through the meticulous art of scratchboard. Eschewing dialogue entirely, Ott crafts haunting, noir-infused narratives by literally carving light out of darkness, scratching away black ink to reveal the stark white beneath. His work is a masterclass in cinematic suspense and macabre irony, exploring the grim intersections of fate, death, and urban decay. With a style that feels both timeless and deeply unsettling, Ott’s wordless panels possess a visceral, claustrophobic power, proving that the most terrifying stories are often the ones left unspoken.