Title: The Darkness: First Look Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Penciler: Michael Broussard Inker: Ryan Winn Price: $ .99 US, $ 1.05 Can Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Comments: God separated the Light and Darkness in the beginning. The Darkness hated it. The Darkness finds a host in Jackie Franchetti. Jackie is not really good or bad, he is just a guy looking out for himself. He has taken over a small country and now runs it better. To bad the people didn't realize that. The explosion is a fiery flash of destruction. Jackie stands adorned in his darkness armor ready for anything. Jackie comes across as a sophisticated guy. He may bbe part of the mob but he has class. He seems like such a nice guy. Hard to believe until you get to know the real him that he can be such a cold bloodied killer using his demons of darkness his darklings. They don't show up this issue but you know they are just out of sight, waiting. Jackie can be nice and also one of the most dangerous men you'll ever meet.
Title: Darkness # 2 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Penciler: Michael Broussand Inker: Ryan Winn Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Comments: Jackie is getting pretty high on himself. He is a ruler and a creator. Pretty soon he will start to think of himself as God. Jackie is not really one of the good guys he loves being in control. He is willing to gain that control by using whatever means necessary. So hurting others is not a problem for him. Now Jackie has created and now it self creates itself a place that could be Hell on earth for anyone unlucky enough to wonder in. It is a dark forboding place. And what awaits within will send shivers up and down the spines of the most brave of man. The one main difference with this comic over others is that Jackie is the villian. The main character is a ruthless killer. As well the settings and actions in many aspects treat this story as a horror story. It is like watching a movie one that will scare you.
Title: Darkness # 3 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Pencilers: Michael Broussard & Dale Keown Inkers: Ryan Winn & Joe Weems Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Comments: Jackie is sent to collect a debt from some old geeky looking scientist. Why is he needed for one old guy? Well for one thing hes not the only one after him. Jackie and the Darkness are a sight to see. They will instill terror. Jackie is no longer quite human. Jackie and the scientist working together have made it possible for Jackie to do things not possible before. His power level has really increased. The things he does you need to see to believe. Now Jaclie's female version she is a work of art, a dark and mysterious creature created out of the Darkness. Jackie may be better at controlling the Darkness but she is the Darkness. Jackie was unstoppable. He was certain. He was a lot of things. Things change. The art could have shown more of the Darklings they were left to much in the background. Jackie's costume mask is a great design. It adds so much to his appearance. The ending here will leave you shocked. You will never see this coming. You will be stunned.
Title: Darkness # 4 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Penciler: Michael Broussard Inker: Ryan Winn Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Comments: Jackie finds out sometimes its better to give than receive. Or to have something taken away. Jackie may be in trouble but he is also feeling pretty good. Jackie facing the manifestation of the Darkness makes for some disturbing horrific drawings. The relationship of the Darkness to its hosts is explored here. It might just not be what you think it is. Elle, Jackies attempt at making his own girlfriend is still around and with a nice surprise as she meets him in the tunnels. She seems to use the Darkness better than him. The descriptive narration of Jackie experiencing life outside of the Darkness is so well done. It will make you feel more alive. As he lives, feels and sees things as he has not for so long. It makes you appreciate what being human is.
Title: Darkness # 5 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Penciler: Michael Broussard Inker: Ryan Winn Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Comments: Elle looks like a creature from Hell. She acts like one to. She is fierce and insanely violent. But even though she is filled with love. Elle may just be the mother of a new age for the Darkness. Jackie is a sad man he knows his life is Hell. He wants to do good just life doesn't work out the way you want it to. Jackie realizes his hatred for those who betrayed him. It is a source of strength. Elle is a hideous mess as she nears her time. She is drawn to show the pain the Darkness can cause. Also what it can create. What it creates is amazing. Jackie just wants to be happy. To live a normal life. But all those that get close to him die. To love him is to court death. This new aspect of the Darkness will add a freshness that adds a new exciting twist.
Title: Darkness # 6 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Artist: Michael Broussard Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Rating: 4 out of 5 stars Comments: Jackie Estacado a man filled with darkness. Jackie gets to face the Darkness head on or at least a part of it. Jackie has been learning more about the Darkness and how to manipulate it. He doesn't just send little Darklings out anymore. He has matured in his control. The Darkness creature is so full of himself. He thinks he is so much better than Estacado. Estacado has proven himself over and over. Arragence against Estacado is not smart. The artwork on these two is magnificant. Two creatures of darkness and only one can survive. The evil in both is apparent. Whats stronger pure evil or evil controlled? Jackie's personality as a tough guy stands out. Since he is one withe darkness he does know how to handle it. Jackie is an imposing man.
Title: Darkness # 7 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Artist: Jorge Lucas Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Rating: 3 out of 5 stars Comments: Jackie is wondering through a desert and as he is approaching a town it is easy to see something is off. The weird and strange do seem to follow Jackie wherever he goes. The art needs to be clearer. It is not defined. The coloring on the witch with the green and black is a compellingly eerie sight. Jackie gets enlisted on a quest. A simple one really or so you would think. Jackie lives in a world of darkness and the people therein can be just as dark as the darkest nights. Jackie even without his darkness powers is still plenty dangerous. Jackie is the soul focus of this issue. He may be associated with evil and at one time had access to evil. But he is at his heart, at his core one of the good guys. So even the dark may bring light.
Title: Darkness # 8 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Artist: Jorge Lucas Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Comments: The overall art is vague with to much black filler. All the colors are way to dark. Jackie without his powers just doesn't seem the same. He is resourceful and still dangerous but different. Aphrodite IV is not drawn very well at all. She is in shadow to much so you can never fully see her. Her physical prowess is hinted at but never fully shown. She acts like a professional. She does her job and does it well. Jackie though is really lacking without his powers. He comes across as just some crazy man. Some guy out for a profit and fun. A shell of his former self. This didn't even seem like an issue of the Darkness.
Title: Darkness # 9 Publisher: Top Cow Writer: Phil Hester Artist: Jorge Lucas Price: $ 2.99 US/Can Rating: 2 out of 5 stars Comments: Sovereign is definitely something different in a villian or is he? He does have one big surprise announcement. Not something you are likely to ever guess. Which does offer up some explaination to certain things. Now Jackie makes a deal with this devil. Will Jackie keep his end of it? Sister Jo a humanitarian or demon? Maybe some of both. She is much more. A monster with a touch of humanity. Jackie without his full darkness powers just seems like a glorified thug. Now he is even less. He is just a lapdog for sovereign. How the mighty have fallen. There is gore and violence a plenty here. The illustrations though are to dark using to much black filler. The closeups though are not to bad as they let you see the nun in all her demonic evil.
Darkness: First Look, Darkness #2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
Posted - 10/29/2007 : 2:58:43 PM
Title: The Darkness: First Look
Title: Darkness # 2
