What happens when forces of darkness join together?
Find out what happens when two forces of Darkness join together in this anticipated one shot issue!
The Good
When I first started reading Top Cow comics, I had to do a little bit of research. The Top Cow Universe is a lot like that of the X-Men at Marvel- you can't really just jump into the first issue you pick up. The characters in their books and ongoing stories are generally connected by various elements of their backstory. This is not a bad thing, mind you and it is actually one of the things I really like about Top Cow. In my opinion, they have managed to create a very unique universe using elements of horror and the concept of light and darkness as themes to connect stories and characters. All this being said, if you ever wanted to learn about The Darkness and Darkchylde and were always skeptical of where to begin reading, then you need to look no further. This book not only acts as a perfect springboard into the Top Cow Universe, but it introduces both Jackie Estacado as well Ariel Chylde to new readers while simultaneously providing an intriguing story for longtime fans of the characters to follow and enjoy. The one-shot is a complete story that is interesting enough to keep you reading. The art, of course, is provocative (it is, afterall, Top Cow).
The Bad
Some of Darkchylde's internal monologue was stale, particularly toward the end during the hospital scene. I recall asking myself, "do people really talk like that?" While I do like The Darkness' character, I have never really been a big fan of Darkchylde. Having an appreciation for the character always influences the rating. In the end though, the plot and story were not mind blowing or thought provoking.
The Verdict - 3.5/5
This is by far a fun read, especially if you are a fan of the horror genre. It is a great introduction to these two characters and explains very briefly their connection to "darkness," It reads as a one-shot and is a self contained story perfect for new readers and those unfamiliar with these characters.
