The Darkness #109 Review


It’s been a rather bumpy road lately for this long-standing title but is our hero’s journey starting to show its age?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

“BREAKING DARK,” Part Four

Jackie Estacado has made a lot of enemies, but he has no idea how powerful the gangster Balakov has become. Without the Darkness at his command, will Jackie be able to protect his family? DAVID HINE (THE DARKNESS: FOUR HORSEMEN, THE BULLETPROOF COFFIN) and JEREMY HAUN (ARTIFACTS, Detective Comics) conclude their second story arc that will question everything you think you know about the Top Cow universe.

The hardest thing about reviewing this series is the presence of expectations.  Since this stellar creative team came on board they’ve done things with these characters that have continued to challenge both them and the world they inhabit while offering a superbly intricate yet engrossing romp.

David Hine once again delivers an expertly crafted script that quite easily plays with all the toys within his proverbial war chest.  He touches base with all of the converging plot threads as he slowly but surely builds this arc toward whatever crescendo he has planned. Jackie Estacado, the former bearer of The Darkness, is contending with a lot right now and at this point it looks like it may be too much for him to handle but despite that this endlessly engrossing adventure will keep fans glued to their seat as they feverishly flip to the cliffhanger.

The art by Jeremy Haun is continually one of the key pieces to this dynamic puzzle, as his layered but stylized panels brilliantly realize this latest jaunt.  His pencil strokes offer some striking emotions in some expertly crafted scenes, as he uses thick lines to properly set the mood of this devilishly disturbing saga.  The way he effortlessly realizes this world shows the depth of his skill while making it painfully obvious why he was tapped for this title in the first place.

The Darkness #109 is made for anyone who happens to be looking for a mature and smartly crafted horror series.  Highly recommended.

4.5/5

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