The Darkness #1-3: Raw Edition
Written by Phil Hester
Penciled by Michael Broussard
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover by Michael Broussard, Joe Weems, Mat Milla
Top Cow Productions
Cover price: $3.00; Available now

Why play God when you can be the Devil, himself? For more than a decade the anti-hero, The Darkness, has been a familiar name in the comic book world. Original creators, Garth Ennis, Marc Silvestri, and David Wohl showcased the first appearance in 1996 in another one of their Top Cow productions, Witchblade. The Darkness has been an amazing success due to its very dark undertone and graphically mature art design. This is one series that has made a creatively nefarious read out of a devilish persona.

Jackie Estacado has been bestowed with the Darkness, an unseemingly evil concoction of ascendancy. He befriends an ingenious scientist that teaches Jackie how to channel his unique devilish gift. The two team up to take on a small tropical city in the South American landmass. Faster than you can say, “Columbia Drug Packing Mule,” the duo have the city and large populated areas of the world dealing and pushing a new drug. The drug, called nightfall, is so pristine it’s undetected, isn’t addictive, doesn’t have any bad long-term effects, and it’s still legal. According to one drug-pushing goon in the comic and a line I thought sounded so natural coming from a pusher:

“You got two choices. You can have Jessica Alba working your knob while you lie on a pile of cash sipping rum on you private yacht in the Mediterranean, or you can take the drug.”

Living is surreal bliss for Jackie even though he is still on the radar by hundreds of anti-drug traffickers, small guerrilla terrorist groups, and large government militant forces. This doesn’t cause Jackie any concern after a round of unleashing his dark powers and a half dozen of his hellish demon minions. Unfortunately, Jackie has no idea that his own are plotting against him, and it may be the end for the Darkness.

The Darkness: #1-3 Raw Edition is a jaw dropping re-envision of the first three issues by artist, Michael Broussard. He is becoming a rising star in the comic book making community. Broussard has shown greatness with his previous ties with the Top Cow/Marvel crossover series, Unholy Union.

The comic has only two colored pages, the cover and the back. Untouched of paint, ink, or any kind of color, Broussard creates an absolute visionary with just a charcoal pencil. Large portions of the action packed illustrations alluded me to the famous conceptual artist, Yoji Shinkawa. He is the art creator to the largely famous, Metal Gear Solid series. The story written by Phil Hester, who is notable for his team project with Kevin Smith on the 2003, four part graphic novel, Green Arrow series. The Story still is great if you already caught it the first time, but the real charm is Broussard. Though, you may be asking, does that justify enough to re-buy it? And I would proclaim, does the bear poo in the woods? Hell yes it’s worth buying and checking out. His use of form and shadow is mouth wateringly delightful, and there is no point to just pass up this edition with little ease. Do yourself a favor and check out The Darkness #1-3: Raw Edition.