The Darkness: Accursed Volume 2

art by Jorge Lucas, Michael Broussard, Joe Benitez, Dale Keown, Ryan Sook, Steve Firchow, Lee Carter, Matt Timson, Stjepan Sejic

cover by Michael Broussard

published by Top Cow Productions, Inc.

(2009)

160 pages

review by Garrett Cook*

09.19.2009

I’m probably not the only one to look at The Darkness and say “hmm, I liked this better when it was called Spawn”. But, after reading the TPBs of the established Top Cow series that I never got around to when it first came out, I decided I didn’t like it better when it was called Spawn. Spawn was actually pretty lame and The Darkness has some cool stuff going for it. Derivative as it might be, I’ll take The Darkness over Spawn most of the time. However, as with Spawn, I had to question: does this character really have any legs? How many stories can you tell about this ex mob hitman slaughtering angels and occasionally trying NOT to be a bastard?

Phil Hester’s Accursed took things in an interesting though sort of predictable direction. In some ways it felt like The Darkness’ Planet Hulk, taking a violent unpredictable loner and putting him someplace where he could wreak havoc and be his id driven self. Seeing Jackie Estacado take on the inner darkness that granted him his power and sacrifice some of it was a bit obvious but still rewarding and beautifully drawn by Michael Broussard.

The second volume of Accursed, which this review is really about starts out promising. Jackie’s power levels are down, he’s in Mexico, there’s a sexy witch and it’s all pretty creative. Good stuff. The following three part story, “Crooked” does not feel quite so novel. Some cliché nonsense about regaining his soul, fights with Aphrodite IX and a possessed nun, a big drum of turkey shit…it’s all sort of humdrum even with its excellent art. The next story, a depiction of a world ruled by the Darkness passes through the hands of various artists. It looks fantastic and is actually an interesting read. This story and the first one might be enough to justify a purchase, but I myself wouldn’t buy it. There’s better stuff out there.

Maybe I’m only supposed to talk about Accursed Volume 2, but I cannot help but look at The Darkness as a whole. It had promise in its first issues, it was cooler than Spawn and Accursed Volume 1 did some neat, if derivative things but if Accursed Volume 2 is any indication of the direction the series is going, this is bad news for Top Cow. Top Cow needs to work harder to avoid making the mistakes Image made in the 90s. It doesn’t matter if the art is infused with more sex and attitude, they risk aging badly. If Top Cow wants to be the top dog in Indie comics, they’re going to need to infuse heart and intelligence into this Byronic eye candy. Maybe they can do it.

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*Garrett Cook is a youngish writer of Horror and Bizarro fiction and winner of the first annual Ultimate Bizarro Showdown. His book Murderland Part 1:H8 came out in Summer of 2008 and its sequel Murderland Part 2: Life During Wartime is coming Fall 2009. You can find out more about these books at www.evilnerdempire.com/propaganda.htm. Australian publisher Legumeman will be releasing his novella Archelon Ranch in Fall of 2009 as well. You can find out more about this at www.legumeman.com. When he is not writing books, he is associate editior of absurdist humor journal Bust Down the Door and Eat All the Chickens: www.absurdistjournal.com. He wears many hats metaphorical and otherwise, and is impeccably stylish in all of them.