In this issue, we learn that Jackie really hates the color red. Oh, and some other stuff, too.
The Darkness #77
Publisher: Top Cow
Writer: Phil Hester
Artist: Michael Broussard
Covers: Frazer Irving
Summary: Jackie’s face-off against his deadliest foe yet continues as the Legacy numbering of The Darkness goes into full effect, taking into account every issue ever published, regardless of volume.
An ageless beauty with red ribbon in her hair and her silent enforcer are determined to wipe out another Darkness bearer. Can Jackie break the curse? Meanwhile the mysterious Foreigner reveals new information to Jackie, which shakes him to his core.
Review: Once again, Phil Hester and Michael Broussard deliver the goods in style. Lately the Sovereign—who promised to return Jackie Estacado’s soul from hell if he crosses off names in his little black book—has the Darkness bearer running on morally unstable errands, to say the least. But when a mysterious man called the Foreigner and a lustrous woman donning a red ribbon make their presences known, Jackie’s world turns upsidedown.
Not a lot happens in the issue in terms of actions; instead, The Darkness #77 focuses on dialogue and narration as it unfolds layers of Jackie’s true relationship with the Darkness and the Sovereign’s real agenda—at least according to the Sovereign. The first half of the issue plays out slowly and takes care of the spell-bound woman and her guardian, whose sole purpose remains trapping and killing those cursed with the Darkness. After about twelve pages of well-written but long-winded narration during which Jackie and the guardian spar, we finally arrive at the meat of the issue. Let’s just say the Foreigner spins Jackie’s head, and kind of in the Exorcist, “Hey, look, darklings!” kind of way.
What the Foreigner tells Jackie about his connection to the Darkness and the Sorvereign’s intentions changes everything, and by the end of the comic Hester marks a new page in Jackie Estacado’s life, leaving a lot dangling in the balance. There’s always the bleak possibility that the Foreigner weaved lies that will only make Jackie’s situation worse; to quote our favorite comic book gangster, “And right now the only thing I’m sicker of than the Darkness is people f****** with my head.” Whatever Jackie decides to do with the given information, he’ll need to deal with the Sovereign—the boss won’t let him off the hook that easily.
I can’t wait to see what happens next, and I hope Michael Broussard pumps out more art like the vibrant and gorgeous splash page at the end of this issue. I’m pretty sure it’s an homage to a classic piece of comic book art, too, but you’ll have to check it out for yourselves.
June 1st, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Have always loved the character of Jackie Estacado since playing the Darkness; the more I see of the comic series, the more I wanna get my hands on it!