The frickin’ aliens are here! And they just ruined a delicious veal escalopini.
The Darkness/Pitt #1 (of 3)
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Artist: Dale Keown
Covers: Dale Keown, Stjepan Sejic
Summary: Dale Keown’s classic hero Pitt makes his return to comics! What else do you need to know?
When Tim and Pitt’s mission to track down those infected by an alien virus brings them to Jackie’s stomping ground in New York, they are invariably drawn together. Both attract the unwanted attention of the Federal Government and mayhem ensues!
The crossover reunites The Darkness writer Paul Jenkins (Captain America, Mythos) and Pitt creator Dale Keown (Hulk: The End) and features two covers by series artist Keown and a variant cover by Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade).
Review: Nothing sours a fine dinner like when vicious, flesh-hungry monsters crash the party. They ruin the mood and spill blood on the tablecloth. Even worse, Jackie Estacado’s Darkness sense wasn’t tingling, which means he’s in for a long haul … and it involves aliens.
The pile of corpses the disastrous creatures leave in their wake doesn’t help to clear Jackie’s infamous name when he’s found as the only one left standing after the massacre. Two top organization agents are in town, and they’re keeping a close eye on the situation. Of course, Jackie’s determined to find out who—or what—orchestrated the gore fest on his territory … and pay them back for spoiling his once-a-month cuisine from Mama Luccesi’s restaurant. It doesn’t take long for a whole new horde of fiends to lead him straight to a giant alien/human hybrid named Pitt and his younger, genetically linked human brother. Not only do the pair fall far from the family tree in appearances, but they strike different chords in personality, as well. However, they both sport some unique powers, which makes the budding team-up with the Darkness-bearer that much richer.
The issue might be trodden with the foul, “infected” spawn of an alien virus, but the comic doesn’t forget that the real action and story revolves around the main trio. I’m not overly fond of Dale Keown’s art style, but Jenkins’ writing hits the spot like a savory meal at the best place in the city. The back-and-forth interaction between Jackie and Tim works wonderfully, and dashes on just the right serving of humor. The Darkness/Pitt pulls off a strong first issue—balancing the laughs with a mild level of seriousness, danger, and adventure that you can stomach easily. So grab a chair and relax, because the comic works up a healthy appetite for the rest of the mini-series. Just remember if you order the veal bloody, you might get more than you asked for.
