DAHLIA IN THE DARK #1, from Mad Cave Studios on December 7th, 2022, begins an urban fantasy thriller in a world where humans and fantasy creatures barely co-exist, but theft, kidnapping, and murder are universal.
The Details
- Written by: Joe Corallo
- Art by: Andrea Milana
- Colors by: Andrea Milana
- Letters by: Micah Meyers
- Cover art by: Andrea Milana (cover A)
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: December 7, 2022
Is It Good?
Well, well, well. Interesting. We’re a fan of unusual or intriguing genre mashups, and DAHLIA IN THE DARK #1 is just that. We had no expectations for this title and went into it completely cold, so it was a pleasant surprise to find Joe Corallo producing an interesting premise with an eclectically engaging set of characters for your reading pleasure.
What is DAHLIA IN THE DARK #1? Without giving too much away, take the Jason Statham film, The Transporter (2002), set it in the Bright (2017) world, and that will get you somewhere outside the ballpark. That’s a combo we’ve never seen before, so kudos again to Corallo for the wild new flavor.
Corallo’s script doesn’t waste any time getting you into the world (and head) of the story’s lead character, Donny Dahlia. As the title implies, Dahlia is in over his head when he takes an assignment with much bigger implications than he’s told, and the stakes escalate very quickly when competing, deadly forces want what Dahlia’s got. The setup is simple yet effective, Corallo adds in the suggestion of a motivating backstory through a partial flashback that lets you know Dahlia is at a low point in his life due to some past tragedy, and the eclectic collection of antagonists is individually interesting enough to get you to want to know just as much about them as much as Dahlia.
Structurally, Corallo’s script checks every box you could hope for in a first issue. The pacing is solid, the dialog is excellent, the characters are full-formed, the world feels lived-in, and the characters are properly motivated, which gives their actions heft and clarity. This is one of the best stories we’ve read from Corallo in recent memory.
Milana’s art is above average, in general, and serviceable for this story. The character designs are memorable, the panel layouts and compositions are excellent, and Milana’s use of shading and shadows gives the art a noirish vibe that enhances the atmosphere of Dahlia’s troubles. The minor down point in Milana’s art is the muted, almost faded, color palette. The lack of pop or contrast dampens the energy of the more dramatic scenes. You could argue the color choice is intended to mimic classic B&W films, but if that’s the case, the attempt doesn’t quite succeed.
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What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
We begin with a flashback to Donny Dahlia on one of his jobs. This time, he’s tasked with tracking down and eliminating a werewolf. When the deed is done, we see Donny arrive home to play the loving husband and father, leaving the dangers of the world outsides.
Now, Donny’s life is far from normal. He’s alone, downtrodden, and desperate to take any odd job that suits his particular set of skills. We glean that something may have happened to Donny’s family to bring him to this lowly state. One day, Mr. Oleander offers Donny a job he can’t refuse – transporting a critical package cross-country to a confidential buyer.
We conclude the issue with changeling assassins, triple crosses, and a peek inside the box.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
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DAHLIA IN THE DARK #1 takes the criminal courier story, sets it in an urban fantasy world, and sprinkles on a dash of noir aesthetic for a new and interesting story idea. The story elements hit perfectly, and the art is fairly good. This is a dead-center hit for a first issue and worth your time.
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