DAHLIA IN THE DARK #4, from Mad Cave Studios on March 29th, 2023, finds Donny Dahlia going rogue when his delivery mission appears to be a failure, but he won’t give up on helping Princess Maya.
The Details
- Written by: Joe Corallo
- Art by: Andrea Milana
- Colors by: Andrea Milana
- Letters by: Micah Myers
- Cover art by: Andrea Milana (cover A)
- Comic Rating: Teen+
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: March 29, 2023
Is It Good?
DAHLIA IN THE DARK #4 continues Donny Dahlia’s cathartic journey in this magic-packed next installment from Joe Corallo. Filled with a few twists, turns, and plenty of action, this is the most thrilling issue to date.
The highlight of Corallo’s story is the heartbreaking connection established between the past and present for Donny Dahlia. From the previous issues, we know Donny is in a bad place due to past hurts involving his wife and daughter, but those hurts were only referenced as fleeting hints. Now, we get a clearer picture of the emotional baggage Donny carries, and that picture elevates the stakes for Donny’s actions as he races to rescue Maya from Galvonus.
The odd spot in this issue is Ollie, Donny’s employer. The complex political machinations behind Maya’s disappearance remain in the background, but Ollie appears to be playing all sides up front for his personal advantage. When it’s not clear who’s fighting for which side or why, Ollie’s actions appear contradictory and confusing. Is Ollie working with the police? Is he working for the current fairy monarchy? Is he working for the fairy monarchy’s rival? Is he working for the Fairy Council? Is he working for himself? The answer appears to be “All Of The Above,” and that answer makes Ollie a confusing character.
Andrea Milana’s artwork is solid in this issue. This is the first issue in the series that goes all out with magical violence, and it looks great. Magical lightning, erupting earth, and levitating combatants take center stage, and the way Milana presents the magical action fits perfectly in a semi-grounded setting.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at the covers, or Click Here to jump right to the story description with some spoilers.
What’s It About?
[SPOILERS AHEAD – Click here if you just want the score without spoilers]
Check out our DAHLIA IN THE DARK #3 review to find out how Maya disappeared from Donny’s care.
We begin with Donny trudging through the snow to look for Maya after she disappeared from his motel room. When he returns to the room empty-handed, he answers a call from Ollie and explains he’s quitting the mission.
Later, the Council discusses the importance of delivering the package, but we learn Maya isn’t the important part of the package. Galvonus delivers Maya into the hands of her father’s rivals and begins to perform a ceremony that will send her into their hands permanently. The ceremony is interrupted by Maya’s awakening and Donny’s arrival.
We conclude the issue with magic battles, arresting role reversals, and Ollie playing every angle.
Keep scrolling for a closer look at preview images of the internal pages, or Click Here to jump right to the score.
Final Thoughts
(Click this link 👇 to order this comic)
DAHLIA IN THE DARK #4 turns up the volume on pacing and magical action for the most exciting issue so far. The details of Donny’s past build a strong emotional bridge to the present, and the magical action is first-rate.
We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media:
If you’re interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.
Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com
As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.