DARKLAND #1, from Scout Comics on December 14th, 2022, follows Zed, a tough-as-nails criminal given a chance to clear her record if she acts as a bounty hunter for the Covenant. Will the price she pays for clemency be too high?
The Details
- Written by: Nicholas Black
- Art by: Serg Acuna
- Colors by: Hackto Ashiro
- Letters by: Bernardo Brice
- Cover art by: Serg Acuna
- Cover price: $3.99
- Release date: December 14, 2022
Is It Good?
DARKLAND #1 is a solid start to a promising sci-fi adventure with an eclectic collection of characters, emotional stakes, alien beasties, and weirdly intriguing worlds of the not-too-distant future. All the ingredients are present for an entertaining story, so this is a winner of a first issue.
Nicholas Black’s script centers on Zed, a one-armed convict given a shot at freedom if she accepts a job as a bounty hunter for the governing body known as the Covenant. She agrees, and her first task involves tracking down a girl with ties to an odd group of rebels(?). If you’re a sci-fi film fan, you’ll easily pick up shades of Escape from New York, Terminator 2, and a dash or two of Blade Runner. By any measure, that’s a fine collection of sci-fi to inspire a comic.
Beyond the sci-fi elements, Black succeeds in infusing the issue with a fair bit of heart by revealing Zed’s target has other parties interested in her. Parties with a personal connection. Those competing parties infuse heart and emotional motivation into the hunt. Although this issue doesn’t clarify who exactly you should be rooting for, the emotional weight adds tension to the hunt to keep you engaged.
Acuna and Ashiro deliver excellent art in an increasingly rare circumstance where the internal page quality is on par with the cover art. The character designs are instantly recognizable and memorable, the gory moments (there are a few) hit hard but appropriately so, and the characters’ facial acting is on-point. The art team nailed the believable future aesthetic with engaging characters.
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]
We begin with an introduction to Zed, a one-armed criminal serving a very long sentence. She’s brought before a council of the Covenant with an offer. The Covenant will wipe away Zed’s criminal record if she agrees to become a civilian marshall (read: bounty hunter) for the Covenant. Zed’s first target is a young girl named Rose Moreau.
Elsewhere, Rose relaxes with her cat while playing a card game when she receives an intruder alert. Rose investigates and finds an injured young man lying among the rubble near her shelter as he’s about to be eaten by a giant spider monster. Rose reluctantly intervenes.
Elsewhere again, Izabel receives an unexpected visit from the scarred and bandaged Dirk. He brings news that Rose is alive and asks for Izabel’s help in finding her before the Covenant does. We conclude the issue with a not-so-great train robbery, old memories, and new dangers.
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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DARKLAND #1 kicks off a fanciful, engaging sci-fi adventure about a conscripted bounty hunter enlisted to find a special girl. The writing and art execution are excellent, and the story is interesting enough to hook you for the next issue.
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