By: Peter Milligan (writer), Mikel Janin (artist), Ulises Arreola (colorist)
The Story: Tantric magic in a cheap hotel? Have you no self respect?
The Review: It’s disappointing to find Milligan falling into the same problem that hampers a lot of writers in the supernatural genre: failing to establish the mechanics of his world. Even though magic by its very nature has no limitation, that same quality can make it deadly to fiction. If a writer doesn’t take care to create some ground rules or explain the whys and wherefores of magical workings, they’ll just seem like they work in any way convenient to the story.
Here’s an example: Zatanna’s backwards magic, which has never been clearly or consistently explained. You’d think it takes more to work the magic than just picking up a few words by listening to her sleep-talking, but Constantine does just that here. Not only does this simplify Zee’s powers radically and make it feel less specialized, it also makes little sense. Why would he need to use her magic to wake her up when he clearly has power of his own?
Milligan misses a few other opportunities to give some much needed explanation. After two issues of seeing June Moone’s traumatized behavior, you already know very well her bonding to Enchantress was not a mutually beneficial experience. So it seems a waste of time to have scene after scene of June in hysterics over the idea of going back. It would’ve been more profitable to give some background on how she got tied up with Enchantress in the first place.
At least then we could avoid the awkward romance springing up between June and Deadman. Considering the guy basically bozoed his way out of his relationship with Dove, his hitting it off with June in what is apparently Dove’s apartment, moments after she left (and is still M.I.A. since last issue, by the way), seems pretty contemptible. While he comes across slimy (to June’s kiss, he remarks, “I can feel it. And it’s beautiful.”), his new flame is just macabre; in the event Enchantress might recapture her, she wants him to kill her so “We’d both be dead…together.”
None of that has anything on the truly disturbing scenes featuring Rac Shade, most of all when golem girlfriend Kathy reanimates herself in the most grossly degraded manner, apparently with the sole desire to French kiss him. While this all does, in a disgusting way, live up to the “Dark” promise of this title, it doesn’t develop Shade’s character or powers in any way, so its seems rather unproductive.
And then you have the introduction of Mindwarp to this already character-burdened storyline. Most problematically, his appearance lacks all context. You have no idea why he’s attacking that unnamed, unidentified man in the hotel, or threatening that man’s unnamed, unidentified lady companion. It’s a poorly-written scene that focuses more on high-minded lines (“A Christian saint rots in the same oblivion as the foulest Nazi killer) than good set-up.
Like many photo-realistic artists, Janin’s figures tend to look very stiff and posed, but he still conveys quite a bit of tension with it (the whole “Kathy” scene is undeniably affecting, even as it leaves a bitter taste in your mouth). Arreola’s coloring is a mixed bag; while his lightshow of colors spices up the magical parts of the issue, in general he makes the characters seem a bit waxy at times, especially June Moone.
Conclusion: Darkness is all well and good, but an occult title needs more than that to truly sing. Besides, the issue suffers from underwhelming writing, short-selling character work, plot development, and backstory for viscerally grim scenes.
Grade: C
– Minhquan Nguyen
Some Musings: – I’m pretty sick of the word “insane” by this point. I’d like for us to go one issue without it.
– Mindwarp’s literary taste leaves something to be desired; on his bed are the first issues of Flashpoint: Secret Seven and Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons, two of the least worthwhile tie-ins of that Event.
Grade
Conclusion