Darkhold: Wasp #1

Darkhold: Wasp is another great horror one-shot that ties deeply into the human experience. It's a reminder even the most outlandish, supernatural stories can be used to show human experience. Read Full Review

Out of all the installments of Darkhold so far, "King Maker"'s merit is one not as fantastical as the others, grounded in a base of reality that all reader's come face to face with given that relationships (romantic or otherwise) can have a "Darkhold" indeed. Read Full Review

Artist Claire Roe nails the faux-retro vibe of the story, which is obviously meant to be set in the vague past of the Marvel Universe when Jan and Hank were still an item. Her linework here contains lots of black space, invoking shadows and darkness befitting Jan's mental state. It contrasts nicely with Bellaire's colors, which are often bright and vibrant. Read Full Review

I had serious doubts of the Darkhold mini-event, being as it came around on top of of Dark Ages; how many alternative universes do you need to see in any given month? That said, the quality of the Darkhold books has been pretty good, the re-workings of the familiar have turned out better than expected. Read Full Review

It's a well-written story with an odd, stilted art style (that actually works in context) and a really sudden ending. It's among the best of the series so far, though. Read Full Review

If there was an issue #2 coming, this would be a potent set-up, but it falls short of satisfying as a one-shot. Read Full Review

estebanism

Nov 17, 2021

a tale of liberation

Psycamorean

Jan 03, 2022

This is one of the better Darkhold issues. It is about abuse and love, and all that gay shit. When you take into account that this is a series of one-shots about characters succumbing to their worst natures (more or less, the editor did a poor job with directing all the writers), this issue makes a ton of sense. This is an abuse victim's worst fantasy. Something that they hate themselves for thinking and taking pleasure in, regardless of how badly they've been hurt. Merlyn doesn't understand this, as he's either never been abused in a relationship (Good for him!) or he's just too braindead to realize he's been a victim of abuse (Good for him!). He thinks this issue is about a macro idea of patriarchy. And in some ways, it could be. Women ar e conditioned by society to be subservient, to be the empathetic one, forever at the abuse of hegemony. And if you're on the fence about this, just talk to a woman. It becomes immediately apparent if you're even a little bit aware of social relations. It's super shitty. But who is to say this isn't about the micro? The codependent, abusive relationships that a lot of us have been through? It could even be about both?? Mind blown yet??? The truth is, this is a well done story and if you can't humanize with this even a little bit because you're just so blinded by politics and an all-consuming fear, I feel bad for you. And I'm not ignoring the last bit about how writing comics means you aren't oppressed. Bitch please, comic writers in general are super oppressed. They need unions and healthcare ASAP. They're all brought in with a love for the medium that they can't help but share, and then systematically abused by the systems in place that keep them under the boot heel of Mickey and Bugs. more

CrazyforRAMU

Mar 23, 2022

This intense psychological study of a reciprocally-abusive relationship is *not* what I was expecting in a Darkhold book, so I was initially a little disappointed. The closer I looked, though, the more impressed I was by the subtle effort invested by the creators -- visually, verbally, and thematically. This is offbeat and grim, but in the best possible way.

daspidaboy

Nov 17, 2021

This issue was not that fun to read. Dialogue, bad art, and just wasn't interesting to read.

Merlyn

Nov 17, 2021

This is what I like to call "utter shit". It played into all of Hank's worst traits while adding the classic feminist male-hating. But of course it's all ok when it's being done against men. We've stopped "fridging" female characters (and rightly so) because it was a shitty thing but we don't apply the same standards to shitty stuff writers did to male characters. No, instead we double-down on them so that crazies like Jordie Bellaire who get jobs they don't deserve can complain how they're being "oppressed". Yeah, if getting to write comics when you're a shitty writer means you're oppressed, sure, that tracks.

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• Zazikarion

maelstron - Nov 17, 2021

Oh dude, Hank is a established wife beater. But of course you have to take it on feminists man haters. Pathetic

Merlyn - Nov 17, 2021

Yes, and that's why I compared it to the problematic "fridging" stuff. That was wrong, it was done against women and they stopped doing it. This is also wrong, but they continue with it because we can always shit on men. You're pathetic if you don't get why this is wrong.