After #1 of The Darkness Four Horseman, it wasn’t really clear what this mini-series was going to be about other than a battle between “The Darkness” and a biker version of the four horsemen. There were also a couple of mysterious characters introduced, the angelic looking woman and another un-named group of men. Unfortunately, this issue didn’t develop these issues much, if at all. All we know is that both of these characters are heading to Ginsberg, where all the action is taking place.
Also, as the first issue covered the powers of the four horsemen, this issue spends too much time doing the same thing and showing unnecessarily violent demises of a number of the people of Ginsberg. I know that the comic has a violent tone, but it just seems a bit much and a waste of pages.
Some of the characterisation also seems a bit amiss. The priest that accompanies Jackie doesn’t even bat an eyelid when Jackie transforms into his Darkness form right in front of him. This is apparently some sort of drunken bravery, but then he gets scared in a couple of panels time when “The Darkness” uses his demonic powers. This seems unrealistic and inconsistent.
However, there are good things about this comic as well. The choice of adversary in particular works perfectly, someone as powerful and resourceful as “The Darkness” needs an enemy or enemies of equal power, otherwise the story would be boring and predictable.
The art is also very good, with the nature of the demonic abilities giving lots of opportunity for interesting and impressive pieces of imaginative art. But it isn’t just the demonic sections that are drawn well; the whole comic is a joy to look at as long as you can stomach the quite graphic violence.
My main problem with The Darkness Four Horseman is that it feels like it isn’t anywhere near as entertaining or enjoyable as a comic containing a biker gang version of the four horseman of the apocalypse should be. This left me feeling a little bit underwhelmed while not feeling entirely disappointed. This comic certainly isn’t bad; it just feels like it could be better.
5/10
