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  COMIC REVIEWS FOR THE MONTH OF: NOVEMBER 2002
  DARKNESS VOLUME 2 #1
Writer: Matt Wagner  Artist:  Dale Keown
Review By: Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
Publisher: Image/Devil's Due Comics,   Shipped On: 112002
MSRP: .$2.95 each (15% OFF during it's 1st Week of release only at Alternate Reality!)
IMAGE/DEVIL'S DUE'S SYNOPSIS:
Hunter Rose was only the beginning. Christine Spar and Brian Li Sung: merely pawns in the Devil's grip, incubating the spirit of Grendel until it was ready to explode into the world and spread across all of human consciousness like a virus infecting its host. Now, several hundred years in the future, as mankind slowly pulls itself together after a third World War, opportunistic religions and obsessive corporations battle for attention. But one force rises above it all and dominates the public psyche -- there's a new drug in town, it's euphoric, it's deadly, it's called Grendel!
BO'S REVIEW:
The last time we saw Jackie in his own title he was lighting his lowlife uncle Frankie up like a Cajun turkey because he had killed someone close to him. Jackie also died in the fire but now he's back even though he doesn't know how or why.

Jenkins begins the story with Jackie standing outside the warehouse that was the site of his death contemplating the two losses of his life. This trick allows new readers to catch up and reminds old readers of what has happened in the months since the title ended. Once caught up he has Jackie run into an old 'friend' so we can find out who has taken over the family business and see one of Jackie's new abilities.

The new boss isn't much nicer than the old boss, which is made clear when he does an act so heinous it shows Jackie his new path-revenge. A visit to a hide out comes with lead and blood until someone makes the mistake of turning the lights out. That mistake sets up a two-page spread that is so messed up it may give you nightmares.

Former Hulk and Pitt artist Dale Keown returns to greatness here. His pencils are densely smooth and lush as velvet here. Keown is able to not only show us the horror of the situations presented here but the quiet moments as well. He is once again a 'big deal'. Jenkins story allows that but I think he always had it; it's just that infrequent work made us forget that.

All Books/Characters pictured herein are © Copyright 2002 by their respective owners. No rights given or implied by Alternate Reality, Incorporated.

Reviews © 2009 Alternate Reality, Inc.

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