Simon Dark #1

Posted by Max on October 16, 2007

(DC Comics)

I’m going to be upfront with you. My initial expectations for Simon Dark were, to put it bluntly, not great. Although the book had serious pedigree in both Steve Niles and Scott Hampton, the entire concept seemed designed for Hot Topic. An amnesiac teenager made from dead people with incredible skills and a heart of gold who just wants to be understood? The guy even has Dark built right into his name! Crow, eat your heart out. Plus, the damn thing is set in Gotham, which apparently still has a surplus of criminals despite the best efforts of Batman (And Batwoman, Robin, Huntress, The Creeper, Onyx, Ragman, Section 8Ã¯Â¿Â½). Note to DC: When youÃ¯Â¿Â½re trying to establish a new character in his own ongoing, it might not be the best idea to refer to him as “Gotham City’s Other Protector” on the cover of his own book. It seems tough to believe that in a city this crowded, none of the normal vigilantes are aware of an urban legend that goes around decapitating people. However, it’s my policy not to review based on cover and plot synopsis alone,Ã‚Â so I forked over my 3 bucks and picked up a copy. For those of you with short attention spans, I’ll just say this; I expect to be paying those same 3 bucks for some time to come.

Simon Dark is good, and more than that, it’s fresh. Part Frankenstein, part samurai and part super-hobo, Simon is a unique character in a world of grim vigilantes and one-note heroes. Although willing to kill, he seems more interested in protecting his neighbourhood than fighting crime, and is perfectly willing to accept money for his efforts. I’m curious to see where Simon goes from here, as it seems inevitable that other heroes will begin to show up (I’ll be shocked if Batman hasn’t guest-starred within 10 issues). The real test is going to come when Simon Dark’s history is revealed. Hopefully Niles can keep the character unique, and prevent him from degenerating into a standard vigilante. The rest of the cast is fairly forgettable at this point, with only the local medical examiner getting a name. While I realize this isn’t a book that needs a wise-cracking side-kick, I do hope some of these people get fleshed out in the future. Again however, it’s hard to criticize any first issue much in this regard. Finally, there’s some cult activity going on which ties into the beginning of the book. I know the idea of a secret cabal of wealthy men engaged in Satanic practices may seem hard to believe, but here’s hoping Neil can make it work.

Scott Hampton’s art in this book is solid, and at times superb. While there is the occasional odd expression or seemingly lazy eye, Hampton’s style easily shifts from cinematic to story-book, perfectly capturing the pace of the story. Special note should also be made of Chris Chuckry’s colors, which create a washed out, almost dream-like atmosphere, reinforcing the fairy-tale motif. Although Niles’ writing is fairly verbose, the book’s art does an admirable job of supporting the story’s quieter moments. My only worry as far as art is concerned is whether Hampton while be able to handle more action in future issues, as this story is largely dialogue driven. I’ll be the first to admit I’m not overly familiar with his work, so take my nervousness with a grain of salt.

Go read Simon Dark. It’s rare enough to see a new, original title from DC, much less one as good as this. I expect good things from this series, but I’m also a realist. This kind of title screams canceled in 20, and I would hate to see such a unique character relegated to a supporting role. As a college student, I am by nature a cheap bastard, so the fact that this has made not just my read, but the nigh-unachievable buy list should tell you its worth the investment. Love it or hate it, it’s a breath of fresh air for the DC universe.

Simon Dark #1

Filed Under: Rack Raids

Tags: 4/5, dc, Horror/Supernatural, steve niles

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