who or what inspired the Darkling? Any story behind the character on how you created him?

The Darkling was inspired by every antagonist I ever fell for when I knew I shouldn’t:

Jareth from Labyrinth (but, y’know, with better hair and looser pants)

Darkness from Legend (oh pointy pointy… he and Loki should get together to compare hats)

Raistlin from Dragonlance

Sandor Clegane

even the monstrous Flagg from Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon and The Stand (among other works)

I wrote a little bit about it here and some people did NOT like what I had to say.