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The Darkness #26-39
Flesh and Blood
Featuring art from the industry's top artists and creators, The Darkness: Flesh and Blood is packed with action and the mysterious connection between The Darkness and The Witchblade. Collecting The Darkness #26-39 as well as the crossover book Witchblade/Darkness and Darkness/Witchblade, this trade paperback edition fills in the blanks on Jackie' past, and his place in the world.
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
464 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2005
28 people want to read
About the author
Scott Lobdell
1,627 books230 followersScott Lobdell (born 1960) is an American comic book writer.
He is mostly known for his work throughout the 1990s on Marvel Comics' X-Men-related titles specifically Uncanny X-Men, the main title itself, and the spin-off series that he conceived with artist Chris Bachalo, Generation X. Generation X focused on a number of young mutant students who attempted to become superheroes in their own right at a separate school with the guidance of veteran X-related characters Banshee and Emma Frost. He also had writing stints on Marvel's Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series with artist Gene Ha. He wrote the script to Stan Lee's Mosaic and an upcoming film from POW Entertainment featuring Ringo Starr. He also participated in the Marvel Comics and Image Comics (from Jim Lee's WildStorm) crossover mini-series WildC.A.T.s/X-Men.
He is mostly known for his work throughout the 1990s on Marvel Comics' X-Men-related titles specifically Uncanny X-Men, the main title itself, and the spin-off series that he conceived with artist Chris Bachalo, Generation X. Generation X focused on a number of young mutant students who attempted to become superheroes in their own right at a separate school with the guidance of veteran X-related characters Banshee and Emma Frost. He also had writing stints on Marvel's Fantastic Four, Alpha Flight, and The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix mini-series with artist Gene Ha. He wrote the script to Stan Lee's Mosaic and an upcoming film from POW Entertainment featuring Ringo Starr. He also participated in the Marvel Comics and Image Comics (from Jim Lee's WildStorm) crossover mini-series WildC.A.T.s/X-Men.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 15, 2025
Oh fuck me, here enters Scott Lobdell....
This volume brings together several story arcs, chronicling Jackie Estacado's chaotic life as the host of the Darkness. The volume attempts to delve deeper into his world, focusing heavily on family conflict within the Franchetti crime family. The return of his uncle Cristo and cousin Nicoletta resurrects old feuds, but the most unsettling revelation is the introduction of his long-lost twin sister, Capris. This storyline attempts to explore the Darkness from a new angle, but it's muddled by the frankly jarring and almost incestuous vibes she brings to the story with her lust for Jackie. While the storylines themselves aren't the greatest, they are at least quick to read if you skip over some of the dialogue, since it doesn't really amount to shit.
A major issue with this collection is the writing, which in my opinion is one of Scott Lobdell's worst. He overwrites everything, filling the pages with tons of nonsensical dialogue that doesn't actually contribute to the story. This frustratingly covers up the otherwise really fun late '90s art that could have told the story much more effectively. The narrative struggles to move forward under the weight of this excessive chatter. Recurring antagonists like the Angelus and Sonatine are brought back for climactic showdowns, but even these moments feel bogged down by a lot of pointless talk, a symptom of the constant need to fill space rather than focus on the action and character development.
Despite these significant issues, the volume does serve a purpose in the larger story of The Darkness. The plot points, while not always well-executed, work to wrap up several of the ongoing feuds and threats, ultimately leading to a conclusion that paves the way for a much-needed change in direction for the series. This collection marks a transitional period, and while it's a rough read at times, its ultimate value is in clearing the slate for a better storyline with a much better writer. This volume earns a final rating of 2.5 out of 5.
This volume brings together several story arcs, chronicling Jackie Estacado's chaotic life as the host of the Darkness. The volume attempts to delve deeper into his world, focusing heavily on family conflict within the Franchetti crime family. The return of his uncle Cristo and cousin Nicoletta resurrects old feuds, but the most unsettling revelation is the introduction of his long-lost twin sister, Capris. This storyline attempts to explore the Darkness from a new angle, but it's muddled by the frankly jarring and almost incestuous vibes she brings to the story with her lust for Jackie. While the storylines themselves aren't the greatest, they are at least quick to read if you skip over some of the dialogue, since it doesn't really amount to shit.
A major issue with this collection is the writing, which in my opinion is one of Scott Lobdell's worst. He overwrites everything, filling the pages with tons of nonsensical dialogue that doesn't actually contribute to the story. This frustratingly covers up the otherwise really fun late '90s art that could have told the story much more effectively. The narrative struggles to move forward under the weight of this excessive chatter. Recurring antagonists like the Angelus and Sonatine are brought back for climactic showdowns, but even these moments feel bogged down by a lot of pointless talk, a symptom of the constant need to fill space rather than focus on the action and character development.
Despite these significant issues, the volume does serve a purpose in the larger story of The Darkness. The plot points, while not always well-executed, work to wrap up several of the ongoing feuds and threats, ultimately leading to a conclusion that paves the way for a much-needed change in direction for the series. This collection marks a transitional period, and while it's a rough read at times, its ultimate value is in clearing the slate for a better storyline with a much better writer. This volume earns a final rating of 2.5 out of 5.
August 25, 2019
After the first ten issues where the full force of Jackie's Darkness is revealed, the comic becomes a bit tedious, too bad because the whole theme and character have a lot of potential to become something really unique, the basic idea is really awesome, like an alternative and more violent version of Batman, also Jackie is not a hero, he is a bad guy, but the writers didn't manage to do justice, give Estacado to Grant Morrison and i m sure you ll see some really twisted stuff
January 7, 2017
One of Jackies targets was an undercover agent supposed to marry Carla Denton who we saw before with Cullowski. She is given some info that can lead her to Jackie and revenge.
Jackie wants to testify against Franchetti and is being escorted in by plane by a g-man. When they land. They are attacked by several armed men, most of whom are dispatched by Jackie's imps, but some get away with a child as hostage. The kid can see the Darkness and speak to the imps. Jackie wants to know how.
Capris Castiglione is Jackie's twin sister. She is just as deadly as he is and recently found out about her brother.
Jackie meets Ripclaw. After a short battle, Jenny stops them and Ripclaw offers to meditate with Jackie to teach him more about the Darkness for a confrontation with the Cherub Hostile. Jackie is shown how his parents died. When the Cherubs attack, Jackie pulls on every ounce of Darkness energy to defeat them.
Franchetti is released from prison and he immediately exacts his revenge on Jackie by killing Jenny. The ghost of his shows him the way: follow Jenny into hell. He also takes Franchetti with him when he goes up in flames.
Jackie wants to testify against Franchetti and is being escorted in by plane by a g-man. When they land. They are attacked by several armed men, most of whom are dispatched by Jackie's imps, but some get away with a child as hostage. The kid can see the Darkness and speak to the imps. Jackie wants to know how.
Capris Castiglione is Jackie's twin sister. She is just as deadly as he is and recently found out about her brother.
Jackie meets Ripclaw. After a short battle, Jenny stops them and Ripclaw offers to meditate with Jackie to teach him more about the Darkness for a confrontation with the Cherub Hostile. Jackie is shown how his parents died. When the Cherubs attack, Jackie pulls on every ounce of Darkness energy to defeat them.
Franchetti is released from prison and he immediately exacts his revenge on Jackie by killing Jenny. The ghost of his shows him the way: follow Jenny into hell. He also takes Franchetti with him when he goes up in flames.
June 1, 2014
Not too surea about Jackie turning to be one of the good guys, this collection still had some pretty nifty turns.
Art could've been good. Miss those sexy girls.
Art could've been good. Miss those sexy girls.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews