"Dark Regards: Comic Boasts Outrageously Ludicrous Backstory"

Dark Regards stands out as one of the most captivating new indie comics to emerge recently, blending wild creativity with a backstory just as bold as its content. Dive into our exclusive preview of Dark Regards #1 to decide for yourself whether it lives up to the hype.

Take a look at the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive glimpse into this groundbreaking series. Be warned, though—some images contain mature language.

Oni Press' Dark Regards #1: Preview Gallery

13 Images

Dark Regards is the collaborative vision of comedian, writer, and musician Dave Hill and artist Artyom Topilin, known for works like Cruel Universe and I Hate This Place. This four-issue series draws inspiration from Hill's real-life adventures forming a fictional Satanic metal band named Witch Taint and the chaotic journey that followed.

Here’s Oni Press’ official synopsis:

"Two decades ago, Dave Hill and his first band aimed to ignite their high school auditorium with a storm of heavy metal chaos. They fell flat. Fast forward years later, Dave thrives as a prominent figure in New York's comedy circuit—a world where laughter is both art and goal. However, when Dave reconnects with the intense 'Satanic' genre of Norwegian black metal, he crafts an exaggerated alter ego and band, reigniting his dormant rock 'n roll dreams. Yet, when rumors about Witch Taint—a band so extreme listeners must discard sharp objects—spread across the globe, Norway's fiercest black metal musicians seek vengeance, targeting everything Dave holds dear."

"A few years back, I found myself late at night in nothing but my underwear, fueled by my obsession with Norwegian black metal," recalls Hill. "I sent an email to a renowned black metal label claiming their bands were subpar, despite having never heard them, and recommended they sign my fictional band, Witch Taint, which didn’t exist beyond its name. What started as a joke evolved into months of exchanges I never intended to share. Of course, the Internet being what it is, the emails went viral. To my astonishment, this absurd tale has transformed into my debut comic book series, Dark Regards, co-written with Artyom Topilin. Should you fail to devour every issue, well... let's just say you'll regret it."

For more exclusive previews, explore the final installment of TMNT: The Last Ronin II and the Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell series, inspired by The Dark Knight Returns.