Comic Book Review: The Darkness vs. Eva: Daughter of Dracula written by Leah Moore & John Reppion, art by Edgar Salazar
Jackie Estacado was already a top hitman for the Franchetti mob when he discovered that he was the latest heir to the Darkness, a demonic force that grants the owner vast power, at the cost of being killed when the next heir is born. While by no means a good person, Jackie has some standards, and struggles with using the Darkness semi-responsibly. Eva is the daughter of Dracula, bound by dark magic to survive until he is destroyed permanently, she is a hunter of vampires and all evil supernatural beings.
Jackie, now leader of his mob, is dealing with an infestation of vampire mobsters who are trying to take over crime in the city. Meanwhile, Eva encounters Orlok, a vampire wizard who turns out to be attempting to steal the Darkness to make himself more powerful. She destroys the vampire, but its uncompleted ritual takes root in her body.
When Eva then confronts Jackie, because he’s an evil supernatural being and that’s her job, the magic causes part of the Darkness to transfer to Eva, pleasing neither person involved.
Jackie is severely weakened by loss of control over his powers, just as the mob war is heating up, and Eva, whose body is incompatible with the Darkness, suffers her own issues. Combat between the two is inconclusive, and may not be the best solution. What now?
This is a cross-company crossover, so can’t really change the status quo for either character, and despite being written in the late 2000s is very “Nineties.”
Jackie is the most likable of the mobsters, which isn’t saying much as he is generally a horrid person, and Eva is an obsessive who is less interested in protecting the innocent (“You, the mortal. You may leave now. I do not need your help.”) than she is in slaughtering as many vampires and other critters as possible. She spouts scripture, but only in a judgmental, “keeping purity” way. This makes it hard to root for anyone in this miniseries.
The art is okay, best on the “Darklings”, the gargoylish creatures that are part of the Darkness’ manifestation. The women’s outfits and posing (including on Eva) are male fanservice-oriented.
Content note: profanity, gory violence, suicide.
Overall: A slight story, primarily of interest to “The Darkness” fans.
