The Darkness #2

The Darkness #2 was published in 1996 by Top Cow Productions, an imprint of Image Comics. It arrived at the height of the 1990s creator-owned comics boom, following the immense success of the first issue. The series was co-created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis, and David Wohl, focusing on Jackie Estacado, a mob hitman who inherits an ancient, supernatural entity that grants him power over shadows. The title was a flagship project for Top Cow, showcasing a shift toward darker, anti-hero archetypes that resonated with the grittier sensibilities of the era's readership.

The interior art for the early issues was primarily handled by Marc Silvestri, whose dynamic and highly detailed style defined the visual identity of the series. Silvestri leaned into elaborate page layouts and atmospheric shadow work to emphasize the gothic, occult themes of the narrative. Upon its debut, the series was well-received by fans of the Image style, often cited for its cinematic pacing and the compelling balance between the protagonist’s grounded criminal life and his encroaching supernatural destiny.