Dark Regards emerges as one of the most captivating indie comics to hit the scene in recent times, with a backstory as wild and unpredictable as the series itself. Dive into our exclusive preview of Dark Regards #1 and decide for yourself.
Explore the slideshow gallery below for a sneak peek at the new series, but be warned: there's some NSFW language ahead!
Oni Press' Dark Regards #1: Preview Gallery
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Dark Regards is the creative vision of comedian, writer, and musician Dave Hill, brought to life by the talented artist Artyom Topilin (known for Cruel Universe and I Hate This Place). This four-issue series draws inspiration from Hill's real-life escapades forming the fictional Satanic metal band, Witch Taint, and the chaotic whirlwind that followed.
Here's Oni Press' official synopsis of the series:
Two decades ago, Dave Hill and his first band set out to rock their high school auditorium with a blaze of heavy metal hellfire. They failed miserably. Years later, Dave has carved out a new career as a rising star in the New York comedy scene—a world where being laughed at on stage is the goal, not a tragic mishap. But when Dave's passion for metal is reignited by the intense, "Satanic" genre of Norwegian black metal, he crafts an over-the-top alter ego and a band to match, sparking his long-forgotten rock 'n roll dream. As rumors of Witch Taint—a band "so extreme that you must remove all sharp objects from the area" when their music plays—spread across the internet to Europe, Dave's tale spirals dangerously out of control. Norway's most extreme black metal enthusiasts come seeking vengeance, putting everything Dave cherishes in the line of fire (figuratively speaking, of course, as axes don't have crosshairs, but it's a powerful metaphor).
In a statement, Hill shared, “A few years ago, I sat down in my underwear one late night and let my obsession with Norwegian black metal take over. I emailed a Norwegian black metal record label, claiming their bands were terrible without ever having heard them, and pitched my ultra-extreme black metal band Witch Taint, which was nothing more than a name I'd just invented. This initial email kicked off months of exchanges with the label, which I never intended for anyone to see. But the internet being what it is, it went viral, and things got wild. Now, beyond my wildest dreams, this story has become my first comic book series, Dark Regards, written by me and illustrated by the incredible Artyom Topilin. If you don't devour every issue, you're missing out on something truly unique.”
Dark Regards #1 is priced at $4.99 and will hit the shelves on May 13, 2025.
For more exclusive comic book previews, take a look at the final issue of TMNT: The Last Ronin II and the Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell, inspired by The Dark Knight Returns.
