Found this on my desktop

[BugsySig]

I really love it, and I hate to bring any negativity, but I find myself preferring the original. The new image shows evil and perhaps a bit of rage, but the BWS original is just creepier. The look of calm confidence... licking the small dabble of blood... It's just so creepy in its evilness. The new image seems to be lacking some subtext. But maybe my perception is based on having read the original books, and not having read the new yet.

But the artwork is fantastic!

It's hard when comparing with such a classic image. The biggest difference to me is the licking of the blood. You just didn't see that on the cover of a mainstream comic, and you are right that it is just soooo creepy.

That being said, the cracked skin look is very creepy in its own right

[Blood of Heroes]

[grendeljd]

I really love it, and I hate to bring any negativity, but I find myself preferring the original. The new image shows evil and perhaps a bit of rage, but the BWS original is just creepier. The look of calm confidence... licking the small dabble of blood... It's just so creepy in its evilness. The new image seems to be lacking some subtext. But maybe my perception is based on having read the original books, and not having read the new yet.

But the artwork is fantastic!

It's hard when comparing with such a classic image. The biggest difference to me is the licking of the blood. You just didn't see that on the cover of a mainstream comic, and you are right that it is just soooo creepy.

That being said, the cracked skin look is very creepy in its own right

It may not have that same creep factor as the BWS, but with the bloody fingers and the facial expression it carries a strong sense of menace. I'm really curious about how this version of Darque will turn out. His outfit kind of resembles that of a Cenobite...

[400yrs]

Sweet! I like this look much better than the original.

[jmatt]

One word: Sinister.

Love it.

[Daniel Jackson]

Very cool artwork.

[The Dirt Gang]

Love all the homages to Valiant's past. It's a fantastic image regardless.

[Man Of The Atom]

Sweet cover.
The long finger nails are kinda weird to me.

[caniac]

Sweet cover.
The long finger nails are kinda weird to me.

Not weirder than Darque sitting over a trashcan trimming and filing those bad boys

[400yrs]

I really love it, and I hate to bring any negativity, but I find myself preferring the original. The new image shows evil and perhaps a bit of rage, but the BWS original is just creepier. The look of calm confidence... licking the small dabble of blood... It's just so creepy in its evilness.

The new one is creepy in a sinister, Voldemort kind of way. The old one is creepy in a Boy George kind of way. The new one, you can tell he's an evil mofo who wants to destroy you. The old one may be a dude you'd want to go party with. I like the new one better.

[Paradigm38]

I think I will crank up some early Bahaus... right now! And gase at that there "desktop".

[jmatt]

Just wondering, is that hair or a skullcap on his head? You can see the cracks through it, perhaps its part of the tatoo?

[grendeljd]

I think I will crank up some early Bahaus... right now! And gase at that there "desktop".

Good call! Double Dare comes to mind ('pangs of dark delight')... Or perhaps Dark Entries... Did you tweet that to Zirchers #Shadowmanmix ?

[ShadowTuga]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8IeRlG1L8

Can't believe that not one, but two people mentioned Bauhaus in a comics forum!
Sorry for the aside, guys

[orbitalshift]

Ok, as much as I like this new image, and I do. There are some subtle choices made that I don't really get.

From a character design standpoint I'm not sure why they added the cracked skin and the uniform. For me this kills a bit of the realism of the original character design. Part of what made Darque so creepy is he seemed almost plausible. I think the removal of the earrings hurts the voodoo feel a bit too. The original design conveyed so much more of who the character was. As he is shown here, he could be any villain from almost any series set in any time period ever. It seems to me they have have removed some of what made Darque unique. I don't mind change but in this case, I actually feel like it hurts considerably more than it helps. Does anyone else think he kinda looks like a Hellraiser reject in that costume?


It may be that this is only representative of one scene or part of the book. He may show up looking more similar to the original design as the story progresses. I hope so. BWS was so good at crafting a truly unique and creepy villain, I would hate to see Darque become like so many other generic, over the top, comical villains that are so prevalent.

[Heath]

I've tried to avoid as many spoilers and "previews" as possible, but from what little I've seen, I totally agree with you, orbitalshift. I'm holding out hope that it's not the case though.

[jmatt]

Mmm, I don't mind the change; and we don't know that it's his everyday demeanor. VH1 Darque was always so laid back as he disincorporated Jack. I wouldn't mind seeing him get apesh!t angry and ferocious in battle.

[Heath]

Mmm, I don't mind the change; and we don't know that it's his everyday demeanor. VH1 Darque was always so laid back as he disincorporated Jack. I wouldn't mind seeing him get apesh!t angry and ferocious in battle.

But that is so against the nature of the character. It would be like wishing the X-O Armor would form itself into a bicycle.

But you're right, we don't know that it's his everyday demeanor. And I don't mean to sound like I'm writing the character or the Shadowman title off. I'm nervously excited about it!

[pixierosa]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8IeRlG1L8

Can't believe that not one, but two people mentioned Bauhaus in a comics forum!
Sorry for the aside, guys

Valiant fans have good taste.

I like the look of the new Master Darque, but I've had limited viewing of the original, so my eyes are fresh. It's sinister and beckons to the fear of the darkness feelings humans have always suffered from.

Vaguely reminds me of "The Gentlemen" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (oh yeah, I went there! Buffy geek.) Creepy, levitating bald men with angular faces...

[orbitalshift]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s8IeRlG1L8

Can't believe that not one, but two people mentioned Bauhaus in a comics forum!
Sorry for the aside, guys

Valiant fans have good taste.

I like the look of the new Master Darque, but I've had limited viewing of the original, so my eyes are fresh. It's sinister and beckons to the fear of the darkness feelings humans have always suffered from.

Vaguely reminds me of "The Gentlemen" from Buffy the Vampire Slayer (oh yeah, I went there! Buffy geek.) Creepy, levitating bald men with angular faces...

I think is great art and the fanboy in me is stoked to see new Master Darque art. I'm just not sure about the changes or the reasons for them. They may have very good reasons for the changes. To me the cracked skin diminishes the tattoos, the tattoos seem really light for some reason, the loss of the voodoo elements on the hair and earrings seems to make him more generic than the original, and the costume seems other worldly to me as apposed to the original being more grounded in the world outside your window. The expression does seem more bold than the originals nonchalance. I liked that Darque always seemed to have a plan and be above it all, but that aspect was hit or miss depending on the creative team. At times it came off as bored.

I'm not pessimistic as much as I am curious why those changes were made.

[BugsySig]

I think we should also remember that the one scene we have seen of Darque int he previews is a "flashback"...so this look may be slightly different if and when he returns to the present day, just like the two Shadowmen we have seen have distinctly different looks.

That being said, I don't miss the pony tail or earings. I have taught a Caribbean studies course for the past several years and I can say that neither of those things mark someone as involved in voodoo the way, for example, Dreadlocks marks one as a Rasta or Peas as a Hasidic Jew. Hollywood may say different, but I am glad VALIANT isnt falling into the trap of stereotypical portrayals based of culture/religion (at least outside of A&A )

[Elveen]

I think we should also remember that the one scene we have seen of Darque int he previews is a "flashback"...so this look may be slightly different if and when he returns to the present day, just like the two Shadowmen we have seen have distinctly different looks.

That being said, I don't miss the pony tail or earings. I have taught a Caribbean studies course for the past several years and I can say that neither of those things mark someone as involved in voodoo the way, for example, Dreadlocks marks one as a Rasta or Peas as a Hasidic Jew. Hollywood may say different, but I am glad VALIANT isnt falling into the trap of stereotypical portrayals based of culture/religion (at least outside of A&A )

SWEET. I would be WAY interested to sit in that class.

[MarkRoseHFX]

I think you guys have struck gold with Patrick Zircher... sign that man to an exclusive deal ASAP!

Absolutely! his art is awesome and he seems like a really great guy

[BugsySig]

I think we should also remember that the one scene we have seen of Darque int he previews is a "flashback"...so this look may be slightly different if and when he returns to the present day, just like the two Shadowmen we have seen have distinctly different looks.

That being said, I don't miss the pony tail or earings. I have taught a Caribbean studies course for the past several years and I can say that neither of those things mark someone as involved in voodoo the way, for example, Dreadlocks marks one as a Rasta or Peas as a Hasidic Jew. Hollywood may say different, but I am glad VALIANT isnt falling into the trap of stereotypical portrayals based of culture/religion (at least outside of A&A )

SWEET. I would be WAY interested to sit in that class.

Well that would be one person

[MarkRoseHFX]

I think we should also remember that the one scene we have seen of Darque int he previews is a "flashback"...so this look may be slightly different if and when he returns to the present day, just like the two Shadowmen we have seen have distinctly different looks.

That being said, I don't miss the pony tail or earings. I have taught a Caribbean studies course for the past several years and I can say that neither of those things mark someone as involved in voodoo the way, for example, Dreadlocks marks one as a Rasta or Peas as a Hasidic Jew. Hollywood may say different, but I am glad VALIANT isnt falling into the trap of stereotypical portrayals based of culture/religion (at least outside of A&A )

SWEET. I would be WAY interested to sit in that class.

Well that would be one person

I'd be into that too. I'm a big sociology/anthropology nerd.