Summary
Warning: contains spoilers forThe Darques: Soulside#1!
I grew up reading the originalValiant Comics, and the publisher’s newDarques: Soulsidewas the reimagining I did not know I needed. Valiant is building towardsResurgence, and the newThe Darques: Soulsideis another solid entry in the initiative. It humanizes the villain, and while it stops short of making him a sympathetic character, it gives fans their best look yet at what makes Darque tick.
The Darques: Soulside#1 is written by Fred Van Lente and drawn by Sebastian Cabrol. A two-page spread brings readers up to speed on Master Darque and his sister before joining them in the Soulside. There, Darque lives a decidedly different life than he does on Earth. In the Soulside, he is almost respected, and considered a healer. Very few in Soulside know of Darque’s real intentions and motivations. Van Lente and Cabrol make Darque a man of contradictions: loving brother, healer…and psychopathic sorcerer.
They employ this tension to great effect, mining the depths of Darque’s psyche.
Valiant Has Great Heroes…and Great Villains
Master Darque Is Valiant’s Evil Magic User
Valiant is well-known for its stable of heroes, such as Bloodshot and X-O Manowar. However, the publisher also features some of comics’ best villains, including Toyo Harada and Master Darque. Darque appeared in the first incarnation of the Valiant Universe, in the early 1990s. He was built up to be a major enemy not only for Shadowman, but other Valiant heroes as well. Darque made the leap into the new Valiant Universe in the mid-2010s, where heonce again menaced Shadowman. In the new Valiant Universe, Darque has a sister as equally powerful as him.
The aforementioned dichotomy between Darque’s life on Earth and his life on the Soulside adds a new, and humanizing, layer to the classic villain.
The Darques: Soulside#1 is another solid entry from Valiant Comics. The publisher, who recently entered a partnership with Alien Books, has given their line a shot in the arm with the forthcomingResurgence.WhileThe Darques: Soulside#1 offers no obvious clues about Darque’s role inResurgence, it serves as a compelling, stand-alone character study. The aforementioned dichotomy between Darque’s life on Earth and his life on the Soulside adds a new, and humanizing, layer to the classic villain. Van Lente and Cabrol dig deep into Darque’s life, showing what shaped him into the monster he is today.
Master Darque Has a Depth He Lacked in the Previous Valiant Universe
It Makes Him a More Well-Rounded Villain
In the first version of the Valiant Universe, Master Darque was portrayed as a horrifying presence, willing to corrupt or kill anyone who gets in his way. He held particular power over Shadowman. While this rivalry was importedinto the new Valiant Universe, it has not been the sole characteristic that drives and defines Darque. He is highly devoted to his sister, and manages to actually do good for the creatures of the Soulside. This twisted tension not only drivesValiant’sThe Darques: Soulside#1, but revamps this character in a way I did not know I needed.
