The long-running series The Darkness returns this December with an all-new ongoing title. Original co-creator and Image Comics CEO Marc Silvestri (Cyber Force, Batman and the Joker: The Deadly Duo) leads the project. The book will be published by Image Comics/Top Cow Productions. Celebrated artist Ed Benes (Birds of Prey, Justice League of America) provides the artwork. The Darkness (2025) #1 begins a new era for anti-hero Jackie Estacado in the Top Cow Universe.
This launch marks Silvestri’s long-awaited return to the franchise he started in 1996. The series promises to expand the mythology with new twists for both longtime and new fans.
“The Darkness has always been one of my favorite characters, and I’ve wanted to come back to it for a long time,” said Silvestri. “Fans have been asking for years when Jackie would return, and now we get to deliver something truly special. This is going to feel familiar, but it’s going to take you places you’ve never been before.”
The Darkness (2025) #1 features pencils by Benes. Inks are handled by Matt “Batt!” Banning, Sal Regla, and John Livesay. Arif Prianto provides colors, and Troy Peteri letters the issue.
The debut issue will also offer a wide range of variant covers. Contributors include Silvestri, Benes, and acclaimed artist David Mack. Collectors can also expect blank sketch options, high-ratio incentives, and rare signed or original art editions.
Fan-favorite Raymond Gay (Gunslinger Spawn, TMNT) will take over interior pencils for The Darkness (2025) #2.
First launched nearly three decades ago, The Darkness quickly became one of Top Cow’s most popular properties. It inspired spin-off series, crossovers, and two acclaimed video game adaptations. The title built a loyal fan base drawn to its mix of supernatural thrills and morally complex storytelling. The new series aims to capture that same energy while pushing the story into darker and more unpredictable directions.
Silvestri added: “This isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it’s a reinvention. We’re going back to what made The Darkness such a hit: its grit, its danger, its sense that power always comes with a price. But this time, we’re turning everything up to eleven. Jackie’s world is going to expand in ways readers never expected.”
The story once again follows Jackie Estacado, a mafia hitman. On his 21st birthday, he inherits a terrifying gift known as The Darkness. This elemental force gives him control over creatures from another realm. As supernatural forces battle for control of reality, Jackie must navigate a brutal conflict where good and evil blur together.
Whether readers have followed Jackie from the beginning or are just stepping into the shadows, there has never been a better moment to embrace The Darkness.
The Darkness (2025) #1 will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms on Wednesday, December 10.
