DC COMICS
WRITER: Steve Niles
ARTIST/COVER: Scott Hampton

A mysterious new "hero" emerges in Gotham City, just as a mysterious cult is going around sacrificing people in this new, dark ongoing series. Little information is given about the protagonist or the bad guys. The titular hero, Simon Dark, isn't even aware of his origins or what he is. His powers are not clearly defined although he seems strong, agile and really good at decapitating people. Much of the story deals with the slum area that Simon Dark protects, giving him a unique setting and a cast of supporting characters. There is surprisingly little horror in this story and the creative team may be going for a more mystery-oriented mood rather than something from a slasher movie. However the patience of the readers may be tested by the pace of the storytelling which makes it clear that the secrets behind Simon Dark will not be revealed for a long time. The art suits the grungy, enigmatic tone of the story but some panels still look like badly-lit scenes from a film student's project. The lead character also needs more work to become really interesting. Right now, he is just another lost soul with strange powers. Old-timers may think this is an updated version of BROTHER POWER: THE GEEK." Still, it is gratifying to see that DC Comics is willing to try projects that are not linked to the whole 52-COUNTDOWN-CRISIS storyline. Of course, setting the story in Gotham makes it inevitable that Batman will show up sooner or later, probably when sales start going down. It still gets three and a half stars out of five due to its potential.