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Creative Team – Zack Kaplan(writer). Chris Shehan(artist). Francesco Segala(colorist). Justin Birch(letterer).
Published by Mad Cave Studios
The Candle’s Flame
We start with our main character, Joy, who’s a psychologist giving a lecture on depression. She makes a powerful comparison of someone dealing with depression to a burning candle being suffocated by a dark cover. As it turns out, Joy is very familiar with the comparison as she knows the what it’s like to feel suffocated by depression. We learn that Joy is separated from her husband, Colson, and she isn’t taking it too well. Crying and drinking at her house, Joy is watching videos of her wedding and just as she gets to the officiant completing the ceremony, the phone rings.
Joining Forces
Speaking of the devil, it’s her estranged husband, Colson, on the other line. Colson is calling because he needs Joy’s help as a psychologist, and even though she doesn’t want to do it, she agrees to help when he says he will sign the divorce papers. As it happens, Colson already has a plane waiting to take Joy to Alaska to help him and his team.
Upon arriving, Joy learns that there is a patient that the team has absolutely no information on that they desperately need. Who are they? Where did they come from? And are they being truthful or are they just out of their minds? It’s up to Joy to find all this out in a timely fashion as there moving parts that could end in catastrophe.
Joy meets with who the team has named Artemis, and she’s much more than Joy bargained for. Artemis knows everything about Joy, all the way down to what her lecture was about from the beginning of the comic. Come to find out, this young woman came out of the black hole the scientists have created. The questions still stand; who is she, where did she come from, and how does she know all of this?
The Art
Chris Shehan does a fantastic job throughout Dark Empty Void #1 setting the tone for this sci-fi thriller right off the bat. Each panel has such an abundance of detail, you can see each facial expression on each of the characters faces. That matched with the colors by Francesco Segala really has you hooked by the first page. I think they both did an incredible job bringing the plot to life and keeping your eyes hooked onto each page.
The Writing
I was instantly hooked when I started reading Dark Empty Void #1. The story is compelling right from the start, and keeps you wanting more as the story continues. You find yourself relating to Joy as she gives lectures on depression while she is going through the struggle herself. The characters are easy to connect with while still maintaining mystery as you learn more about them. I’m not usually one for sci-fi thrillers, but Dark Empty Void #1 was fantastic all around. Can’t wait for the next installment!
I give this a 10 out of 10
This review was written by Megan from Vigilante Vibes: A Marvel Podcast. If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of Dark Empty Void #1, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!
