Two decades ago, Dave Hill and his first band set out to rock their high school auditorium in a fury of heavy metal hellfire. They failed miserably. Years later, Dave has made a new life for himself as a rising star in the New York comedy scene—a career where getting laughed at on stage is the entire point and not just a tragic consequence. But when Dave’s metal ambitions are reawakened by the über self-serious “satanic” genre of Norwegian black metal, Dave creates a ridiculously hyperbolic alter ego and a band to match that, together, reignite the spark of his forgotten rock ’n’ roll fantasy. But when Dave’s internet-fueled rumors of Witch Taint—a metal band “so extreme that you must remove all sharp objects from the immediate area” when their music is played—spreads all the way to Europe, his story will spiral dangerously out of control as Norway’s most extreme black metal butchers come to reap their revenge . . . and put everything and everyone Dave holds dear in the crosshairs (of their axes, which, truth be told, don’t actually have crosshairs, but, hey, it’s a metaphor). Dark Regards #1 picks up the torch from rockumentaries like This is Spinal Tap to introduce the world to the most extreme metal band ever.

Dark Regards is by Dave Hill and stars Dave Hill in a story that’s sort of kind of based on a true story and not at all exaggerated in any way. The result is a comic that blends fact and fiction into a story that’s a send up of Black Metal much like This is Spinal Tap mocked metal bands. Dark Regards #1 introduces Hill who has had dreams of being a musician since he was a kid and as an adult is a comedian with mixed results. His social life is in the crapper and his roommates seem more interested in watching terrible television. Eventually Hill dives into being the King of Black Metal pissing off some Norwegian Black Metal bands who go on a mission to kill Dave. All of this is told as a radio interview and done in a way that keeps you guessing if this is a true story Dave is telling or completely made up.

And that’s part of what’s fun about the comic. Not only does it poke fun at Black Metal but also the story as a whole with an exaggerated delivery that makes it all come off as one long setup by a comedian and now we’re waiting for the punchline. It’s a comic built on extreme punctuating and emphasizing that at every chance it gets. The result is a comic that’s a comedic sendup but also a love letter to Black Metal and especially Norwegian Black Metal (we’re fully expecting a forest to come into play here).

Artyom Topilin‘s art helps emphasize the insanity of it all by delivering the art in extremes as well. There’s little done at normal levels here and instead everything feels like it’s delivered in a way that makes it all the more comedic. Birttany Peer‘s color and especially Troy Peteri‘s lettering adds to the insanity of it all in a good way keeping things bright but also kind of metal in a way too. Backgrounds are used to really highlight the characters “metal” aspects and overall, like the story itself, the visuals come off as both a bit of a wink and nod as well as loving the music genre.

Dark Regards #1 is a fun debut that is one for the fans of the music genre, or at least know a bit about it. It can absolutely be enjoyed just on its own. An annoying American pisses off some people who travel to kill him, it’s a simple concept that delivers humor. But, if you’re familiar with Black Metal, especially the sillier aspects and inside jokes, Dark Regards #1 is a worthy offering to the dark gods.

Story: Dave Hill Art: Artyom Topilin
Color: Brittany Peer Letterer: Troy Peteri
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle