The Darkness #7 — Stjepan Sejic covers the beginning of the end for Jackie Estacado
A new arc begins in Jackie Estacado's ongoing saga, with the Angelus gathering her forces and old plans reaching fruition. Stjepan Sejic’s cover art frames the stakes as we ask what it truly means to embrace the Darkness.
There is a specific kind of gravity that pulls you into a series that has been running long enough to have established its own rules, but short enough that the future is still terrifyingly open. The Darkness has found that balance, and with issue #7, the story shifts into a new gear. We aren't just watching Jackie Estacado navigate the underworld anymore; we're watching the board get set for a game where the pieces are moving fast and the stakes have never been higher.
This issue marks the start of a fresh story arc, and the atmosphere is thick with impending change. The Angelus is no longer just a threat in the distance—she is amassing her forces, turning the tide of the conflict. Meanwhile, Sonatine’s intricate, devious plans are finally coming to fruition, suggesting that the characters we’ve followed for years are about to face the consequences of their past choices. It’s a pivot point that demands your attention.
Visually, this drop is a masterclass in mood. Raymond Gay and Arif Prianto bring a textured, atmospheric weight to the page that suits the grim nature of Jackie’s curse. They handle the supernatural elements with a tactile realism that makes the horror feel immediate and personal. You can feel the corruption and the power in every panel, grounding the fantasy in something that feels dangerously real.
And then there’s the cover. Stjepan Sejic has a knack for capturing the emotional core of a moment before it happens. His art here doesn’t just sell the action; it sells the burden. It’s a visual invitation to see how Jackie carries the weight of the Darkness as the world around him fractures. If you’ve been on the fence about jumping in or coming back, Sejic’s work is the perfect reason to pick up this issue.
The Darkness is the kind of series that rewards patience, but this new arc feels like it’s designed to hook newcomers and old fans alike. Jackie’s journey from a simple mob enforcer to the master of a primordial force has always been compelling, but seeing him confront the Angelus on this new front feels like a necessary evolution. It’s dark, it’s personal, and it’s exactly the kind of story that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.