My Rating
“Darkling”
Several college girls have gone missing, but why isn’t anyone looking for them? Strange events have been occurring at Ivy Hollow University ever since that cape wearing Goth loser enrolled. Why did she get placed in the dorm with the legacy students? Oh my God, what a bummer! She’s totally going to ruin slumber party nights! And that stupid cape; don’t get them started. The fashion police called and they want to issue a citation for lameness.
Elsewhere in the university library, the cape wearing weirdo, Darla Lang, has just found a secret entrance to a side chamber filled with magic tombs and research material. Wait, how did this all get here? Is she the only one at the school who knows magic? Huh, why is that girl Phoebe following her? Darla turns to confront her new stalker. Will she be friend or foe? It’s time to crack the books and solve the mystery of the missing sorority girls!
What is the story behind the Goth chick wearing the old fashioned cape? How popular is Phoebe Hayashi’s paranormal podcast? Is that Nethric Portal for real? Collect the oneshot to find out!
Reviewer Notes
So who is Darkling and what is her role in the larger Archie universe? Signs point to the unknown. In the background section of the comic book we are introduced to the character’s origins story. Apparently Darkling made her debut in the Mighty Crusaders #03 (1983). I have that series in the archives, so I will need to investigate further.
As for her power set, she is basically a dark witch in the same lines of Sabrina and her ilk. Is Darkling a competitor to the Spellman family, or are they even in the same universe? I have no idea. Darkling’s Cloak is somehow attached to her permanently. She brings up a curse, so her abilities might not be tied to her bloodline (again referencing Sabrina).
Overall the story was engaging with some 1980’s college style humor. The power of the slumber party is strong with these ones. How do they find time to study? We will have to wait for a follow-up storyline. For now I’m giving the Darkling one-shot three out of five stars.
Tag(s)
Character(s)
Writer(s)
Penciller(s)
Inker(s)
Colorist(s)
Letterer(s)
Cover Artist(s)
Editor(s)
