"Dark Regards: A Comic's Outrageous Origin Story Revealed"

Dark Regards stands out as one of the most fascinating new indie comics to hit the scene in a while. Its backstory is as wild and thrilling as the comic itself, and now you have the chance to dive in with our exclusive preview of Dark Regards #1.

Take a peek at the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive glimpse into the new series, but be warned—there's some NSFW language ahead!

Oni Press' Dark Regards #1: Preview Gallery

13 Images

Dark Regards is the creative brainchild of comedian, writer, and musician Dave Hill, paired with the artistic prowess of Artyom Topilin (known for Cruel Universe and I Hate This Place). This four-issue series draws inspiration from Hill's unique journey in forming a fictional Satanic metal band named Witch Taint and the chaotic aftermath that followed.

Here's how Oni Press describes the series:

Two decades ago, Dave Hill and his first band aimed to set their high school auditorium ablaze with heavy metal fury. They failed spectacularly. Fast forward to today, Dave has carved out a new life as an up-and-coming star in New York's comedy scene—where being laughed at is the goal, not a mishap. Yet, when his dormant metal ambitions are reignited by the ultra-serious genre of Norwegian black metal, Dave crafts an over-the-top alter ego and a matching band to reignite his rock 'n' roll dream. But when online rumors about Witch Taint—a band so extreme that sharp objects must be removed from the vicinity when their music plays—reach Europe, the situation spirals out of control. Norway's most extreme black metal enthusiasts set their sights on revenge, putting everything Dave cherishes at risk (metaphorically speaking, of course, since axes don't have crosshairs).

In a statement, Hill shared, “A few years back, I sat down in my underwear late one night and decided to let my obsession with Norwegian black metal run wild. I emailed a Norwegian black metal record label, claiming their bands sucked despite never having heard them, and suggested they sign my extreme band Witch Taint—which, at that point, was just a name I’d made up. This led to months of correspondence that I never planned to share. But the internet being what it is, the story went viral. Beyond my wildest dreams, it's now become my first comic book series, Dark Regards, co-created with the incredible Artyom Topilin. If you miss out on any issue, you’re missing out big time.”

Dark Regards #1 is priced at $4.99 and hits stores on May 13, 2025.

For more exclusive previews of upcoming comics, don't miss out on the final issue of TMNT: The Last Ronin II and the Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell, inspired by The Dark Knight Returns.