Marvel Comics' Dark Ages miniseries is almost here as the long-awaited comic from Tom Taylor, Iban Coello, Brian Reber, and VC's Joe Sabino comes to comic book shops later this week - and we can gladly tell you, it's worth the wait. Dark Ages brings a new, tragic twist to a Marvel Universe reeling from one of the greatest attacks ever seen, combining tense storytelling and great character moments while teasing an unpredictably dark ride ahead.
Marvel's Dark Ages was revealed back in 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The limited series tells the story of the Marvel Universe battling against a newly awakened cosmic threat who decimates Earth and leaves the survivors without power, leading to a present-day Dark Age. Marvel has teased new versions of popular characters in the wake of the darkness, including a terrifying makeover for Vision and Miles Morales seemingly bonding with a symbiote to become the new Venom. The first issue is as dark as Taylor promised, with shocking moment after shocking moment as the world readers are used to comes crashing down all at once.
Taylor, Coello, and co. take what could otherwise seem like the stock premise of a world changed forever and take it to an excitingly dark, decidedly unique place. In Dark Ages, the heroes don't just lose; they lose badly. By the end of the first issue, shocking casualties will have readers wondering, "how can the heroes possibly overcome this?" With that said, in all of the bleakness and death, Taylor manages to strike the fine balance of hopefulness in a world ravaged by unspeakable calamity. Heroes don't give up, they rise.
Taylor's previous work on DCeased and Injustice - two excellent stories that show superheroes dealing with unspeakable, world-changing tragedy - makes him the perfect writer to usher in Marvel's Dark Ages. Despite the world seemingly ending in front of their eyes, Taylor weaves plenty of heart, character moments, and welcome cameos that show how big the Marvel Universe truly is. You can tell he loves these characters, even if he puts them in an unenviable situation. The villain, the Unmaker, also lives up to his name.
Coello finely balances a tricky juggling act of including an extensive roster of Marvel characters with telling a story of epic proportions. In a book with so much destruction, things never feel bloated - which is quite a feat given how much is going on. The action shots are pulse-pounding and emotionally charged. The characters look great in a world shattered by the Unmaker. Reber's colors perfectly compliment Coello's work. The colors are appropriately dark when needed but never muddy. Meanwhile, Sabino's lettering is pitch-perfect, while the explosions and action are met with booming onomatopoeic effects.
In a single issue, Taylor, Coello, Reber, and Sabino showcase a new Marvel Universe that's ripe for further exploration but without giving away what comes next. Dark Ages #1 is a must-read first issue - but be prepared to get your tissues ready, as it packs an emotional wallop you might not be prepared for. Dark Ages #1 hits physical and digital retailers on September 1.