The Darkness (comics)

The Darkness
The Darkness. Art by Marc Silvestri
Publication information
Publisher	Top Cow Productions
First appearance	Witchblade #10 (Nov. 1996)
Created by	David Wohl Marc Silvestri Garth Ennis
In-story information
Alter ego	Jackie Estacado
Team affiliations	Mafia
Notable aliases	Chaos, Creation, Cursed Soul, Black Captain, Prince of Darkness, Antichrist, Dark Wyrm, Dark One, Dragon of the Desert, Shadow God, El Ocaso, Darkman, Demonic Goblin
Abilities	Access to an otherworldly dimension and telepathic control over the demons who dwell there Mystical armor that grants superhuman strength, speed, stamina and flight Accelerated healing factor Skilled martial artist Master marksman

The Darkness is an American comic book series published by Top Cow Productions. The series was created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis, and David Wohl. The Darkness is the story of Mafia hitman Jackie Estacado, who, on his 21st birthday, became the bearer of the Darkness, an elemental force that allows access to an otherworldly dimension and control over the demons who dwell there.

The Darkness is an ancient living power dating back to beyond human history and reaching back to the beginning of the universe as well as the creation of mankind. The Darkness is depicted as a masculine spirit of chaos as well as one of the two primal forces of the universe alongside his feminine celestial counterpart, the Angelus. The Darkness was cast aside as the preeminent force of primordial Creation when God allowed the light of the Angelus to pierce into chaos, igniting a cosmic war between the Darkness and the Angelus while Creation expanded and took form around them.

At some point during their eternal conflict, the Darkness as well as the Angelus agreed to a truce to avert their mutual destruction. To cement this truce as well as to ensure its lasting perseverance, the two primordial beings consummated; resulting in the conception of the Witchblade. The Witchblade served as the balance between these two fundamentally opposed deities, keeping both the infernal darkness of chaos as well as the celestial light of order at bay and harmoniously synchronized to ensure the lasting stability and harmony of Creation while maintaining their presence and necessity in the order of the universe.

At an unspecified time following the birth of the Witchblade, the Darkness began seeking a vessel within human bloodlines. The Darkness has virtually always chosen depraved bloodlines of criminals and warlords to insure that vessels remained in positions of wordly power. The Darkness has been present in every generation of history, including Ancient Greece and Spain. The power of the Darkness remains dormant within the host until reaching the moment of his 21st birthday. Upon reaching adulthood, the Darkness manifests and the vessel becomes endowed with the powers and vulnerabilities of the Darkness as well as his purpose in Creation.