Dark Regards is shaping up to be one of the most captivating indie comics in recent memory. Its backstory is as wild and unpredictable as the comic itself. See for yourself with this exclusive preview of Dark Regards #1.

Browse the slideshow below for an exclusive sneak peek at the new series. Fair warning: there's some NSFW language.

Oni Press' Dark Regards #1: Preview Gallery

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Dark Regards is the brainchild of comedian/writer/musician Dave Hill and artist Artyom Topilin (Cruel Universe, I Hate This Place). This four-issue series draws inspiration from Hill's own experiences forming a fictional Satanic metal band, Witch Taint, and the ensuing chaos.

Here's Oni Press' official synopsis:

Two decades ago, Dave Hill and his first band attempted to rock their high school auditorium with heavy metal fury. They failed spectacularly. Years later, Dave finds success in the New York comedy scene, where being laughed at is the goal, not a tragic byproduct. But when his metal ambitions are rekindled by the ultra-serious world of Norwegian black metal, Dave creates a ridiculously hyperbolic alter ego and a band to match, reigniting his rock 'n' roll dreams. However, when internet rumors of Witch Taint—a band "so extreme that you must remove all sharp objects" when their music plays—reach Europe, his story spirals out of control as Norway's most extreme black metal musicians seek revenge, threatening everything dear to Dave.

Hill explains:

A few years ago, I impulsively emailed a Norwegian black metal label, criticizing their bands despite never having listened to them, and suggesting they sign my extremely extreme black metal band, Witch Taint, which didn't even exist. This led to months of correspondence I never intended for anyone to see. The internet, however, had other plans. Now, this story has become my first comic book series, Dark Regards, illustrated by the amazing Artyom Topilin. If you don't read every issue, you're insane.

Dark Regards #1 is priced at $4.99 and will be released on May 13, 2025.

For more exclusive comic book previews, check out the final issue of TMNT: The Last Ronin II and the Dark Knight Returns-inspired Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell.