Oni Press Unveils Dark Regards: A Wild Comic Born from Satanic Metal Chaos

Dark Regards stands out as one of the most captivating indie comics to emerge recently. Its origin story is as bold and unpredictable as the comic itself. Dive into our exclusive preview of Dark Regards #1 to see for yourself.

Explore the slideshow gallery below for a sneak peek inside the new series, but note some NSFW language ahead!

Oni Press' Dark Regards #1: Preview Gallery

Dark Regards is the creation of comedian, writer, and musician Dave Hill, alongside artist Artyom Topilin (Cruel Universe, I Hate This Place). This four-issue series draws inspiration from Hill’s real-life venture into forming a fictional Satanic metal band called Witch Taint, sparking an unexpected whirlwind of chaos.

Here’s the official description from Oni Press:

Two decades ago, Dave Hill and his high school band aimed to unleash heavy metal fury in their auditorium but fell short. Now a rising star in New York’s comedy scene, Dave thrives on stage laughter, a stark contrast to his past failures. His passion for music reignites when he discovers Norwegian black metal, leading him to craft an exaggerated alter ego and a band, Witch Taint, to fuel his rock 'n' roll dreams. When online rumors about Witch Taint—a band “so extreme you must clear all sharp objects from the area” during their music—reach Europe, Dave’s tale spirals into chaos as Norway’s fiercest black metal musicians seek vengeance, putting everything and everyone he cherishes in peril (metaphorically, as axes don’t really have crosshairs).

“Years ago, in a late-night whim, I let my fascination with Norwegian black metal take over. I emailed a Norwegian black metal label, claiming their bands were terrible—without ever hearing them—and pitched my nonexistent, ultra-extreme band, Witch Taint,” Hill shared. “That email sparked months of exchanges I never planned to share. But the internet being what it is, it went viral, and things got wild. Now, unbelievably, this saga is my first comic series, Dark Regards, written by me and brought to life by the incredible Artyom Topilin. If you don’t read every issue, you’re missing out big time.”

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

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