From: https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/review-corner-darkling-1/
By Francis Garbut

Darkling # 1
Writer: Sarah Kuhn
Artist: Carola Borelli
Colorist: Ellie Wright
Letterer: Jack Morelli
Cover Date: January 2024
Rating: 09/10

This week I will look at Darkling # 1 from Archie Comics. A supernatural heroine for a new generation of fans who love horror in their superhero stories.

Darla Lang looks like a normal college student—save for the peculiar voluminous black cloak she wears everywhere. Her peers and professors, however, chalk this up to Darla’s eccentric, introverted, slightly creepy persona. Her cloak is a mystical artifact she can use as a melee weapon, trapping her enemies inside and teleporting them away. Darla’s power and connection to the supernatural world have always been a curse, and now she’s enrolled in Ivy Hollow University harbors some dark secrets.

While I feel that the whole “superheroine with mystical powers” aspect has been done many times before, this is pleasantly surprising, and even if you’re not familiar with the character this one-shot gives the readers a good ounce of her backstory with being so convoluted and it’s great seeing her in action and how her powers work which I feel does wonders in making her such a remarkable yet misunderstood character but I can say that this story beats out ANYTHING that came out in those “Twilight” movies. It will be a blast to see what becomes of Darkling next and show how far she has come since her first appearance in 1983’s Mighty Crusaders # 4. The future looks extremely bright for Archie’s superhero line thanks to one-shots like this one.

Well, that’s it for me this week. Thanks for sticking around and I will see you all next time.