Random Happenstance

I bought this back in '92, then another copy last weekend, and paid cover price both times...honestly, I may have overpaid a bit the second time. From 1992, Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins #2, "For God and Country" Written by Chris Cooper, pencils by Richard Case, inks by Mark McKenna.

While this was the second issue of the series, the trio tracking down the pages of the mystic book had also made a couple appearances in the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover that also launched Nightstalkers and Morbius, the Living Vampire. I know for a fact I bought the whole thing, and may even still have polybagged copies, but have almost no recollection of it except that the big bad, Lilith, had a weird-shaped head. But this issue was kind of setting up the formula early on--it really would've made a decent 90's syndicated horror TV-show--where the creepy evil little person (who I don't think has a name throughout the series, and may just be a manifestation of the book) gives someone a Darkhold page in a black envelope, which would grant their wish in a very monkeys-paw way. Evil hijinks ensue. Vicki Montesi, last of the mystic line tasked with containing the Darkhold and 'incorruptable,' would have a horrible vision of the evil happening, and with her associates Professor Louise Hastings and Interpol agent Sam Buchanan would try to track it down. The nattily-dressed Buchanan was very, very much in the Scully role; not believing much of anything, despite the mounting evidence; while Vicki was a reluctant hero, forced into the role to try and stop the visions and save her sanity. Her girlfriend was also badly injured, in an explosion meant for her, set by the Darkholders. As the name implies, the Darkholders were a cult intent on the book ending the world, but I don't think they had access to the pages. It's like they were just fans.

This particular issue also features the return of Modred the Mystic, who would almost be the fourth team member, if they thought of themselves as such: they don't, since Modred is sketchy at best. And somewhat out of left field, it ties in to fairly recent Hulk continuity, as a rogue general had given a crazed arsonist a gamma bomb! (Didn't the Stand end not unlike that...?) Buchanan later kills the general in fairly cold blood, having deduced the general had stolen not just one gamma bomb, but three. By issue #4, it was revealed Buchanan knew Sabretooth; and Ghost Rider and the Punisher would show up in #5: I'm not sure any of that drove up sales, though. (I probably didn't realize this until much later, but they maybe should've used Simon Stroud, the ex-CIA agent that hassled Morbius in the 70's; an established and cranky character that would've fit perfectly.)

After a couple more crossovers and guest-spots from the Scarlet Witch and Dr. Strange, the series would end with #16; with a wrap-up in 1996's Doctor Strange, Sorceror Supreme #90, which was that series' last issue as well. Eee, I feel like the print runs for both of those were probably terrible; I've yet to see either.