Duisternis #1

The Dutch-language series Duisternis opens with "Ioen," and Iko's cover immediately establishes the tone: a battle-worn warrior in ornate horned armor glowers from the center, surrounded by the shadowed forms of armored figures pressing in from every side. The intricate gold-and-steel detailing on the helmet and breastplate speaks to a world where craftsmanship and conflict go hand in hand. It's a brooding, atmospheric start to this 2009 Daedalus release that promises dark fantasy with serious visual ambition.