Dark Dominion
Encyclopedia
Dark Dominion is a comic book series that was published monthly by DEFIANT
from October of 1993
until July of 1994
.
It spanned a total of 10 issues until DEFIANT ceased publication.
There was one #0 issue published as a trading card set and binder.
Dark Dominion was created by Jim Shooter
and Steve Ditko
, the co-creator of Spider-Man
.
The concept was based on Shooter's idea that, "fear is the root of all evil," and dealt with Shooter's fascination with quantum mechanics
.
and featured the main character Michael Alexander.
Alexander was the author of a book entitled, "Dark Dominion," in which he explored the idea that another world occupied the same spacetime
as our own. In this alternate world, housed in the sub-stratum of our world, demons arose from the fears of human beings. The only way to see this hidden world was to put aside one's fears.
The main villain, Chasm, chose Manhattan to be his headquarters on Earth because of the vast population on whose fears he could draw from.
Michael Alexander was the one man who wasn't afraid to face Chasm and the demons of the Dark Dominion. He perceived this alternate dimension as an energly-filled double of our own, with various demonic-type bits of architecture added to it. Monsters tended to ride the very humans they afflicted. This is seen in a Charlemagne
crossover when he tears creatures from the minds of affected dockworkers. The same issue sees Michael befriending a super-powered 'fish out of water' named Charles.
According to Shooter, DEFIANT ran out of money sometime in 1994.
Afterwards, all their comics ceased to be published and the characters - including those of Dark Dominion - were purchased by Golden Books. The rights have since shifted to Random House
.
Shooter has expressed an interest in perhaps re-visiting the characters and story in the future.
Defiant
Defiant may refer to:In the Star Trek universe:* USS Defiant, a starship in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and in the film Star Trek: First Contact...
from October of 1993
1993 in comics
-January:* Doom Patrol #63: " The Empire of Chairs," Grant Morrison's final issue as Doom Patrol writer.-February:* Action Comics, with issue #686, suspends publication following "The Death of Superman."...
until July of 1994
1994 in comics
-Year overall:* Huge changes in the marketplace force many retailers and small publishers out of business...
.
It spanned a total of 10 issues until DEFIANT ceased publication.
There was one #0 issue published as a trading card set and binder.
Dark Dominion was created by Jim Shooter
Jim Shooter
James Shooter is an American writer, occasional fill-in artist, editor, and publisher for various comic books. Although he started professionally in the medium at the extraordinarily young age of 14, he is most notable for his successful and controversial run as Marvel Comics' ninth...
and Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
, the co-creator of Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
.
The concept was based on Shooter's idea that, "fear is the root of all evil," and dealt with Shooter's fascination with quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
.
The Characters
- Michael Alexander - The protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of the series. - Chasm - The main antagonistAntagonistAn antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
of the series.
The story
The comic was based in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and featured the main character Michael Alexander.
Alexander was the author of a book entitled, "Dark Dominion," in which he explored the idea that another world occupied the same spacetime
Spacetime
In physics, spacetime is any mathematical model that combines space and time into a single continuum. Spacetime is usually interpreted with space as being three-dimensional and time playing the role of a fourth dimension that is of a different sort from the spatial dimensions...
as our own. In this alternate world, housed in the sub-stratum of our world, demons arose from the fears of human beings. The only way to see this hidden world was to put aside one's fears.
The main villain, Chasm, chose Manhattan to be his headquarters on Earth because of the vast population on whose fears he could draw from.
Michael Alexander was the one man who wasn't afraid to face Chasm and the demons of the Dark Dominion. He perceived this alternate dimension as an energly-filled double of our own, with various demonic-type bits of architecture added to it. Monsters tended to ride the very humans they afflicted. This is seen in a Charlemagne
Charlemagne (comics)
Charlemagne is a comic book series that was published by Defiant Comics from February of 1994 until July 1994. The series lasted for 5 issues before Defiant ceased publication. A free teaser issue, #0, was published inside Hero Illustrated #9, and not available separately.-Series...
crossover when he tears creatures from the minds of affected dockworkers. The same issue sees Michael befriending a super-powered 'fish out of water' named Charles.
The Final Chapter
The story of Dark Dominion was only published for ten issues. Four more issues were solicited, and one more issue was produced, but, due to the closing of the company, they were never released.According to Shooter, DEFIANT ran out of money sometime in 1994.
Afterwards, all their comics ceased to be published and the characters - including those of Dark Dominion - were purchased by Golden Books. The rights have since shifted to Random House
Random House
Random House, Inc. is the largest general-interest trade book publisher in the world. It has been owned since 1998 by the German private media corporation Bertelsmann and has become the umbrella brand for Bertelsmann book publishing. Random House also has a movie production arm, Random House Films,...
.
Shooter has expressed an interest in perhaps re-visiting the characters and story in the future.