- "I don't understand these horrors -- I'm still not sure I believe in them -- but I know I've got to stop them."
- ―Victoria Montesi
| "Black Letter" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins | |
| Title: | "Black Letter" |
| Volume: | 1 |
| Number: | 1 |
| Cover price: | $2.75 |
| Cover date: | October, 1992 |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Credits | |
| Chief: | Tom DeFalco |
| Writers: | Christian Cooper |
| Pencilers: | Richard Case |
| Inkers: | Mark McKenna |
| Cover artists: | Richard Case |
| Cover inker: | Mark McKenna |
| Colorists: | Glynis Oliver |
| Letterers: | Phil Felix |
| Editors: | Bobbie Chase |
| Group editor: | Kelly Corvese |
| Navigation | |
| Previous: | — |
| Next: | Darkhold: Pages from the Books of Sins #2 |
"Black Letter" is the title to the first issue of the Darkhold: Pages from the Books of Sins ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The story was written by Christian Cooper with artwork by Richard Case and inks by Mark McKenna. It was colored by Glynis Oliver and lettered by Phil Felix. The story was edited by Bobbie Chase with Kelly Corvese as managing editor. This issue shipped with an October, 1992 cover date and carries a cover price of $2.75 per copy (US).
Synopsis[]
In New York, a dwarf with an evil sneer delivers a black envelope to a businessman named Donald J. Walsh. Upon opening the envelope, a tremendous evil overwhelms him and he returns home. He gets into an argument with his wife, Zephyr, then begins producing Chameleon Worms from his body. The worms attack Zephyr, choking her until she dies.
In Rome, Italy, physician Victoria Montesi has lunch with her colleague, Nash. One of her supervisors stops by the table and Montesi and he get into a brief argument. Afterwards, they return home to the apartment they share together. Suddenly, an explosion rips through the room, greatly injuring both women.
When Victoria awakens, she finds her father, the priest Vittorio Montesi at her bedside along with Interpol agent, Sam Buchanan. Vittorio tells the agent that the Montesi family is charged with safekeeping the Book of Sins known as the Darkhold. Several pages from the Darkhold have been lost for ages however. Vittorio suspects that the attack against his daughter may be related to the Darkhold and asks Buchanan to keep an eye on her. Victoria doesn't tell her father that she has been experiencing bizarre nightmares relating to the Darkhold and it's evil works.
Shortly thereafter, Vicki check herself out of the hospital and takes a walk. A group of ninjas in service to the cult known as the Darkholders ambush her, but Buchanan arrives and helps to protect her. She then tells him about her visions and that she must go to the United States.
Back in New York, Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze arrive in town. Ghost Rider had a vision, which foretold the coming of Lilith, Mother of Demons, and now they seek out potential allies in their crusade to stop her and her evil brood. Along the way, they meet occultist Louise Hastings – an old friend of Vicki's.
Montesi and Buchanan arrive in the United States and drive to the estate of Donald J. Walsh in Long Island. This is the place from Vicki's dreams. They cut past the crime scene tape and eventually find Louise Hastings. Hastings shows them the empty black envelope and tells Vicki that it contained one of the lost pages of the Darkhold.
Donald Walsh has worms.
Suddenly, Walsh emerges. His body is consumed by the Chameleon Worms and he begins attacking them. Moments later, Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze crash through the window of the mansion on their motorcycles. Johnny fires at Walsh with his Hellfire shotgun, but Walsh manages to reform himself. The group manages to collect several of the worms together and encases them inside of a glass jar. Some of the worms are still free however, and the reform into a humanoid body and attack Vicki. Vicki runs outside and Walsh gives chase. As he races across the street, a bus smashes into him, splattering his worm-encrusted form.
To make matters even more difficult, Lilith and Lilin appear on the scene as well. She is also accompanied by a group of Darkholders. Ghost Rider and Johnny Blaze fight the Darkholders, but one of them manages to stab Vicki in the leg with a dagger.
Louise Hasting conducts a simple ritual that summons a massive flock of birds. The birds swoop down and eat all of the Chameleon Worms preventing Walsh from reconstituting himself.
Blaze turns his gun towards Lilith and fires a Hellfire blast into her shoulder. Lilith doesn't wish to risk further injury, so she teleports away, leaving one of her Lilin – Nakota behind. As these Darkhold Redeemers discuss the night's affairs with Johnny and Ghost Rider, a curious individual observes them from a distance – Modred the Mystic.
Elsewhere, the Dwarf approaches a new victim and delivers a black envelope to him.
Appearances[]
Featured characters
Supporting characters
- Ghost Rider, Danny Ketch/Noble Kale
- Johnny Blaze
- Modred (Cameo appearance only)
- Nash Salvato
- Vittorio Montesi
Villains
Minor characters
- Fabio
- Donald J. Walsh
- Lorenzo DiFinizio
- Morton "Morty" Thurnton
- Zephyr Walsh
Organizations
Races & Animals
Locations
Items
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]
- "Darkhold 1" serves as a shortcut to this page. This is for the benefit of editors and users who are looking to find this page, but spares them the agony of having to type out the complete article title. Ain't nobody need finger cramps, ya know!
- This series is approved by the Comics Code Authority.
- This issue is Chapter 4 of the six-part "Rise of the Midnight Sons" storyline.
- This issue shipped poly-bagged and included a mini-poster that, when combined from the other "Midnight Sons" crossover titles, formed a composite image.
- This issue is reprinted in the Rise of the Midnight Sons trade paperback collection, which was published in July, 1993. It is also reprinted in the Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins: The Complete Collection trade paperback edition, which was published in September, 2018.
Recommended Reading[]
See also[]
- Darkhold Redeemers appearances
- Louise Hastings appearances
- Sam Buchanan appearances
- Victoria Montesi appearances
External Links[]
- Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins #1 at MDP
- Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins #1 at Comics.org
- Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins #1 at Comic Vine
- Darkhold: Pages from the Book of Sins #1 at Amazon.com
 This article relates to the "Rise of the Midnight Sons" crossover storyline, which ran through five different comic book titles published by Marvel Comics in the Summer of 1992. Chapters
Ghost Rider #28 (Part 1) • Ghost Rider & Blaze #1 (Part 2) • Morbius #1 (Part 3) • Darkhold #1 (Part 4) • Nightstalkers #1 (Part 5) • Ghost Rider #31 (Part 6) Titles
Characters
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