Dark Honor by writer Ethan Sacks and artist Fico Ossio drops us into a gritty neo-noir city where crime festers alongside fear during the deadliest days of the COVID-19 epidemic. This premiere issue sets the haunting tone with a blend of real-world horrors and a modern crime story.

For nearly a century, the Hundred has been the strong arm of the New York underworld. But now, as COVID-19 ravages the city in early 2020, a different kind of plague has arrived: a criminal mastermind mounting his takeover…unless Rain, daughter of the Hundred’s leader Josef, can unite the last elements of the fading crime gangs in one desperate attempt to fight back.

Dark Honor is one of the more unique stories to emerge following the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by filmmakers K.S. Bruce and Brian DeCubellis (Trust, Manhattan Night), this neo-noir tale, originally created for the big screen, has been wonderfully adapted for comics by talented writer Ethan Sacks along with artist Fico Ossio. Sacks, who covered the COVID-19 pandemic for NBC News, brings an authentic and chilling voice to the storytelling. By taking his real-life experiences and adding a fictional narrative, Sacks creates a riveting setting for a fictional story.

While the story is completely fictional, the backdrop of the pandemic-stricken New York City is all-too-real. Dark Honor blends an unforgettable modern fictional crime thriller with the eerie familiarity of our shared experience of recent history. With empty streets, shuttered businesses, and the rising uncertainty give Dark Honor a real grit which echoes real-world fears, confusion, and quiet chaos during those early days.

Pairing well with the story is the intensity of Fico Ossio’s artwork and Raciel Avila‘s colors. The duo brings a real grittiness to the comic which vividly immerses us in the shadowy, crime-riddle streets of New York City. Their visuals are so impactful in the comic, you simply cannot just read it, but feel it.

Dark Honor is not just another crime thriller. It’s a bold pandemic-era noir that blends raw horrors of reality with a suspense-filled fictional story. The creators delivered a standout premiere issue with a poignant message about power, survival, and the human condition. Dark Honor reminds us that, in times of crisis, humanity’s true nature is revealed–plus some bad ass action sequences.

Dark Honor #1 hits local comic shops on May 28, 2025 from Image Comics.