In 1990 there was a three issue mini series which adapted the first movie. The comic book mini series was published at the same time as the movie's release in the theatres. Ralph Macchio wrote the script, and Bob Hall and Mark Texeira handled the artwork. It was a faithful adaptation of the movie, although likenesses of the main actors was not used.

The adaptation was also released by Marvel as a single issue black & white magazine.

For those interested, the value of these comic books has not increased, you should be able to pick all of these up for around the cover price.

Written by Kurt Busiek, with art by Javier Saltares and Andrew Pepoy, this was a six issue limited series.

The series continued to feature Peyton Westlake as Darkman, but this time the character comes up against members of the Metropolitan Club - a group of influential and wealthy men who run the city.

The series also features characters from the first movie, including Julie Hastings, Eddie Black (a character attacked by Durant and his men), and Durant himself.

The comic book series also pays homage to the comic book, movie and pulp inspirations for the character: the hospital where Julie goes to walk is called the Murnau-Sprang Mecical Centre and there are local landmarks such as Caligari Square and Allard Park.

The first three issues reintroduce Darkman and sets up the Metropolitan Club, plus new romance for Julie as she works for the medical centre. The remainder of the series brings Robert Durant back from the dead as a clone/cyborg hybrid. Only in comic books can such a thing happen, although I guess it makes more sense than Durant's return in the second movie where he hardly has a scratch after being blown up in the helicopter after the initial film!

There were hopes for Darkman to return in at least a second limited series, as noted in the one letters column published in the 4th issue of the comic. Unfortunately it was not to be...

NB - It has been announced that the licence for Darkman to produce further comic books on the character has been picked up Dynamite Entertainment.  Further information here.