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Opinions on the new Darius comic *Spoilers*

Skullthorn··1 votes·1,161 views

Ok, so let me start with this: I hate playing as and against Darius. I'm not a Darius main and have no real attachment to him. However, I've got to say that the story of the comic they released today was a load of old toot. Seriously. Most of the artwork was nice even if Darius looked like an anime anti-hero in some of his panels, but I despise the writing of it. They tried to pull a Maleficent and create a story that suddenly makes this villainous but bad ass character understandable and deeper, only to make them boring instead. The Darius we know only has a short bio, but it speaks volumes. He was a tough as nails orphan who kept his brother alive, then rose to fame after decapitating his commander for cowardice then leading them himself.

Now, how would you imagine this character? A lover? Calm and negotiable? Cradling his dead lover in his arms? The story we got isn't a backstory for a murderous soldier who sweeps through the battle with an indomitable will and desire to win. Hell, if anything the ending of this story is kind where a heartless character is meant to realise the follies of their past, not stay put on their course. Wouldn't it have been better if Darius began to fall in love, but his failure to win a battle cost said lover their life? Wouldn't that give a much more logical drive? Long story short, I feel there's a major lack of understanding of the type of character Darius is meant to be combined with an inconsistent character. The story we were given just doesn't fit him, though wiutht. If they want to make him deeper, explore more about why he identifies with Noxian philosophy beyond an old captain being like "Killing for Noxus is good". We don't even see their reaction or them joining the Noxian army.

Again, I just want to say the artwork is fantastic at points, though I think it would suit a story about Demacia better. The artists clearly put a lot of time and effort into it. It's just a shame that in my opinion it was put towards something that going down the wrong road entirely. I'm sure the writer had their best intentions, but this just wasn't Darius.

11 Comments

LordHippoman5 votes

I felt it was nice character development.

If Darius just remains a screaming, murderous, "BLOOD FOR NOXUS" type at literally all times, there's nothing dynamic about his character. It just makes him extremely one-dimensional.

Seeing him with Quill shows us another side of Darius. There is more to his character than "I cut dudes' heads off and that's about it". It shows his conflicting feelings with the general Noxian creed of victory at any cost, because when he actually has to see the cost, and it's the death of his son and long-time friend/lover, things get a little dicier. It plants a plot seed for later, where Darius has a reason not just to be Swain's pawn.

It's your opinion, and that's fine, so I don't mean to step on that or say your views are any less valid, but I personally really enjoy that Riot is taking this step with a character who has historically been pretty static.

Ravenhale3 votes

Eh, that felt more like him trying to convince an old friend not to commit suicide.

I mean... he brings the head of an assassin and tosses it at her feet to start this exchange. Are we really going to claim this is a love story?

Krigjer2 votes

I feel there's a major lack of understanding of the type of character Darius is meant to be

I think who a character is meant to be is better left to the creator of that character.

If Darius just remains a screaming, murderous, "BLOOD FOR NOXUS" type at literally all times, there's nothing dynamic about his character. It just makes him extremely one-dimensional.

This. As said in previous post, my counterargument is that giving him a past romance and a soft spot makes him HUMAN. It makes him relateable.

I think a Noxian romance was handled very well. They weren't all lovey dovey- he was a soldier even in that quiet moment. He was a commander even when sieging a city defended by a former lover. Even when telling her that she would lose this battle, he wasn't begging her. He was trying to reason with her.

Skullthorn1 votes

{quoted}

I think who a character is meant to be is better left to the creator of that character.

Neither the original writer nor champion designer were credited at the end of the comic. The thing is that from what I understand from his voicelines and bio, if our in game Darius had an old friend who was holding a city Noxus needed from him, their head would be on the floor in less than a second. Also, I'm really tired of this obsession of making all characters (particularly villainous characters) understandable. Sometime we don't need a misguided but totally understandable character, maybe we want someone whose shoes are permanently dyed brown from kicking so much arse.

Krigjer1 votes

Neither the original writer nor champion designer were credited at the end of the comic.

Riot has teams of content creators- writers, artists, champion designers. It's not just one person writing all the lore.

Basically I'm saying that this is the direction Riot wanted his character to go- it's not like a fan or a guest artist decided to add in some 'non-canon' Darius personality.

Skullthorn1 votes

{quoted}

Riot has teams of content creators- writers, artists, champion designers. It's not just one person writing all the lore.

Basically I'm saying that this is the direction Riot wanted his character to go- it's not like a fan or a guest artist decided to add in some 'non-canon' Darius personality.

Again, go listen to Darius's quotes. The whole point I'm making is that we now have a massive disconnect between everything we've seen in the character in game and previous depictions in respect to this comic. They've either semi-retconned his character with no catalyst, or they have this sensitive emotional story for a character with the emotions of a brick. Covered in blood. The ironic thing is that the writer used to write mainly for warhammer 40K, probably THE universe Darius wishes he could live in. When a writer is asked to write for a character in film or franchise they didn't create, they can, of course, take the character in a new direction, but it's expected they at least get the basic feel and nature of the character down. This time, they didn't.

Here. Scroll down and look for the question about his reflection. http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?t=2148239&page=2#post24567587 That question was answered by the original lead writer for Darius. Again, a writer can take a pre-existing character in a new direction, but some fundamentals need to stay in tact.

Krigjer1 votes

The ironic thing is that the writer used to write mainly for warhammer 40K, probably THE universe Darius wishes he could live in. When a writer is asked to write for a character in film or franchise they didn't create, they can, of course, take the character in a new direction, but it's expected they at least get the basic feel and nature of the character down. This time, they didn't.

And again, I'm telling you, Riot wouldn't have paid the writer or the artist to make this comic if they didn't like the direction the character was going in.

You may have also noticed they're trying to build an actual world with their game now- Darius was probably created as just a bloodthirsty army commander, but now they want him to be something more.

they have this sensitive emotional story for a character with the emotions of a brick. Covered in blood.

Maybe his emotions are locked behind a wall of hate because he lost his love, which explains his current champion quotes. It's a normal response to trauma. Again, they're humanizing his character.

Gunpoint2 votes

They just expanded upon his character, his personality in game reflects his attitude prior to this comic I'm assuming. I'm sure he'd be more introspective after, but it is not visible in game.

Skullthorn1 votes

{quoted}

They just expanded upon his character, his personality in game reflects his attitude prior to this comic I'm assuming. I'm sure he'd be more introspective after, but it is not visible in game.

True, but then we have the issue that a lot of this comic is set when he was a young man and jump to an older age repeatedly with little visible change in personality. I'd be happier with it if they retconned his backstory a little and gave him some extra voice lines to make him a deeper character, perhaps one who occasionally has doubts about Noxus. I'm open to a more sensitive Darius, but it doesn't match up with his bio or actions in game. Go on to the league wiki and listen to his voice lines. If they don't take the opportunity to sort this out and rekerjigger his origins a bit with the Swain rework, I'll be disappointed.

Mig891 votes

It didnt feel like Darius reading it to me either. I always imagined him that warrior who was a the perfect example of a Noxiam because he never had soft spots for anyone aside for maybe Draven but I always pictured their relationship as distant ever since Draven was able to prove himself as a capable killer. Giving him a romantic back story just kinda feels out of place to me. I dont really have an opinion on whether I like it or not since I rarely play Darius. (Havent touched him since I was new and was destroyed by every single Daius player and couldnt figure out why it wasn't easy for me either)

Killaburn1 votes

just wait for darius new lore in the upcomming noxus update

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