EC-: Frankly, I think the whole thing looks a bit silly. I think it's the art style, every character has ridiculous accouterments. Comparing it to other comic styles (it is Joe Mad), it's not as intimidating as Spawn, as gritty as Kick-Ass nor as unique as early Judge Dredd, and yet it seems to be reaching for all of those adjectives simultaneously. In a way, the art-style kind of follows the straining gameplay.
As for that gameplay, it needs to be a radical change to remain interesting. The "me too" mish-mosh of other games' styles in the first Darksiders simply won't cut it for two straight titles.
I'm just flabbergasted by how stoked people are for this game. I really don't see it myself.
Its the mish mash of styles that actually appeals to me, its like playing a zelda game or a soul reaver game, not a heck of alot of games like that around nowadays.
AFAIK its not a prequel, I think it runs through the same timeline as DS1.