A 'degenerate graphic novel' could be a term used to describe a graphic novel that has declined in quality. Maybe it has a poorly developed plot, uninteresting characters, or shoddy artwork.
I'm not sure specifically as I haven't read that exact 'in utter darkness story'. It could be about a journey through a very dark place, either literally like a deep cave or metaphorically such as a difficult time in someone's life.
Once upon a time, in an old, dilapidated mansion at the edge of a dark forest, there lived a lonely girl. Every night, she would hear strange scratching noises on her bedroom window. One night, she couldn't bear it anymore and peeked out. There was a pair of red, glowing eyes staring back at her. She tried to scream but no sound came out. Then, the eyes disappeared, only to be replaced by a long, bony hand reaching for the window latch. She fainted and when she woke up, she found herself in a cold, damp cellar filled with cobwebs and the stench of death.
Once upon a time, two friends, Tom and Jerry (not the cartoon characters), decided to go on a road trip. They packed their bags and set off in an old van. Along the way, they had all sorts of adventures. They got a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, but instead of panicking, they worked together to change it. They shared stories and jokes while doing so, strengthening their bond. It was a simple yet memorable journey that showed the true essence of their friendship.
Well, 'utter darkness fanfiction' could be about a really dark and gloomy setting in a fan - made story. It might involve themes like a desolate world, maybe with evil forces ruling or some sort of post - apocalyptic scenario where everything is in a state of chaos and despair.
There's no way to tell without reading the story. But they might be adventurers who find themselves in a pitch - black area, or perhaps it's about a single person dealing with some internal darkness, in which case that person would be the main character.
It's hard to point to a specific graphic novel as 'degenerate' in a general sense. However, some might consider certain underground or self - published graphic novels that have very low - quality production values and amateurish storytelling as 'degenerate'. But this is a very personal view.
One story could be about a gambler who bet all his savings on a single horse race because he had a 'gut feeling'. He lost everything and had to start from scratch. It shows how degenerate gambling can lead to extreme financial loss.
Sorry, I don't have any specific 'utter darkness fanfiction' to recommend off - hand. You could try searching on fanfiction websites using relevant tags like 'dark', 'gloomy', or 'despair' and see if any stories match what you might expect from 'utter darkness fanfiction'.
The unknown. When things are not clearly defined in a horror story, like a strange noise in the dark and you don't know what's making it. It plays on our fears of the unseen.