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Review of Brian Azzarello’s ‘Joker’ Graphic Novel

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After the amazing success of the Dark Knight movie, I was expecting the comic world to be flooded with stories about Heath Ledger-esque Jokers and a saturation of the market to make me cry. Luckily DC comics did not do this, but in October they did release one in a similar vein, Brian Azzarello’s Joker. Released solely as a graphic novel, I did not really notice this and took it at face value and DC trying to turn a quick buck. But friend of the Dead Pixels Podcast, SuperRadMike, told me otherwise and was great enough to write a review to shed some light. Mike’s review after the break…
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Hola Creeps, a couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of reading Joker, the new graphic novel from DC Comics. Written by Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets & Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel) and art by Lee Bermejo (100 Bullets). The premise is focused on the Joker’s release from Arkham Asylum and is told in the perspective of new character, Jonny Frost. Jonny picks him up from Arkham and through the story becomes part of the Joker’s gang. In this novel you get a better insight on the Joker and watch his struggle to take back his throne as crime lord of Gotham City. You also get reacquainted with such villains as Killer Croc, Penguin, the Riddler, Harley Quinn and Two-Face. The story focuses more on Joker’s sadistic side, not as far as Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke would go, but still pretty sadistic. You also get to witness a little bit of a human side to him as well. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the Batman story or looking for a graphic novel without the attachments. My rating: 8.5. Go buy it. Adios Creeps.
Joker is available at most Comic Book Shops for about $19.99, Hardcover, Color, 128pgs

Comics

‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics

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Witchblade cover

Witchblade, the popular comic series that initially ran from 1995 to 2015 and launched a TV series, is getting resurrected in a new comic series from Top Cow and Image Comics. It’s set to unleash heavy metal, black magic and blood this summer.

Look for the new Witchblade series to launch on July 17, 2024.

In Witchblade #1, “New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings. How will Sara use this ancient power, or will she be consumed by it?”

The series is penned by NYT Best-Selling writer Marguerite Bennett (AnimosityBatwomanDC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide SquadPower RangersRed Sonja). The creative duo is working with original co-creator Marc Silvestri, who is the CEO of Top Cow Productions Inc. and one of the founders of Image Comics. They are set to reintroduce the series to Witchblade’s enduring fans with “a reimagined origin with contemporary takes on familiar characters and new story arcs that will hook new readers and rekindle the energy and excitement that fueled the 90’s Image Revolution that shaped generations of top creators.”

Bennett said in a statement, “The ability to tell a ferocious story full of monsters, sexuality, vision, and history was irresistible.” She adds, “Our saga is sleek, vicious, ferocious, and has a lot to say about power in the 21st century and will be the first time that we are stopping the roller coaster to let more people on. I’ve loved Witchblade since I was a child, and there is truly no other heroine like Sara with such an iconic legacy and such a rich, brutal relationship to her own body.”

“The Witchblade universe is being modernized to reflect how Marguerite beautifully explores the extreme sides of Sara through memories, her personal thoughts, like desire and hunger, in her solitude and when she is possessed by the Witchblade. So, I had to visually intersect a noir True Detective-like world with a supernatural, horror world that is a fantastic mix between Berserk and Zodiac,” Cafaro stated.

Marc Silvestri notes, “This is brand new mythology around Sara, and I can’t wait for you to fall in love with her and all the twists and turns. Discover Witchblade reimagined this summer, and join us as we bring all the fun of the 90s to the modern age and see how exciting comics can be. I can’t wait for you to read this new series.”

Witchblade#1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 17th, for $4.99 for 48 pages. And it’ll come with multiple cover variants.

  • Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)

  • Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover

  • Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)

  • Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)

  • Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)

  • Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)

  • Cover H (1/250): Line art by Marc. Virgin Cover, Inks (B/W)

Witchblade #1 will also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

Witchblade comic panel Witchblade #1 cover image

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