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Review: Near Death #6

Published

12 years ago

on

If writer Jay Faerber’s goal was to make Near Death the greatest comic book tribute to classic TV crime dramas like The Rockford Files and Magnum, P.I., then he’s succeeded on every level. The book takes the traditional world of hardboiled crime and packs it with enough high speed chases, double-crosses, gun fights and damsels in distress to leave readers clamoring for more. Read on for the skinny…

Near Death Vol 1 TPB
WRITTEN BY: Jay Faerber
ART BY: Simone Guglielmini
PUBLISHER: Image
RELEASE: Out now!

Near Death is the story of Markham, a hit man for hire that gets a glimpse of the hell that awaits him in the afterlife following a near-fatal gunshot. Having seen hell, Markham is determined to avoid his grim fate, and he sets out on a path for redemption. For every life he’s taken, he needs to balance the scales by saving another.

Faerber has done a wonderful job making Markham a lead character that readers want to root for. Despite his morally reprehensible past, Markham is the type of character that can throw a knockout punch, kiss the girl and charm his way into readers hearts. The series so far has stuck to a one and done format with each issue telling a complete story, but I’d love to see the series delve into longer stories as the series progresses.

Artist Simone Guglielmini has a classic style that brings to mind the likes of José González (Vampirella) and the old EC Comics Crime books. Guglielmini has a great grasp on storytelling and expertly sets the mood for every situation Markham finds himself in. In this issue, Guglielmini unleashes a stunning double page spread of four panels depicting Markham’s carnage involving a high speed chase, exploding car, hand to hand combat and the hail of gunfire that ensues.

Faerber and Guglielmini are infusing new life into the crime genre with Near Death, and this should be essential reading for anyone that is a fan of Criminal, Stray Bullets or 100 Bullets. The trade of volume 1, which collects the first five issues of this series for $9.99, is available now, or you can start with issue #6 as it’s the beginning of a new story arc and a great jumping on point for new readers. There is no excuse for fans of the crime noir genre not to be picking this up.


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Comics

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

Published

2 days ago

on

April 18, 2024

By

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 (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red 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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