Connect with us

Comics

Review: ‘Extermination’ #1

Published

12 years ago

on

When I think about superheroes and villains I always think about it as endless struggle between the forces of good and evil, and how good will (almost) always prevail. Rarely do I even broach the possibility of alternate relationships between the two factions. Well that old theory of mine was blown the F*** up with Boom’s Extermination #1. Sometimes your worst enemy becomes your best friend when a race of interstellar, dimension warping, aliens decide that they would like to wipe humanity off the face of the Earth.

WRITTEN BY: Simon Spurrier
ART BY: Jeffrey Edwards
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios

In this first issue there are 2 protagonists but one is, in essence, the antagonist. Nox, the Nocturnal Knight and his arch nemeses The Red Reaper, have teamed up to fight an alien force that is literally trying to destroy everything both of them hold near and dear. That’s the story in a nut a shell and a further explanation would only confuse ya! From the get go,, this is a sheer thrill ride. By using flash backs, Simon Spurrier is able to advance the plot while still forging a back drop on the unlikely pair, which allows for quick story progression and character development.

“Extermination” is treading into new territory as far as I’m concerned. It’s not unlike the zombie apocalypse style of “The Walking Dead”, in the sense that the old world is gone and a new one forged. The duo’s survival depends on them changing who they are (as the flashbacks illuminate) in order to adapt to the new and dangerous world. This is especially the case for the righteous hero, Nox, who is forced to rethink his moral code in order to survive.

Blond does a splendid job on colors; lots of contrast between light and dark which dazzles the eye, at times I even had to readjust my focus to really get a sense of what the frame was depicting. However, The artwork is also where the fault lies for this issue. the artwork is very smooth and clean, it’s almost too perfect for the world it’s attempting to portray. For the most part, it’s just a classic superhero art that doesn’t compliment the grievousness of the book. On the other hand, I appreciate that it takes place in a superhero universe yet manages to stay away from relentless splash pages and heroic poses.

“Extermination” #1 is quick and fun read that brings something new to the superhero genre. BOOM! has something on their hands with this one and it will be a treat to see how the characters compromise their respective codes and give into their survival instincts.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – GreenBasterd

Related Topics:
Advertisement
Click to comment

Comics

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

Published

1 day 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

Continue Reading