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Review: ‘Hellraiser’ #16

Published

12 years ago

on

Since the new “Hellraiser” series began, the battle lines have been drawn, the mighty leaders have translocated, and the balance between good and evil has been obliterated. Kirsty is now all alone and has to make a large sacrifice, and the world of Hell is still calling Elliot Spencer. The universe wants them both back in their rightful places. Now is the time for reckoning.

WRITTEN BY: Clive Barker & Mark Miller
ART BY: Janusz Ordon and Stephen Thompson
PUBLISHER: BOOM!
RELEASE: July 25th

Issue #16 of “Hellraiser” is entirely composed of setting up for the almighty shit-storm that is going to be the next issue. Project Heaven’s Reply is in full swing and preparing for the impending wreckage, while Kirsty Cotton and Elliot Spencer attempt to take their rightful places in their respective dimensions. The universe is slowly imploding from the inside out, and soon (as always), all Hell is going to break loose. There’s a lot going on, but not a lot that can be described without entirely ruining what’s to come. It’s building up for what could possibly be the best issue of “Hellraiser” that anyone’s ever seen.

I sound like a broken record when I say that every issue gets better and better, but it’s true. And we’re going on 16 issues. If this series gets into triple-digit issues (which is a possibility at the rate it’s going), we’ll probably have to read with paramedics on standby because we’ll all be at risk for “badassery” attacks.

The art in this issue is, not surprisingly, just as fantastic as every preceding issue. The fantastic artists that have contributed such beautiful scenes of horror and destruction in the past have returned to help make this issue stylistically stunning. Hellraiser’s traditionally realistic drawing style and dark color palette do not disappoint. The final panels, with the blinding LED-blue against the ink-black sky, give me chills.

Barker and Miller and their team have once again provided us with a kick-ass issue of “Hellraiser”. However, the next issue marks a new arc, which means that it’s probably going to be the most mind-blowing issue yet. Any fan of the franchise that hasn’t picked up this comic yet is missing out on the most epic revival of any large-scale horror series. Clive Barker has restored the intricate mythology of “Hellraiser”, and now Kirsty and Spencer are literally about to rock the world.

4.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Kaity McAllister

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Comics

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

Published

1 day ago

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April 18, 2024

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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 (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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