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Review: ‘Ex Sanguine’ #1

Published

12 years ago

on

Tim Seeley’s creative mind and talented hand have been working in overdrive to get his new vampire story out on the shelves, well boys and ghouls its finally here! Ex Sanguine is an incredibly clever take on the modern day vampire with a twist that only Seeley and his co-writer Joshua Scott Emmons could deliver. The story and art are a testament to Seeley’s imagination, bringing life (or in this case undeath). I love a good vampire story and this one is loaded with clever imagery and mature themes that go a long way.

WRITTEN BY: Tim Seeley and Joshua Scott Emmons
ART BY: Tim Seeley
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: 3.99
RELEASE: October 17th

The protagonist is one Saul Adams, who has been living his undeath with relative ease, using low life to sate is hunger and only feeding on people who aren’t worthy of note. With FBI agents snooping around his town as a murderer is on the loose, Saul becomes one of the main suspects. The story employs wonderful imagery to describe the situation. Agent Quinn reads a bit of Saul’s journal and is thrown into a intense dream-like vision of the “hollow man” torturing her.

The story continues through Saul’s routine as he goes to his local feeding ground Commonwealth Diner. He finds himself out habit when a new server is present. At this moment Saul’s inner workings are revealed through the running narrative, describing how he has lasted so long by keeping habits at bay and by staying under the radar. The thrills pick up from here as Saul uses his hunting skills to find worthy, or worthless, prey. From here the story swan dives into a twisted sort of love story.

Tim Seeley’s clever dialogue is at the forefront in “Ex Sanguine” #1. He and Emmons use modernized language mixed with word play to evoke a sense of ancient vampire lore. The narrative flows well with the artwork, as it should in any solid horror story.

Seeley’s art style, using hard lines and lacking any sketchiness is refreshing considering how many vampire books fall under the wave of the “30 Days of Night” gritty look. This adds to the book’s already extremely modern look and feel. When Saul is in his vampire form, it’s not subtle in the least. He’s portrayed as a monster and nothing else.

Seeley is on a mission to deliver a new take on love and vampirism, and it’s coming up roses thus far.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by- GreenBasterd

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Comics

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

Published

5 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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