Comics

Review: ‘The Spider’ #6

Published

11 years ago

November 23, 2012

A new arc begins in issue #6 of The Spider from Dynamite Entertainment. Unfortunately, it doesn’t manage to quite live up to the precedent established in its first five issues. The Spider’s trademark humor is largely absent, the art is uneven, and the villain is, well, less than intimidating. That said, there are some bright spots as well; new characters are introduced into the world of “The Spider” and there’s an interesting backstory to one of them. But it’s not enough to save this disappointing issue.

WRITER: David Liss
ARTIST: Colton Worley
PUBLISHER: Dynamite Entertainment
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: November 21st, 2012

There are a number of flaws with “The Spider” #6, but perhaps the most irksome is the art. In man instances, it’s excellent. But in many others, there’s a lot to be desired. See, the style artist Colton Worley uses is a unique style with a heavily digital aesthetic. When it works, it works well, but if it’s even slightly off it distracts from the story being told. Characters sometimes seem vacant and lifeless, taking away from the impact of the script. The action scenes also, at times, feel claustrophobic and hard to follow.

There are also a number of issues with the David Liss’ plot. One of the best aspects of “The Spider” is the wit of Richard Wentworth. Unfortunately, aside from a minor quip in the men’s bathroom, that wit is conspicuously absent in the issue. In general, what makes “The Spider” an original book is absent, with one notable exception. This issue introduces us to Jackson, a former soldier who fought in Iraq with Wentworth, and who is attempting to atone for his past sins as a soldier in serving The Spider. It’s an interesting subplot and one that will hopefully be developed in the forthcoming issues.

Wingman is The Spider’s newest foil, and commits dastardly crimes with the help of his mind-controlled pigeons. Yes, pigeons. He’s not the most intimidating villain, to say the least. His identity – revealed at the issue’s end – has some interesting implications, but it’s not enough to overcome the fact that he has the ability to get pigeons to peck people to death.

This was a misstep in an otherwise fine series, so there’s not much to be concerned about. And while this issue has plenty of faults, it sets up future issues well. I’m still hopeful for the future of this series.

2/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – George Shunick

Lonnie Nadler

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Comics

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

Published

6 days ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

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.