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Review: ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9’ #17

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Andrew Chambliss and Dark Horse Comics deliver a well-rounded issue with Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9 #17. The second installment of this four-part story arc entitled, “Welcome to the Team,” sees our Slayer being forced to join a mystical council in L.A. after Illyria teleports her away from San Francisco. There, she’s involuntarily recruited to defeat a past foe who’s hell-bent on endangering what little mystical energy remains on Earth. Surprise cameos and interesting plot developments galore, Chambliss writes an enjoyable issue. Unfortunately, where he excels in script, Jeorges Jeanty, expectedly, falls short in the art department.

WRITTEN BY: Andrew Chambliss
ART BY: Georges Jeanty
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: January 9th, 2012

Part Two continues with an overwhelmingly outnumbered Billy and Detective Dowling, fighting for their lives in a zompire battle gone south. Easily overpowered without Buffy’s Slayer strength at their disposal, the two find themselves in a tense battle for life or death. Buffy, having been unceremoniously teleported to L.A. in the middle of said fight, comes face-to-face with fan-favourite WhedonVerse character, Illyria, who, like Buffy, still has access to her powers.

Andrew Chambliss sets up this second issue of the arc as a lead-up for what’s to come, and reverts back to his straightforward approach to storytelling as a means to push the narrative forward. Striking an effective balance between disclosure and mystery, the author reveals enough information to keep readers invested in the plot, all the while leaving certain things unanswered for the readers to ponder over; specifically regarding Xander and Dawn’s side-story. Still no answer as to why the latter’s health is quickly deteriorating, or why Xander has turned into a quick-tempered rage monster, but all signs point to trouble with a capital “T”.

Interestingly enough, even though I’m left completely underwhelmed by Georges Jeanty’s illustrations in this arc, my favourite part of the issue is his first panel depicting the mystical council. Not only for the wonderful surprise cameo that fans will love, but for the overall idea behind a council of witches, demons, mystics, and deities who still retain their powers, coming together to protect what little mystical energy is left on Earth. It’s just awesome in both script and art.

The end of Part Two sees Buffy’s foray into battle with *SPOILER ALERT* The Siphon, AKA Severin, the former enemy the mystical council recruits Buffy to defeat. As we already know, he’s a being who rips mystical energy from all he touches; and considering that beings who have power in this realm are few and far between, keeping him alive is not an option.

3.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – ShadowJayd

Comics

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

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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 (AnimosityBatwomanDC Bombshells) and visualized by artist Giuseppe Cafaro (Suicide SquadPower RangersRed 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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