Comics

Review: ‘Witch Doctor: Mal Practice’ #3

Published

11 years ago

January 25, 2013

A medical drama with a wickedly funny twist, Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #3 continues to be a worthwhile read. When it comes to black humor, Brandon Seifert’s writing delivers the hilarious one-liners and Lukas Ketner gives readers something to look at with his monster artwork. This creative team-up is pushing their “Witch Doctor” series to a new level.

WRITTEN BY: Brandon Seifert
ART BY: Lukas Ketner
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: January 23, 2012

Seifert builds up the tension and suspense in this issue. A bigger clue to the story arc’s mystery is revealed as Dr. Morrow finally meets the devious schemers who poisoned him. Because he doesn’t trust anyone, Dr. Morrow isn’t completely sure whether they have his cure or not. Seifert plays an interesting guessing-game with this scenario. Readers are going to have a fun time with this because you’re not really sure which of the protagonists or the antagonists have the upper-hand.

In the opening pages, Seifert provides some character growth to Dr. Morrow. Because he is going to die soon, Dr. Morrow wants to make sure debts are settled and people are taken care of. Readers are getting to see more of the doctor’s personal side, which harkens back to the first issue of “Mal Practice.” When he was alone, Dr. Morrow was listening to his favorite music, cheesy 80’s jams.

Ketner creates the tense atmosphere and the moody lighting right from the start. This entire confrontation between Dr. Morrow and his enemies takes place during a single night and in one location. To heighten the suspense, Ketner focuses on the character’s facial reactions rather than the background. In close-ups, Ketner highlights Seifert’s slapstick humor with his cartoony facial expressions.

The most exciting panels are when Penny jumps into battle. There is a lot of detail to Penny’s poses, especially when she stretches out her arms and slashes the air. Notice the way Eric is depicted with an electronic device on his back. In a hilarious nod to popular culture, Eric looks like a Ghostbuster with his proton pack.

At its mid-way point, “Witch Doctor: Mal Practice” #3 continues to be an entertaining breed of medical horror. This is the right moment for anyone who hasn’t read the “Witch Doctor” series to jump right in.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

Related Topics:Brandon Seifert Witch Doctor Witch Doctor: Mal Practice

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.