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Review: ‘Mars Attacks’ #7

Published

11 years ago

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A tremendous amount of outrageous action and dark humor flows within the pages of Mars Attacks #7. With an absurd premise – blending retro sci-fi, horror, and crime – the story is surprisingly really good. If you aren’t already, this issue will make you a fan of the “Mars Attacks” series.

WRITTEN BY: John Layman
ART BY: John McCrea
PUBLISHER: IDW Publishing
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: February 13, 2013

In 1962, Martian Scout Zar’s first encounter with the humans became a disastrous recon mission. Wanting revenge for the death of his comrades, Zar returns back to Earth with a vengeance. A half-century later, Zar has risen up the ranks and is now the general of a massive invasion force. Following Zar’s orders, the Martians have arrived in Tortilla Flats decimating the townspeople. Unprepared for a resistance attack, the Martians are about to discover the worst in humanity. There is a dangerous and cunning rebel that the Martians have to worry about before they can rule and conquer Earth.

John Layman combines crime and sci-fi to build the plot. If you’re familiar with Tim Burton’s live-action film, the comic takes a completely darker direction. While avoiding the campiness and slapstick comedy, Layman takes a look at both genres and portrays them seriously. Even though this should be a cheesy B-Movie concept, which is really aliens vs. mobsters, Layman elevates the themes and uses the sci-fi element to explore the worst in human nature. Layman successfully makes the crime tale work, focusing more on character study, while The Martians take a backseat in this issue.

Raymond, “The Rat,” is an attention-grabbing character because he is acting as an antagonist/protagonist at the same time. Even while witnessing the suffering of the human race, Raymond prefers to show loyalty to himself, the only person he can trust. Despite all his flaws as a deserter and a trickster, Raymond might actually be someone who could survive the Martian invasion. Even though he doesn’t have any redeeming qualities, Raymond is playing both sides, the Martians and the human race, to get what he wants.

In different chapters, artist John McCrea highlights certain aspects of the crime tale and the alien invasion. The Rat-Catchers, the hit men assigned to kill Raymond, look like they just came out of the movie, Pulp Fiction. With their black suits, shades, and guns, the Rat-Catchers are tough mob enforcers, who are all about action and very little dialogue. In a great introduction, the Rat-Catcher are shooting down a group of Martians, who are preventing them from getting to their snitch.

Using wide shots, McCrea is able to showcase the sheer size of the Martian invasion. Readers see the decimation of buildings as the Martians walk across the empty streets with a giant slug right behind them. The Martians are using their advanced weaponry to freeze their victims solid. McCrea captures the fear and panic, as the military and innocent civilians are running away from a Martian spaceship.

For newcomers, “Mars Attacks #7” is off to a promising start with this new story arc . While taking a darker and serious tone, the “Mars Attacks” series is still bloody and fun as ever.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by Jorge Solis

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Comics

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

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2 days 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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