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Review: ‘Kill Shakespeare: The Tide of Blood’ #1

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11 years ago

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With a promising new story arc, Kill Shakespeare: The Tide of Blood #1 is the perfect issue for newcomers to jump into the series. If you are already a fan, the “Kill Shakespeare” series spins another great yarn of medieval adventure, fantasy, and dark magic. You have never seen an adaptation of Shakespeare’s works like this before.

WRITTEN BY: Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col
ART BY: Andy Belanger
PUBLISHER: IDW Publishing
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: February 20th, 2013

Three months have passed since the ultimate defeat of Richard III and Lady Macbeth. Since the re-appearance of wizard-god William Shakespeare, Juliet Capulet’s rebellion has taken a much-needed break. A new nation is building and the Council of Thirty-Seven has been structuring their government. But a different threat is rising from the border as Titus is gathering an army. Titus will strike and no one will ever feel safe again, especially now that Shakespeare has gone missing again.

Using an assortment of Shakespeare’s works, writers Conor McCreery and Anthony Del Col are building their own mythology, while breathing new life to forgotten literary characters. Because time has passed, McCreery and Del Col let their protagonists mature from their previous experiences. Othello and Juliet were once soldiers strategizing for battle, but now there is no more use for them because it is peacetime. Othello might never change because he still wants to get into a fight. Juliet is enjoying the calmness the most, but Hamlet is having a difficult time with the transition.

Though Hamlet is still integral to the plot, the spotlight is really on Romeo this issue. As a deeply flawed protagonist, Romeo drinks himself to death while yearning to find a purpose in this new life. Like before, in “A Sea Of Troubles and The Blast Of War,” McCreery and Del Col avoid iambic pentameter but keep the spirit of Shakespeare’s wordplay. You don’t need to bring your college/high school notes on Shakespeare to understand the dialogue. This really gives readers a refreshing chance to fully enjoy the story.

Artist Andy Belanger captures the medieval look with the boots, ragged clothing, and capes. In a creative page layout, I enjoyed the scene where Romeo and Hamlet have an argument in the middle of the woods. Belanger handles the poses, mannerisms, and facial expressions as if he is recreating a performance. The way Hamlet and Romeo are standing, it’s as if the woods is their stage and the two are acting out in a theatrical manner.

Belanger’s illustrations stands out when Romeo arrives to the rescue of a damsel-in-distress. Wish a sword in hand, Romeo recklessly throws himself into a horde of angry wolves. After slashing the head off of one of the wolves, another wolf is biting his arm, tearing his flesh with its fangs. In a surprising turn-of-events, the damsel-in-distress suddenly destroys the wolves and burns them to ashes.

The Bard’s greatest heroes and villains are pitted against each other once again in “Kill Shakespeare: Tide of Blood” #1 . Though Prospero’s island is just teased, this is a major reason to be excited about the next issue.

4.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by Jorge Solis

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

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1 day 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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