Comics

Review: ‘Buddy Cops’ One Shot

Published

11 years ago

March 15, 2013

What other comic this week will give you nuclear monk monkeys, a drunk future cop with a sweet jetpack, a wedding, and a clone of Eliot Ness surgically implanted into the carcass of a bear? Only Buddy Cops by Nate Crosby and Evan Shaner. “Buddy Cops” is one of the most enjoyable one shots I’ve read in a while.

WRITTEN BY: Nate Crosby
ART BY: Evan Shaner
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: March 13th, 2013

Buddy Cops follows Uranus, an intergalactic space cop with a badass jetpack, and an even more badass space sword, who has been demoted to the NYPD, and his partner T.A.Z.E.R. Who is an overly anal police robot. Together they form the Buddy Cops, and as you learn on the first page: they hate each other.

This book is the ultimate spoof of comic book heroes, and the buddy cop formula, all condensed into one issue. The amount of material covered here is almost astounding. Both characters go through a stereotypical buddy cop story, with the highs and lows of each character complimenting the other. What results is a perfect snapshot of insanity, that is as much fun to read, as it is to look at.

The art here is incredible. Shaner’s art is simple and pulpy in all the right ways. Lots of muted blues, oranges, and greens create a vibrant world for these buddy cops to exist within. The characterization of the monstrous enemies reminded me of some of Fiona Staples’ best work, and really gave the comedy the back bone it needed.

This book is damn funny. There is a moment halfway through that politely asks you to play Lional Ritchie’s “Hello” softly in the background as you read it, and I couldn’t agree more. Positively tear jerking moments on those pages.

Yet, the whole thing moves with incredible pace. Crosby does not waste a panel, and the rapid fire progression of the story allows the reader to be fully immersed and wanting more. Uranus and T.A.Z.E.R’s relationship is pitch perfect. The two challenge each other in the ways we have seen continually in buddy comedies but in the perfect comic book fashion. Everything is taken to outlandish exaggerations and every character takes it completely seriously.

“Buddy Cops” is a perfect world of sheer comic insanity that I cannot recommend heartily enough. For any fans of the buddy cop genre they’ll find perfect winks and nods to their sensibilities, and for those of you just well versed in comics, you’ll find yourself having a ton of fun and laughing out loud the entire time.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jimbus_Christ

Lonnie Nadler

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Comics

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

Published

1 week 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.