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Review: ‘X’ #1

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This is a character that screams tough and psychotic. This violent vigilante looks like a crazy SWAT team officer who wears a padlock around his neck. Actually, he could be a wrestler if killing scum bags proves too daunting a task. Who would win in this no-holds-barred match: Punisher vs. X? Here is your chance to see what our anti-hero is capable of in Dark Horse’s X #1.

WRITTEN BY: Duane Swierczynski
ART BY: Eric Nguyen
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: 8 May 2013

I like to think that in my many years of enjoying comics, I’ve read a little bit of everything. As I’ve matured, naturally, my tastes have grown and changed. I regret not reading a lot of Dark Horse Comics hero line back in the 90s, as I do recall the artwork of the previous incarnation of X always catching my eye. But in my youth, I was pretty brainwashed into buying only from the Big Two. Thankfully, I’m able to rectify that now by trying out this new iteration of “X”.

I will say that this character seems much more brutal than other lethal heroes out there. It seems the police who are wise enough to steer clear of his hurricane of violence. They know to keep his crime scenes off the radar. Blowing up a whole building to keep his return out of the news loop? You know you’re scary when cops are willing to kill anyone who would leak the story. That’s quite the impact.

So who is X? Swierczynski and Nguyen keep that answer cloaked in shadows for now. Nguyen’s art keeps an angular look which makes each person passing by the camera lens readers keeps it fresh for readers. He seems human, able to get hurt and needs bandaging after going on a bad guy killing spree. For a main character, he’s barely in this first issue. I think he says a total of two words in the whole story. Other than the cape, this guy actually would scare me if I saw him walking down the street. Both cops and crooks want this guy dead but will they succeed? I’m intrigued enough to see how much help he’ll get next time.

3.5 / 5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Your Friendly Neighborhood Brady

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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