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Review: ‘B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth’ #107: Wasteland

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11 years ago

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With events in Russia being relatively wrapped up for the Bureau and their Russian counter parts, the story moves back to North America with its newest arc B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: Wasteland, where the always lovable Johann takes center stage. The role of Laurence Campbell as illustrator for this book gives it a very different look and feel to it than most B.P.R.D. issues. The story line for “Hell on Earth” is really heating up and this arc looks to be one of the best of the bunch.

WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
ART BY: Laurence Campbell
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: 3.50
RELEASE: May 15th, 2013

The Bureau has agents scattered across America in an effort to subdue the cataclysmic events that are transpiring, but when one of those parties goes missing, it’s up to a team lead by the undead German Agent Johann to investigate their disappearance. This isn’t where the book starts off though. It opens with the team around a campfire and all but their fearless leader are attempting to catch some Zs. The book then flashes back to bring us up to speed on the events that lead to this campfire.

Mike Mignola and John Arcudi have really built something great here, and considering that Johann has been on the sidelines since his episode in Canada it’s great to see him back in the field. This book is simply laid out, has a little intrigue at the start to get you hooked, then flashes back to bring you up to speed on that opening hook. This book is packed full of action. As is inevitable with all “Hell on Earth” books, the monsters attack from one direction or another. Even though this is the first issue in a new arc, it doesn’t have that slow build, it just jumps feet first into the story and never stops coming.

I’m unfamiliar with Laurence Campbell’s work and have rarely been exposed to different styles of art when it comes to the Mignola universe. Sery rarely do artists deviate from the style that Mignola has built this world upon. Campbell is his own entity entirely, a very realistic look the book, even the monsters themselves have an incredibly life-like look that gives them an additional frightening factor. Dave Stewart gives the pages the final touches as he weaves magic with his colour pallet, accenting the incredibly realistic imagery with tones and shading that help Campbell’s art come to life.

I’m very impressed with this “B.P.R.D.” issue, the event needed a good shake up, and this is just what the doctor ordered.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – GreenBastard

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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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