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Review: ‘The Walking Dead’ # 114

Published

11 years ago

on

Robert Kirkman kicks ‘The Walking Dead’ in the ass as he builds to “All Out War.” The stage is set, and the pacing has never been better. Rick’s quest against Negan begins this month and won’t let up anytime soon. Yet, Rick forgets that war and conquest bring casualties.


WRITTEN BY: Robert Kirkman
ART BY: Charlie Adlard
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: September 11, 2013

The issue begins in the dire depths of hell. Rick believes Negan has finally gained the upper hand. Negan’s a confident bastard and makes sure to revel in this moment. His ego circles Rick, and we get slight insight into Negan’s warped mind. Kirkman brings a warped sense of morality to Negan that makes him irresistible to read, but so easy to detest.

Things seem hopeless. Jesus arrives, bringing Negan’s whole plan to shit. For the first time Kirkman allows another character to get the upper hand on Negan, and it is fucking fantastic. Jesus kicks Negan’s ass. Adlard’s art manages to make it look easy. Jesus dodges and counters Negan and his crew. The whole thing culminates as Jesus catches Lucille, gives Negan a mean right hook, and takes him hostage at gunpoint.

As if that wasn’t enough, the cavalry arrive. Finally Ezekiel feels like he is being used, and his absence in earlier issues completely pays off here. The residents of The Kingdom burst into the scene in one of the most riveting moments in the series this far.

Adlard’s art is some of the best he’s ever churned out. The sheer terror in Negan’s eyes as Jesus holds him hostage is perfect. His pencils transform someone we’ve seen as the embodiment of confidence to a scared child in one panel. It’s truly awesome stuff. Adlard gives us a taste of his skills in the midst of a giant battle, and I’m happy to report that “All Out War” has a lot to live up to. A new standard has been set.

The ramifications of this issue are not immediately clear. Negan is incredibly pissed off, and we’re about to head into a year of the largest conflict this comic has ever seen. This war will have many sides, it is clear that some believe in Rick, but not everyone.

My fear is that Negan’s demise will simply be the tip of the iceberg. Ezekiel is a powerful and wise man, and once all other threats are eliminated, where does the violence stop? Kirkman has built an incredible depth to this new story, and things are surely to get even more intense. It is clear that this next year is going to be something truly special. Hopefully this increased pacing keeps up, and the plodding nature of “The Walking Dead” can be a thing of the past. Plus has anyone seen any walkers lately?

Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls.

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

Published

5 days ago

on

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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