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Review: ‘Buzzkill’ # 1

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11 years ago

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Donny Cates’ new series “Buzzkill” asks us to envision a superhero that derives his powers from alcohol and drug use. Geoff Shaw’s sketchy art brings the story to life, in a raw and vulnerable way. The framing device of an AA meeting makes for a story that’s deep, engaging, and a ton of fun. The protagonist has an amazing introduction, and still Cates finds time to develop the supporting world in an incredible debut issue.


WRITTEN BY: Donny Cates
ART BY: Geoff Shaw
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: September 18, 2013

Imagine being a superhero with incredible powers but never remembering your big victories, or never being in full control of your powers. Such is the life of the protagonist of “Buzzkill.” He calls himself “Ruben” at an AA meeting. He’s plagued with the demons of his drug and alcohol use. Or at least it seems. Turns out he kind of misses it. Ruben derives incredible powers from substance abuse. Despite his best efforts to go clean, he is tempted to dive back into the life of a hero.

He is reluctant to speak, but when he does, we learn of his troubled past. We get a loose origin story unlike any other. Cates builds Ruben in an interesting manner. What most would dismiss as party flashbacks are Ruben’s formative years in learning to use his powers.

Geoff Shaw’s light and sketchy lines make for a fluid and grimy feeling. There is hard edge to a world spent abusing substances, and Shaw’s art sells that edge. His character work is elongated and slightly exaggerated. Which allows the book to take a light tone with dark subject matter. Shaw’s work makes the character’s faces look weathered in the right moments, and captures the action beats magnificently. The work on page 10 is nothing short of amazing embodying the terror and fun of the book within four panels.

“Buzzkill” manages to take fun subject and give it some weight. The concept of the series implies a lighter tone, perhaps even a slapstick approach to the superhero world. Instead Cates takes time to make Ruben’s plight grounded. It’s an excellent choice, since the remainder of the script takes fantastic turns. What should have been the silliest aspect of the book actually becomes it’s most serious.

The issue is almost entirely an AA meeting but the final few pages really kick the story into high gear. Cate’s script goes for broke and for the most part succeeds. The entire series pushes into new and interesting territory, and then the issue ends. A lot of the issue is spent talking, and not enough actually acting. This may be a problem for those looking for a little more punching and kicking.

By the end of the issue Cates and Shaw should have you hook, line, and sinker. “Buzzkill” manages to be fun, entertaining, and oddly dark. If you’re looking for a wildly original take on the superhero genre look no further. This is as good as it gets.

Rating 3.5/5 Skulls.

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

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5 hours 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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