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Review: “Pretty Deadly” # 1

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10 years ago

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Kelly Sue Deconnick and Emma Rios’ new creator owned series from Image is a surreal western of the best kind. A rollicking adventure steeped in history. Often pitched as “Preacher” meets “Sandman,” “Pretty Deadly” is so much more.

Emma Rios’ incredible sweeping art compliments Deconnick’s wonderful story. Inside this book you’ll find a lyrical adventure that follows a mysterious protagonist. All of the best western elements are here, and they’re given a perfect dream like twist.


WRITTEN BY: Kelly Sue Deconnick
ART BY: Emma Rios
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: October 23, 2013

Comparing “Pretty Deadly” to other series would frankly do this book an injustice. It is so unlike anything I’ve had the pleasure of reading that I found myself diving into the book a second time immediately after my first read-through. The whimsical tone that begins the book shifts suddenly into a macabre lyrical poem.

A poem that is completely captivating and educational. This book is steeped in history. The past of the protagonist is elaborated through this lyrical style. It’s a refreshing way to experience exposition. Deconnick has us following Death’s daughter.

We learn how she was conceived, and watch as she makes her way across the barren countryside of the west. Deconnick understands western tropes and isn’t afraid to put her own spin on them. The raven imagery is so perfectly articulated by Emma Rios’ art that it comes to define the book.

The stray feathers wandering through the air, the abrasive headdress, and the billowing black cloak say everything about “Pretty Deadly.” Rios finds time within her art to cut her own lease on western imagery. Everything here looks well trodden and decayed. The paneling during the lyrical poem is simply stunning. So many images are overlayed on top of one another, but it never feels overwhelming.

Instead Rios’ command of the page causes the narrative to flow like Sissy’s billowing cloak. The supporting characters feel weathered in comparison to Ginny’s innocence. It’s a fantastic juxtaposition within this world. Her bright eyes will soon fade, but until then Rios has made a point to make her stand out.

Deconnick’s story is one of personal reflection and mystery. The motivations of every character are not entirely clear. Instead, we are engaged in a mysterious adventure surrounded by even more mysterious people. Things get dark and blood is spilt, but for the most part things are rather tame.

The entire adventure feels like an acid western in a similar vein to Alejandro Jodorowsky’s work but with a little more focus. The script isn’t comfortable with providing all of the answers up front, nor should it be. Since the narrative weaves unpredictably throughout the west this is a book that is better approached with a more liberal sense of mind.

“Pretty Deadly” is pretty damn unique. It is bold, dark, and engaging storytelling with a surrealistic flavor. The engaging characters and rich sense of history give the feeling of the gigantic sprawling narrative ahead. It’s been entirely too long since we have had a book like this. While it certainly is in a league of it’s own, if you are a fan of good, dark, dream like storytelling than this is for you.

Rating: 4/5 Skulls.

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Comics

‘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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