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Review: ‘The Sandman: Overture’ #1

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10 years ago

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A triumph of ambitious storytelling and majestic artwork, “The Sandman: Overture” #1 is required reading for comic book fans everywhere. The illustrations are something from another world as each panel captures the rhythm of such poetic writing. For its 25th anniversary, the critically acclaimed “Sandman” series is back with a vengeance, twisting reader’s expectations about what comics should be. Gaiman and Williams III are a dream team.

WRITTEN BY: Neil Gaiman
ART BY: J.H. Williams III
PUBLISHER: Vertigo Comics
PRICE: $4.99
RELEASE: October 30th, 2013

On a distant planet, an alien species of exotic plants is withering away as they listen to a dying man’s screams. The banshee screams are so loud, they can even be heard in dreaming minds. Only Death knows which one of her Endless family members passed away in the cleansing fire. Elsewhere, The Sandman, aka Dream, awaits for his scheduled meeting with the psychotic guest known as Corinthian. With an appetite for eating eyes, Corinthian intends to continue his killing spree, even if Dream intends to uncreate him. But something else is pulling at Dream, calling him into battle.

Just as he has always done, writer Neil Gaiman crosses boundaries between folklore and literature. As a true master wordsmith, Gaiman’s articulate voice requires more than one sit-through. Each time you look back over the page, you connect the missing dots and end up being rewarded with a new reading experience. By playing around with words, Gaiman’s writing harkens back to Charles Dickens’ novels as he captures a 1900’s London time period. Gaiman interweaves many subplots seamlessly, as a way to reintroduce Dream and the other Endless members to newcomers and longtime followers.

What I really enjoyed about the narration is how Gaiman throws in his witty humor, even when the tone is at its most terrifying. Death is the perfect choice for Gaiman to unleash his brand of sophisticated wit, while being at his darkest. When Death leaves, Gaiman heightens the terror that surrounds the psychotic Corinthian. A frightening creature, Corinthian likes to eat eyes because he has mouths in place of eye sockets.

Artist J. H. Williams illustrates a lush and elegant look to the 1900s time period. In his character design, Dream wears a top hat, along with a distinctive trench coat, and has trimmed sideburns around his face. Though the Goth/punk costume doesn’t appear in this installment, I laughed aloud when Death appears wearing a Mary Poppins-like outfit. Williams delivers such cringe-worthy illustrations when showcasing Corinthian’s teeth-filled eyes and maniacal smile in extreme close-ups.

There is a four-page interior gatefold that is just simply awe-inspiring. In an immense display of detail, Williams illustrates every incarnation of Dream, some old and new, into the glossy pages. Dave Stewart’s colors vibrantly heighten the black and white hues of Dream’s body tone. Each stunning page is appealing to the eyes as Williams designs such inventive layouts for the eloquent prose.

Readers can tell a tremendous amount of thought, care, and heart went into “The Sandman: Overture” #1. “The Sandman” series continues to be an enduring classic, as it was before.

4.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

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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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6 days 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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