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Indie Spotlight: ‘Pulp’ One-Shot

Published

10 years ago

on

Pulp fiction and comics go hand in hand. The original pulp magazines from the early 20th century were known for their exploitative nature and their often-shocking conclusions. This transferred over to comics in their early years, and that pulpy style is seeing resurgence in contemporary comics. Up and coming writer Jeremy Holt teams with fellow rising star Chris Peterson to deliver the nostalgia-filled one-shot, “Pulp”, that captures the mood and essence of original pulp magazines. “Pulp” delivers a lightning quick story about the dangers of obsession that will leave readers shocked with its brutal truth.

WRITTEN BY: Jeremy Holt
ART BY: Chris Peterson
PUBLISHER: Self-published
PRICE: Pay what you will
RELEASE: Out now

“Pulp” is a simple story about an author who holes himself up in a secluded cabin to get cracking on his next hit novel. Two storylines are interwoven throughout, but it’s difficult to say when either of them takes place. In the end, it doesn’t really matter because they collide in a way you won’t see coming.

On a broad level, “Pulp” is a story about the dangers of becoming obsessed with desire. However, at its core, it’s a story about the curse of being a writer. Let’s face it, writers are a particular breed that sometimes like to be alone so they can brood with all their deranged thoughts, and this gritty tale captures that stereotyped essence to a tee. For anyone who has laid pen to paper, or fingers to keys, the ruthless final pages will hit like a sledgehammer. The final reveal is a violent one, and exactly what you would expect from an R-rated pulp story.

Jeremy Holt’s writing comes to the forefront in this one-shot. He manages to interweave the two storylines with a furious pace. Holt ensures that the last panel of a sequence always transition seamlessly from one setting to another, until the worlds finally collide.

Holt focuses on sound effects throughout the issue. I don’t generally take the time to appreciate a good sound effect in comics, but this book shows Holt’s ability to create the illusion of sound in an otherwise silent medium. And that silence is equally potent in “Pulp”. The minimal dialogue makes for a quick read to drive you headlong into the punch line.

Due to the fast paced nature of the story, “Pulp” is an extremely speedy experience, but I think it is best read by taking the time to bask in Christ Peterson’s art. While his style isn’t exactly what you would expect from a pulp story, his beautiful single-color illustrations capture the feeling of dread and isolation that the story demands. Peterson’s exterior establishing shots are detailed and emotive, giving the secluded cabin a life of its own. He also manages to capture the film-noir style with the harsh lighting and the blue and yellow wash.

“Pulp” is available online now as a “pay-what-you-will” digital story. If you love gritty, pulpy tales that deliver, it’s worth your time and money. Plus, you get to support some rising indie creators who do it all for the love.

4/5 Skulls

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Comics

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

Published

2 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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