Comics

Review: ‘The Walking Dead’ # 117

Published

10 years ago

November 27, 2013

Two weeks after the harrowing events of the last issue Kirkman and Adlard return with another chapter of All Out War. “The Walking Dead” has recently succeeded in widening its world through the addition of other communities. These additions have been interesting, but the real focus of this larger world is Negan. Originally introduced as the major antagonist of the series Kirkman has taken several steps to paint him as a second protagonist, and this month solidifies it.

WRITTEN BY: Robert Kirkman
ART BY: Charlie Adlard
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: November 27, 2013

If you told me last summer that I would he sympathizing with Negan I would have laughed in your face. His introduction was steeped in cruelty and he was sold as a man who would eat the Governor for breakfast. Over a year later Kirkman has done something truly special. He has made us sympathize with this character and come to understand his motivations.

Desperation is one of the core themes of the book. Kirkman often enjoys painting his characters into desperate corners to see who they become and how they’ll react. So with the events of last month fully in motion it’s Negan’s turn at desperation.

He is lost, fucked, and completely at odds with his own camp. He keeps it together. Kirkman has been hinting that he is more than a psychopath. He’s a man with a code and he’s a natural leader. He sees the light at the end of the tunnel and in many ways he is remarkably similar to Rick.

It’s truly a shame Rick and Negan don’t get to spend more time together. Thier similarities are so overwhelming that any time spent in close proximity would only make them come together. Instead both are so headstrong that they’re unwilling to compromise. So here we are in the midst of a war over egos.

Adlard’s art continues to be on point this month. His work paints Negan into an inescapable situation and depicts it with beautiful simplicity. He also ensures to spend extra time with Negan’s emotional range. Adlard treats the reader to an emotional roller coaster with Negan’s struggles. The entire thing is particularly riveting and makes you question whether or not Rick was correct in his actions.

Regardless of the actions that brought on the war, it is clear now that this struggle could have been avoided. Kirkman has effectively pitted Rick against himself, and while it may seem like he is winning the war, I’m sure Negan won’t stay down for long.

The added depth to Negan is much appreciated but the growing cast of characters leaves much to be desired. Too many characters are left in limbo with each passing issue. Which leaves many storylines completely hanging for months. “All Out War” continues to be paced with breakneck speed, but perhaps slowing down is just what the book needs.

Rating: 3/5 Skulls.

Zac Thompson

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Comics

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

Published

7 days ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

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.