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Review: ‘Evil Jester Presents’ #1

Published

10 years ago

on

Short stories are one of the best forms of storytelling. They offer fast-paced tales that don’t beat around the bush. Horror comic anthologies used to be all the rage with books like “Eerie” and “Tales from the Crypt”, and thankfully they are seeing resurgence. The newest player in the game is “Evil Jester Presents”, and it’s an impressive debut issue with stories from Jack Ketchum, Jonathan Maberry, William F. Nolan and Joe McKinney. All four are quick and to the point which is just was short horror comics should be. Though Evil Jester is new, their story choice for the premiere issue are well thought out and freaky, which bodes well for the new kid on the block.

WRITTEN BY: Jack Ketchum, Jonathan Maberry, William F. Nolan and Joe McKinney
ART BY: Beni Lobel, Esteve Polls, Salva Navarro and Nacho Arranz
PUBLISHER: Evil Jester Comics
PRICE: 3.99
RELEASE: Out now

All four stories are a good fit for a first issue. Two are quick and dirty while the other two offer a little more length, but one thing they all share is an excellent representation of the horror genre. I’m going to focus on the two stories I most enjoyed from this book, the first and the third.

“The Box” by author Jack Ketchum has both a simple and alluring title. It’s cryptic in the sense that the box is shown at the outset, but never returns to the narrative. The tale follows a father who slowly watches his family slip away from him while despair fills his every nook and crany. The story itself is simple but the premise is anything but. As the tale unfolds, the situation becomes more shocking until the final few panels. The art by Beni Lobel is solid, but some of the coloring has a certain digital look that takes way from the horror. Still, Lobel does an excellent job of showing the decaying effects that the box has had on the family.

William F. Nolan’s “Small World” is a bleak take on the future of humanity as aliens wipe out everyone on Earth above the age of 6. The story follows what could be the last adult on Earth as he makes his way through the wasteland that the once highly populated planet has become. As the tale flashes between present and past the scope of the story expands, making you feel for this last bastion of humanity. The end of story is simply stunning. Salva Navarro has a realistic style infused with a nice sinister look. He makes the present dark and bleak, while the flash backs have a brighter look to offer an appropriate contrast.

“Evil Jester Presents” has my attention. It’s given me the urge to dive into classic anthologies for more short horror stories and any comic that makes me want to read more has done its job. With such talented creators on board, Evil Jester is definitely a publisher to keep your eye on in 2014.

You can pick up the first issue on the Evil Jester website.

3.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Green Basterd

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Comics

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

Published

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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