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Review: ‘Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland’ #3

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10 years ago

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Spine-chilling to the core, “Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland” #3 is a thought-provoking tale of lost chances and revenge beyond the grave. Based on Joe Hill’s vampire epic novel, “NOS4A2,” readers will be captivated and terrified by its dangerous madman, known as Charlie Manx. If you loved the novel, you must certainly get your hands on this prequel series.

WRITTEN BY: Joe Hill
ART BY: Charles Paul Wilson III
PUBLISHER: IDW Publishing
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: January 15, 2013

Three hardened criminals – Dewey, Hansom, and Teach – have escaped from the law and are now desperately seeking refuge. With the police chasing after them, Dewy makes a frantic call to someone he knew from his past. Now the three fugitives find themselves trapped in the backseat of a 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith. Their kidnapper, Charlie Manx, is taking them on a frightening ride to Hell, known only as Christmasland. But, will they find redemption or punishment when they arrive at the steel gates of Christmasland?

What I really enjoyed about Joe Hill’s writing is how he keeps readers inside the mind of a good man, whose kind heart has been corrupted by bad times. Hill jumps back and forth in time as he tells the story of Teach, a father who loves his son so much. In the heart-breaking opening scene, Teach holds his sick child in his arms as he rushes into the hospital. The doctors cold-heartedly refuse to treat the dying child because he has no insurance. Making a point with the topical issue, Hill hits home with his social commentary and never lets the readers forget why Teach has emotionally broken down.

It’s interesting how Hill manages to compare Teach to Charlie, as they are both ordinary men slowly becoming monsters. Though Hill hints that there is something redeemable about Teach, he is just too far gone for forgiveness. Charlie struggled to hold onto his humanity but lost to his primal urges. Is it possible for Teach to find redemption or has he reached a point where there is no turning back?
Artist Charles Paul Wilson III is able to present two different sides of Teach as the narrative jumps between the past and present. In the flashbacks, Wilson depicts Teach as a caring and loving father desperately seeking for help. In the present, Wilson portrays Teach as a hardened fugitive who is haunted by past mistakes. Notice how Wilson illustrates the smear of blood around Teach’s eye. There is blood dripping from Teach’s eye, as if he hasn’t stopped crying for his lost son.

Though the story is bleak, Wilson is able to inject some humor into his panels. When Charlie arrives in his car, one of the criminals reaches out and hugs him. While the criminal has him locked in a bear hug, Charlie hates the fact he is being touched. This is the only time that Charlie, who always has a maniacal grin on his face, is not smiling.

Horror fans should not miss out on “Wraith: Welcome To Christmasland” #3. What’s great about this comic book adaptation is that it makes you want to buy the novel as well.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by Jorge Solis

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‘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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