Comics

Review: ‘Bedlam’ #11

Published

10 years ago

January 24, 2014

When “Bedlam” first came onto the scene I was a big fan of the direction of the book. It was a fresh take on the psychotic serial killer persona and the horror elements within it were well mixed with mystery and suspense. Unfortunately I feel as though Nick Spencer has really lost his way with this book and has completely 180’d the story from its first arc.

WRITTEN BY: Nick Spencer
ART BY: Ryan Browne
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
RELEASE DATE: January 22
PRICE: 3.50

Formerly known as Madder Red, the insane serial killer, Fillmore has made an effort to become a rational and helpful man. Working with police the suspect of being a mastermind behind a brainwashing epidemic has been tracked to a school. Now with everything out in the open and a final confrontation underway Fillmore needs to choose between his present self and his supressed past.

Though the writing itself is well done the story has lost a lot of its spark that was prevalent in the first story arc, this whole brainwashing premise that Spencer is shoving down the readers throat just doesn’t compare to his first story line or the history of Madder Red. The most enjoyable part of these books are the flash backs that lead off each issue giving us more insight on Madder Red and his nemesis The First. The presence of the man with pixilated face that even Fillmore can’t distinguish is a great idea but just doesn’t resonate with me personally.

When it comes to the art, the effort put forth by Ryan Browne is commendable. It’s an incredibly sketchy style that, mixed with a less realistic look. The man is talented, there is no doubt there, but sometimes the sketchiness gets a tad excessive and takes away from the illustrations. The colouring by Jean-Paul Csuka is awesome. An incredible array of colours within the same panel that is juxtaposed with other panels which only have one colour throughout it.

“Bedlam” has slowly gone from the top of my reading list to the bottom. Hopefully the ship will be find its course again so I can jump back on the boat.

2/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – GreenBasterd

Lonnie Nadler

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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.