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Review: ‘The Strain: The Fall’ #8

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10 years ago

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A quick read, “The Strain: The Fall” #8 is a pure shot of adrenaline. Finally, these are predatory vampires we’re actually dealing with. While I’m anxiously waiting for the TV series to surface this summer, horror fans still have this terrific adaptation of the best-selling trilogy of novels by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan. It’s one of the most consistent books on stands.

WRITTEN BY: David Lapham
ART BY: Mike Huddleston
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Feb. 19, 2012

After the massive train attack, Ephraim’s son, Zack, and girlfriend, Nora, are on the run from the bloodthirsty parasites. Hiding in the underground tunnels, Zack and Nora follow the tracks to lead them to the surface. Their only hope is to reach New Jersey in time before the vamps find out where they are. Meanwhile, Ephraim was captured by The Master’s henchmen and rescued by Gus and the street gangs. Ephraim now joins Abraham’s small but growing army as they try to decipher the ancient book that the Master has been searching for. Whatever lies within the text may hold the key to humanity’s salvation.

What I particularly enjoy about David Lapham’s adaptation is how the writing manages to converge each subplot. While keeping the pacing at a fast beat, Lapham develops the character arcs, while delivering the surprising plot twists. I really liked how Eldritch, the wealthy billionaire in league with the Master, was brought into the fold and added tension to the protagonists. Now, Eldritch and the Master have a deadly confrontation over who is the real mastermind .

At first, Nora was the faithful love interest who never left Ephraim’s side. Now, Lapham has developed her character growth into a reluctant fighter. After Ephraim has relapsed from his sobriety, Nora suddenly became the sole parental figure in Zach’s life. Having lost his mother and been abandoned by his father, Zach just wants something permanent in his life. Nora steps up and attempts to be the guiding voice that Zach doesn’t have.

In his artwork, Mike Huddleston uses crooked angles and extreme close-ups to heighten the action-packed sequences. Huddleston builds the suspenseful atmosphere as he illustrates Zack walking through these dark and shadowy tunnels. There is just something creepy about a little kid holding a really big knife. Huddleston keeps the action flowing as Nora defends herself against a small group of vampires.
Though the tone is bleak for the protagonists, Huddleston highlights the comic relief in his illustrations. I got a kick out of seeing Gus and his street gang eating Twinkies and doughnuts while Abraham is foreshadowing the end of the world. Gus and his gang don’t care really if the sun doesn’t rise and humanity falls. These guys just want to go down fighting.

“The Strain: The Fall” #8 closes on a shocking cliff-ganger that packs a wallop. I really liked how the relationship between Nora and Zach has been built up. I want to see how that part of the story progresses.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

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Comics

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

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6 hours 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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