Comics

Review: ‘Sheltered’ #7

Published

10 years ago

February 27, 2014

With such suspenseful pacing, “Sheltered” #7 keeps readers riveted until the very last page. As each installment gets better and better, the “Sheltered” series must be on every reader’s must-buy list. Once you’re finished reading this issue, you’ll understand why this comic was recently optioned for the big screen.

WRITTEN BY: Ed Brisson
ART BY: Johnnie Christmas
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Feb. 26, 2014

With horrible timing, Clifford discovered what was really going on behind the gates of the Safe Haven compound. Lucas and his sadistic teen followers murdered their parents, hoping to save themselves from the upcoming apocalypse that would never happen. If Clifford escapes and reaches civilization, the police will raid upon the compound and arrest everyone. Lucas has to prevent this from happening and orders the others to kill Clifford. But luck may finally be on Clifford’s side as Victoria comes along to threaten Lucas’ control of his cult.

Writer Ed Brisson keeps the pacing running at full speed while transitioning between multiple subplots. After disappearing from the previous installment, Victoria returns from her hiatus tougher than ever. Brisson uses Victoria as the voice of reason as she argues against one of Lucas’ followers, Mitch. Because Mitch murdered his parents and Victoria’s father in cold blood, there is no forgiveness, no chance at redemption for him. Victoria strikes at Mitch’s heart, forcing him to realize that it was all for nothing. The end of the world that Lucas prophesized is never going to happen.

I really like how Brisson is also depicting Lucas’ downfall as he slowly loses control over his cult. His once-obedient disciples aren’t following his orders anymore. Lucas may have been convincing and resourceful as a leader but his followers have a taste for blood now. You really feel for poor Clifford because he has to deal with an army full of psycho teenagers with itchy trigger fingers.

In the opening pages, artist Johnnie Christmas unleashes the rage and terror lurking inside Victoria, Mitch and his sister. Christmas is able to depict each vibrant personality through their facial expressions. Mitch is always angry at himself because he failed his parents. Mitch’s sister is just a scared little kid who wants to the nightmare to go away. Obsessed with finding Lucas, Victoria seeks revenge for her father’s murder.

In a shocking scene, Clifford takes down one of Lucas’ followers as he shoots the teen in the chest. You can argue that Christmas’ illustration is exploitative, maybe gratuitous, but it never steers towards offensive. There is a subtle message underneath Christmas’ depiction of violence. How do you live with what you’ve done? Christmas captures that emotional turmoil Clifford is facing in his close-up.

“Sheltered” #7 ends on a series of gripping cliffhangers, each one better than the last. I can’t wait to see what happens when the next issue gets here.

4.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

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.