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Advance Review: “Art Monster” # 2

Published

10 years ago

on

“Art Monster” #2 beautifully deals with the nature of the struggling artist who wants to say something valid, but who’s mind can’t decide what that thing is. Holt grounds this struggle in drunkenness. Victor embraces disorder and lets his mind wander. In a moment of desperation and clarity Victor finds the inspiration he needs: death.


WRITTEN BY: Jeremy Holt
ART BY: Francesa Ciregia
PUBLISHER: Monkeybrain Comics
PRICE: $0.99
PREORDER HERE: http://www.comixology.com/Art-Monster-2/digital-comic/81113

Perfection, belonging, expectations, pride, and shame are just some of the things facing an artist who’s stuck between creations. Victor succumbs to a volatile mix of it all. He’s lost without passion, in between the projects desperately searching for something that invigorates him. That thing that fills him with a certain electricity to create but he can’t find it. At least not until he’s laying face up on the floor regurgitating his alcohol.

If issue one was about being lost, then issue two is about finding the spark. Grabbing an idea and holding on as it carries you into a dark and unfamiliar place. Victor has found his reflex. His reason to create, and he’s better for it. His relationships have a new charm to them. His posture has straightened and he’s on a mission. He’s even found a partner who looks invested in his dark and provocative vision.

Ciregia does a great job at adjusting the art in tune with Victor’s character. The first chunk of the issue has Victor lost in darkness. The panels are drenched in heavy contrast that almost envelops Victor in every panel. When he has his shift of inspiration, the art makes a bright and inviting change. Victor has a new posture, the panels embrace white space and the book gives you room to breath.

The issue is briskly paced like the process that inspires it. You get whisked away on Victor’s newfound enthusiasm. Even if its not quite clear what he’s up to just yet. However, the vision is there. He has an idea and it is empowering him. He has something to say, and better yet he has something to prove. He’s about to make an argument, and as we’ve seen from the last issue he can be a pretty argumentative guy.

His next move is unpredictable to a point. We’re given a beautiful tease of Victor’s descent into artistic madness, and it seems he’s got just the right person in his corner to help. Although he doesn’t recognize that good art will destroy just as it will create. It seems he’s about to cut a path through his school that people won’t soon forget.

If you’ve ever been a struggling artist you’ll find much solace in “Art Monster” and if you just like good horror, you’ll find plenty of that here too.

Rating: 4/5 Skulls.

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Comics

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

Published

8 hours ago

on

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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