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Review: Clive Barker’s ‘Next Testament’ #8

Published

10 years ago

on

With such demented writing and mind-blowing visuals, “Next Testament” #8 delivers genuine horror into the hearts of readers. You eyes will be glued to the page right from the start. The “Next Testament” series delivers another strong installment and never disappoints.

WRITTEN BY: Clive Barker and Mark Miller
ART BY: Haemi Jang
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: April 9, 2013

After setting his sights on the innocent and guilty of San Francisco, Wick has taken a sexy bride along for the ride to Paris. No longer Wick’s main attention, ex-billionaire Julian Demond wonders where his rightful place is in the upcoming apocalypse. Wick continues to bring in the plagues, bringing all kinds of Hell to Tristan, Julian’s son, and his fiancée, Elspeth. On their route to Providence, Tristan and Elspeth are suddenly caught in a terrible car crash. At the end of the world, only the bad people are still alive and they’re not going to make things any easier for the lovebirds.

Clive Barker and co-writer, Mark Miller, gradually evolve their main protagonists as the two subplots jump back and forth. The theme of sexuality plays at the core of the narrative. Wick is trying to recreate the good, old days before he was banished by the Devil and the Holy Ghost. Wick and his punkish bride are definitely enjoying themselves as they participate in the orgy fest, right in front of the Eiffel Tower. Surrounded by thousands of willing servants, Wick wants his sexual desires to reach their peak.

On their trip to Providence, Elspeth and Tristan continue to meet the best and worst of humanity at the end of the world. After surviving their car crash, the lovebirds meet a wandering traveler, who still holds strong to her faith in a higher power. Though Tristan and Elspeth struggle with faith themselves, they are being tested. Their reunion is suddenly interrupted by a perverted survivalist, who wants his own sex slaves.

Artist Haemi Jang points out the sexual themes during the illustrations of the orgy fest. In a splash page, Jang captures different sexual acts and positions, with Wick right at the center. In close-ups, Jang maximizes Wick’s facial expressions during his climax. Jang never aims to be gratuitous with these shots, but always strives for an artistic, painter-like quality.

My favorite part about Jang’s illustrations is the intimate portrayal between the lovebirds. Interestingly, Tristan doesn’t believe in a higher power, but he does believe in his love for Elspeth wholeheartedly. Jang always focuses on the emotions when Elspeth and Tristan look at each other. You’re always rooting for these characters, especially when they turn into bad-asses towards the last pages.

Horror fans are going to enjoy the hell out of “Next Testament” #8. The “Next Testament” series is the real deal.

Rating: 4.5/5 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

Published

5 days 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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