Comics

5 Skull Review: “Curse” #4

Published

10 years ago

April 17, 2014

Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel craft an ambitious conclusion for their story that mirrors it’s dark beginning. Their ultimate solution is seeded in a certain darkness that becomes warped with opportunistic idealism that plays with the expectations of the genre. Through a brilliant sleight of hand the real monster is revealed as “Curse” pulls off a masterful and beautiful conclusion.

WRITTEN BY: Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel

ART BY: Colin Lorimer & Riley Rossmo

PUBLISHER: BOOM! Studios

PRICE: $3.99

RELEASE: April 16, 2014

If I were being perfectly honest I’d have to admit that the idea of another werewolf story had me roll my eyes four months ago. I was sure there was nothing new to be said, and nothing about the beast that could surprise me. Michael Moreci & Tim Daniel have successfully tweaked mythology, defied convention, and humanized the beast. Proving that I couldn’t have been more wrong.

At it’s core “Curse” was never about the werewolf. It was about Laney and his blind pursuit to get what he wanted. What first seemed like desperation evolves into a cold and calculated solution to a no win scenario. I was genuinely surprised by his resolution. It was the perfect damnation for the character. Horror thrives in destruction, and over the past four issues we’ve seen Laney taken apart and put back together again. It’s devastating and near repugnant to watch, but you can’t look away. The actions Laney commits here were long part of his character arc, as soon as he realizes it himself you understand that this was the only way the series could have ended. You should have seen it coming; it was all there from the beginning.

Much like the fantastic and delicate balancing act the artists have pulled off. The interplay between cold human cruelty and the visceral beast behind the curse is mesmerizing. Colin Lorimer is able to frame a scene in such a way that removes all warmth and comfort from the people involved. He makes the chilling atmosphere pop, and does his best to make Laney a menace as he towers over his trophy. As the issue hits its climax the incredible and primal work of Riley Rossmo takes over. He cuts a hole through the page and makes for a pulse pounding battle that will leave you bewildered. It’s perfectly paced and leaves you breathless going into the conclusion.

The final pages manage to dovetail all of the plotlines with relative ease. The whole story converges on a certain point, and ends in a youthful voice that seems both optimistic and threatening. It’s a bold choice that will resonate with readers for some time to come. It really struck me, and confirmed my worst fears.

“Curse” is truly something special. As a supernatural horror story that focuses on the evil of man, rather than the beast it stands alone. It cuts into the core of what it means to be human and defies convention and expectation on every level. It’s thrilling, horrific, and oddly appealing. The beautiful balance of dark humanity with the supernatural creates a unique and captivating story that comes to define the werewolf mythos in a new way. I couldn’t be happier with the conclusion but I’m truly saddened to see it go.

Zac Thompson

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Comics

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

Published

1 week 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.