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5 Skull Review: “Rat Queens” #7

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10 years ago

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Last issue it was revealed that a grieving Gerrig is the latest threat to Palisade when he blinded Bernadette and kidnapped Sawyer and now, with the help of Dee’s estranged husband Kiah, we now know what he plans to do and how.  In this issue Lola gets some serious ass-kicking spotlight and a great deal of Dee’s history is discussed, as well as the most epic cliffhanger to date.  As expected, “Rat Queens” #7 doesn’t miss a beat.

RatQueens_07-1

 

WRITTEN BY: Kurtis J. Wiebe
ART BY: Roc Upchurch
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: #3.50
RELEASE: July 16, 2014

Reviewed By Epic Switzer

This issue delivers everything you love about “Rat Queens” and then some.  The characters are as true to themselves, the action is brisk and exciting, the dialogue is tight, everything about it is just perfect.  Before I go into detail, if you are reading “Rat Queens”, continue enjoying.  If you are not, what the fuck?  This is the most fun you’ll have reading a comic book all month, so get on it stupid.

There are no throwaway characters in this book, and Kiah is no exception.  Functioning primarily in a expository capacity, Wiebe still masterfully gives him life and depth.  Likewise, Gerrig is a worthy adversary and easily the most dangerous threat the Rat Queens have faced.  The pacing of this series is remarkable in that the stakes continue to raise without sacrificing the charm, relationships, or character building.  This is one of the most digestible and well crafted books on shelves.

There are no throwaway characters in this book, and Kiah is no exception.  Functioning primarily in a expository capacity, Wiebe still masterfully gives him life and depth.  Likewise, Gerrig is a worthy adversary and easily the most dangerous threat the Rat Queens have faced.  The pacing of this series is remarkable in that the stakes continue to raise without sacrificing the charm, relationships, or character building.  This is both one of the most digestible and well crafted books on shelves.

Half of the charm and class of this book is due to artist Roc Upchurch.  By way of comparison, there is a lot of Francis Manipul and even some Gabriel Rodriguez in the style and panelling, which incidentally are two of my favorite artists.  Upchurch can put a peppermint candy-person and a curb stomp in the same book and make both look appropriate and delightful.  I’m really digging the ceremonial death mask Garrig is wearing and the Cthulhu monster. I can’t wait to see more of both.

It’s sometimes hard to talk about a book that is consistently perfect.  I’ll continue to discuss the elements I was really drawn to each month, but for this book in particular I think it would be really cool to get some discussion going.  Leave a comment at the bottom about whatever you’d like and then come back next month to keep the conversation going.  I could write 500 words every month about how great it is, but this book really deserves some dialogue.  I look forward to hearing what you think.

Epic Switzer AKA Eric is an aspiring filmmaker and screenplay writer living in Los Angeles.  His work tends to focus on the lighter side of entropy, dystopic futures, and man’s innate struggle with his own mortality.  He can be found on twitter @epicswitzer or reached via email at ericswitzerfilm@gmail.com. 

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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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1 day 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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