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[Comic Book Review] “Pirouette” #1 Perverts The Magic Of The Circus

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9 years ago

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The appeal of the circus is born in the pleasure of the unknown. It’s a place filled with creatures better suited to the uncanny valley than anywhere else, and yet, we often can’t look away. “Pirouette” #1 capitalizes on that fear, and entrenches it within the mind of fourteen-year-old girl. The circus has never been more simultaneously horrifying and appealing.

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WRITTEN BY: Mark L Miller

ART BY: Carlos Granda

PUBLISHER: Black Mask Studios

PRICE: $2.99

RELEASE: October 8, 2014

I’ll be honest; I’ve never really understood the appeal of the circus. For me there’s something about it that is at its base level grossly unappealing. Yet, there is an undeniable allure and Mark L Miller understands that. He creates a place filled with a certain dust bowl aesthetic and painted in a layer of magic. It’s captivating and colorful, and like a moth to a flame, you’ll barely be able to resist.

Yet, the book doesn’t pull any punches. From the first page we’re treated to Pirouette pulling her own face off in a menacing sequence that is sure to grab your attention and show you what kind of book this can be.  We’re quickly snapped back to the sun drenched reality of the circus and reminded it isn’t such a bad place.

Except it is. And the issue builds to a slow subversion of the magic on display. Pirouette is right to dream of pulling her own face off, any plight would be better than the one she’s currently found herself in. The circus attracts broken and colorful people, with their own special kinds of insanity, and by the end of the issue the magic has transitioned into something more sinister. Albeit even more appealing.

Carlos Granda is responsible for this incredible transition. His art is incredibly layered and detailed. His line work is delicate and detailed. It reminds me of Todd McFarlene’s days on “Spawn” but with an even more refined edge. His paneling is varied and dynamic, making the world of the circus burst with life in all the right moments.

The color compliments Granda’s art so well, that the result is simply stunning. There isn’t anything quick like the purple soaked hues inside the big top, with moody greens adding to a rich tapestry of royal colors that evoke a sense of debauchery.

The story does feel a tad melodramatic at the midpoint due to a fairly standard climax between Pirouette and her bully. I couldn’t help but stumble a little in this moment.  It was a minor digression from an otherwise enjoyable ride, and the resolution quickly subverts any moment of victory for the most horrible fate of all. So suffice to say, I was pretty happy.

“Pirouette” gives new life to the old circus tale, by infusing a sense of heart and subverting the magic in favor of perversion. The result is a comic unlike anything you’ve ever read before, and a take on the circus that will have you longing for more.

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

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5 hours ago

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April 17, 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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