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[Comic Book Review] Critical Hit #2 Will Make You Furious For A Cause

Published

9 years ago

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“Critical Hit”  #2 takes a more character driven approach, and engrains itself in the real world horror of vigilante justice with a legitimately shocking issue. I was floored by the final page, and shocked by the horribly realistic scenario Matt Miner’s heroes have found themselves in.

STK649148

WRITTEN BY: Matt Miner

ART BY: Jonathan Brandon Sawyer

PUBLISHER: Black Mask Studios

PRICE: $3.50

RELEASE: October 29, 2014

Despite looking like seasoned vigilante veterans, Jeanette and Sarah are still cutting their teeth on the whole ordeal. As we’re taken back to the hell they’ve found themselves in from taking on some real asshole hunters, Miner plays around with time and builds some relationship drama between the two heroines that adds a lot of mileage to the concept.

Jeanette and Sarah aren’t used to working together, and they couldn’t be more different. They have similar ideals but have different ways of going about them. The tension between them is palpable, but their cause units them. It makes for a much more engaging read, given the current hellscape their trapped in.

Jonathan Brandon Sawyer is a gift from the gods. His vibrant work lends a sense of urgency to the entire book that is felt on every page. He is able to snap between a vibrant display of exploding fireworks and intense violence at the drop of the hat. It’s crazy how well he can balance either side, as Miner’s script throws more than one curve ball at the artist, and he nails every dramatic turn.

Doug Garbark’s colors are nothing short of incredible when combined with the art. I was blown away by the aforementioned fireworks display, and frankly I’ll be shocked if you aren’t as well.

It’s interesting to see the two ideals at odds with one another on the page. It offers a great deal of insight into the struggle of animal rights activists. How far is too far? And what is the right course of action isn’t always too clear, and even behind our like minded protagonists there is a great deal of doubt. It’s something to admire, as it doesn’t give a clear through line to follow, and shows the grey area that comes with passionate moral judgment calls.

Then you see just what happens when you get too caught up in something to see you’re fucking with the wrong people. The hunters that our liberators pissed off in the first issue aren’t going to play nice, and they’ve pushed our female heroes into a corner that shows almost zero sign of escape.

The issue ends with a sense of urgency and desperation that I haven’t felt in another comic recently and for “Critical Hit” to give it to me is wonderful. Not only was I sick to my stomach by the final page, but I was so furious that I wanted to get up off my ass and do something.

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

Published

12 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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