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Review: “Monster & Madman” #3

Published

10 years ago

on

Review by – Bree Ogden

“Monster and Madman” finished its 3-issue arc this week with a terribly depressing ending, but the only ending that seems fit for the Monster. This unique story that details the life of Frankenstein’s Monster after Victor dies, gives us exactly what we subconsciously want and need from the mythology—for the Monster to be alone. Anything else would feel insincere.
monstermandman3
WRITTEN BY: Steve Niles
ART BY: Damien Worm
PUBLISHER: IDW
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: May 21, 2014

As the Monster patiently awaits his new bride, Niles and Worm show us snippets of the all-around repulsive situation he is in. The panels move swiftly through a montage of horror in which we see newspaper clippings about the Whitechapel murders, images of prostitutes being hacked up, and the Monster sitting alone as he must endure long, tedious procedures conducted by Jack.

Things settle into place when Jack swings open the door claiming that he now understands Frankenstein’s creation only to blow up into a frenzy again when he sets about to make a bride out of all the hacked-up prostitutes.

Although the Monster has been wary of Jack’s general character from the start he actively chooses not to pursue that negative train of thought. And even though all signs point to Jack as being the Ripper, it’s not until a slab of female body parts is sewn together, electrocuted into the Bride, and starts screaming about Jack being her murderer, that the Monster finally accepts that truth.

This issue moves considerably faster than the previous two. Issues #1 and #2 were a grand, slow burn buildup to the final pages in this issue that carry the full weight of horror when the Bride is awakened. And it’s then that the Monster and Jack’s lives are truly intertwined: the Whitechapel murders and The Bride become one, creating a mess that the Monster must clean up.

It’s a mess that probably could have been avoided had the Monster followed his initial feelings about Jack. This is a new path for Niles. He’s always written a highly sympathetic Monster. But the Monster that he and Worm create is the first one that’s truly fallible. They address the things we can’t deny: he’s a killer, his devotion can be somewhat skewed, and he will do just about anything to get his Bride. Now that he’s paired up with reality, we can clearly see this.

Theoretically, this comic is outstanding. The concept of mixing fiction’s greatest horror icon with reality’s greatest horror mystery is absolutely superb. It wasn’t until this final issue, however, that I saw how the execution of this plot was just as outstanding as the theoretical concept. It’s not just about mixing fiction and reality. It’s about using fiction to explain reality.

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

Published

2 days ago

on

April 18, 2024

By

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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