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Review: “MPH” #2

Published

10 years ago

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“MPH” #2 epitomizes  Millar’s “sit back and enjoy the ride” style in more ways than one.  After hilariously taking revenge on the thug that got him thrown in jail, Roscoe bestows the gift of MPH on his friends Chevy and Rosa and takes them on a lightspeed romp across the country.  The gang discusses the ramifications and potential of their new powers in a way that feels honest and relatable.  Millar showcases his ability to ground his characters in reality while living larger than life.

mph_02WRITTEN BY:  Mark Millar

ART BY: Duncan Fegredo

PUBLISHER: Image

PRICE: $2.99

RELEASE: June 18, 2014

Reviewed by Epic Switzer

When kids from the Slums get a hold of “MPH”, a drug that allows the user to stop time and move faster than light, they react expectedly; stealing, vandalizing, and taking revenge on their enemies.  Roscoe hasn’t necessarily crossed the line, yet, but that idea is certainly something writer Mark Millar has planted in readers minds from the very beginning.  How far will they take things?  What will be the consequences?  These questions will definitely motivate me to keep coming back for more “MPH.”

This book encourages us to have as much fun as the characters.  At midpoint Roscoe and his friends have a tongue-in-cheek discussion challenging the physics that allow them to move as fast as they do while still being able to talk to each other.  Roscoe literally tells Chevy to sit back and enjoy the ride.  This isn’t that type of book, rather, this is a character driven story depicting the rise and (eventually) the fall of our heroes who started with nothing and now have the world at their fingertips.

For a five issue mini-series, it is essential to do all the setup as quickly as possible, and that’s exactly what Millar has done in the first two issues.  Issue #3 will undoubtedly depict the trio at the height of their infamy before yanking the rug out from under them in what I’m hoping is a tight, satisfying, and sincerely worth reading series.  It seems very likely “MPH” will be adapted into a feature as it is apparent how readily the story lends to the film format.  Millar is a master of his craft.

The only thing that really hurts this book is the fact that the last page sting is almost exactly the same as the sting in the first issue.  It may seem nitpicky, but it doesn’t do much to heighten the threat of the antagonist when we see basically the same scene play out.  Still, a fun read in the “enjoy it for what it is” category and a potentially valuable title for you long box when “MPH” comes to a theater near you.
 

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

Published

20 hours ago

on

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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