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Review: “Trees” #2

Published

10 years ago

on

“Trees”#2 picks up the at the exact second issue #1 left off.  We are introduced to the rest of the Blindhail station crew and learn a lot more about Dr. Marsh as he further investigates the black flowers that have mysteriously appeared around the tree.  This issue scales up the world-wide narrative and once again situates “Trees” as one of the strangest, densest, and most intriguing titles on the shelves today. 

Trees_02-1WRITTEN BY: Warren Ellis
ART BY: Jason Howard
PRICE: $2.99
PUBLISHER: Image
RELEASE:
June 25, 2014

Reviewed by Epic Switzer

This is not the kind of book you read through once and toss aside, it takes some active reading.  Ten years into the invasion, the world has become a very different place. As Ellis takes time to set up all the major players in this grand mystery new places, names, relationships, factions, political parties, scientific entities, and criminal organizations are introduced.  “Trees” practically requires a encyclopedic companion book in order to keep everything straight.  And while that may turn off casual readers, the time and energy that went into this book is apparent through and through.  The patient will find a lot to appreciate here.

The core mystery is the trees themselves.  There’s something very base and haunting about these cosmic horrors, and it’s clear that Ellis is evoking Lovecraftian narratives. We are constantly reminded that the trees do not care about humans, do not recognize people as an intelligent species, and will carry out their agenda (whatever that may be) unaffected, as if we don’t even exist.  To be ignored by a higher power is a truly scary concept for us as ego-driven beings.  This baseline anxiety persists in the world of “Trees” and informs the multitude of subsequent characters and mysteries that are introduced.  When the pieces of the puzzle all come together, this could be an astounding book.

Jason Howard’s work is in these first two issues has been incredibly appealing.  There is an extraordinary amount of detail in every panel, whether intimate character moments or sweeping landscapes.  His facial expressions bring these characters to life even when there are so many in play.  His figure drawing is kinetic and natural. His use of perspective is cinematic and really creates dynamic scenes, even when its just two people having a conversation.  I expect things to get violent and possibly even gruesome before all is said and done, and I have total confidence that Howard is the man for the job.

Don’t let me scare you away from the book. It is confusing, no doubt.  There is a lot to take in, but that just means there is a lot to appreciate.  This is a complex story that, I think, is going to slowly come together and really reward those willing to figure it all out.  If you are looking for something totally new, check out “Trees” #2, it’s an exotic cuisine.

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

Published

5 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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