Comics

[Comic Review] “Nailbiter Hack/Slash” One Shot Is An Alright Distraction

Published

9 years ago

March 4, 2015

Crossovers can often become an embarrassment of riches but the “Nailbiter – Hack/Slash’ One Shot offers nuance to both worlds and manages to create a fun albeit throwaway adventure for both worlds. Each creative team appears to be having fun playing in each other’s sandboxes giving an engaging read to satiate the thirst for the beginning of “Nailbiter” volume three.

WRITTEN BY: Joshua Williamson & Tim Seeley

ART BY: Mike Henderson & Emilio Lasso

PUBLISHER: Image Comics

PRICE: $4.99

RELEASE: March 5, 2015

The one shot is divided into two separate but equal halves. Although given the same amount of space each of these stories don’t carry the same amount of impact. The Nailbiter team of Williamson and Henderson kick things off to a great start.

Their story centers on Cassie Hack looking for a serial killer with the assistance of a helpful bystander, Edward Charles Warren. Here, we get some insight into Warren before he was the titular killer, and although its mostly stuff we already know, it’s a total treat to see Warren before he was outed as a killer. He’s still the same coy bastard we know and love, but against Cassie Hack he truly shines. The adventure is short and sweet and rather light on the exposition. Plus it features a fantastic villain that Henderson has modeled to look exactly like the most famous boy wizard that ever was. So it’s worth reading just to see that, and his glorious takedown via Cassie’s bat. My only huge gripe comes with a distinct lack of Vlad.

Tim Seeley and Emilio Lasso take over the back half of the one shot in an adventure that sees Cassie trying to take revenge on Warren. Here things feel more than a little forced. The trip to Buckaroo doesn’t really feel organic for the story and most of the narrative is spent spouting exposition. It’s a shame since Seeley is the creator of Hack/Slash I was hoping to see something a little more sinister. But since moving on from the world this chapter just felt a little too forced for my liking.

It’s strange because it begins to undercut exactly what Williamson’s half did so well, otherwise leaving the total package with a bland feel. I wish it was more enjoyable, but sadly the one shot crossover may feel like little more than filler once the main story of Nailbiter kicks back into high gear next month.

If nothing else, make sure to head to your LCS and pick up volume 2 of Nailbiter. And only drop the cash on this one if you’re a die-hard fan of either series, otherwise I’d say wait for it to be collected in a trade.

Zac Thompson

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Comics

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

Published

1 week ago

April 18, 2024

Meagan Navarro

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.