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[Comic Review] “Mythic” #1 Teaches The Grotesque Truth of Magic

Published

9 years ago

on

Reviewed by Taylor Hoffman // @taylorcheckers

We’ve all been lied to, science is a complete farce that hides the truth of all the world’s problems – magic. “Mythic” #1 is a refreshing dip into the supernatural side of the indie scene. At only $1.99 for the first issue with two beautiful and strange covers choices, there’s absolutely nothing to lose giving this one a try. Image Comics seems like it’s giving its audience a book to digest that fulfills that craving for darker ‘edginess’ of the days of yore.

STK671619

Story by: Phil Hester

Art By: John McCrea

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $1.99

Release Date: May 13, 2015

Phil Hester has been in comics for quite a long time and it’s a nice surprise to see him create a new series. The supernatural horror here is engaging from the beginning pages full of grotesque boils protruding from a clearly disease ridden face that borderlines on zombie territory, but luckily it takes a turn for the demonic very quickly.

Our main character is Nate who is just a very normal dude who gets by selling generic phones and reads Stephen King’s Christine when no customers are around. This day, though, Nate’s world changes forever with a bad transaction that turns bloody in an unexpected turn of events, the aforementioned boil-man is just a charade for some creepy creatures. John McCrea impresses with his rendering of monstrous things from the get go by channeling some classic horror with disfigurements of backwards joints and awkward sword-like hands. These creatures look like a killer size-shifting mixture of every evil pokemon and the Wicked Witch’s flying monkeys. Monsters of bright teal and purple are a nice contrast to the dull, sickly greens and many hues of orange.

The action sequences are fast and focused as most of the fighting is one-on-one. Somehow, Nate is an excellent monster fighter and this skill is discovered by Patterson, the recruiting guy for a “Mythic Lore Services.” The plot so far is predictable and familiar to B.P.R.D –– just about everything looks very Mignola inspired –– and all those other secret services that keep the public away from the truth.

There’s a good dose of self-aware comedy in this issue, the characters know that they’re not taken seriously by others, but know that they are the only ones who can fix these particularly messy and unnatural problems. As the mysterious and hardcore prophet Cassandra explains, “science is a useful illusion for humanity, a balm for your bone-deep ignorance… an opiate for the masses,” which both fulfills both the Arrested Development and Karl Marx quote quotas.

This arc “Cloudbusting” has captured my attention and I anticipate what will happen next with huge lizard beasts attacking from a realm beyond our knowledge.

 

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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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