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Review: B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Long Death #2

Published

12 years ago

on

As far as the comic realm goes I am relatively new to Hellboy let alone the BPRD books affiliated with the big red bastard. I’ve always been a huge fan of the del Toro films, but I just never got around to reading the source material. When I picked up Dark Horse’s newest BPRD series, BPRD Hell on Earth: The Long Death, I was devastated by the fact that I am so far behind the times! Why wasn’t I reading more of this earlier! Blood and gore galore (see what I did there?), a big mean cat-creature from hell, and the spectral wonder Johann Kraus; where could you go wrong? I think I’ve found my new obsession. Read on for the skinny…

longdeath2 WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola, John Arcudi
ART BY: James Harren
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
RELEASE: March 21

Being unfamiliar to the BPRD world I was thankful for a little historical back drop on our friend Johann. I worried that I would be a little lost having no real clue why was the BPRD crew had so much invested so in this case. Luckily, Mike Mignola and John Arcudi got me up to speed real fast, providing some backstory at the beginning of the issue to include new blood (like myself). From then on, the pace of the story pushed hard till reaching the climatic bloody battle, that I wish I could witness in real life. The antagonist of this book is one bad ass creature and the link he has to Krause makes him all the more alluring as an enemy. Turning the pages, I found myself continuously wondering, “how in gods name will the team bring this beast down?” considering what happened at the end of Hell on Earth 1. I wont ruin the surprise because that would be heartless, but its safe to say if you read this book there will be no disappointment.

As a fan of outrageous gore and vivid colour I was similarly appeased by the artwork; the art itself has a sketchy look to it that reminds me of The Walking Dead, but for avid fans of BPRD, you can expect to see the same high quality artwork you always get. The dark shades contrasted with the vibrant colours help set the eerie mood of the story, and it gives a certain supernatural feel. The bright colour attracts the eye to the detailed blood and intestines; everyone’s favorite.

I was pleasantly surprised by this title, and I am quite confident that I will be reading as much BPRD as I can get my hands on while I await the next issue in the Hell On Earth storyline. Whether you’ve been reading Mignola’s work since day one, or you’re are a complete newbie like me, you’ll want to follow this series.

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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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