Comics

Review: ‘Planetoid’ #1

Published

12 years ago

June 22, 2012

Hearing that a new comic has sold out is always exciting, and it is especially good when you have one of the copies. One look at the cover of Ken Garing’s new comic, Planetoid, will tell you why it flew off of the shelves. The especially hulking robot had me flipping the cover almost immediately, but something caught my eye: Garing wrote, illustrated and did the lettering for the book, and he nails every aspect of “Planetoid Issue” #1.

WRITTEN BY: Ken Garing
ART BY: Ken Garing
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
RELEASE: Out now

The visual impact of “Planetoid” is undeniable, and Garing’s approach to dialogue emphasizes this. Opening with a crash landing on an unknown planetoid, the first 4 pages of the comic only have 1 page of dialogue. This has the effect of throwing the reader head first into the striking semi-apocalyptic Terminator-esque landscape. Near the start is one of the best full page spread I’ve seen in a long time, and is reminiscent of the German Romantic painting, “Wanderer above the Sea of Fog” by Friedrich; except in Garing’s case he has replaced a natural landscape with a devastated, heavy machinery graveyard. This one illustration alone makes the comic worthwhile.

Garing did an amazing job with the writing as well. He uses an “interactive analytical assistant” named Ricter, as a Siri-like voice activated narratorial device. Ricter’s speech serves the dual purpose of orienting both the main character, Silas, and the reader to this inhospitable world. Oftentimes comics have a way of forcing a back story on the reader in a way that does not mesh with what is being illustrated. In “Planetoid”, that is not the case. Ricter seamlessly fills in Silas about exactly how f*cked his situation is, as well presents the reader with an RPG like look into Silas’ inventory, through a visual interface. This was a unique approach to narration that is highly effective, as Silas’ assistant both talks and displays information to him. Garen also does not go overboard with this, making sure that Ricter is not omniscient, and does not talk incessantly. Ricter also isn’t necessarily street smart either, after he humorously lets Silas’ metallic tent get eaten by animals.

As Silas ventures deeper into the planetoid, Garen again hits the mute button on the dialogue, giving the comic a great atmosphere, as the reader is immersed in the desolated landscape and oppressive machinery. However, Silas isn’t on a leisurely hike, and he is up against some pretty twisted robots, one of which is the metallic equivalent of a worm from Dune.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next issue of Garen’s “Planetoid” and I suggest you try and get your grubby little hands on the first print issue, or the reprint which is due in stores the same day as “Planetoid” #2, at the beginning of July.

5/5 skulls

Reviewed by The_Sandman

Comics

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

Published

7 days 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.