Comics

Review: ‘B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Return of the Master’ #1

Published

12 years ago

August 30, 2012

After several weeks of waiting, I’m rather pleased that Dark Horse finally released a new issue in the “B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth” saga, The Return of the Master part 1. Thehe “Hell on Earth” event is starting to come to a head, and this issue shows that a lot more brooding trouble is on the way for the Bureau. “The Return of the Master” #1 contains some breakthrough plot advancements as well as a healthy supply of blood and violence, fitting in perfectly with the event.

WRITTEN BY: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi
ART BY: Tyler Crook
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
RELEASE DATE: August 29th, 2012

This issue packs a nice little punch. In the first few pages, a possessed Dr. Lazar lands in Scotland to continue wreaking havoc in the already war torn U.K. Being possessed by an Ogdru spirit, his presence causes dogs to mutate into teeth-infested monstrosities, hell-bent on turning a lovely day into an afternoon of death and destruction. One thing that always amazes me about B.P.R.D. is how many separate storylines the creative teams are able to coordinate while keep the readers’ interest.

The issue moves into more of a generic first issue after the initial carnage by bringing us up to speed on the current B.P.R.D. situation. Many character arcs are beginning to cross paths, which showcases Mignola’s ability to craft a universe-wide event. Johann Kraus’ appearance is of particular interest. The search for a suitable containment suit for Johann in turn reveals information on Zinc Corp., which foreshadows future events with Zinc. The issue establishes a foundation for later issues to build off of, but this chapter does so in a spectacular fashion leaving the reader with a wonderfully disturbing image.

Tyler Crook does a magnificent job creating said transformation images. A seemingly ordinary dog subtly changes within the space of a few panels until it becomes a heinous monster. Crook has some serious monster-drawing skills, and B.P.R.D. is the right book for him. The depictions of Lazar are unsettling, to say the least, as he saws glyphs into his flesh.

Mike Mignola and John Arcudi knock another issue out of the park. I can’t wait for “Hell on Earth” to really start unraveling.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – GreenBasterd

Lonnie Nadler

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Comics

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

Published

6 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.