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Review: ‘Mars Attacks’ #10

Published

11 years ago

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With such suspenseful writing and eye-popping illustrations, Mars Attacks #10 kicks into high gear with its blazing sci-fi action. The Martians are about to learn what happens when you take on Earth’s inhabitants. As soon as they reach the last page, readers will come back for more of the “Mars Attacks” series.

WRITTEN BY: John Layman
ART BY: John McCrea
PUBLISHER: IDW Publishing
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: May 1th, 2013

The Martians came to Earth with the single purpose of conquering the planet. With an army of spaceships and monsters by their side, the Martians thought they had nothing to lose. They never expected Tommy Bailey, a boy so young and innocent, to became Earth’s remaining hero. With just bravery and his intelligence, Tommy is able to outwit the Martians by using their own alien technology against them. But is Tommy’s help just enough to give the rest of humanity a fighting chance?

In the previous issues. writer John Layman was showing the worst of human nature during the war with the Martians. In order to save themselves, people were willing to side with the enemy. But, Tommy is different because he represents hope for humanity’s future. Layman adds a nice twist and presents the opening pages from the perspective of the Martians. After years of study and adductions, the Martians never expected humanity to fight back. The Martians are suddenly afraid because the war has suddenly turned to favor the humans.

What I really enjoyed about this issue is how Layman can take such B-movie material seriously. In the opening pages, the Martians are fighting and losing against a giant robot. Because Tommy has played videogames before, he moves the giant robot around as if he was playing one. Then you have Avery Hendershoot, a gritty gunslinger who stepped out of a western movie. Tommy and the gunslinger have such an odd dynamic, but their pairing actually works because they trust each other. Avery lefts Tommy do his thing, but knows when to step in and get the boy out of danger.

Reading will be hooked by John McCrea’s artwork in the opening pages. McCrea understands the meaning behind Layman’s themes and keeps that in mind through his illustrations. Even when things are looking at their worst, there is always hope. Just when the Martians thought they were winning, they never expected an attack from their machines. The giant robot takes down their army with just one swing of its arm.
Amidst the explosions and robot rampage, there is a single Martian survivor from this battle. In a close-up, McCrea illustrates the cracked glass helmet, and half of the giant head missing. There’s brain matter and blood spewing from the back of the Martian’s burnt head. Even though he is mortally wounded, the Martian survivor will use his last breath to strike back at the humans.

A great read, sci-fi fans are in for a special treat with “Mars Attacks #10.” The “Mars Attacks” series has a lot of quirky humor, action, and surprises that readers will get a kick out of.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

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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

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April 18, 2024

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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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