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Review: ‘Liberator’ #1

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11 years ago

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Matt Miner’s “Liberator” is a comic with a purpose, a voice, and a platform. It also happens to be incredibly well written and paced. It’s well worth your money, and some of the profits go to an incredible cause.

WRITTEN BY: Matt Miner
ART BY: Javier Sanchez Aranda
PUBLISHER: Black Mask Studios
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: June 19th, 2013

Matt Miner has created a series about hard-edged vigilantes with a noble cause. “Liberator” is ingrained in the real world. It is the story of activists who refuse to stand idly by and watch helpless animals go through torturous acts. The reality of “Liberator” is present on every page. The story drips with knowledge of this world, and constantly engages because of it.

“Liberator’s” subject matter isn’t really up for debate. As a reader we know animal abuse is wrong, but perhaps don’t know the terrible depths of it’s reality. Miner does. He uses this knowledge to create a compelling story on a real world issue. Humans are butchering animals and Damon isn’t going to take it anymore.

Already, without Damon dressing up as a vigilante, “Liberator” would be a book about heroes. Damon and Jeanette are the type of people who refuse to sit down and let animals be victims. Yet, whenever their protests can’t do enough to sway the masses, they take the law into their own hands to change the tide.

The story of “Liberator” # 1 is a little slow. It falls into many of the pitfalls of a typical first issue. Not enough action and too much exposition. The final three pages are truly fantastic. They kick things into high gear and set up the rest of the series.

However, judging “Liberator” by regular conventions is a disservice to the story. It exists in its very own school of thought, and almost defies conventional criticism when it comes to pacing or plot, based solely on the fact that the subject matter is so important.

Aranda’s art is crisp, clean, and dynamic. Character designs are fantastic. The paneling is cleanly arranged and never distracting. Page sixteen and seventeen are particularly haunting, and help to contextualize the real world nature of the plot. However, near the end of the issue Aranda’s art takes some missteps and perspective warps. Character’s proportions start to change and while this sort of thing is more forgiving in moments of dynamic action, it unfortunately happens in slower panels.

“Liberator” is well worth the price of admission. Miner has created an original story that is incredibly important to him, and it is clear on every single page. The story would be compelling enough without the addition of masked vigilantes. However, we do indeed have those too. So what results is an important story with the right mix of comic book elements.

“Liberator” # 1 has something for everyone. I usher you to check it out. Not only because doing so will help a great cause, but also because doing so will help Miner tell more stories of this nature.

3/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jimbus_Christ

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Comics

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

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9 hours ago

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April 17, 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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