Comics

Review: ‘Station to Station’ One-Shot

Published

11 years ago

August 28, 2013

Parallel dimensions, fringe science, and unsightly creatures come together in Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman’s “Station to Station” one shot. A rapid fire story and a desperate protagonist make for an engaging read that you’ll wish was an ongoing series.

WRITTEN BY: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman
ART BY: Gabriel Hardman
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: August 28, 2013

All too often do overenthusiastic scientists make a door to an alternate dimension when they meant to make a window. Of course all kinds of nasty creatures find their way through. Corinna Bechko and Gabriel Hardman take this idea in stride. The result is a story that moves with incredible pace, and a casual approach to creatures from alternate dimensions. It’s fun, original, and awesome on the eyes.

The first page reads “Disaster in San Francisco Bay.” It tells you everything about the volatile science we’re dealing with here. The protagonist Tim, wakes in a pile of rubble. Shaken, disoriented, and surprisingly energetic he bounds to his feet, totally concerned about his lab more than anything. The story kicks into high gear immediately as the rubble of the lab gives birth to all sorts of creatures.

Tim is saved and pulled into the aftermath of what he has done. Here Bechko and Hardman channel the best elements of sci fi doomsday and creature feature films, the threat is giant and the odds are nearly insurmountable. Yet, the strongest element of the story remains Tim’s dedication to what he’s done. In the midst of all this insanity, Tim has an unwavering dedication to his science. Which clearly is the root and solution to his problems.

The convergence of multiple realities creates unfathomable creatures who destroy the San Fancisco bay area, and they are brought to life magnificently by Hardman’s art. The entire book feels ripped from the pages of pulp books of old. The dynamic action on display along with the gritty lines and detail make for an artistic style that doesn’t let up.

Hardman achieves massive scale with relative ease. The large scientific machines dwarf the humans that stand next to them. In turn the multidimensional abominations dwarf the helicopters that come to destroy them. It feels epic in all the right ways, and is brought together by incredible attention to character detail. The sullen face of Tim on page 17, sells the moment of his revelation without words.

One shots are a hard to grade due to the enclosed nature of their stories. Yet, Station to Station benefits from having breakneck pacing. The story fires on all cylinders. Hardman’s choice of paneling allows the story to capture all of the right moments, without focusing on the less interesting ones. As a result you’ll be reading this one shot hoping for more from the team. With an ongoing series used to explore the ideas on display here Bechko and Hardman could have a real winner on their hands. I cannot wait to see what the team brings us next.

3.5/5 Skulls

Zac Thompson

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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.