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Review: ‘Velvet’ #1

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A smart spy thriller, “Velvet” #1 will keep readers on their toes as each plot twist hits them hard. This is an exciting glimpse into a secretive world filled with gun-toting traitors, high-ranking schemers, and trained assassins. No one can be trusted as everyone is pretending to live a double life in the “Velvet” series.

WRITTEN BY: Ed Brubaker
ART BY: Steve Epting
PUBLISHER: Image Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: October 23, 2013

The underground organization, X-Ops, has sent their top secret agent, Jeff Keller, on a dangerous assignment in Paris. With the Eiffel Tower behind him, Jeff ends up taking out his gun and shooting a room full of innocent civilians. After dodging the French police, Jeff jumps across the rooftops before finally reaching his parked car. Just when he thought the fiasco was over, Jeff suddenly sees the shotgun pointed at him. At point-blank range, the shotgun blast kills Jeff before he can take out his piece. At the X-Ops headquarters in London, Velvet Temptation has just been debriefed about Jeff’s murder. Velvet will have to go through her own team in order to find Jeff’s killer.

Writer Ed Brubaker takes his espionage-driven narrative through different foreign settings and time periods. What I liked most about Brubaker’s writing is how he transitions the timeline between Velvet’s past and present. With the story set amid the ’70s and late ’60s, Brubaker has a way with the hard-bitten dialogue as the narrative steers toward noirish territory. When a secondary character calls Velvet nothing more than a “secretary,” it automatically sounds misogynist and hateful.

During the time jumps, Brubaker is able to hint at the many layers behind Velvet Temptation. When Velvet is at the X-Ops offices, she is more of a bookworm, kind of like a librarian, as she goes through tedious amounts of paperwork. But when she is out in the field, Velvet lets loose her hair, becoming seductive and adventurous. And when she is at home, Velvet acts like a completely different person, living a comfortably quiet life. Notice in the bedroom how there is no personal item belonging to her.

Artist Steve Epting has an interesting character design for Velvet. When Velvet is at the X-Ops headquarters, her wardrobe is classy and business-like. To keep up the elegant look, Epting lets a white strand of Velvet’s hair curl around her face. Epting uses rain as a way to establish the noir themes. When Velvet is walking across the rainy streets of London, she uses a brown trench coat to cover herself, as if she is always hiding something.

Epting’s illustrations in the opening pages will instantly hook the readers. It’s an action sequence gone horribly wrong as Jeff finds himself suddenly comprised. A tribute to the James Bond movies, specifically the Pierce Bronsan ones, Jeff is wearing a black suit and a bowtie as he fights his way through security. The panels burst with red hues as Jeff is taken down by the hidden gunman.

“Velvet” #1 kicks off to a great start and I hope the excitement keeps up in the next issue. If you’re a fan of “24” and the Jason Bourne movies, you’re definitely going to enjoy the hell out of “Velvet.”

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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