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Review: ‘The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’ # 5

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10 years ago

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The penultimate chapter of Gerard Way and Shaun Simon’s ‘The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys’ is an entertaining and fast paced read. Cloonan’s art remains the strongest draw of this book. This month her work develops the history of the world and is simply stunning. As it rockets toward the conclusion “Killjoys” raises more questions while answers are few and far between. This chapter sees characters coming to terms with their destiny setting the stage is set for an epic final chapter.


WRITTEN BY: Gerard Way & Shaun Simon
ART BY: Becky Cloonan
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: October 30, 2013

“Killjoys” is an incredibly easy book to praise, the art is stellar, the story is unlike any other, and the dialogue is snappy. As the months go by I find myself lamenting each new issue as it brings us closer to the conclusion. The journey has been incredible and this penultimate chapter doesn’t prove to be any different.

Things pick up exactly where we left off last month. Everything is in disarray, but characters are certain of what they have to do. The pacing has reached breakneck speed, with most of the focus on The Girl, but small looks into Korse and the porno droid’s fate keep the story fresh.

Way and Simon’s story gears up to be one of destiny. Characters are caught in the massive wheels of time and pushed to do things they never thought they’d be capable of. Most interesting within this transition has been Korse. He began as the primary force of antagonism in the book, and his beats here seem to bring something completely new and unexpected. These songwriters also seem to be master storytellers. The reason “Killjoys” never ceases to impress is its ability to surprise.

What is less surprising is that Cloonan’s art remains unbelievable. Her sense of style compliments the narrative so well that it’s hard to conceive any other artist on this book. Her heavy lines and incredibly stylized characters define this world and just when you think you’ve seen it all, she introduces the Pheonix Witch. This incredibly creepy and otherworldly character will show you that Cloonan is an absolute master of her craft.

The Pheonix Witch herself adds another heaping layer onto this already complex narrative. The result is an air of intrigue that gives way to a history lesson. Way and Simon take the time to take a step back. This chapter helps to amplify the motivations, and deepen the world. It’s a fantastic choice in an already packed issue.

“Killjoys” may be on the way out, but there is still one issue to go. It’s been one hell of a ride thanks to killer writing, characters, and style. This is what comic books were designed for. I can’t wait to see where the story ends up next month. Although I’m sure it will be met with a feeling of melancholy, as this fantastic series will be over. If it manages to stick the landing it will easily be one of my favorite books of the year.

Rating: 4/5 Skulls

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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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1 day 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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