Comics

Review: ‘Manifest Destiny’ #1

Published

10 years ago

November 14, 2013

A slick and fun read, “Manifest Destiny” #1 takes some amusing liberties with actual events and real people. American history just got a whole lot weirder as a group of settlers uncover monsters in the vast frontier. With a mix of scares and laughs, this is an enjoyable trip to the past that even history buffs will like.

WRITTEN BY: Chris Dingess
ART BY: Matthew Roberts
PUBLISHER: Image Comics/Skybound
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Nov. 13, 2013

In the 1800s, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant William Clark set out to explore the uncharted American frontier. The Manifest Destiny calls for these two explorers to expand democracy across the vast horizon. The adventure takes a turn for the worst as Clark and Lewis have to deal with unruly shipmates like Jensen. President Jefferson made a deal with certain criminals to help Clark and Lewis on their dangerous voyage. If he becomes a member of the ship’s crew, Jensen will be pardoned for his crimes and have a new place to live as part of the deal. But when the entire crew arrives in the new frontier, what creatures will they discover hiding in the darkness?

Writer Chris Dingess focuses on the witty bromance between Lewis and Clark. Hot-headed and tough, Clark is willing to pull the trigger first, especially if it means saving his best friend from danger. Lewis is more pensive but tight-lipped when it comes to taking action. Notice how Lewis argues with Clark in his private quarters. Lewis doesn’t want to threaten Clark’s authority in front of the crew, especially since they are convicts. Because they have such respect for each other, they’re not afraid to question each other’s judgment calls.

Jensen is an interesting character because Dingess has him cross the line between anti-hero and antagonist. Though he made a deal with President Jefferson, Jensen realizes he is being setup to take a big fall. Because he doesn’t have any family, no one will care if Jensen ends up dead on this journey. Jensen was only recruited because no one would miss him if he was suddenly gone. More of a conspiracy nut, Jensen thinks everyone is purposely out to get rid of him.

Artist Matthew Roberts pays close attention to the look and style of the 1800s. Because Clark is more of a soldier, Roberts has him wearing his Lieutenant’s blue uniform. With the ship’s crew being full of criminals, Roberts has them wearing plain clothes and their long sleeves rolled up. An important detail, notice how Lewis is the only one in the crew who doesn’t carry a firearm or knife. Lewis is there for scientific research, not because he wants to look for a fight.

When Roberts illustrates Lewis and Clark, they are always side by side. In his close-ups, Lewis always has this look of awe when he discovers something new about their uncharted territory. In wide shots, Roberts depicts a grassy and flourishing frontier beaming with sunlight. Trouble is brewing as Roberts paints a particular flower in the shape of a skull.

An enjoyable start, “Manifest Destiny” #1 delivers two engaging protagonists that readers will root for. I want to see what monsters show up during this exploration into the American frontier.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

Lonnie Nadler

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Comics

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

Published

1 week 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.