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Review: ‘Crossed: Badlands’ #46

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10 years ago

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With lots of bloody gore and excessive violence thrown in, “Crossed: Badlands” #46 is unafraid to intensify the shock value. From the mind of Garth Ennis, this is an unflinching and gruesome take on the survival of the fittest. If you want to prove to yourself that you have a strong stomach, then go right ahead and pick up the “Crossed” series.

WRITTEN BY: Daniel Way
ART BY: Emiliano Urdinola
PUBLISHER: Avatar Press
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Jan. 29, 2013

A group of survivors make their way across the seas to protect themselves from the infected. They have to stay hidden from the psychotic plague-infested Crossed. The reason behind how these carriers get their name is because of the cross-like rash on their faces. As the plague turns off their conscience, the Crossed succumb to their evil most desires. Now, Captain Barnes and his uninfected crew must make their way through land to find hope. The captain has to keep everyone alive, even when everything seems lost.

Though the Crossed universe succumbs to depravity, writer Daniel Way presents a strong moral message about how human nature struggles to hold onto its last remaining values. Though Captain Barnes takes advantage of his own crew members, he knows there is a much bigger reward at the end. Though his acts may be questionable, Barnes is actually thinking about saving the innocent children onboard his ship. As he continues to make some horrible mistakes, to a point where he cannot redeem himself, Barnes is trying to save the last best hope of humanity.

What I really enjoy about the narrative is how Way builds the tension with conflicting personalities. The entire crew is at a boiling point where they are planning to betray Captain Barnes. But the crew fails to follow through on their plans because they know Barnes is a leader who fulfills his promises. They believe Barnes wholeheartedly when he says he will keep them alive. Because Barnes knows his crew will eventually turn into traitors, how long will he let them live is a better question.

In the opening pages, artist Emiliano Urdinola presents an apocalyptic vision of New Orleans. In their depraved version of Mardi Gras, the Crossed-partygoers are celebrating the end of the world. Through a wide shot, Urdinola illustrates the fallen city burning from its tallest buildings. Urdinola captures a sadistic and brutal atmosphere, which enhances the bleak tone of Way’s storyline.

Urdinola lets loose on the gore when Captain Barnes and his crew have to fight for their lives. In a shocking two-pager, the Crossed-partygoers arrive for a full frontal assault in their pirate ship. In just about every angle to see, Urdinola decorates the pirate ship with chopped body parts. Like frenzied barbarians, the Crossed-pirates have attached skulls to their spikes and lit the bones on fire.

Any fan of extreme gore and excessive violence should get their hands on “Crossed: Badlands” #46. A shocking and visceral take on the zombie genre, the “Crossed” series shows no mercy as it pushes the envelope.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jorge Solis

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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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14 hours 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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