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Review: ‘The Twilight Zone’ #2

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10 years ago

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Capturing the nostalgic magic of the past, “The Twilight Zone” #2 is a suspenseful mind-bender that never slows down. Based on the classic TV series by Rod Serling, “The Twilight Zone” returns with even more twisted tales. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newbie to the series, don’t miss this trip into another dimension of imagination.

WRITTEN BY: J. Michael Straczynski
ART BY: Guiu Vilanova
PUBLISHER: Dynamite Entertainment
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: Feb. 5, 2013

In order to avoid prison time for embezzlement and fraud, Trevor Richmond traded his old life for a new one. With a different name and face, Trevor is able to walk away freely and unpunished from his crimes. But suddenly, something is obviously wrong when Trevor sees himself testifying in court. Trevor knows that is not him but somehow it really is him standing there in the courtroom. Someone else has taken his name and face, using his identity for their own personal gain. Will Trevor make a new man out of himself now that he has a second chance? Or does he secretly want his old life back?

Writer J. Michael Straczynski explores society’s personal fears through intense psychological horrors. Using satire, Straczynski is able to poke fun at the economic gap between the wealthy and middle class. The real Trevor Richmond is a Wall Street stock-broker who stole millions from his investors. The fake Trevor Richmond has a guilty conscience and turns himself in to the authorities, pleading forgiveness from the public. Everything the real Richmond built, fake Richmond is doing a great job breaking it down.

What’s really interesting about Straczynski’s narrative is that fake Richmond’s character arc resembles closely to a coming-of-age tale. Seeking redemption, fake Richmond is trying to reconcile with his girlfriend and his estranged father. Fake Richmond is making a better life for himself than the real Richmond ever did. Even with his new identity, the real Richmond is still making a mess and getting into serious trouble.

I particularly enjoy how artist Guiu Vilanova came up with the character designs of Trevor Richmond. Though the two Richmonds are basically the same person, Vilanova is able to hint at the differences, making it easier for the readers to distinguish them. While the doubles have the same hairstyle, the real Richmond is a much darker version of himself. In their facial expressions, the real Richmond is smug, arrogant, and confused, while the doppelganger is calm and confident.

Vilanova kicks it up a notch when the real Richmond ends up in a high speed pursuit chase with the police. Through extreme close-ups, Vilanova intensifies the action sequence as the cops end up pulling their triggers. Vilanova makes great use of its New York location, setting the chase inside Manhattan buildings and onto the streets. In an impressive splash page, Vilanova illustrates the different chapters of the car ride from the rims of a tire.

“The Twilight Zone” #2 captures the essence of what made the TV series so memorable. I look forward to more tale tales of light and shadow as the “The Twilight Zone” continues in the comic book page.

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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7 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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