Connect with us

Comics

Review: “The Field” #1

Published

10 years ago

on

Ed Brisson uses his labyrinthine knowledge of trashy grindhouse cinema to craft a tight and engaging mystery. “The Field” oozes tribute and originality, thanks to razor sharp cheesy dialogue, beautifully weird characters, and the stunning dynamic work of Brisson’s longtime collaborator Simon Roy. This is a comic you can’t afford to miss.


WRITTEN BY: Ed Brisson
ART BY: Simon Roy
PUBLISHER: Image
PRICE: $3.50
RELEASE: April 2, 2014

For me, there are very few comics that seem self-aware. There is certain reflexivity in the story of “The Field” that allows it to revel in its quirky genre tropes like hyper violence, and cheesy dialogue. Yet, by the last page of the book the whole adventure still feels compelling and completely original.

The story follows a mysterious protagonist who wakes up in a field wearing nothing but his underwear. He’s got a cellphone, and it warns him of imminent danger. From here he’s thrown into an adventure with an insane, drug addled bible salesmen who calls himself Christian. If that wasn’t enough there’s also a biker gang hot on the trail of the mystery hero. Who he is and what all these people want from him is only the beginning of the story.

If that premise doesn’t excite you, then I sincerely don’t know what will. Brisson maximizes his script by constantly layering new questions into the narrative. The cellphone springs to life to remind the reader that they’re in constant danger. It’s a great device that never overwhelms but keeps the script on edge. This is coupled with a brief tease of the larger narrative. Both come together to keep things weird and compelling.

Simon Roy and Brisson have been working together for years and it shows on “The Field.” They seamlessly play off of one another. Roy’s art is moody and compelling. His character designs are humorous, only to become immediately terrifying. His panels ooze his trademark style, and his use of line detailing adds menace to the mundane world of diners and sedans. Within moments of gore, Roy really shines. There is a sequence near the end of this issue that gave me Steve Dillion “Preacher” vibes. Extreme gore never looked so good, or so much fun.

This is an excellent start to a compelling and eerie book that is sure to only get better. The mystery of the book is fascinating, and there is a literal volley of questions within the opening pages that will necessitate picking up issue two. Throw in Roy’s incredibly dark and character driven work, and add in Brisson’s tastefully cheesy dialogue and you’ve got one hell of a series. “The Field” defies comparison; it’s a love letter to grindhouse cinema, and a reinvention of the genre in comics. It‘s steep mystery may leave some out in the cold, but the best stories ask questions of the reader, pushing them to become an active participant in the adventure. “The Field” does exactly that; it sucks you in, and creates an insatiable urge to know more. Bring on issue two. Let’s get weird.

Rating: 4.5/5 Skulls.

Related Topics:
Advertisement
1 Comment

Comics

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

Published

2 weeks ago

on

April 18, 2024

By

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

Continue Reading