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[Advance Review] “Harrow County” #3 Is Heartbreaking

Published

9 years ago

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“Harrow County” #3 builds off the previous issue’s reveal to offer the darkest look at human nature yet. Perhaps what could have been easily written off (but shouldn’t be – mind you) as a Southern Gothic comic builds to its most shocking moment this month. Emmy’s past horrors are nothing compared to what Cullen Bunn throws at her this issue.

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WRITTEN BY: Cullen Bunn
ART BY: Tyler Crook

PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99

RELEASE: July 7th, 2015

Small towns – or rather isolated places tend to talk a lot about the people who reside within them. This creates a distinctly predatory environment where people are consumed for entertainment. It’s clear that Emmy is pursued because of what she can say. Words carry a lot of power against superstition and despite the ending of the last issue, this time around it’s human evil that poses the largest threat.

It would be easy to write off “Harrow County” as a typical monster filled affair. Here, though – in a world populated with unsightly horrors Bunn shows that man is the greatest monster of all. It’s a lesson that was present on almost every page of issue one. But, something that seems like an afterthought in issue two. This sleight of hand is a great tactic to show the reader the brutality of the world they’re in.

Emmy definitely shines through once again. This is mostly due to her perseverance in the face of danger. She continually gives echoes of any horror movies final girl. Yet, she’s about ten years younger than the average horror protagonist. It’s a unique and refreshing perspective that allows Harrow County to stand out.

Bunn layers his script with huge implications of the looming truth that has yet to be revealed. After the final page of this issue the reader has a much better sense of why Harrow County is such a fearful place. There are still plenty of questions left on the page. And really only half answers offered, but they are captivating in their emotional complexity. It’s an assurance that the story is in good hands from here on out. The script is afraid to linger in small moments to create something more than little girl versus monsters.

Now, Tyler Crook is becoming a quick standout for artist of the year on this book. Despite his insane process (which I’ll continue to praise until I’m dead) he manages to convey the most emotional moment of this issue with an irresistible simplicity. In a series known for grand and colorful displays of horror – Crook takes his talents and centers them on the human eye. He epitomizes the most horrific part of the issue around these “windows to the soul” and you feel it all. You can’t help but feel shivers up your spine in the climax of this issue. And, for an artist with his talents this reduction to a more complex human feature was not only needed but packs such a gut punch that his panels will linger with you for days after you close the final page.

With a narrative that only gets stronger with each separate issue “Harrow County” is easily the best horror comic on the stands. It reminds us what we’re scared of and it isn’t afraid to show us that even the most horrendous creatures can be beautiful.

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Comics

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

Published

3 weeks 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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