Comics

Review: “Bad Blood” #5

Published

10 years ago

May 8, 2014

By Bree Ogden

I’m sad. I’m really sad that “Bad Blood” has come to an end. But what an end. This is going to be a difficult review to write because I want you to experience this final issue the way that I did. So stay with me as I give you vague words of appreciation and love. I’ll start here: Maberry crafts a story like a fine watchmaker. He is a master craftsmen, taking the intricacies of storytelling, carefully placing them in their proper places, tucking them in nooks and packing them in crannies. Ultimately designing a story that will blow your mind and yes, maybe bring you to tears.

WRITTEN BY: Jonathan Maberry
ART BY: Tyler Crook
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: May 7, 2014

First off, we’ve been treated to some unique vampire mythology in this series thus far, but in this final issue, the vampire mythos that Maberry creates is stunning. It’s sophisticated and it’s…it’s perfect. He uses real life figures and events to explain vampires in a way that feels real. He creates a vampire world we’ve never seen before but feel like we’ve lived in forever.

Vale, who we last saw betraying Trick and Lolly by turning them over to Lord Sturge, and we now see is actually a vampire himself, explains to the kids that in ancient times, when humans used natural cures, vampires were healthy because it was safe to drink human blood, the blood was untainted. Then humanity evolved and synthetic drugs, pollution, etc., came into play and these factors were the vampires’ apocalypse. One word: Brilliant. What a unique concept. What an exquisite backstory for vampires: humans unknowingly killing vampires they don’t even know exist!

Because Lord Sturge is sick from that first issue of “Bad Blood” when he drank from Trick, he is polluting his entire house of vampires. So naturally, they blame Trick for their impending deaths. Heavy. It’s a lot for a college kid to take on.

Though Vale is of a different vampire house than that of Lord Sturge, he wants to make amends. Vale is offering up Trick and Lolly as gifts to make peace between the Vampire Houses. He made them strong for Sturge. Trick is in remission, no more chemo, and Lolly is off drugs, therefore Sturge can feast… making his entire house healthy again.

And that’s where I leave you. That’s all the plot detail I’m giving you. Because what happens next is straight dazzling and I refuse to give anything away. I need to know that when you read this comic book, you will experience the shock, awe, humor, irritation, love, and sadness that I experienced.

This has been such an amazing comic book to follow. From the first issue, I could have never imagined we’d end up here. I should have known though, because Maberry is a genius storyteller. Enjoy, kids. It’s damn good. This… this is us winning.

Lonnie Nadler

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Comics

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

Published

6 days 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.