Comics
Review: “Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Bestiary” #1
Unsettling and gory to the core, “Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Bestiary” #1 is a thrilling continuation of the horror franchise that made Pinhead a household name. After so many lackluster sequels, this is a return to form for “Hellraiser.” In the right hands, “Bestiary” presents an anthology of shorts that definitely has some disturbing sights to show you.
WRITTEN BY: Mark Miller, Ben Meares, Victor LaValle
ART BY: Conor Nolan, Colin Lorimer, Carlos Magno
PUBLISHER: Boom! Studios
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: August 20, 2014
Reviewed by Jorge Solis
“Symphony in Red” takes at look at Hell from the person who knows it all too well, the Female Cenobite. Now that everything is where it should be, why isn’t she happy in Hell? In “Desert Fathers,” two thieves are about to learn, the hard way no less, what happens when you steal the Lament Configuration. In “The Hunted: Part One,” Pinhead finds himself in the middle of a gang war. Which side will win when everyone involved just wants blood?
Though these are separate storylines, all three tales share a common theme within. The narrative takes place right after the events from Brandon Seifert and Tom Garcia’s “The Dark Watch.” Eliot Spencer is back as Pinhead, the Pope of hell, harvesting human souls for his own amusement. I do miss Seifert’s witty sense of humor, especially since the tone now seems darker and harsher. It’s a minor complaint, since the shift in tone caught me by surprise, especially in Miller and Meares’ “Symphony in Red.”
Because I am a huge fan of “Next Testament,” I absolutely knew the Pinhead’s dialogue would be spot-on because of Mark Miller involved. After serving his time with humanity, Spencer is somehow crueler in his execution. Notice how Conor Nolan’s illustrations are awash in blood after Pinhead splits his victims in half.
In “Desert Father,” the security guards at the Desert Inn have become numb after what they have seen. The old man on the sixth floor loves it when his dominatrix visits, but he never expected her to steal his Lament Configuration. At a quick pace, Victor LaValle examines how being numb at your job makes you lose faith. Colin Lorimer delivers an intense battle between the guards and the Cenobite unleashed.
In “The Hunted, Part One,” the “Hellraiser” series explores topics such as racism and urban crime , which I believe hasn’t been done before. What Meares and Miller have brilliantly done is create a group of hardcore gang members who can stand up to the so called, “Devil.” Carlos Magno captures a distinct tattoo on the gang leader’s face.
Pinhead is back, even more twisted than before, in “Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Bestiary” #1. Get ready for some chilling nightmares after reading this issue.
Comics
‘Witchblade’ is Getting Resurrected This Summer in New Comic Series from Top Cow and Image Comics
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.
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Cover A: Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto (Full Color)
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Cover B: Giuseppe Cafaro and Arif Prianto (Full Color)
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Cover C: Blank Sketch Cover
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Cover D (1/10): Dani and Brad Simpson (Full Color)
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Cover E (1/25): Marc Silvestri and Arif Prianto, Virgin Cover (Full Color)
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Cover F (1/50): J.Scott Campbell (Full Color)
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Cover G (1/100): Bill Sienkiewicz. (Full Color)
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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.
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