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[Comic Review] “The Valiant” #4 – Deftly Refreshing and Epic

Published

9 years ago

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Reviewed by Brady Steele. The Valiant #4 brings the Valiant Universe’s latest event to a satisfying conclusion. Time capsules, no memories and heads that can’t be torn off are just some of the random things used to save the world from a new dark age. Once again, the creators here have melded epic scope and intimate moments together deftly and refreshingly.

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WRITTEN BY: Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt

ART BY: Paolo Rivera

PUBLISHER: Valiant Entertainment

PRICE: $3.99

RELEASE: 25 March 2015

Time has run out for saving the world’s Geomancer Kay McHenry and only one man remains to defend her: the unkillable killing machine known as Bloodshot. No one has been able to slow down The Immortal Enemy Mister Flay. Not The Eternal Warrior, not Ninjak nor the combined might of the Valiant Universe’s combined heroes have done anything but be tortured and cast aside. Writers Jeff Lemire and Matt Kindt have built up an enjoyable tale and now it’s time to see if this unbeatable foe can actually be defeated.

The final throw down is a triple threat match that has it all: explosions, lots of guns and head shots, a really ghastly looking monster and a literal last minute twist and a save. It’s frantic and emotive once it all shakes out. There is a good dose of bittersweet heaped in there as well which really shifts down the whole story. Once again, artist Paolo Rivera shows off how he can draw so many real and unreal things in one story so well.

Another great part of this entire series has been the commentary pages at the end. This time, we get letterer Dave Lanphear’s insight as to how what steps he takes to help tell the story with maximum impact and effect. I’ve found this series to be an overall satisfying tale. With so many moving parts, it still feels like an intimate story with the fate of the world thrown in with the attempt to save one another. I felt like the quieter moments of characters on the run were more powerful than the big hero spreads mixed in here and there. I hope artist Paolo Rivera keeps making more beautiful Valiant books down the line as his work really captivated my attention throughout all four issues.

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Mr. Steele enjoys all things comics and imagination-based. Using his lifetime of comic-fu-dom for good, he imparts his knowledge for the universe to enjoy and for you, dear readers, to pass it on.

Twitter: @mrbradysteele

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Comics

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

Published

2 days 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

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