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[Comic Review] “Southern Cross” #4 Is Cerebrally Awesome

Published

9 years ago

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Readers are in for one helluva super-trippy ride filled with scares and suspense in Southern Cross #4. With images upon images, the fourth installment proves why this series is a smart and entertaining reading experience. As a cerebral and existentialist mystery, “Southern Cross” is an awesome accomplishment when story and art work side by side.

STK674301

WRITTEN BY: Becky Cloonan

ART BY: Andy Belanger

PUBLISHER: Image Comics

PRICE: $3.99

RELEASE: June 24, 2015

In the vastness of outer-space, Alex Braith is starting to feel consumed by the dark and empty hallways of the spaceship, Running away from the dead, Alex finds herself swallowed up by memories of her dead sister. Never knowing which is which, Alex doesn’t know if she’s being given a warning, or if it’s all just a hallucination. Could someone on board the ship be actually trying to kill her?

I love how writer Becky Cloonan  builds the main character’s backstory through flashbacks. Because of sibling rivalry, is Alex trying to redeem herself from what happened in the past? But we’re left to question if the main protagonist is making up a false childhood memory?

Cloonan adds more to Alex’s strong personality as her punkish attitude breaks down bit by bit.  Alex is afraid that her vulnerability will somehow get her killed. As the list of suspects grow, readers will get a chance to pick and choose who might be a red herring.

Artist Andy Belanger captures images on top of images as a visual metaphor for something grand. With Belanger playing around with the panel layouts, are the visuals meant to ask about humanity’s place in the universe? Or is the surreal imagery supposed to represent Alex’s mindset? You can’t go wrong with either interpretation, which is why Belanger is at the top of his game.

When the imagery turns surreal, colorist Lee Loughridge breaks away from the dark pinkish tones and adds a more vibrant scheme. Notice how the panels are brighter and intense as Alex continues to hallucinate.

“Southern Cross” #4 keeps getting better and better. There are two issues left before the first story arc closes.

Reviewed by Jorge Solis

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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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