Witchblade #173 Review

Publisher: Top Cow Productions
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Laura Braga
Colorist: Betsy Gonia
Letterer: Troy Peteri
Cover Artist: Stjepan Sejic
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 12th, 2014

Witchblade #173, “Borne Again Part Four” continues Sara Pezzini’s time without the Witchblade. Two years ago, Sara relinquished the Witchblade. In recent events, she was shot and is now attempting to get back in the field. The Angelus, however, has other plans in store.

I’ve been a fan of the series and Sara as a character for some time. Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic really made the character during their run. But Sara and I parted ways during Tim Seeley and Diego Bernard’s run. Though I thought about staying away, the lure of Marz’ return was too much to pass up. This time he’s joined by artist Laura Braga and colorist Betsy Gonia. Two talented folks I suspect the industry will be seeing more of in the future.

Part of the book is exposition dedicated to catching readers up to current events. The rest is set-up for what should be an entertaining next issue. Your mileage might vary in regards to the pacing. Overall, this is a fairly uneventful issue.

While the events of this issue don’t progress much, Braga and Gonia provide some lively scenery for the journey. The right artistic talent can make something special of the supernatural tales of the Witchblade and this art team is producing some quality work. Beyond a couple awkward-looking panels, this is a gorgeous comic. Braga’s characters look great, with her interpretation of the Angelus standing out. Her detailed scenery makes every setting truly come alive. Her line work combined with Gonia’s colors give the book a vibrant look. This is especially true for the scenes involving the Angelus and the Angelus Realm.

During his previous run, Marz elevated Sara to an entirely different level. He writes as if he created the character. The fantastic art team of Braga and Gonia inject a new and much desired life in this series. The slower pace and recap make for a perfect jumping on point for new and lapsed readers. Those same aspects could also turn away regular readers. If you stepped away from the title, you should consider jumping back on. I sure am.

Score: 3/5

Witchblade #173 was provided by Top Cow for review purposes.

Veil #1 Review

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Writer: Greg Rucka
Penciller: Toni Fejzula
Letterer: Nate Piekos
Cover Artist: Toni Fejzula
Cover Price: $3.50
Release Date: March 5th, 2014

Veil #1 comes to us from the minds of Greg Rucka and Toni Fejzula. Before even opening the book, we get a glimpse of what Fejzula offers with a cover that commands your attention. It features the character, Veil, surrounded by creepy rats with red eyes. This first issue introduces readers to her as she awakens on subway tracks surrounded by the aforementioned rats. From there we follow the adventure of someone with seemingly no memory of her identity.

Rucka is a creator who’s frequently been commended for how he writes women in comics. Here, he addresses some social issues, which he also expounds upon in a letter at the end of the book. When a woman appears naked on the streets of a populated city, trouble can occur. It develops in a fashion likely unseen before. It is here where she comes into contact with characters she'll interact with for the remainder of the book.

Veil has a particular speech pattern, which may be odd to some readers initially. With that, Rucka doesn’t reveal much through her. Instead the story is conveyed visually as she rejoins the world and interacts with other characters. This is where the problems come in. Veil doesn’t express herself verbally. This led to me never feeling attached to her or the other characters. But this is where Fejzula gets to shine. This is particularly true when she displays her strange powers and how she reacts to them.

With the seemingly never-ending debate of “writer vs. artist,” the role of artists is often diminished. That shouldn’t be an issue in the first place, but Fejzula provides more evidence of his artist’s storytelling skills. His style is unique. His characters are expressive. He also employs neat uses of light and shadow. The coloring truly gives the book life.

Veil #1 is an unpredictable comic. I don’t believe that’s rare in any regard, but you really don’t know what to expect as you turn the pages here. It’s bizarre in how Rucka and Fejzula introduce the main character. It’s beautiful in how the narrative unfolds. But I didn't connect with any of the characters. It was more about the overall story. I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I’ll be back for the second issue to find out.

Score: 3.5/5

Veil #1 was provided by Dark Horse Comics for review purposes.

Dark Horse Highlights "Starting Points" for Readers to try New Series

DARK HORSE ANNOUNCES STARTING POINTS: A NEW WAY FOR FANS AND RETAILERS TO TRY NEW SERIES!

MILWAUKIE, OR, MARCH 10—At this year’s ComicsPRO annual meeting, Dark Horse listened directly to retailer feedback on how to spark interest in monthly series, in hopes of bringing in new and lapsed readers. In June, Dark Horse begins the Starting Points program, a new way to dive into great ongoing series!

Each month, Dark Horse will highlight an issue in an ongoing or long-running series that is a great place for readers to try something new! Starting Points titles will be noted in Previews with a special logo and incentivized for increased orders.

June’s Previews will launch this program with two great ongoing series: Mike Mignola’s Abe Sapien and Captain Midnight, a key title in Dark Horse’s ever-evolving Project Black Sky line of books!

In Abe Sapien #13, the amphibious Abe is haunted by guilt over the staggering death toll in Arizona and vows to never let such horrors happen again—until a crazed healer and a frog-possessed teen block his path! If you haven’t been keeping up with Hellboy’s one-time partner, there’s never been a better time to get onboard with this ongoing series cowritten by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, with art from Sebastián Fiumara!

Meanwhile, Captain Midnight #12 kicks off a brand-new arc! Reeling from the death of one friend and the betrayal of another, Captain Midnight throws himself into his work. Disillusioned with why he wears a costume, the time-traveling hero ponders what the world needs more of: the brawn of Captain Midnight or the brains of his civilian identity, genius inventor Jim Albright.

Dark Horse will offer retailers an additional 10% discount for orders exceeding 110% of the previous issue!

Look for one Starting Points title in the catalog each month, with evolving incentives and promotional support to help retailers bring new readers in to great Dark Horse series!

VIDEO: MyComicShop Haul Comic Books and Supplies

PREVIEW: Day Men #3

Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Writer: Matt Gagnon, Michael Alan Nelson
Artist: Brian Stelfreeze
Colorist: Darrin Moore
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Cover Artist:
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 5th, 2014

War continues to rage throughout the vampire underground, as David’s role for the Virgo family comes into question. But will Azalea, the mysterious matriarch, cast David out in search of a more proper wartime Day Man?