PREVIEW – The Darkness II (FCBD)

2K Games, Top Cow Productions, Inc., and the Free Comic Book Day Committee announced today that they have teamed up to produce The Darkness II: Confession, an exclusive comic tie-in for The Darkness™ II video game, for Free Comic Book Day. The 32-page, full-color comic will be a prequel to 2K Games’ upcoming video game, The Darkness II. Produced by Top Cow’s lead artists and writers in partnership with 2K Games, The Darkness II: Confession will be distributed by Diamond Comic Distributors to thousands of independent comic book stores worldwide on May 7, 2011.

The Darkness II: Confession introduces comic fans, video game fans, and new readers to Jackie Estacado, the bearer of The Darkness, an ancient primal force which acts a blessing and a curse for its bearer, allowing him access to an otherworldly dimension and control over the demons that dwell there. The Darkness II: Confession takes readers from Jackie’s origins in the first video game, through his rise to power, and the events leading up to The Darkness II.

Witchblade #132 – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Art)

The Story: Sara and Patrick share an evening together reconnecting before getting involved with a mystery involving missing children.

What’s Good: It’s been a while since Witchblade had an arc that featured Sara confronting the supernatural in a way that’s unconnected (as far as I can tell) to a future event. That’s part of the reason why Witchblade #132 is worth the read. It works really well as a return to the effective formula that made me a fan of the series in the first place.

While little happens in the first part of “The Bridge” to move the story forward past the setup, the character work done by Ron Marz in the opening scene makes up for it in a weird way. It’s a little heavy on fan-service (though it IS a sex scene, so you can’t be surprised it is there), but there’s no denying that the scene contains well written, mature, adult dialogue that does justice to the relationship that Marz has done such a fine job of establishing. The conversation between the characters had to happen and it is executed in a way that simply works.

What’s Not So Good: Stjepan Sejic’s artwork always shines when the Witchblade powers or the supernatural are a part of the story. Unfortunately, in Witchblade #132, there is little use of the Witchblade and only one shot of the supernatural thing that “The Bridge” is all about. As a result the flaws of Sejic’s style are a bit more noticeable than usual. The characters all look a bit plastic, inconsistent, or emotionless at times, some panels seem pretty rushed, and there’s a lack of definition in a few scenes that proves to be distracting. While the latest issue of Witchblade looks far from bad as a whole, but I’ve come to expect more from the series and the artist.

Conclusion: Witchblade #132 works because it takes care of some character issues in an effective way and proves to be a nice start to what looks to be a short, but entertaining arc. While the book isn’t exactly a “must read” in any way, it’s worth checking out if you are a fan of the Witchblade series.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #130 (War of the Witchblades) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Sjepan Sejic (Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: A dead main character, a powerful artifact once again made whole…yep, the War of the Witchblades has definitely brought changes to the series.

The Story: The War of the Witchblades concludes…

What’s Good: While some parts of the War of the Witchblades arc felt a bit drawn out, Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic make every page of Witchblade #130 count. The script is tight, nearly every panel aides the storytelling in some way, and the changes promised breathe some new life into the Top Cow Universe. In short, as a conclusion to a “game-changing” storyline, Witchblade #130 delivers in a big way.

The biggest problem I’ve had with the recent direction of the Witchblade series is that too often individual issues lacked balance. A book was either the Ron Marz show (a slow read, loaded with exposition/dialogue/narration and maybe a montage for flavor) or the Stjepan Sejic show (a really pretty, but very fast, read). Witchblade #130 truly gives readers the best of both worlds. Ron Marz’s War comes to a satisfying close as some new story doors open up, while Stjepan Sejic is given enough epic action to really show off what he’s capable of. And let me tell you what… Stjepan Sejic is capable of a whole hell of a lot. From the dynamic panel layouts and shapes to the level of detail that’s on display, Witchblade #130 is one great-looking comic. It can definitely be a negative thing when a book is loaded with large panels, but Sejic makes the absolute most of every single bit of page space that he’s given.

What’s Not So Good: You know what tends to bother me? When a storyline feels like it wraps up in a way that’s almost too neat and tidy. While the War of the Witchblades’ ending satisfies, it also veers pretty far into ” clean, happy ending” territory that seems out of place considering how dark the overall arc is.
My only other complaint is a familiar one. Stjepan Sejic’s characters occasionally look plastic and doll-like due to the techniques that he uses. A bit more facial detail would really go a long way towards eliminating the plastic look in my opinion.

Conclusion: The latest issue of Witchblade looks great and brings a solid story to a satisfying close. Pick it up.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #129 (War of the Witchblades Chapter 5) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: One big problem that I have with events is that once one gets rolling, I can’t help but think about what’s going to happen after it. Is the Witchblade going to become whole again? Is one of the main characters going to die (for real this time)? Is the event leading towards something much bigger? With the War of the Witchblades winding down, I have to imagine I’ll find an answer or two to the questions I have in Witchblade #129.

The Story: Dani confronts Sara with the intention of ending the War of the Witchblades. Meanwhile, the Angelus force hovers outside of Dani’s place, intently watching Finch.

What’s Good: Witchblade #129 is driven by the action that Ron Marz uses to shake the status quo of the series. The battle between Sara and Dani is intense, questions are answered, and the future of the Witchblade series is made a little bit more clear. In other words, the latest Witchblade delivers where it matters most with an event like The War of the Witchblades going on.

Artist Stjepan Sejic does his best work when there’s a lot of supernatural stuff going on. So, needless to say, Witchblade #129 is one hell of a good looking book. The dark and light Witchblade armor looks fantastic, Sara’s Darkness-powered bridge/lair thing is awesome, and a few pages of the fight between Sara and Dani are truly epic-looking (I’d mention my favorite image, but I don’t want to spoil anything).

What’s Not So Good: Since it’s so full of action, Witchblade #129 is an extremely fast read. Dialogue is a bit sparse and since large images dominate the book, the pages just fly by. The only other negative I can think of is that occasionally Stjepan’s characters look plastic, unnatural, and, in all honesty, a bit creepy. That’s a minor complaint about the artwork though, since most of the character work is quite good.

Conclusion: Witchblade #129 is a must read comic for fans of the series. It looks great, packs some nice surprises, and will leave you wanting more.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #128 (War of the Witchblades Chapter 4) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: “The War of the Witchblades” event got quite a jolt from the last issue, thanks in part to the (possible) deaths of not one, but two main characters. While I’m sure that at least one of the Witchblade bearers will turn out to be at least somewhat ok, it all made for a very nice cliffhanger.

The Story: The Angelus warrior Sabine sees an opportunity to make the Witchblade whole again, but needs to manipulate Dani in order for the plan to work…

What’s Good: Let me just say this this section is going to look a bit misleading because I actually like Witchblade #128 quite a bit… Anyways, “The War of the Witchblades” continues to intrigue, thanks to the mystery surrounding some of the elements of the mythology that the story has introduced. Ron Marz is doing a nice job of crafting a memorable event and handling the characters; the latest chapter of the story reads rather well. And thanks to Stjepan Sejic’s unique painted style (the artist’s work is as strong as ever in Witchblade #128), the event is as compelling to look at as it is to read.

What’s Not So Good: The problem with the latest issue of Witchblade is that it doesn’t do a whole lot to move the Witchblade war forward. See the story summary above? That’s pretty much all that happens in the issue outside of the (now standard) mysterious old shop owner appearance. Sure it sets the stage for what looks to be a classic battle, but that doesn’t feel like enough when it seems like more could be happening. It’s always frustrating when a good event is bogged down by pacing issues.

Conclusion: I know that’s not much of a review written above, but there just isn’t a whole lot that needs to be said about Witchblade #128. On a technical level, it’s a pretty standard issue of a good series. What that means is that the book reads well and looks absolutely spectacular at times (the “to be continued” page is poster-worthy for sure). As part of an event though, the latest chapter of “The War of the Witchblades” is a bit weak because not enough happens to make Witchblade #128 as satisfying as it could be.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade Darkness Angelus Trinity Blood On The Sands – Review

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Even though they tend to be ultimately forgettable in the larger scheme of things, I enjoy the random Darkness/ Witchblade one-shots because they always manage to enrich the mythology or characters of the Top Cow universe in some way.

The Darkness: Diyafa by Philip W. Smith II (Writer), Sheldon Mitchell (Pencils), Joe Weems V (Inks), and Arif Prianto (Colors)

Witchblade: Assahiya by Philip W. Smith II (Writer), and Admira Wijaya & Sunny Gho (Art)

Angelus: Chermera by Philip W. Smith II (Writer), Tom Grindburg (Pencils & Inks) and Sunny Gho (Colors)

The Story: In “Diyafa,” a young man seeks out “The Dark Wyrm” that uses the Darkness in order to rescue a loved one. In “Assahiya,” the Witchblade’s balance is divided between two sisters. In “Chermera,” a man must kill a lover that has been corrupted by the Angelus.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The visually impressive Top Cow one-shot Blood on the Sands amounts to more than the sum of its parts. That said, I’m not really sure how much more because I’m certain that Blood on the Sands would have worked better as a mini-series as opposed to a single one-shot. Taken individually, each short story is simple, rushed, predictable, and, truthfully, not all that interesting. But, taken together, each short story weaves together with the current Darkness/Witchblade/Angelus situation surprisingly well.

The artwork is easily the highlight of Blood on the Sands. Each story is done in a specific, (mostly) fitting style that makes up for some of one-shot’s shortcomings. I would love to see each art team given a full issue to work on.

Conclusion: Blood on the Sands is a solid enough fix for fans of the Top Cow universe, but it’s far from an essential read.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #127 (War of the Witchblades) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The War of the Witchblades got off to a solid start. Now that the stage is finally set, it’s time for the War to truly begin. I for one, can’t wait to see what happens.

The Story: Tensions between Sara and Dani erupt into a battle between the light and the darkness.  Meanwhile, an Angelus warrior named Sabine looks for the opportune moment to make a claim for power…

What’s Good & What’s Not So Good: Thanks to both the artwork and the writing, the fight between Dani and Sara plays out really well in Witchblade #127.  Ron Marz’s “fight” dialogue is effective and Stjepan Sejic’s work (especially the “Dark Witchblade” design/powers) makes the battle between the Witchblade bearers something to remember.  I must also point out that the limited use of dialogue keeps the focus on the visual storytelling, the use of color, and the rather impressive panel layout which, this case, is a good thing.

The biggest negative about chapter three of War of the Witchblades is that occasionally Sejic’s artwork makes people look a bit…off. Dani in particular looks so computer generated in a few panels that it proves to be a distraction until the fight breaks out. It’s a fairly minor complaint, especially considering how nice the majority of the book looks, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless.

Another complaint I have is the way the events in the issue escalate at a wild pace, especially considering the fact that a baby is caught up in the middle of the clash. While I like the concept of Sara losing control, she seems uncharacteristically mentally weak in a way that says “plot device” in a very quiet voice. Maybe more will be explained next month.

Conclusion: I wish I could say more about Witchblade #127, but I’m sort of at a loss for words.  It features an entertaining, well-executed fight scene and ends in a way that will leave fans begging for more. The dialogue is solid all around, the visuals look mostly great, and the storyline is playing out in a way that should please new and longtime fans alike.  If I said much more, I would be ruining the surprises of the issue, so just go pick it up if you are a fan of the series.

Grade:  B

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade Annual – Review

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I’ve been a fan of Witchblade for a long time. It’s surprising that the annual is the first one the series has ever had. It’ll be interesting to see what one of my favorite writers, Jay Faerber, does with one of my favorite characters.

“If Looks Could Kill” – Jay Faerber (Writer), Eric Basaldua (Pencils), Rick Basaldua (Inks), Dulce Brassea & Alix Minjarez (Ink Assists), and John Starr (Colors)

The Story: A beautiful woman commits murder and then has no recollection of the event. As it turns out, she’s not the only one suffering from a case of the murder and amnesia combo. The only thing the ladies have in common is that they all had work done by the same respected plastic surgeon. Coincidence? Sara Pezzini doesn’t think so.

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: The first story in the Witchblade Annual, “If Looks Could Kill” is a classic Witchblade story in every way. Whether that’s a good or bad thing is something that I’d rather leave up to you, the reader, to decide. If you miss the days when Witchblade was a T and A fest with some action and supernatural mystery thrown in, then you’ll definitely find a lot to like about the first part of the Annual. If you prefer how Witchblade is now, a cop story/supernatural epic that stays in touch with it’s roots thanks to a small side of T and A, then you will probably find “If Looks Could Kill” to be pretty basic (and probably somewhat obnoxious).

Personally, I prefer how Witchblade is now as opposed to how it used to be. That said, I have to give credit where it is due. “If Looks Could Kill” is definitely a success on a technical level. The writing is sharp and the visuals do a nice job of taking advantage of the story being told (even if the all supermodels populating the story do look a bit inconsistent and interchangeable).

“Ned” – Joshua Cozine & Joe Henderson (Writers), Sheldon Mitchell (Pencils), Rick Basaldua (Inks), Dulce Brassea & Alix Minjarez (Ink Assists), and Blond (Colors)

The Story: Number thirteen, that’s how Ned is known in the prison he has been sent to. Why number thirteen? Because Ned is the thirteenth cellmate Mr. Ian Nottingham has had. But all is not as it seems with the timid Ned…

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: “Ned” is an odd story, especially in comparison to “If Looks Could Kill.” The first story works as a standalone read, but “Ned” seems to be all about laying the groundwork for future Witchblade stories. Longtime readers will no doubt recognize the name “Nottingham” and all the rest will no doubt be intrigued by the introduction of the mysterious inmate Ned. So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that “Ned” is an interesting read that features some compelling dialogue and sufficiently moody artwork, but it seems like the story would be better suited as a backup story in a regular issue of Witchblade as opposed to the Annual.

Conclusion: The first Witchblade Annual presents two very different, though quite decent stories in a way that should please both new and longtime fans. I recommend checking it out if you like Witchblade or have wanted to give it a try.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Witchblade #126 (War of The Witchblades) – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer) and Stjepan Sejic (Artist)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: With the Witchblade artifact divided between two owners, it was only a matter of time before some sort of conflict emerged. That’s where the War of the Witchblades event comes in. The first chapter showed a break in the friendship between Witchblade owners Dani Baptiste and Sara Pezzini and then left things hanging with the introduction of a few new creepy characters. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

The Story: The War of the Witchblades heats up in what can best be described as an expository chapter. The situation with the Angelus is explained, as is the reason for Sara’s sudden mood swing. In addition, the issue sets the Witchblade conflict up in a very clear-cut manner.

What’s Good: For an information dump, the second chapter of War of the Witchblades is surprisingly entertaining. Ron Marz’s handling of Sara Pezzini manages to be both unsettling and, in short, quite funny. He also does a nice of laying out the basics of the Witchblade situation in a way that is simple, yet quite elegant. The story looks to be a classic showdown in many ways and, in short, it works quite well.

As for the artwork, Stjepan Sejic does a great job of presenting the cast in a way that visually represents the upcoming war. It’s clear as to which side a particular falls on and it definitely adds to the mythology of the story in some ways. And speaking of the mythology of the story, it really allows for Sejic to showcase his talent, making Witchblade #126 one good-looking book.

What’s Not So Good: Because I knew an issue heavy on exposition was going to drop sooner than later, I really only have one negative thing to say about the writing. It disappoints only because the overall plot doesn’t move forward a whole lot. Understandable in ways, but it still makes the issue as a whole feel less than satisfying. The artwork disappoints only in that a few facial inconsistencies pop up and occasionally Sejic’s work looks a bit too computer generated.

Conclusion: The latest Witchblade is a must read for fans looking to pick up the rest of the series event. While some of the exposition might feel a bit dull, it’s vital to the story and is coupled with some really nice visuals.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

The Darkness #76 – Review

By Phil Hester (Writer), Michael Broussard (Pencils), Ryan Winn (Inks), and Benny Fuentes (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I bailed on the third volume of The Darkness following the end of the first story arc. And to be honest, I’m not entirely sure why. Maybe it was the different art team or perhaps it was the less than engaging previews I had checked out. Whatever the reason, I decided to jump back on board after the series hit number seventy five and celebrated with a one-shot that offered up a pretty compelling glimpse of a possible future for the Top Cow universe.

The Story: While attempting to walk away from the Sovereign’s orders, Jackie Estacado falls under the spell of a beautiful woman with a red ribbon in her hair. Jackie quickly finds out that there’s more to the woman than meets the eye, and he finds out that there is quite a bit he has yet to learn about the legacy of the Darkness. And it could cost him his life.

What’s Good: For an extremely fast read, The Darkness #76 does quite a few things right. The artwork, though not without flaws, is pretty quite striking at times and does a nice job of visually carrying the story forward when there is little dialogue or narration to help out. The woman’s red ribbon is particularly worthy of note because Michael Broussard and his team do a great job of making it stand out in any panel it’s present in. And the effect helps to create a sense of uneasiness about both the woman and the desperation that drives Jackie toward his destination. As for the writing, Phil Hester effectively adds wrinkles to both the mythology of the Darkness and the character of Estacado. While the conflicted anti-hero is something of a cliché (and has been for some time), Estacado manages to remain compelling regardless of the baggage that the characters of his type tend to carry.

What’s Not So Good: While I didn’t feel ripped off, there is no denying how quick the latest issue of The Darkness ended. Whole pages went by without any dialogue, which really accentuated the inconsistent (sometimes silly) visuals. I mean, Jackie Estacado’s face seemed to change repeatedly throughout the book. At times, his particular case of moody angst seems to give him pouty Angelina Jolie lips. As it turns out, the unintentional hilarity really breaks the somber tone Hester and company seem to be going for.

Conclusion: While the wonky artwork proves at times, distracting, it doesn’t hurt the quality of an otherwise enjoyable comic too much. There is something about the fairly simple story and effective use of color that kept me glued to the pages. It definitely could have been better, but nonetheless, I liked it well enough.

Grade: B-

-Kyle Posluszny

Broken Trinity: Angelus #1 – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer), Brian Stelfreeze (Pencils & Inks), and Dave McCaig (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The latest Broken Trinity tie-in definitely has a few strikes against it already. I mean, the event it’s connected to has been complete for well over a month. In addition, the character the story focuses on died during the final Broken Trinity battle. So does that leave the entire issue feeling completely inconsequential? Time to find out.

The Story: The entire issue is a lead-in for the big battle that headlined the Broken Trinity storyline. A beautiful bartender is called upon to reclaim her place in the war between the light and the darkness. And despite her reluctance, she knows what must be done.

What’s Good: To be honest, not a whole lot. Sure the dialogue by Ron Marz is done well, the artwork looks decent (if underwhelming), and the story is interesting enough. But it all feels almost completely pointless given that the fate of the character being developed has already been decided.

What’s Not So Good: Knowing that the whole issue suffers almost entirely because of poor scheduling. It’s tough to care much about a character whose given only twenty pages to make an impact and whose fate is already set in stone. Long story short, despite being well written, the story falls completely flat. It’s a shame, considering that it might have been somewhat interesting had it just come out when it was (most likely) supposed to.

Conclusion: Just save your money and skip the Broken Trinity: Angelus one-shot. No matter how big a fan you are, it just isn’t worth investing in. It comes across as both extremely late to the show and utterly pointless (despite a few high points).

Grade: D+

-Kyle Posluszny

Broken Trinity #2 – Review

By Ron Marz (Writer), Stjepan Sejic (Art), and Phil Hester (Art)

First, a quick note. Now that I’ve read the first two chapters of Top Cow’s Broken Trinity crossover, I find myself absolutely baffled as to why the story is being limited to three main books and two tie-ins (one of which is a prequel and another that remains a mystery). The event feels and looks every bit the epic as advertised and yet it all comes to a conclusion next issue without nearly enough plot development to flesh out the story. Another book or two would do wonders for adding more depth to what looks to be an epic confrontation between the powers of the Top Cow universe. Why is this being cut so short?

Structure complaints aside, not a lot really happens in Broken Trinity #2. The characters and powers all come together in preparation for a clash that will take place next month. Yep, it’s a set up issue. While there is some great character work between Sara and Jackie and some more background on the nature of the conflict at hand, I never felt that things were really moving forward in a way that actually developed the story. That said, I came looking for a visually awesome battle and I honestly believe that Broken Trinity is going to deliver that in a big way… it just doesn’t happen in this issue.

Technically, the issue is quite solid. Ron Marz does some nice character work, but falls a bit short in plot development. He obviously has a strong handle on the characters, but it feels as though he really doesn’t have much planned beyond throwing all these powers together and having them fight it out. There’s no doubt that he really couldn’t have picked a better art team to work with. Stjepan Sejic and Phil Hester make Broken Trinity one of the most visually compelling events in quite some time. My only complaint is the (usual) noticeable drop in quality during minor scenes.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t let down by Broken Trinity #2, but I also find myself really looking forward to the conclusion of the event. Here’s to hoping that it delivers the action it seems to promise. (Grade: C)

-Kyle Posluszny

The Darkness #4 – Review

By Phil Hester (Writer), Michael Broussard (Pencils), Ryan Winn (Inks), and Matt Milla (Colors)

Since the third volume of The Darkness began earlier this year, I have been consistently entertained by Jackie Estacado and his rule over the people of Sierra Munoz thanks to the production of a Darkness spawned drug. Phil Hester has done some nice work crafting a story that feels familiar, yet original. The art team, lead by Michael Broussard, continues to craft some impressive visuals to help tell the story. While not the deepest book on the stands, The Darkness is always a solid, visually impressive, action-packed comic.

With this latest issue, Jackie Estacado finds his link to his Darkness powers fading because a woman he created purely out of the Darkness has been manipulated by a backstabbing scientist to harness it for his own uses. With his powers close to useless, Jackie is shot and falls right into the hands of the very rebels that have been seeking to overthrow his reign. It is in this situation he finds out more about the nature of the Darkness and his sense of revenge kicks in. As he says “My partner f—ed me and when I get f—ed, I f— back.” I’ll levae the rest of the story for you to discover, but needless to say, the stage is set quite nicely. Yes, I know it sounds a bit confusing, but the recap will catch you up if you haven’t been on board since the first issue. This is a good read all around and the ending ratchets up the stakes to a whole new level. If you are fan, or looking for something new, you can’t go wrong with this issue.

Phil Hester’s writing is entertaining as always and he does a great job making Jackie a guy worth rooting for (even though he is far from heroic). The monologues throughout the book, while occasionally a bit over-dramatic, give an interesting glimpse into Jackie’s head and the dialogue. They’re plentiful, while never feeling excessive. The interactions between Jackie and the attractive rebel, Marisol Yanez, have a charm to them and, while it is nothing you haven’t seen before, it adds a bit to both characters. Hester, while occasionally writing some wonky dialogue, always manages to make this book a dark and fun read.

Broussard and the art team, as usual, make The Darkness one of the better looking books on the stands. There are a couple of really impressive scenes in this issue almost worth the cover price, especially a Darkness induced hallucination in which Jackie speaks to a Darkness created wolf-hawk hybrid thing. There are some inconsistencies with faces from time to time and Estacado has some awfully pouty lips in a few scenes, but as a whole I couldn’t be much happier. The colors jump off the page and the use of shadow and darkness creates just the right mood for the book. Broussard’s work may not appeal to you if you aren’t into the Marc Silvestri style, but I think it fits perfectly.

The Darkness scores again with another entertaining issue as Hester and Broussard continue their run on one of the more under appreciated series out there. Give this book a look, you’ll be glad you did. (Grade: B)

-Kyle Posluszny