2.252 (617) Bloodstrike vol 1 #22 ...

[This review is actually typed on 8th Jan 2017 ...

With all the internet news on what Mister Liefeld is up to thanks to his last year's success Deadpool movie, a character he (co) created while at Marvel, apparently finally his movie deals for his own Image/ Extreme etc studios are on the way ...

And honestly speaking I was a huge fan of his group of books from way back when simply because they have awesome covers and some great artists who were just starting out then. Sure some times the storylines can read a little choppy and the dialogue is over-the-top but hey it's comics. I go to it for escapist fare. If I wanted something more grounded there is always the real TV news, right? Heh!

Anyway Bloodstrike started off strong then the storylines sort of lost it for me even though I bought it all but towards the end, with Karl on board as artist, it got back on track and I wished they actually finished the series properly with the missing issues 23 and 24 instead of leaving it here at 22 (25 was a promo stunt from Image waaaaaay back when with a few comics issuing 25 a year before the actual numbering reached there ... to prove to fans that Image does plan its work ... or some such justification)

So what's in store for 22? A recap. First Bloodstrike was a team of people or operatives who died and came back like zombies except that they can function like regular folks. Somewhere along the line they were badly defeated and we see a mystery figure bearing the name Bloodstrike as a solo operative. After that, the 'strike had a new posse of two chicks and one handler and one big guy or some such combination ... before the original team came back and hooked up which is where we are at when this issue comes out. See? A lot in 22 issues, eh?

And with this issue it is part of an ongoing arc where a group of villains break out of their cells and 'strike team was assigned to go bring them in since these are super powered freaks who are hellbent on death and destruction.

The saddest thing SPOILER ALERT is that when 25 came out he was flying solo again. So naturally this issue had to pave the way which means the bad guy gets to eliminate everyone (temporary or otherwise) just in time for the 25th issue that had already been issued. Sigh! Get it?

There is a lot going on, and a lot of word balloons, but I just wished that they had taken their time not to rush this book so that artist is given more time to make the interiors just as awesome as the cover

Ratings: 5/10

2.241 (606) Crimson #8 ...

Humberto Ramos' penciling is full of energy and an excellent development from a manga style with oversized feet and hair to stylized facial expression or should that be the occasional explosion? Regardless, I liked his work from DC's Impulse and have followed him for a while from one series to another. However, if there is one gripe I may be permitted to express: it is his covers. Somehow, they are not popping if you know what I mean and this issue is no difference

Contentwise, we open to see Scarlet, the lady who hunts vampires with a crossbow and dressed in skin tights and a cloak, fight against another attack of some sort of creature (demonic children?) and while this is the opening scene, as the series progresses, we are given more to think about as we see Alex, our protagonist (human turned unwilling vampire) agonizing about life in general while his mentor, the odd shaped creature named Ekimus is hovering over someone close to Alex

So is Alex turning into a vampire a mere accident or something more?

And while we are pondering this, we also get a glimpse of good guy cop who is trying to help Alex's parents find where their son has disappeared too starts getting visions of someone who looks a lot like him except dressed in King Arthur esque armor?!?!?!?!

And if that is not enough, is that Alex and Scarlett developing feelings for each other? Now while this may seem normal to you for us, because of the artwork, when they first met, we thought she was like a young adult (above 21) while Alex is mid to early teenager hood (14 to 16). So what gives, eh?

Sadly, this issue while moving the main story arc forward does little else and feels like one of those in-between chapters in what could be a potentially exciting book. So if this is your first taste, we recommend you do not make a decision but go and buy the first TPB collecting issues 1 to 6 for a better feel of what this tale is about

Ratings: 6/10

2.117 (482) Cyerforce Ongoing vol 1 #4 ... Image ...

Well we skipped one issue ie 3 the ending chapter of Killer Instinct because we just want to avoid any more comparison to WildCATS, okay? And what a great thing too ... I mean check out this awesome nasty cover of Ballistic, right?
That's the great thing about Cyberforce. You don't have to be officially inducted into their team to get in on the action and here Miss Ballistic takes center stage as the original sub plot from issue 1 builds up take the limelight. Or at least you would think so thanks to that cover but unfortunately inspite of the cover and the title, Assault with a Deadly Woman, this is not so

In fact the opening scenes are great especially where we get that guy dropping from the roof - awesome art - Silvestri at his best!

And then we get great background scenes on what is potentially the early life sequences of both Caryn and Ballistic ... with both then zapping to the present when our dear speedster does her stumbling best by stumbling into a new drug cartel's activity where you have a guy who has horns and his cabal is called the ... well you read it and you will see

Anyway, this is a great opening issue for a multi-issue arc as we see lots of action while both sides are driving the plot in the same direction ... with Cyberforce and Ballistic on a collision course

Ratings: 6/10

2.116 (481) Cyberforce ongoing vol 1 #2 ... Image ...

Before you read this, I do strongly suggest you get WildCATS #6 as that is the official starting point of this great crossover. And if you ask me to choose, I have to admit that the 'CATS have better art thanks to Jim Lee (sorry, Marc, I do like yours too but just for comparison ...)

Anyway, remember our gripe from the last review? Well, because this is part of a bigger story arc, it finally feels like a proper comic of sorts because there is fast paced development, character moments and slam bang action  yes yes yes!

But like his Marvel counterpart, this story arc is all about Wolverine wannabes because it stars Ripclaw from Cyberforce and Warblade from WildCATS, both claw characters with temper except Rip is more the animal and here in this issue, we feel like reading an X-Men Comic because almost the entire issue is only on Ripclaw SPOILER ALERT

We open with a sequence of Rip and the Blade together with SHOCS on a mission for cyberdata and what-not only to be ambushed and through one page after another of subterfuge and action, we felt the betrayal and "death" of Rip ... only to be told that it was a flashback because in the here and now, Rip is controlled by former love, Misery who has, for her own reasons, set him off against Blade. And so another round of battle ensues ...

And this eats up the entire book except the last 2 pages where the rest of Cyberforce finally makes an appearance. See what I mean?

Still a decent read though

Ratings: 6/10

2.84 (449) Wetworks vol 1 #3 ... Image ...

If you are ever a fan of Whilce Portacio and Image Comics, the first 3 issues of Wetworks volume 1 are as good as it gets. In fact, for me, rarely has Whilce been better before this or after this. I mean, I loved his X-Factor and Iron Man but here? Awesome and before his work on character faces and physique becomes "stock" style

In this, the third issue of the first arc, we see the final development of our mercenaries/ wet works crew as they transformed from regular humans to humans clad in a bio armour that is golden and learning about the strength and weaknesses of this new armour

And as the cover indicates so no spoilers here, one of the 'works discover that further mutation is possible although at this point, they do not know if it is their own body, their own body mixing it up with the alien golden material or purely the golden armour ... and that's what the fun is in a comic, isn't it? Keep us guessing so we come back for more

Oh yes the villains how can we forget? Well, it seems like though the villains are nasty and powerful, our 'works crew have no problem cutting all those fangs and claws to pieces and in quick time too. Heh!

The joy here is seeing Whilce's work and the 'works team more so than the actual storyline

Ratings: 8/10

2.78 (443) WildCATS vol 1 #3 ... Image ...

There was a time, more than two decades now (wow I find that hard to believe) when comics were all about having a good time - if action, let's go overboard. If pencilling, then let's forget about perfect human anatomy but rather idealized it. And if we talk about printing, let's go for the best ink and colour and paper and that's the glory of Image!

And this issue from Jim Lee is a celebration of all that ... as we see the CATS finally coming to a head against team Badrock ... oops I mean, Youngblood. Hehehe!

As the name implies, Wildcats are covert independent teams and they are busy tracking alien scum that are hellbent (Helspont is one of the bad guys) on Earth domination while Youngblood is part of US enforcement super-cops style ... SPOILER ALERT ... and so when the trail of aliens led to the government senior officials (I so wanna so who but I need to keep lips sealed Sigh!) ... well someone decided to tip the US team off and so they come charging for the CATS

And as every comic fan so loves and want to see, first is always misunderstanding that both are good guys and every first encounter must have a great fight and this? It's just that. Awesome!

Love the artwork but it could have benefitted from perhaps (in my opinion) heavier inking and a more muted colour palette thus giving the right scenes greater accentuation. Still this is a colourful amusement park style fun read on every single panel. Go CATS!

My fave 'blood? Badrock rocks!

Ratings: 8/10

2.51 (416) Section Zero #1 ... Image ...

After the first big run of Image when their titles sell in the hundreds of thousands came a slew of more like real independent small press publishing. Except that since it is Image, the small press are not always by unknowns but by creators who have had some success and wants to show their own true creativity and Section Zero is one such series

It has Karl Kesel (Superman I think) and Tom Grummett (Robin) as creators

And it is basically about a super powered MIB or perhaps a different take on the Hellboy and his team of investigators because here we have a super powered team whose job it is to investigate strange phenomena and either resolve or recruit them. Naturally you need a chick to strut her stuff and a gruff guy and a team weirdo and finally the kid ... and some mysterious men in suits who sits in their offices and lots of grunts who get their asses handed to them

This comic checks all the above ... and yet something feels missing ... the art is decent, the story is decent, the characters are somewhat interesting but nothing quite clicks ... now on re-reading this for the third time ... I still cannot understand why I never bothered to buy issue 2

Ratings: 5/10

2.35 (400) Prophet vol 2 #4 ... Image ...

Welcome to our 400th review and to celebrate we have a comic with the answers all told in one issue ... yes a rarity and not only does it not feel rushed, it feels just perfect - great timing/ pacing. The artwork from cover to interiors are plain awesome and that coloring? Just perfect. Just ... look at it! And go buy several issues for your friends and neighbours please hahaha!

Okay

After the hectic saga of issues 1 to 3, this is supposed to be the downtime. However, before anything can happen SPOILER ALERT enter the New Men. New Men are another of Rob's studio's great creations where a bunch of young people with special abilities are brought together (not by bald wheelchair bound chap) by coincidence and an experienced individual and here ... they believed that Prophet may hold the key to the salvation of one of their own

Unfortunately, in order to satisfy the quota of a brief but necessary battle scene as is the wont of superhero comics, there is confusion/ misunderstanding and so a fight ensues ... it is brief but wonderfully told and we have absolutely no problems with it as we like our heroes to fight too (hey if not why read a Marvel these days, right? Hahahaha)

But the best part?

It ends here and ends on a good note. Very satisfying ...

Ratings: 9/10

2.34 (399) Prophet vol 2 #3 ... Image ...

Issue 2 was the one issue of Prophet that we reviewed a loooooooooong time ago and hence that's why we started with 1 and now 3

And in this issue (damn love that cover) we finally get the ending we deserved NO SPOILERS as John (yup that name) finds out the truth about his own background and how he has been utilized over the generations ... and how he may not be the Prophet that he thought he was ... although the Disciples are there and just as nasty

He also finds out more about why he is always thinking and quoting Biblical phrases where we as readers have been reading in the narrative boxes ... which is really great because at least now we know that there is a story logic to it all and not just purely there to seem cool

And best of all he finds out more about his supposed friends and teammates

So all in all a great opening arc for this series and looking forward to it ... if only it hadn't ended abruptly within the next few issues ... ah well ... at least it didn't drag on and become crappy like Power Pack ... hahahaha!

Ratings: 10/10

2.33 (398) Prophet vol 2 #1 ... Image ...

We are three more reviews to the big 400 and in honour of that significant landmark, we are going to do all featuring one of our fave artists - Stephen Platt. Yes. He doesn't have much work out there in comics land but what he has is simply awesome. We loved this details, the little bubbles and splashes of inks everywhere and even his overly stylized unrealistic character sizes. Hey if you want correct anatomy go read something else, eh? Hehehe!
So volume 1 was by another artist until issue 5 and then Platt ran it until it ended before a full 12 issues. Then it was relaunched with this issue and WOW it blew the minds of most readers to see what Platt can really do! I have bought extra copies over the years to give to friends - so good is this one issue

Volume 2 starts off really well as we get to see the various stages and eras of men with a figure that is Prophet. Could it all really be him or merely a figment of his imagination? Or images planted by others? Did he live through the ages or was he sent backwards and forwards in time? Which is which? What is the truth? We did get some answers even right here in issue 1 but not the whole picture (natch)

Highlights is the fight scene with him in the icy wastelands and the shocking ending!

The prophet is no longer an apt name for him more like the Pawn! And who he thought of as his mates/ team may not be their true identity and intentions after all. Lots of intrigue! And that awesome foil cover!!!

Ratings: 10/10

318. Gen 13 vol 1 #2 ... Image ...

The cover is a letdown with all that black lines at the background ... is it supposed to convey speed?

Anyway, we start the tale with a BANG as we see the kids make a break for it with someone slightly older. Naturally, the enemies give chase and it's a good exhibition of the kids abilities with some of them having nary a control. At this point, I have no idea what's the purpose of Grunge except to be the funny and cool semi-Asian looking guy ... and failing miserably at that (in my opinion that is should Grunge actually have fans out there!)

Naturally we need a bit of flashback in order to give us the lowdown on how they got free and on the run ... but then again, not everything is as it seems ... not the break for freedom but their current team and one of them is going to betray them

For me at this juncture, it reads like any super hero comic and the real let-down is the ending. Even the protagonist wondered why there is a mental connection between her and one other. I can tell you why, dear. It's a cop-out. The writer needs you to go somewhere and the easiest is to make it suddenly appear as if you have this mental connection. We see it in the New Mutants when Dani has a psychic link with Rahne even though both are from different countries and racial backgrounds. Again same with Kitty Pryde and room mate Illyana

Sigh!

Ratings: 5/10

304. Spawn #1 ... Image ...

And speaking of an Image founder, one of the top 2 is Todd Mc who came off from a hot launch of a new Spidey title to this, his own comic that is still running until today. In fact, the timing is also good as Todd has been for the past few years back on the comics trail and busy revamping his Spawn trying to regain some readership

I will be honest. When this came out, much as I loved Todd's Spider-Man (not his Amazing Spider-Man run though), I didn't bother with this issue or series until friends lent me and even then, it failed to do much for me

Sure, the design of the Spawn is cool and so are the villains but somehow, I prefer lots of super heroic fisticuffs as opposed to Spawn who is afraid to run out of juice

Anyway, basically, for those not in the know, Spawn is Al, a chap who got iced by the govt operatives and comes back as a hellspawn with limited power that dwindles as he uses them. He is not meant to be a good guy and Hell has definite plans for him but until then, he is his own man as he doesn't know what is going on with him, how he came to be alive again or even who he was back when he was alive as his memories are all scrambled

So he is definitely not your average super hero

In this first issue, we are shown all this confusion as forces now start to surround him while he tries to regain a sense of who he was and his purpose. What I found disappointing is the tools used to communicate the current news event in the form of newscasters. Unfortunately, this becomes a standard tool even in subsequent issues. So while the artwork is awesome, the character design is awesome, I felt that there is too much "subtlety" to the Spawn comics as opposed to outright blow-em-ups

Ratings: 4/5

303. PITT #1 ... Image ...

Sorry we had to jump back to a series we reviewed just a few days ago because upon checking, we found out we started this particular series' review with issue 2 onwards. So here is issue 1

And what an opening issue it is. Dale Keown, hot off his success on Marvel's Hulk had disappeared for months joining the fledgling publisher (then) Image. He was not on the hot creator list that had his own studios like Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld or McFarlane ...

But when his first issue came out, it was such a surprise because here, given time and space, Keown delivers. Naturally, his protagonist who is large like the Hulk. Hehehe!

Basically this issue shows us Pitt coming to Earth and like Terminator, encountering bikers who provided him with his "uniform" that will last throughout most of the series (he doesn't change or shower). Hahaha!

On the supporting cast end, we are introduced to Timmy and his grandpa, both of whom will become central to the focus of the storyline as well as some policeman and glimpses of home

A lot happening, not too much action but the few scenes with Pitt is so awesome that ... you know you will buy issue 2

Ratings: 8/10

299. Pitt vol #1 #8 ... Image ...

There is actually another series we wanted to review but as 300 is looming up, well, we decided to save it for that occasion as it is a big, big, big hit!

So, in issue 8 of Pitt, we finally see the confrontation that has been building. And what's this about?

1. Wroth, Pitt's half-brother finally confronts Pitt in all out battle and if you thought Pitt was tough, well, he couldn't take down Wroth. Even with Axiom, the super powered group, they couldn't and they only finally did because of ... SPOILER ALERT ... Jareb ... who is Jareb? Read the book

2. We finally learn the truth about the relationship between Pitt and Timmy so ... why is that page ... SPOILER ALERT ... blank with only so little words? Damn!

3. We see Rai-kee, the super powered agent cum cop, kick some alien butt!

And all in awesome colours. Need we say more?

Ratings: 8/10

297. Gen 13 vol 1 #1 ... Image ...

Can we make it four in a row? Yes, we can. And so for the fourth day, we jumped to yet another new title with a rotation of publishers and none Marvel (be patient all you Marvelites - you know a Marvel can never be far ahead, right?)

Well, this series when it was first launched featured a few notable facts and the first is that it was meant to be Gen X while simultaneously Marvel was coming out with Generation X. So the early ads for this title is actually different than what was finally launched. Not a surprise though as an Image character went from Bedrock to Badrock or vice versa (?)

Anyway, the next important fact is that it featured then unknown but now super popular artist, J Scott Campbell ... here his artwork is a wee bit cartoony with those large eyes and oft times overly proportioned ladies ... but hey even after 20 years, he still has the same characteristics except far more refine ... so you know he didn't waver much

What's the tale like? Well, it seems that the govt is setting up all these exam centers although some are disguised as more fun than serious all over the country in the hopes of locating teens with a special gene that may grant them super powers. Where did these genes come from? Experiment? Natural i.e. evolution? Read on then, eh?

Our main stars at this point are (no names intentionally):

1. Short chunky hairy guy with tattoos supposedly loser Asian American
2. Tall All American Girl with legs and geeky looks waiting to blossom into super bosom we mean super strong gal
3. A bleurgh average bloke who will look like  the human torch
4. A Jubilee wannabe gal who is insecure and will fall in love with 1
5. Another non-Caucasian gal whose sole purpose is to be less popular than the above and while her powers is kinda more powerful than some of them, yet she didn't make much impact here or throughout the remainder of the series

Who are the bad guys? Some government folks who managed to recruit the kids under the pre-text of good for the nation ... you just know that's full of shit, right? Hah!

Ratings: 6/10

274. Global Frequency #3 ... Wildstorm ...

I cannot remember if this limited series came out when Wildstorm was part of Image or when it went to DC but whatever it is, that's not important. What's important is that this is an AWESOME comic and I kid you not. No hype. This is not a comic about superheroes and even though it is a 12-issue limited series, you can pick up the earlier issues as a single issue and still know what's going on.

A good example is this - 3

We start off with a regular lady receiving a phone call from a unique phone while going about her daily chores and that unique phone? It's part of a global aid organization called Global Frequency and she has just been summoned for the first time in her life ... why? Not because she has some special powers but because of a thesis she wrote on something very unique ... that's it

So out she dashes in reply because ... hey ... a car is coming to pick her up ... and it all sounds so dramatic because the caller is arranging for car ... clearing traffic lights ... and even police escort!

Now let's side track a bit. That girl? She is a lesbian because we are shown a few scenes a few pages in. And the lady who called her? Well she is base at HQ having sex ... how do we know? Because we have one word balloon conversation and one pic

See? That's wildstorm trying to be mature by throwing in sex wherever possible and in odd situations. While I find it "funny" but to me, it doesn't matter if there is regular sex or no sex. Sorry!

Anyway, what's the mission? It appears that someone dialed into a virus that spreads and controls people ... not zombies or death but basically turns you into a hive mind and is spreading fast ... and it has control of one whole neighbourhood ... anyone going in gets converted ... so our team has to figure out how to get in alive and fix the problem

Suffice to say there is no continuation ... it ends in one issue ... brilliant pacing!

Ratings: 8/10

269. Weapon Zero T-3, T-2, T-1 ... Image ...

For those of you who are not familiar with Joe Benitez, this is an awesome, awesome, awesome book to introduce you to his world as you can see how effective he draws gigantic creatures, technology stuff, armour, babes and dudes ... and lots of cool action poses and sequences! I kid you not and the covers are awesome too!

As for the numbering, well, basically it is a play on the countdown of a bomb etc and the series proper starts with 1 so this is a limited series

What's really cool about this series is that after the introduction of so many characters, in these 3 issues, we finally get the backstory of how each of them (in bits and pieces) are plucked from different times in our world, experimented upon and now wake up in a different time ...

We also get to see that there are 2 warring factions with Earth caught in-between and that Stone, the main he-dude, is married to a wife who is actually one of the warring factions. Does she really love him or is all a sham?

And why doesn't anyone seem to know who it is except for some crazy neighbours?

As the series continues, we are starting to learn that perhaps both sides are not actually good guys even though our heroes may have obtained their abilities from one and helped by the other as each of them has their own agenda and even amongst the aliens, there are double-dealings too

A most entertaining comicbook - no super heroes here but just story told using art!

Ratings: 9/10

261. Youngblood vol 1 #1 ... Image ...

First comic out from the Image stable (if memory serves correctly) waaaaaay back when Image was formed is from our superstar artist, Rob Liefeld! And he totally rocked it! He showed what "alternative" publishing could achieve if the person doing it took it seriously and not accepting the fact that without one of the bigger publishers, sales would be low!

What do I love about it? First up is the choice of paper for cover and interior pages and the usage of awesome colouring. Then the absolute best? That cover! Rob's art here is sooooo good when compared to his last few works in X-Force. Seriously! I thought back then, X-Force got better with each issue but with this? WOW!

Then there are the characters. Yes, they didn't read as if they are a breath of fresh air but for me, it wasn't that big a deal. There's always similar type characters even from the Big Two so if the stories are interesting and the artwork is spectacular then it's fine

What's Youngblood?

They are basically super-cops for USA (as opposed to Stormwatch from Jim Lee - that's for the UN). So naturally they undertake missions against those who would stand against the old US of A. Story wise, this issue didn't read that well but then again it wasn't a triple sized first issue so there's limited pages to introduce a new universe, new characters, new villains, new storylines and a new team producing comics. With all that in mind, I was more than willing to collect subsequent issues of Youngblood. Hehehe!

Ratings: 8/10

239. Excalibur vol 2 #1 ... Marvel ... Chris Claremont n Aaron Lopresti ...

I still recall buying this issue when it came out from one of the comics specialty shops in Malaysia and was shocked at the cover. Shocked not because of what it portrays but the artwork. At that time, the mutants were still popular before Avengers kicked all sorts of @$$ on everyone else. So when it was a #1 ... what the heck? Back then everyone believed in collectibles ... before the current trend of relaunching every year or three

So let's do this in a proper manner, shall we?

Writer Claremont is possibly the best writer on Uncanny X-Men to-date and when they put him on this series, I expected great things. Artist Aaron is not my favorite but his lines aren't bad. They are realistic and just lack that over-the-top style I prefer

So what failed here? Either inking or colouring. Even the interiors were a disappointment which was why I didn't continue with the rest of the series and only occasionally picked it up when I found an issue in the bargain bins and even then ...

As to the content, it is a decent opening issue. We see the world as it is after the madness that went down in Genosha. For those not in the know, Genosha was a nation where the humans used technology to exploit its mutant population to the point that it can even activate latent powers for the good of the state. After a revolution, it became somewhat free ... somewhere along the line, after Magneto pulled one of his threats/ terrorist acts, he was actually given Genosha as his base and sort of become a sovereign head of state! Yeah, yeah, we are shocked too

This issue starts when Genosha was totally destroyed (more or less) by one of the X-Men's foes. And so Charles Xavier feels guilty and decided to leave USA for Genosha on his own in his wheelchair to see if there are survivors especially young mutants who needed help

And upon his arrival encounters a host of other surprises and shocks

As you can see, suspend your disbelief and it's ... interesting ... however, the other thing that gets me is this. Apparently if you wear tights and have your own transport, you can go any country in the world without giving a damn about immigration. I mean, here is Charles travelling to another country hoping to find kids and bring them back on his own. Is that permitted anywhere in the world? And this isn't the first time. How often do we see heroes going from country to country and welcomed with open arms?

Sigh!

Ratings: 5/10

228. Witchblade vol 1 #1 ... Image ... Michael Turner (RIP) ...

Michael Turner is an awesome artist! The reasons are as follows:

(a) His interiors are as detailed as is covers
(b) His cover works are gorgeous

And towards the end of his short life (you are missed), when he kept on fighting the illness, he dedicated more and more of his time towards cover work, which means that fans get to see his interpretation of different characters and he didn't limit to his own works and creations anymore but a whole spectrum from other comicbook publishers

I remember his gorgeous work on Sub-Mariner!

Anyway, in the hey days of Image, Michael Turner started with Silvestri's Top Cow and launched this series before forming his own Aspen Studios (if I am not mistaken) ... and this series is interesting in the sense that it focuses more on the story than on spandex ...

Basically in the Top Cow universe, there are certain artifacts that have survived through the ages being wielded by selected individuals ... and some are for good while others are not ... when the 'blade was launched, naturally all these artifacts concepts were not fully fledged yet ... but in time to come, there's the spear from Magdalena ... and the Darkness .... and several more


So here in Witchblade, it's basically an amulet of sorts that when comes into contact with the right person, will affix to that person and can transform into any sort of weapon required to meet and combat any threat ... technically a powerful personal super weapon, then

About the only thing it gives a nod to comics is that since there's a lot of "boys" reading, the choice of bearer is a woman and somehow or other, it transforms them into scantily clad women. Other than that, this is a straightforward non-spandex crowd type of comics ... and it works

So in this the origin issue, aside from that painted cover, it is strictly an origin issue as we see Detective Sara Pezzini's already complicated life about to get even more complicated when she stumbles across the Blade ... all the while, the rich and powerful are scheming and searching to possess the Blade as well

Ratings: 8/10