I first got into covering comic books by starting a podcast with my buddy who is the host of The Comic Source Podcast. Our first podcast The Top Cow Chronology Project, took us deep into the rich artifact history of Top Cow, which of course included Witchblade. The artwork and storytelling of that book was definitely a product of it’s time, but it was the Witchblade that I had got to know and follow.
Back in 2017 we had the return of the classic artifact with the creative team of writer Caitlin Kittredge and artists Bryan Valenza and Roberta Ingranata. We get to know Alex Underwood, who is gunned down on a New York City rooftop. Instead of dying, Alex becomes the host of the mystical artifact known as the Witchblade that can grant her extraordinary powers. But as the classic superhero line goes “with great power, comes great responsibility”, Alex finds herself fighting demons that are looking to taking her out before she realizes the power she possess.
Being completely honest, because I was used to reading the “classic” version of this character it really made it hard for me to get into the book and I ended up putting it aside for a while. Luckily, comic books are collected in trades and I was able to read the beginning of her journey composed of two volumes over the course of a weekend. Reading it this way really allowed me to appreciate the modern take on the Witchblade and it’s host that Kitteredge is writing that is a fresh take on the character that is fit for this day and age, which then had me looking forward to the next arc.
This week Top Cow Productions Inc. via Image Comics will be releasing the next issue of Witchblade, which is issue #13 that starts a new story arc. Here is the synopsis provided to us by Top Cow:
“LAST DAYS,” Part One-Transported five years into the future by the shockwave of a failed spell, Alex, Ash, and Majil must find a way back home-but the New York they knew is gone, and an apocalyptic wasteland ruled by demons stands between them and their ticket back to the present.
Check out the cover art by Ingranata and Valenza as well as the first few pages of the issue.
Witchblade #13
Writer: Caitlin Kittredge
Artwork: Roberta Ingranata
Colors: Bryan Valenza & Beyond Colorlab
Letterer: Troy Peteri
I have had the opportunity to preview this issue and I had the opportunity to take a look at this issue which we will talk more about on Top Cow Thursday edition of The Comic Source Podcast and I liked the fact that they took Alex from a moment where she seemed to be finally getting a hold of her abilities and once again raised the difficulty level. With them being currently stuck in the future it will make for a very interesting story. If there is one thing I don’t like about this issue is the lack of backgrounds from panel to panel. In some cases making the issue feel empty. But I do really enjoy the character designs and the way the book is colored.
What do you think of this preview for issue #13 of Witchblade? Let us know in the comment section below!
Top Cow’s Witchblade #13 hits comic book stands this Wednesday, April 17th, 2019.
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Source: Top Cow Productions Inc.