Out this Week from Top Cow: Magdalena #2 and Witchblade Volume 7

There's a couple of releases of particular interest from Top Cow this week.

First up is the second issue of the new ongoing series of Magdalena - following the positive reception to issue #1, which sold out at distributor level, Magdalena returns with a story that begins on the island of Elba and then transfers to the Vatican City.

Comic Book Resources have published a number of very nice preview pages from Magdalena #2.

Magdalena #2

Patience, the current Magdalena, and her mentor Kristof fight for their lives against a demonic horde. Even if she survives the encounter, Patience must decide if the Church is merely luring her back like a lamb to the slaughter ...

Written by Ron Marz with pencils by Nelson Blake II, inks by Sal Regla and colours by Dave McCaig with a cover by Ryan Sook
Published by Top Cow Productions, 16 June 2010, $3.99


On the same day the next volume - volume 7 - of Witchblade is released. The collection features issues #121-#124 of Witchblade, the lead story from Witchblade Annual #1, and the 16-page Free Comic Book Day story.

Once again, Comic Book Resources have published a preview of this Witchblade collection.

Witchblade, Volume 7

The new era of Witchblade featuring the team of writer Ron Marz and artist Stjepan Sejic continues! The pair committed to staying on the title until at least issue #150 and their second complete arc together entitled “Crown Heights” is collected in this trade paperback. More importantly this storyline sets the stage and leads directly into “War of the Witchblades”. Collects Witchblade #120-#124 plus a cover gallery featuring Stjepan Sejic, Matt Haley, Tyler Kirkham, and plenty of bonus materials.

Written by Ron Marz with art by Stjepan Sejic
Published by Top Cow Productions, 16 June 2010, $14.99

Finally, Ron Marz has written at some length about both of these titles over at his blog - Message from Marz - including some early news of Witchblade volume 8.

August 2010 Brightest Day Solicits incl. Birds of Prey #4

DC's The Source have published solicits for a number of the Brightest Day titles being released in August and, as I excitedly await delivery of this weeks issue #1 my eye was drawn, predictably I know, to the solicit and cover image for Birds of Prey #4.

Birds of Prey #4
Written by Gail Simone with art by Ed Benes, Adriana Melo and Maria Benes
Cover by Alina Urusov with a 1:10 'White Lantern Variant' cover by Ryan Sook, Fernando Pasarin & Joel Gomez
The explosive first arc of Birds of Prey concludes here! The Birds race against the clock to protect the Super Hero community, but can they make it in time and find their blackmailer? And the final showdown between Black Canary and White Canary is a can’t-miss fight between two martial arts masters!
On sale 11 August, 32 pages $2.99

My anticipation for this book grows with each new teaser image, cover preview, interview and solicit - I'll be waiting by the letterbox tomorrow morning ready to snatch my package of this weeks new releases from the postmans hands!

Magdalena #1 / The Brave and The Bold #33

When my fortnightly comic book delivery arrived earlier this week - somewhat delayed by a combination of volcanic ash and the May Day public holiday - there were a couple of titles that particularly caught my eye.

First up, is The Magdalena #1, the new ongoing series from Top Cow. I'd been looking forward to reading this issue for a while - I'm a big fan of Top Cow in general as regular readers will know and I'd enjoyed the previous Magdalena stories that I'd read: this first issue certainly didn't disappoint.

I was initially a little apprehensive about the book to be honest - early page previews (albeit unlettered) that I'd seen didn't quite connect with me: I thought the art looked a little 'cold' in places, some of the figures appeared a bit 'starchy'.

Thankfully, on the printed page my concerns were dispelled as I was treated to a fantastic read - what else would you expect from Ron Marz? - complemented by some impressive, distinctive interior art and a stunning cover (of the seven different covers I received cover A).

The book will satisfy, I suspect, readers new and old, those that have a history with the character and those that don't - there was just enough explanation that it didn't feel laboured whilst at the same time enough story progression that this didn't feel like an 'origins' issue.

With a hefty dose of intrigue, cynicism, danger and the depth of back-story I've come to expect from books set within the Top Cow Universe this book was a treat from cover to cover and I'm already looking forward to the second issue.

The Magdalena #1
Written by Ron Marz with art by Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla and Dave McCaig, cover A by Ryan Sook
Published by Top Cow Productions, April 2010, $3.99


From one female lead to three and The Brave and the Bold #33 - not a book I usually pick up and as such I started reading with little or no expectation of what to expect: I'd hoped to be entertained and have some fun ... and that's exactly what I got - plus plenty more.

This particular 'lost story of yesterday' - Ladies' Night - featured Wonder Woman, Zatanna and Batgirl - Barbara Gordon's Batgirl no less - coming together for a girls-night out on the town. Led initially by Zatanna the three women put aside their regular 'duties' and head for the nightclub where we see an initially shy, somewhat timid Barbara finally letting her hair down in the company of her friends.

Expecting little more than a light-hearted story - dare I say a 'romp'! - I didn't, on first read at least, pick up on some of the strange behaviour and comments from both Zatanna and Wonder Woman and it was only when the name Oracle started to be bandied about that I realised there was something going on ... and even then I just assumed it was nothing more than a clumsy nod to young Barbara's future: I really should have known better.

I'm not going to say much more about the storyline, as I wouldn't want to lessen the impact of the 'punchline', other than to say I've found my mind wandering back to this story countless times since first read and feeling a curious mix of enjoyment, sadness and regret.

Superbly written by JMS - of course - with some delightful interior art from Chiang - who I've not always been a huge fan of but in this book, for me, he's found the right combination of 'light-hearted' without being too 'cartooney'. The cover, by Jesus Saiz, is also particularly eye catching - another candidate for a great looking poster I think.

Very much a bitter-sweet tale - if you wouldn't usually read The Brave and the Bold but have even just a passing interest in the three central characters I heartily recommended picking up this book.

The Brave and the Bold #33
Written by J. Michael Straczynski with art by Cliff Chiang and cover by Jesus Saiz
Published by DC Comics, June 2010, $2.99

Batman News from The Source

News from DCs The Source announcing the artists that will be contributing to the Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne series coming later this summer:

issue #1, Chris Sprouse;
issue #2, Frazer Irving
issue #3, Yanick Paquette;
issue #4, Cameron Stewart
issue #5, Ryan Sook;
issue #6, Lee Garbett

I was already looking forward to this series and now I really can't wait ... what a great line-up. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Lee Garbett's work on this title: I enjoyed his run on The Outsiders and of course I'm a big fan of his art in his current run on Batgirl.

The same announcement revealed that Frazer Irving will also be taking over artistic duties on Batman and Robin when Andy Clarke’s stint on the series comes to an end - Irving previously worked with Batman and Robin writer Grant Morrison on the Klarion The Witch Boy mini-series - as well as posting the variant cover for issue #2 of Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne.

Magdalena from Top Cow: News Roundup

Ahead of its publication in April there has been plenty of news over the past few days about Magdalena from Top Cow.

The star of the forthcoming feature film gets her own series!

The Magdalena has been the official protector and warrior of the Catholic Church for over two thousand years, sworn to defend the Faith with the Spear of Destiny against all manner of supernatural threats. However, Patience, the latest Magdalena, has seen through the hypocrisy of her masters and struck out on her own. When her old mentor comes to her with a mission to prevent Armageddon, will she be able to resist the call?

So, in no particular order ...

Over at Newsarama we were treated to a first look at the previously unannounced 1-in-50 Retailer Incentive cover by Ryan Sook for the first issue of the new ongoing series due at the end of April.

Also posted at Newsarama was an interesting, and lengthy, interview by Lan Pitts, who's writing I always enjoy, with Ryan Sook, Ron Marz and legendary artist Walter Simonson, whose classic cover to Thor #337 played an important role in the development of the Magdalena #1 cover (both of the covers are reproduced at the top of this post).

Onto Comic Book Resources who late last week revealed a number of (unlettered) interior artwork pages, by Magdalena artist Nelson Blake II, taken from the first issue.

And finally, for now at least, following a recent visit to Top Cow Productions, Comics Continuum posted a short video featuring Nelson Blake II, during which he talked about the book and the approach he has taken to his art with 'really fun explosive action'.

As well as posting the video, Comics Continuum published a page of Blake's interior art along with Ryan Sook's striking variant cover for issue #2.

I've been a fan of The Magdalena for a while and I'm really looking forward to picking up the book - published by Top Cow, written by Ron Marz and with some great-looking cover and interior artwork it's unlikely to disappoint!

Magdalena #1
Written by Ron Marz, art by Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla, and Dave McCaig with covers from Ryan Sook
Published by Top Cow Productions on 28 April 2010, 32 pages, full colour, $3.99