"Deliver Us From Evil"

Top Cow and Image Comics have released a teaser promoting a new series from the current Witchblade creative team of Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic.

Intriguing. Very intriguing ...

Meanwhile, with Comic-Con International in San Diego just around the corner details of the "Top Cow: We Create ... Excitement" panel have been published. Hosted by Marc Silvestri, Matt Hawkins and Filip Sablik the panel will, amongst other subjects, include the announcement of the 2011 PILOT SEASON titles and creative teams.

Saturday, July 23
11:30 - 12:30 TOP COW: WE CREATE... EXCITEMENT
Join Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri (THE DARKNESS, X-Men/Dark Avengers: Utopia), President Matt Hawkins (THE DARKNESS II: CONFESSION), and Publisher Filip Sablik (LAST MORTAL), along with a bevy of Top Cow creators for the most dynamic, news-packed hour at Comic-Con! Be the first to get exclusive news about the future of the Top Cow Universe, the announcement of the 2011 PILOT SEASON titles and creative teams, and a metric truckload of Top Cow film and television announcements. Plus special surprise guests and a free gift for every attendee! Room 8.


Source: Top Cow, Image Comics, Comic Book Resources

Image and Top Cow Solicitations: September 2011 Highlights

As I've come to expect there's some great stuff coming from Image and Top Cow in September - and what better place to start than with the 150th issue of one of my favourite books, Witchblade.

If the issue number wasn't reason enough for celebration this issue will also be the last - for now at least! - from long-time collaborators Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic. Without dismissing the importance of their predesessors in many ways these two guys have made the book what it is today - compelling storylines, fantastic yet believable characters complemented by some of the most eye catching cover and interior art that you'll see in any book.

Truth be told, over the past year or so my enjoyment of the Top Cow U has suffered as a result of numerous delays with publishing the books and I've (reluctantly) dropped a number of the periodicals in favour of the collected edition. I think it speaks volumes for the job that Marz and Sejic are doing on Witchblade that I've been prepared to put up with the delays to allow me to pick up a 'semi monthly'.

The end of an era indeed.

September also sees the publication of a number of notable new #1's, a couple of what look like being enjoyable one-shots along with a number of eagerly anticipated collected editions - if you didn't buy Troy Hickman's Twilight Guardian in single issues then now is the time to right that wrong and pick up the 160 page trade paperback which includes all four issues plus the original Pilot Season issue along with a cover gallery, behind-the-scenes insights and more!

I did buy the single issues and already own the Pilot Season issue and I'll also be picking up the trade - that's how much I enjoyed it!

Here's my selection from the Image and Top Cow solicitations for September 2011:

WITCHBLADE #150
story RON MARZ, art STJEPAN SEJIC, cover A STJEPAN SEJIC, cover B MICHAEL BROUSSARD, cover C MIKE CHOI, cover D MICHAEL TURNER
September 28, 48 pages, FC, T, $4.99
END OF AN ERA!
WITCHBLADE reaches its momentous one hundred-fiftieth issue! The series reaches another landmark as longtime writer RON MARZ and artist STJEPAN SEJIC put a final stamp on the series they helped define for the modern reader with their final issue. Sara Pezzini has long walked the thin line between being the bearer of the Witchblade and a detective for the New York Police Department. Now as Internal Affairs closes in on her, she may be forced to choose between her two lives.

TWILIGHT GUARDIAN TP
story TROY HICKMAN, art SID KOTIAN, BILL FARMER & REZA, cover KEU CHA
September 14, 160 pages, FC, T+, STANDARD SIZE, $19.99
PILOT SEASON WINNER!
The entire tale of a lone, dedicated hero patrolling her nine block suburban neighborhood that captured the imaginations of fans during 2008’s Pilot Season and after heated voting emerged as one of the winning titles is finally collected! Creator and writer TROY HICKMAN (COMMON GROUNDS) along with artist SID KOTIAN (EAT THE DEAD) delves into Twilight Guardian’s past, her motivations for crime-fighting, and even give her an arch-nemesis in the terrifying Dusk Devil!
Collects TWILIGHT GUARDIAN #1-#4 along with the original PILOT SEASON: TWILIGHT GUARDIAN #1 with a cover gallery, behind-the-scenes insights and more!


NEAR DEATH #1
story JAY FAERBER, art SIMONE GUGLIELMINI, cover TOMM COKER
September 21, 32 pages, FC, T+, $2.99
Markham is a professional killer who has a near death experience during a botched mission. Determined to avoid ever returning to the Hell he glimpsed, Markham dedicates himself to balancing the scales. He's going to save a life for every life he's taken. And he's taken a lot of lives...
A new ongoing crime series for fans of Criminal and the novels of Lee Child and Robert Crais.

PIGS #1
story NATE COSBY & BEN McCOOL, art BRENO TEMURA, cover JOCK
September 14, 32 pages, FC, M, $2.99
ISSUE ONE: HELLO, CRUEL WORLD
A KGB sleeper cell has been in Cuba since 1962. And now they’re coming to kill you. NATE COSBY (MARVEL), BEN McCOOL (CHOKER, MEMOIR) and hotshot newcomer artist BRENO TEMURA present PIGS, an ongoing series set to join Image’s elite ranks. Terrorists have descended on America, assigned to destroy everything in their path...but why, and why now?

ARTIFACTS #13 (of 13)
story RON MARZ, art DALE KEOWN & SUNNY GHO, cover A DALE KEOWN, cover B JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER, cover C JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER
October 5, 32 pages, FC, T+, $3.99
THE DECISION!
It all comes down to this! The Survivor’s plan has come to fruition. All thirteen Artifacts and their bearers are in their fated place. The stakes are simple – the very fate of the Top Cow Universe. And the only question that remains is, will either Jackie Estacado or Sara Pezzini doom the world as Tom Judge predicted? Legendary special guest artist DALE KEOWN (THE DARKNESS/PITT, Hulk) joins Top Cow Universe architect RON MARZ to bring fans an event conclusion they will never forget!
PLUS: Each issue will also feature an Artifacts: Origin story written by RON MARZ and drawn by a guest superstar artist.

'68: JUNGLE JIM (one-shot)
story MARK KIDWELL, art NATE VAN DYKE & JAY FOTOS, cover A NATE VAN DYKE, cover B NAT JONES & JAY FOTOS
September 28, 32 pages, FC, T+, $3.99
Vietnam, 1968: Behind enemy lines, a soldier stands alone. A one-man army...armored against the risen, hungry dead under burlap, bamboo and Army green. Armored against the living with a Bowie knife and a mobile arsenal.
If you got left behind...he’ll find you. If you’re the enemy...you’ll never see him coming. If you’re a zombie...he’ll kill you again.
Sometimes, to slay monsters...you have to become one yourself.
Jungle Jim is a stand-alone one-shot comic story set in the grim world of ’68. Meshing smoothly with the ongoing military horror series, Jungle Jim is a savage new slant on the Vietnam/Zombie apocalypse scripted by MARK KIDWELL with stunning artwork by NATE VAN DYKE and JAY FOTOS.

THE BIG LIE #1
story RICK VEITCH, art RICK VEITCH & GARY ERSKINE, cover THOMAS YEATES
September 7, 32 pages, FC, T+, $2.99
A lab tech travels back in time to the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 to try and get her husband out of the world trade center before it falls, but will the facts convince him before it's too late? A riveting tale of 9/11 by award winning master storyteller RICK VEITCH that exposes “The Big Lie!”

DEADLANDS: HOPELESS ROADS (ONE-SHOT)
story STEVE NILES, art/cover FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
based on the game DEADLANDS from PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT
September 21, 32 pages, FC, T, $2.99
Visionary Comics and Pinnacle Entertainment bring the weird Western world of Deadlands to comics! When evil takes over a sleepy western town it will take a heartless father to save the souls of the innocent in the final of four one-shots by masters of horror and noire, Steve Niles and Francesco Francavilla. Backup series also wraps up the origin of Billy the Kid in the world of Deadlands! Do not miss this!

PILOT SEASON: DECLASSIFIED 2011
story TOP COW’S FINEST, art/cover TOP COW’S FINEST
September 7, 32 pages, FC, T, $1.00
TAKE CONTROL!
After five years, the annual Pilot Season has become a comics institution and a unique engine for debuting new ideas and properties into comics! Get your first look at this year’s competition, which begins in October, including the list of creative teams, this year’s concepts, and an early look at the art from each book. You’ll also get an early look at upcoming series from previous winners like GENIUS and 39 MINUTES. We can’t tell you much more, because it’s still Top Secret, but we will give you this hint: 8. 4. 2.

CARBON GREY, VOL. 1: SISTERS AT WAR TP
story HOANG NGUYEN, KHARI EVANS, PAUL GARDNER & MIKE KENNEDY, art/cover HOANG NGUYEN, KHARI EVANS & KINSUN LOH
September 14, 96 pages, FC, T+, STANDARD SIZE, $9.99
To a noble family twins are born; Mathilde and Giselle, the Sisters Grey. For centuries the Greys have protected the Kaiser, ruler of Mitteleuropa – but this is a different time. At the dawn of the industrial age a great war rages. When the Kaiser is found dead Giselle is accused of his murder. Pursued by her sisters and hunted by the enemy Giselle must unravel the prophecy of the Carbon Grey before history itself is rewritten. ‘Sisters at War’ includes all three issues of the sold-out first arc plus deleted scenes, concept art and additional new content.

MORIARTY, VOL. 1 TP
story DANIEL COREY, art/cover ANTHONY DIECIDUE
September 7, 128 pages, FC, T, STANDARD SIZE, $14.99
“THE DARK CHAMBER” Part One
It is the dawn of World War I, and Sherlock Holmes has been dead for 20 years. Holmes’ enemy — Professor James Moriarty — is a lost man. MI5 blackmails Moriarty into finding Holmes' long-lost brother, Mycroft, but what at first appears to be a routine case leads to a web of intrigue that involves a psychic box and its creator, a woman from Moriarty’s past, and a new villain that threatens to be greater than Moriarty ever was!
Collects MORIARTY #1-4

MAGDALENA #9
story RON MARZ, art/cover NELSON BLAKE II, DAVID MARQUEZ, SAL REGLA & DAVE McCAIG
September 21, 32 pages, FC, T, $3.99
BACK MONTHLY!
After a sabbatical, the fan favorite team of RON MARZ (ARTIFACTS, WITCHBLADE), NELSON BLAKE II (PILOT SEASON: MURDERER) and DAVID MARQUEZ (Secret Warriors, Days Missing) return with a monthly MAGDALENA series. Once more under the employ of the Catholic Church, Patience, the current Magdalena and her mentor, Knight of Malta Kristof, are called on to find a piece of the One True Cross.


Full Image Comics and Top Cow solicitations for September 2011 can be found over at Newsarama.

New Today from Top Cow: Velocity #2 and Witchblade #138

Out today from Top Cow is the second issue of the four part series Velocity.

I think I first posted about this mini-series back in May when I mentioned just how much I liked the idea of following the story through its unusual 'real time' format and, having thoroughly enjoyed the first issue, I'm looking forward to seeing how the story plays out.

Velocity #2
Written by Ron Marz with cover and interior art by Kenneth Rocafort
The Pilot Season Winner is Back!
As the members of Cyberforce lay dying from a fatal techno-virus, their only hope for survival is their teammate Velocity. Carin Taylor has never been more in need of her super-speed as the races around the globe, trying to find and cure her teammates before the same virus kills her.
The issue continues the inaugural creative union of writer Ron Marz (Witchblade, Angelus) and artist Kenneth Rocafort (Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer).
Full colour, 32 pages, $3.99

Top Cow have very kindly provided us with some preview pages from the second issue - isn't the artwork from Kenneth Rocafort fantastic?

Also out today from Top Cow, and also written by Ron Marz with art from Stjepan Sejic, is Witchblade #138.

Witchblade #138
Written by Ron Marz with cover and interior art by Stjepan Sejic
The Witchblade has borne many wielders in many eras, perhaps even in other realms. Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic tell a fantasy tale of epic proportions as only they can. And the connection to Sara Pezzini may surprise even the most devoted fan!
Full colour, 32 pages, $2.99

Regular reders will know that for some time now Witchblade has been one of my favourite reads. For me the quality and consistency of the writing and of the art is simply some of the best out there.

What's more, the artwork and page layouts contained within this issue simply have to be seen to be believed.

Once again I'm indebted to Top Cow for supplying material for review: here's a taster of what we can expect from Witchblade #138 and I'll include more pages when I post my review in a few days ...


Details of these and other great Top Cow titles can, of course, be found at the recently redesigned and relaunched Top Cow website.

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.

Angelus #2 from Top Cow

Newsarama and Top Cow have released some great preview pages from the second issue from the six-issue mini-series Angelus.

Angelus #2
Written by Ron Marz with interior and cover art by Stjepan Sejic
Published by Top Cow Productions, 10 February 2010

Featuring a guest appearance by The Darkness!

Danielle Baptiste, the newest bearer of The Angelus, begins to explore what this new role means for her, learning what the Angelus truly is, and how it ties into our notions angels and even Heaven itself. But as she uncovers these truths, Dani begins to realize she might have surrendered any control she has over her own life.

Click here to view the preview pages courtesy of the Newsarama viewer.

The first issue of Angelus offered the reader a wonderful combination of great storytelling, imaginative page-layouts and stunning artwork and from the look of these preview pages the second issue looks like maintaining those high standards.

Aphrodite IV Returns to Witchblade

News from Top Cow that I'm catching up on - this time an announcement that Aphrodite IV will feature in a forthcoming Witchblade story-arc.

Having previously appeared in Witchblade #119, and The Darkness Volume 3 #8, Aphrodite IV will return in Witchblade issue #134, the first part of a three-part story-arc.

Pantheon, Part 1 of 3, Guest-starring Aphrodite IV.

Back in New York City, Detective Sara Pezzini, bearer of the Witchblade, still struggles to come to grips with her inhuman actions during “War of the Witchblades.”
But introspection might just get Sara killed when she finds herself in the crosshairs of the mysterious and deadly Aphrodite IV!
Featuring a cover by series artist Sejic and a variant cover by cover illustrator Michal Ivan (The Darkness)!

Speaking about the forthcoming Witchblade storyline writer Ron Marz said "We got a great response to Aphrodite's appearance in Witchblade #119,” ... “I've been anxious to her back into the book and back into Sara's life. The storyline that ramps up starting in issue #134 will give some real juicy hints about Aphrodite IV's origins. And, of course, we'll blow up a lot of stuff."

Source
Omnicomic
Broken Frontier

Witchblade #134
Written by Ron Marz, artwork by Stjepan Sejic, cover by Stjepan Sejic, variant cover by Michal Ivan
Published by Top Cow Productions, 32 pages, $2.99, 6 January 2010

Realm of Kings: Inhumans

Out this week from Marvel comes the first issue of a five issue mini-series Realm of Kings: Inhumans.

A Realm of Kings series! Now led by Queen Medusa, the battered and bruised Inhuman royal family struggles to maintain their grip on the reigns of power over the Kree empire. Courtly intrigues and external threats are beginning to erode their rule - but the biggest threat may lurk within the family itself!

War of Kings’ Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning unite with Pablo Raimondi (X-Factor) for the next chapter in the lives of these classic Marvel characters!

[Source: marvel.com]

The title might have otherwise passed me by if it wasn't for the superb cover from regular Witchblade artist Stjepan Sejic.

Over at Comixology there are a number of preview pages from the first issue of Realm of Kings: Inhumans as well as pages from the Realm of Kings one-shot out the same day: the interior artwork across both titles looks great.

Realm of Kings: Inhumans #1
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, cover by Stjepan Sejic, pencils by Pablo Raimondi, inks by Andrew Hennessy, colours by Frank Martin, lettered by VC-Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel, 18 November 2009, 32 pages, $3.99

Realm of Kings (one-shot)
Written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, cover by Clint Langley, pencils by Mahmud Asrar, Clint Langley, Leonardo Manco, inks by Mahmud Asrar, Leonardo Manco, lettered by VC-Joe Caramagna
Published by Marvel, 18 November 2009, 40 pages, $3.99

Stjepan Sejic Interviewed by Advanced Photoshop

Imagine Publishing, publishers of Advanced Photoshop magazine, featured artist Stjepan Sejic in a recent issue of their magazine and on their new Advanced Photoshop podcast.

During the 20 minutes or so interview Sejic talks about his earliest directions as a creator, which surprisingly to me centred on writing rather than illustration, through to his future plans involving Witchblade and his own fantasy-adventure project Ravine (from which the image above is taken).

Along the way, Sejic discusses his first work for Top Cow Publishing - The Darkness/Wolverine crossover where he coloured Tyler Kirkham's pencils - which in turn led to working with writer Ron Marz on the First Born event of 2007 and, of course, his current run on Witchblade.

I was particularly interested to hear him talk about his work and plans for Ravine, his creator-owned series, which he describes as an epic fantasy that will be told across twelve 100-page issues (!) over a period of 3 years. Check out the preview art that accompanied an interview that he did with wizarduniverse.com late last year. Sejic explains that he's currently 'stock-pilling' pages of Ravine, to avoid any scheduling conflicts with Witchblade, and expects the first issues to be published next year. Having heard him talk about it on the podcast and seen the preview pages I can't wait - it should be superb.

The second half of the podcast focuses on the production side of illustrating comics - his appreciation of digital tools, aspects of creating brushes and using filters within Photoshop as well as the logistics of living in Croatia whilst working for a publisher based in America.

This first issue of the Advanced Photoshop podcast was a very interesting listen.

More Witchblade

I make no apologies for my latest mention for Witchlade - as I've said before, far and away the best thing I'm reading at the moment. Publishers Top Cow have released a number of preview pages of issue #126 and again Stjepan Sejic's artwork looks superb. This issue continues the War of the Witchblades story arc.

Events have been building to this storyline for two years, and by the time it's all over, everyone the Witchblade touches will be changed forever.

The rift between wielders Sara Pezzini and Danielle Baptiste deepens into all-out hostility. Meanwhile, the mysterious manipulator who has been pulling the strings in Sara and Dani's lives finally reveals himself, and chaos follows in his wake.

Check out the preview pages here and order your copy from Destination Venus.

The Art of Stjepan Sejic

I previously mentioned what a great read Witchblade is and I wanted to highlight the work of artist Stjepan Sejic.

Sejic is a 27 year old Croatian who graduated from Fine Arts Academy. Apparently his initial influences were a number of smaller Italian comic book titles before coming across a copy of Witchblade.

The tools he uses to create his art are 3ds Max, Mental Ray, Photoshop and ZBrush - not being an artist myself the only one of these I'm familiar with is Photoshop. If you can tell me anything about the other applications please leave me a comment.

Sejic often uses the alias Nebezial when releasing his work. Examples of his incredible work can be found in his portfolio at deviantART, where he also hosts a blog. I've added a link to the portfolio to the list of my favourite websites on the right.