Witchblade #1

Witchblade #1

© The Weirding, 2017

Witchblade's New Start Available Now

The New Year brings a slew of fresh starts and Witchblade bearer, Sara Pezzini, is no exception. Pezzini will start 2012 in Chicago with a new job and brand new life, thanks to the fresh ongoing creative team of Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name).

Sara Pezzini has always been a born and bred New York City detective, in addition to wielding the ancient Artifacts, the Witchblade. That all changes with WITCHBLADE #151, the first issue by Seeley and Bernard, which finds Pezzini living outside of the Big Apple for the first time in the series history and working as a private detective. The mystery of how and why Sara is in Chicago, as well as what else has changed about her situation, will drive the story and reader interest for the coming year. This issue kicks off the 5-part story arc, entitled “Unbalanced Pieces,” in which Sara must find a way to balance her new role in the Windy City.

"WITCHBLADE is a dream project or me: A great character, an epic art and editorial team, and an important legacy in the history of comic books!" said Seeley. "Top Cow is giving me an awesome opportunity to reintroduce Sara Pezzini to new fans, old readers, and to a whole new setting!"

WITCHBLADE #151 is the first issue in Top Cow’s REBIRTH, an initiative spinning out of the end of the ARTIFACTS event, which concludes in ARTIFACTS #13. REBIRTH will provide ground-level entry points for each of Top Cow’s Universe titles - WITCHBLADE, THE DARKNESS, and ARTIFACTS - and ushers in a bold new age of story-telling to coincide with Top Cow’s 20^th Anniversary. In addition to containing the full first story by Seeley and Bernard, the issue will include a five page bridging sequence by Ron Marz (MAGDALENA) and John Tyler Christopher (ARTIFACTS) and an ongoing prose story backup feature by Seeley.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Witchblade #150 - Michael Turner

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Witchblade #150

Image Comics and Top Cow Productions are proudly spotlighting the landmark 150th issue of their iconic original comic book series this week with an over-sized issue full of extras. WITCHBLADE #150 also marks Ron Marz’s 70^th consecutively written issue of one of the longest running comics with a single female lead, and a major turning point in the life of Sara Pezzini.

In addition to providing a story that serves as a fitting conclusion to Marz and artist Stjepan Sejic's critically acclaimed run, WITCHBLADE #150 will also serve as a retrospective of their contributions and the longevity of the series overall. As a special bonus, the issue also includes preview material for WITCHBLADE #151, when the new creative team of Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name) take the reins of Top Cow’s flagship title.

"It's bittersweet, definitely," Marz reflected. "Sara has been an almost daily presence in my life for more than seven years, so it feels a little weird to be going our separate ways, at least in terms of the WITCHBLADE monthly. But even if this seems like Stjepan and I are breaking up with Sara, I know we'll see her again in ARTIFACTS. Sara will definitely be a presence in that book going forward. So we'll be reunited. And, uh, it feels so good."

New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini is the bearer of the Witchblade, a mysterious Artifact that takes the form of a deadly and powerful gauntlet. Sara must try to control the Witchblade and learn its secrets, even as she investigates the city’s strangest, most supernatural crimes. Pezzini has carefully balanced her responsibilities as a police officer with her duties as bearer of the Witchblade for years, but now Lieutenant Phipps, from the Internal Affairs department, threatens to take one of these away from her. In this emotionally charged issue, Sara will be forced to make a decision that will impact the direction of WITCHBLADE for a long time to come.

WITCHBLADE #150, a 48-page full-color super hero comic book, will be available in stores and digital platforms on December 14^th. This landmark issue will ship with four covers by Stjepan Sejic (JUL110410), Michael Broussard (JUL110411), Mike Choi (JUL110412), and a remastered cover by Michael Turner (JUL110413). WITCHBLADE #151 (AUG110425) will be available in stores and digital platforms on January 4^th.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

A New Chapter for Witchblade

Sara Pezzini has been through a lot in the past six years. She's had a child, maintained her police career while juggling her duties as Witchblade, lost and regained the mystical gauntlet, hunted down those who kidnapped her daughter, and even discovered the inner-workings of the universe. Her life has been eventful. However, nothing has prepared her for what's coming next!

Hot off the Top Cow universe-altering events of ARTIFACTS #13 and WITCHBLADE #150, WITCHBLADE #151 begins a new chapter in the story of Pezzini. The passionate new creative team will provide an ideal jumping on point for new readers.

These changes all start with Tim Seeley (HACK/SLASH) and Diego Bernard (The Man With No Name). Seeley and Bernard mark the first completely new creative team in over six years following the landmark run by Ron Marz and his co-collaborator Stjepan Sejic. Seeley will be using the Marz-era as a springboard from which to tell stories of Sara's new life and build on the rich Top Cow history and continuity while bringing a new voice and putting her through new challenges.

"Over the years, I've developed a rep as a guy who likes to write women who kick ass, and look great doing it," said Seeley. "I'm over-the-moon at getting the opportunity to follow one of the most beloved creative teams in comic history, on one of the most enduring heroines ever!"

To celebrate this new chapter, Top Cow is lowering the regular cover price of Witchblade to $2.99 and offering two covers by John Tyler Christopher (ARTIFACTS) and Dennis Calero (X-Men: Noir), as well as a special retailer incentive cover by the legendary J. Scott Campbell.

WITCHBLADE #151 (AUG110425), a 32-page full color comic book, is available for order in the August issue of Previews.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Patrick Gleason: Witchblade #142, 143

Image Comics has announced that Top Cow Productions' WITCHBLADE is taking a break from recent events for a special two-part part story. Guest artist Matthew Dow Smith joins writer Ron Marz for a supernatural crime story that, for once, doesn't star the Witchblade!

This two issue story arc in issue 142 and 143 focuses on special investigator Patrick Gleason, who is usually seen by the side of his partner, Sara Pezzini, bearer of the Witchblade. When Patrick travels to upstate New York to visit an old friend, he ends up helping a local rookie police officer transport a deadly mob assassin back to New York City. The killer, Vincent "No Prints" Petramale, claims to have never killed anyone, but when circumstances go horribly wrong, Gleason has to figure out who the real threat is, and fast!

The prolific veteran writer Ron Marz (whose credits include ARTIFACTS, ANGELUS, and Green Lantern) said, "These issues seemed like a perfect chance to put the spotlight on Sara's partner, Patrick Gleason, and explore his character a little more fully than we've been able to in a while. I think people will come away from these issues with a little different perspective on Gleason. And, of course, the chance to work with my buddy Matt Smith again is great, while Stjepan Šejić skipped ahead to work on #144 and #145."

Artist Matthew Dow Smith (DOCTOR WHO) added, "I had a lot of fun working on these two issues. While it's always great to draw WITCHBLADE herself, I think this was an interesting addition to the series."

WITCHBLADE #142, a 32-page, full-color comic book is in stores now. WITCHBLADE #143 will be for sale in stores March 9^th, 2011.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Jeremy Haun Lands on Artifacts

As the final act of ARTIFACTS draws near, Top Cow proudly announces that Jeremy Haun (Berserker, Detective Comics) will be the official artist for issues 9 - 12 of this epic, star-studded series. After recently becoming a Top Cow exclusive artist, Haun will now bring Ron Marz’s potentially cataclysmic ARTIFACTS story to its conclusion before he tackles his scheduled ongoing run on The Darkness.

Many great artists have preceded Haun on this title, including the recent contributions of Michael Broussard (formerly of Top Cow’s Pit) and original Image co-founder, Whilce Portacio. In addition, the 13^th issue of ARTIFACTS will feature an unannounced special guest artist for what Comic Book Resources called, “...a world-changing, landscape-sweeping carnage-filled adventure.”

Jeremy Haun said, "I've been looking for a project for quite a while where I can really grow as an artist and produce something truly epic that I can be proud of. Artifacts is just that project. I can't wait for people to see what Ron and I are doing on the book. It's going to be... BIG."

"All writers have lists of artists they want to work with." commented Ron Marz. "Jeremy has been on my list for a while, so I'm really pleased ARTIFACTS is going to be our chance to collaborate."

Marz added, "Of course, with the epic scale of the storyline, and literally dozens of characters taking part, I intend to leave Jeremy a broken man... er, artist... by the time we hit the last page of issue #12."

Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik stated, "All of us at Top Cow are thrilled to have Jeremy Haun as part of the Top Cow family and when we realized he'd have a 6+ month lead up to The Darkness, the perfect opportunity presented itself to make him part of our biggest event ever!"

As apocalypse approaches in ARTIFACTS, how will Witchblade bearer Sara Pezzini and Darkness bearer Jackie Estacado’s daughter Hope influence the ultimate battle for the fate of the Top Cow universe?

ARTIFACTS #9, a 32-page, full-color comic book by writer Ron Marz and artist Jeremy Haun, with covers by Eric Canete, Dale Keown and John Tyler Christopher, is in stores on May 25^th, 2011 for $3.99.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Witchblade #131 - Image United Prelude #2

© C Harris Lynn, 2009