Review: Witchblade #1

Ah reboots. Where would the comic book industry be if it weren’t for reboots? You have a series in which your lead character died? No worries, just reboot. You have a book that lost its mojo and feels like it’s losing traction? Reboot with a new team. Or has your book been missing from the racks, stuck in its 90’s sensibilities that no longer hold sway of a more “mature” audience. REBOOT!

Several years after the last reboot from, writer Caitlin Kittredge artist Roberta Ingranata and colourist Bryan Valenza, Marc Silverstri has gone back to the start with Witchblade, a character he created with David Wohl, Brian Haberlin and the late great Michael Turner. This time Silvestri has enlisted the help of a creative team that certainly knows how to put on a show.

Sara Pezzini is on a mission. A retired soldier with a specific set of skills, now working for the police in an effort to find her cop father’s killer. A woman out for revenge and hell to the cost. When she finally gets a chance to come face-to-face with people she thinks is responsible, a cacophony of chaos erupts and lives one, more than a, woman standing.

I have been a fan of writer Marguerite Bennett since InSeXts from AfterShock. Bennet’s work with DC Bombshells is great though I am not always on the same page for her Batwoman work; this is probably due to the fact that DC seem to have no idea what to do with the character, at least in my opinion. Here, Bennett pretty much bring the reader up to speed, I want to say quickly, though there is a lot of reading to be done. This style of long handed writing is probably the first indication of the 90’s you get from the book. Bennett works hard to give a story that both works for new and old readers alike, truly a hard tightrope to walk. Still the flashback elements are well done, interspersed with current happenings, giving the book a pacy yet substantial feel.

The line art from Giuseppe Cafaro is gorgeous! A kind of middle ground between Silvestri and Ingranata, the facial elements work brilliantly, the action can be a little chaotic. I also didn’t appreciate the two sideways pages; I understand that everyone is trying to encapsulate the 90’s, but this is one “trick” I do not miss at all! The Witchblade outfit is different from the original, partly possibly due to current sensibilities, yet still manages to look sexy without being over the top, which should please the original fans of Sara. The colors from Arif Prianto are spectacular! The darkness, the rain the contrast of the Witchblade encased Sara all add to the environments and darkness of the story. Troy Peteri delivers a lettering job that deals with the 90’s amount of lettering that is required for this book with aplomb and style. Finally, there are a raft of covers; its buyers choice for sure, though the Silvestri one works for me.

Reboots of characters that have a huge fan base are difficult; just look how the mazing Spider-Man has floundered yet Ultimate Spider-Man is working as an example. This is harder this time around as we have already had a second volume for this character, that some may not have enjoyed (based on the low issues in the run). For me, having an original Witchblade creator helps keep that original vibe alive. With this book, Image and everyone involved have a damn good opportunity to soar to the 90’s heyday that this book looks to mine.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art -5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Marguerite Bennett
Line Art by; Giuseppe Cafaro
Colors by; Arif Prianto
Letters by; Troy Peteri
Published by; Image Comics

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network