Comic Review: Witchblade Takeru Manga #9

Witchblade Takeru Manga Vol. 9
Written by Yasuko Kobayashi
Art by Kazasa Sumita
Colors by Blond
Letters by Troy Peteri
Top Cow Productions
Cover price: $3.99; Available now

Sometimes, you just need a butt-shot.

It’s true! One of those ancient facts of life. Richard Donner understood it when he filmed Mel Gibson taking a walk in Lethal Weapon, McG understood it when he directed Cameron Diaz’s surfing scene in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, and Joel Schumacher most DEFINITELY understood it when he showed Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Chris O'Donnell suiting up in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. They all understood that, sometimes, y’just gotta show a little ass.

Well, it seems the creators of Witchblade Takeru Manga have upgraded that old saw from “Ancient Wisdom” to “Prime-effing-Directive.” Through the course of issue #9 of the American-translated manga series, we are treated to a total of 13 bare-ass shots, 11 of which feature the heroine, Takeru, in her free-swinging, imagination-defying Witchblade uniform (or, as I like to call it, “The Scab From Hell” ...have these jokes been made already...?). The other two belong to some random school-girl -- we can only assume is a friend of the main characters -- who has lost her panties and doesn’t really seem to miss them...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Witchblade #110

Witchblade #110
Written by Ron Marz
Pencils by Steve Sadowski
Inks by Kevin Nowlan
Cover by Mike Mayhew
Colors by Nathan Fairbairn
Letters by Troy Peteri
Top Cow Productions
Cover price: $2.99; On-sale: Oct. 3, 2007

I wrote a review for another Top Cow book the other day, First Born #2, and I liked it for the most part. I'd imagine that it would be very enjoyable for longtime fans of the Top Cow universe, but may not be the best thing for people who are looking to get into it. Witchblade #110 ties into the final scene of First Born #2, so you'll want to read that first, and also watch out for spoilers here, although the cover is kind of one big spoiler. Also, if you're looking for an issue of Witchblade, that y'know, has the Witchblade in for more than two panels, pick up a different issue...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: First Born #2

First Born #2
Written by Ron Marz
Art by Stjepan Sejic
Cover by Dale Keown (A), Stjepan Sejic (B)
Letters by Troy Peteri
Top Cow Productions
Cover price: $2.99; On-sale: Sept. 26, 2007

Since everyone has to have their own big summer event, Top Cow brings us First Born, a tale set to shake the very foundations of the Top Cow universe and make sure that nothing is ever the same!! If I sound a bit cynical, it's only because I've been around comics long enough to have seen all this before. It probably doesn't help that outside of the first few issues of The Darkness, I've never been a big reader of the Top Cow line of books. I'm sure fans of these books are anticipating this mini and probably enjoyed the first issue [see review here]. Non-fans might have less reason to pick this up, although it's not completely without merit. The event smacks of a “Me too” attitude that crashed these kinds of things in the late 90s. How many event minis did Wildstorm produce in their heyday, and how many of those does anyone actually remember as being any good? With so many things going on at Marvel and DC, it's hard to see any other companies jumping on as anything but a cash grab...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Witchblade Takeru Manga Vol. 8

Witchblade Takeru Manga Vol. 8
Written by Yasuko Kobayashi
Art by Kazasa Sumita
Colors by Blond
Letters by Troy Peteri
Top Cow Productions
Cover price: $3.99; On-sale: Sept 19, 2007

Manga is an entirely different art form than the western comics I’m used to reading, requiring alternative modes of visual interpretation. Luckily, Witchblade Takeru Manga Vol. 8 gives readers -- new to the series and manga itself -- plenty of time to acclimate.

One of the most striking aspects of the book (written by Yasuko Kobayashi with artwork by Kazasa Sumita), in relative connection to what I typically see as manga style, is the dynamic vibrancy the book maintains throughout the issue -- from character rendering to the full-color displays utilized from page to page...continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom!

Comic Review: Witchblade #109

Witchblade #109
Written by Ron Marz
Art by Sami Basri
Colors by Imaginary Friends Studios
Letters by Troy Peteri
Top Cow Productions
Cover price: $2.99; On-sale: July 25, 2007

Ménage à catfight anyone?

The only man in issue #109 of Witchblade from Top Cow Productions is during a Dani Baptiste (the current Witchblade bearer) flashback sequence. The three women in the issue -- Dani, Sara Pezzini, the pregnant, previous bearer of the Witchblade, and Celestine -- get along as well as Hef’s girlfriends vying for the last bottle of blonde hair dye.

A tight manga-style Townsend cover starts off part two of the "One Good Turn" storyline in this very important issue of Witchblade with a bang. Dani is very surprised to see how her life has turned as the current wielder of the Witchblade. The Witchblade is an ancient, mystical, and powerful gauntlet that Dani has inherited from Sara Pezzini. Sara is a pregnant New York City police officer that is not only charged with showing Dani the ropes, but also finding out about the mysterious circumstances of her pregnancy and what that may mean to the whole Top Cow Universe....continue reading this review at Geeks of Doom