Indie Street Radio reviews Rising Stars Compendium

This GIANT-SIZED compendium explores the history of the Rising Stars… from unexpected birth to untimely collapse. With everything going on in this 1000+ page Bible, it’s amazing how quickly you’ll polish it off; these stories are entirely badass.

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EXCLUSIVE: Luke Ross' Witchblade #128 Cover

Top Cow has provided CBR with an exclusive first look at Luke Ross' variant cover for "Witchblade" #128. Written by Ron Marz with art by Stjepan Sejic, this issue's cover is an homage to "Crisis on Infinite Earths" #7. The implications of that - especially when paired with the end of "Witchblade" #127 -- are pretty clear.

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Filip Sablik: “Can’t Hardly Wait”

So what’d you do this weekend?

One night this past weekend, the wife and I invited some friends over for some Chinese takeout and to watch “Can’t Hardly Wait”. The crew included fellow comic pros Archaia Studio Press’ Mel Caylo, freelance writer and editor Rob Levin, and artist Nelson Blake II. “Can’t Hardly Wait” is a seminal high school flick from the 1990s. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out, I highly recommend it.

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Hollywood North Reporter: The Art Of Top Cow- July 2009

Top Cow Productions, Inc. will release The Art of Top Cow, a massive 320 page hard cover coffee table book, July 2009, celebrating the artwork of Top Cow CEO/founder Marc Silvestri and alumni of the Top Cow Artist 'Pit'.

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GEN reviews The Darkness #77

Once again, Phil Hester and Michael Broussard deliver the goods in style. Lately the Sovereign—who promised to return Jackie Estacado’s soul from hell if he crosses off names in his little black book—has the Darkness bearer running on morally unstable errands, to say the least. But when a mysterious man called the Foreigner and a lustrous woman donning a red ribbon make their presences known, Jackie’s world turns upside down.

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Broken Frontier reviews Impaler #3

Impaler is a revelation in a pool of imitators. Bram Stoker gave pop culture a great gift with his classic novel Dracula and William Harms and Matt Timson are running with it and making it all theirs. Whatever films, or books, or comics, or TV series aren’t inspired by the fanged creatures of night are equally smitten by the current zombie craze. Vampires have always been deadlier though, and far more charismatic. They easily fit into any genre, but Harms and Timson know what has made them hang in the shadows of popular entertainment for all these decades, or centuries. What the duo have done is create a perfect film in waiting. I can see David Fincher directing this with great aplomb.

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Quarter Bin reviews The Darkness #77

So, where were we? When we left Jackie in The Darkness #76 back in March, he was still on his “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” mission to get his soul back from the Sovereign by doing unspeakable errands for him. Since it had been awhile, I consulted my review of the last issue, where I made this point:

“He isn’t ruthless and cold; he hates taking lives. How is it possible that he can feel this way without a soul?”

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The Q: Changing Technology, Changing Comics

For this month's "The Q," we asked a variety of people in the industry about the future of comic books in the face of new technology.

The question:

What is your opinion of new comic book technology, such as e-comics, webcomics and motion comics, and what challenges and opportunities do you think they offer to the comics industry?

Filip Sablik (Publisher, Top Cow Productions): These new formats offer comics some really interesting possibilities to get our content out to potential readers who aren't currently going into comic shops. Webcomics have proven they can be successful and profitable for single cartoonists, but I've yet to see a company utilize them as anything other than a promotional tool. The metrics don't seem to be there yet to support larger infrastructures using webcomics as a source of revenue.

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Top Cow's Sablik Talks Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer

Top Cow took advantage of this year's Free Comic Book Day offering to reintroduce two of its most popular teams and preview a major miniseries coming this summer. “Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer,” written by Mark Waid and illustrated by Kenneth Rocafort, begins in July with the first of five issues. The original “Cyberforce” series was one of Image Comics’ first titles, published originally under the Homage banner before moving to Top Cow upon the studio’s founding. The book featured a team of cybernetically enhanced mutants fighting against the organization responsible for their bionic modifications.

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Comic Book Resources reviews Impaler #3

When I began reading issue #1 of this series, I thought, "wow, this is great -- William Harms just jumps right into this insane story without any exposition at all." I didn't realize that this was the second volume of a series that had begun a couple of years back at Image Comics. I didn't realize that Harms had provided the exposition elsewhere. I just thought he hit the ground sprinting in issue #1 and didn't care who he baffled as long as he kept the momentum going.

For me, speaking as someone who completely missed volume 1, I loved the opening to volume 2. Things were blowing up. Monsters were attacking. Some guy was dying and some other guy -- was that Dracula? -- was all Obi-Wan Kenobi action. Issue #2 came with a "Previously…" page to fill in some details, but by the end of issue #1 I had it mostly figured out, and I never felt like I was being told what was happening. It was all show, all the time.

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Silvestri, Others Profiled in The Art of Top Cow

The Art of Top Cow, a 320-page hardcover coffee table book scheduled to be released in July 2009, will showcase the work of Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri and various alumni in the 16 years since the studio’s founding. Included are artists Michael Turner, Dave Finch, Joe Benitez, Eric Basaldua, Dale Keown, Stjepan Sejic, and others.

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Despite No-Shows, Many Comics, Graphic Novels at BEA

This year's BEA will be much changed affair, and with fewer attendees, fewer galleys and reduced booth space for many giant publishers, but graphic novel publishers will still be there. In many ways graphic novels—an exotic newcomer at Book Expos seven or eight years ago—are now mainstream. For instance, graphic novels will be spotlighted on both buzz panels, and comics creators will be speaking on the author's stage and in several separate panels not focused on graphic novels.

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Image/Top Cow Signing Schedule for BEA

Going to BookExpo America this weekend? I am, and I’m looking forward to walking away with a lot of free books. (Just being honest here.) I’m also looking forward to seeing some of the comic publishers present there and meeting both Robert Kirkman and Frank Cho from Image.
Image was kind enough to send us their full signing schedule:

Friday
Noon–2:00 p.m.: Ron Marz, signing copies of Witchblade, Vol. 1
2:00–4:00 p.m.: Chris Giarrusso, signing copies of G-Man: Learning to Fly, Vol. 1

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Best Shots @ Newsarama Reviews Witchblade #127

Conflict is inevitable. Here we have a continuing installment of the ongoing saga "War of the Witchblades." Last we learned, aspiring dancer Dani Baptiste (daughter of Sara's police captain) has the light half, while Sara Pezzini wields the dark half, possessed by an entity known as Tau'ma (pronounced TOWW-MA). The issue opens up with a man praying to God for help, however Sabine (one of the Angelus) shows up and toys with the man's faith, for mere amusement no less. She is quickly informed that Sara is alone and without the "aid" of Tau'ma. So Sabine and her cronies fly out looking for Sara.

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Comic Book Resources reviews Rising Stars Compendium

Ten years ago, the buzz surrounding “Rising Stars” was great as comparisons to “Watchmen” were made, Neil Gaiman wrote a glowing piece about it in the promotional zero issue, and expectations were high. J. Michael Straczynski was writing an epic story in the vein of “Babylon 5” about 113 children who were affected by a mysterious comet while in utero, and gained special powers as a result. These ‘Specials’ grew up separate from the rest of society and some went on to greatness, some fell hard, but most just wanted normal lives. It look promising, but saddled with flashy art that couldn’t deliver the subtle storytelling Straczynski required and beginning a pattern of hopelessly late shipping, “Rising Stars” soon became a bit of a joke, something that had people asking, “That’s still being published?” and it ended mostly unnoticed -— but, now, the entire story is collected in one package along with the three tie-in mini-series, tipping the scales at 1000 pages.

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Comic Box reviews The Darkness #77 (in French)

Maintenant qu’il est bien installé (et on espère pour longtemps) au poste de scénariste sur la série Darkness, Phil Hester peut se permettre de mettre en un épisode ce que d’autres auraient mis en deux. Comprenez que sans perdre de temps il oppose le protagoniste principal avec une sorte de démon fait de sable dans un passage rendu intense par une technique simple : l’emploi d’un monologue interne, propre à cet adversaire, sur sa manière de voir Estacado et sur ce qu’il attend de lui. Le gimmick scénaristique est suffisamment fort pour qu’on se dise que l’auteur s’est trouvé un angle qui va occuper tout l’épisode ? Et bien non. D’abord Hester nous montre une nouvelle fois que Jackie règle les conflits à sa manière et fait des choix qui feraient reculer la plupart de ses congénères. Ensuite intervient comme une cassure, une rupture qui fait très vite le personnage est forcé d’évoluer. Mais dans quel sens et qui doit-il croire ? A certains égards on pourrait croire qu’Hester revient un peu en arrière par rapport à certaines choses qui se sont produites depuis l’année dernière mais en un sens il a changé Jackie et lui a donné une profondeur qu’on lui avait rarement vu. De toutes les manières on sent qu’un clash est proche…

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Comic Box reviews Impaler #3 (in French)

Le problème avec les récits à tendance post-apocalyptique, c’est que bien souvent ils se concentrent sur “l’après” en faisant l’impasse sur les événements qui ont amené le grand changement. Regardez des œuvresme “28 days later” ou Walking Dead et vous verrez qu’en général le héros se réveille comme Cendrillon, le monde ayant changé pendant qu’il était dans les vaps. Même un “I Am A Legend” commence largement après les faits et nous gratifie qu’avec parcimonie de quelques flashbacks. Dans Impaler au contraire le scénariste William Harms n’évite pas cette période “entre deux” où les populations commencent, vaguement incrédules, à réaliser ce qui se passe. Pendant ce temps, sur le terrain, les G.I. voient les pertes augmenter tandis que l’infection progresse.

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Kenneth Rocafort on Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer

You might not know it yet, but artist Kenneth Rocafort is going to be Top Cow Productions' next big breakout star. That's what Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik and many others in the company believe, anyway

The Puerto Rico-based artist has been making waves as one of Top Cow's most reliable illustrators, as evidenced by his previous work on Mark Waid’s "Hunter-Killer," Paul Dini's "Madame Mirage" and Jonathan Hickman’s "The Core," one of last summer's Pilot Season books. Those projects paved the way for Rocafort's latest and biggest job to date as the artist on "Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer," Top Cow's major summer release. The book, written by Mark Waid, is a hard-earned reward for an artist that has received great praise within Top Cow.

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Weekly Comic Book Review reviews Witchblade #127

Thanks to both the artwork and the writing, the fight between Dani and Sara plays out really well in Witchblade #127. Ron Marz’s “fight” dialogue is effective and Stjepan Sejic’s work (especially the “Dark Witchblade” design/powers) makes the battle between the Witchblade bearers something to remember. I must also point out that the limited use of dialogue keeps the focus on the visual storytelling, the use of color, and the rather impressive panel layout which, this case, is a good thing.

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Fanboy Review reviews Witchblade #127

We have reached the halfway point of the War of the Witchblades and I have to say this is shaping up to be one hell of a ride. It must be the current writing style of comics, but this arc almost feels like it should be longer. This type of event usually lasts eight or ten issues, but Marz is doing it in six, and I like it. I almost forgot what it was like to get your money’s worth for a comic. Dense story matched with great art for the low price of $2.99. Hard to beat that.

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Comic Addiction interviews Ron Marz

This episode Corwin and Chris are joined by Witchblade writer - Ron Marz.

Enjoy!

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Witchblade #127 Comic Review

When I said that the “War of the Witchblades” arc might be a good place to start reading Witchblade, I was wrong.

It’s a great place to start reading Witchblade.

Now that we’re in the third issue of the arc, things are really starting to come together.

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Top Cow's Sablik Turns to Retail

As part of the promotion for the current Top Cow Productions crossover with Marvel Comics, Fusion #1, Top Cow’s Publisher, Filip Sablik, spent Wednesday, May 13, 2009 working the register at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA. The popular location for new comic books and other character items is owned by Edward Greenberg.

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The Foreigner Comes to The Darkness

Some pros to wielding the chaotic supernatural power known as the Darkness: ownership of insanely powerful mystical body armor; command of a man-eating and filthy-mouthed Darkling army; and mastery over several of Earth's physical properties.

Some cons: you can't get women pregnant on pain of death; people are constantly trying to use you towards their endgame; did we mention that whole pregnancy on pain of death deal?

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Exclusive Top Cow Preview - 'The Darkness #77'

We round out a busy preview day with an exclusive first look preview at Top Cow's The Darkness #77...
The Darkness #77
(W) Phil Hester (A) Michael Broussard (Cov) Frazer Irving
Jackie’s face-off against his deadliest foe yet continues as the Legacy numbering of The Darkness goes into full effect, taking into account every issue ever published, regardless of volume.
An ageless beauty with red ribbon in her hair and her silent enforcer are determined to wipe out another Darkness bearer. Can Jackie break the curse? Meanwhile the mysterious Foreigner reveals new information to Jackie, which shakes him to his core.

Full Color 32 pages $2.99 ongoing series

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Top Cow's "Hunter/Killer" In Stores on July 22

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today the crossover of Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer. Slated for a July 2009 release, Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #1 is the first in a six issue limited series that pits each team against the other in a conflict. The event follows hot on the heels of the recent events of Fusion, which crossed Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer against Marvel Comics' Avengers and Thunderbolts.

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Exclusive Preview at CBR: Impaler #3

Vampires are overwhelming America, state by state, and the only chance of survival lies at the hands of an ancient hero!

Lt. George Wagner arrives in Washington, D.C., hoping to find reinforcements. Instead, he discovers the nation’s capital has been abandoned, its citizens headed west, away from the approaching vampires. In New Jersey, Victor and Vlad are attacked by the unlikeliest of enemies – Vlad’s brother, Mircea, who was long thought dead but is out for revenge!

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Former ‘Witchblade’ Actress Yancy Butler Reveals Details Of Her ‘Kick-Ass’ Role

Years ago the original Witchblade, Sarah Pezzini, made the transition from mystical (and half-naked) armored warrior to civilian mom. Now, it seems, acting is imitating comics with the former star of TNT’s “Witchblade” television series Yancy Butler taking on a more matronly role in the movie adaptation of Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.’s “Kick-Ass.”

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

I stayed up too late last night, so today I feel like a zombie. "Grrrr... argh..."
In the meantime, enjoy this sketch. For the most part it was just me playing around with a new Copic marker.

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Quarter Bin reviews Witchblade #127

Sara and Dani, the two bearers of the Witchblade, used to be as close as sisters. However, a deep rift has fractured their friendship, perhaps irreparably. This wouldn’t be so serious if not for the fact that the Witchblade is needed to keep the balance between the Darkness and the Angelus. It seems that Sara is being possessed, or at least influenced, by the dark side of the Witchblade, because she’s been going bitchcakes in the last couple of issues. Meanwhile, inspired by the light side, Dani is working with the mysterious Curator to put a stop to the upset in balance at any cost. Things are going to get ugly.

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Broken Frontier reviews Witchblade #127

Seeing superheroes turn evil has always made most fans either wince or roll their eyes. From Hal Jordan becoming Parallax to Wolverine becoming a feral creature to a whole host of spandex clad ‘heroes’ in the 90s, almost every comic character has turned from good to bad, or vice versa. And it’s usually greeted with the same amount of hostility and despair that found Hulk Hogan when he started wearing black and acting nasty.

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Comicvine reviews Witchblade #127

We are now halfway through the six part, "War Of The Witchblades." Who will win this "war"? I did think it was a bit of a stretch at first that Sara and Dani would be fighting each other but it does make sense now. It's also about time that we start seeing the repercussions of the Witchblade being split. Will or can things ever be the same between Sara and Dani? With Ron Marz writing, I've learned that pretty much anything can go.

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Ecape from Tomorrow reviews Witchblade Annual

I've been looking forward to this title for what seems like forever. By the same token, I've been blogging about it with preview artwork for about two months that there was always a danger that it would disappoint me - thankfully, it didn't.

As I've reported before the Annual contains two self-contained stories. The main feature - 'If Looks Could Kill' - runs to 20 story pages whilst the backup - 'Ned' - runs to 8 story pages. Throw in three pages of Top Cow Moos (news) and at $3.99 I think pretty good value.

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EXCLUSIVE: Kenneth Rocafort's Cyberforce/ Hunter-Killer #2

Top Cow has provided CBR with an exclusive first look at Kenneth Rocafort's cover artwork for "Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer" #2. Written by Mark Waid with art by Rocafort and a variant cover by Stjepan Sejic, this issue goes on sale August 19 in finer comics stores everywhere.

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Comic Box reviews Witchblade #127 (in French)

Les forces de l’Angelus attendent leur heure depuis plusieurs mois en comptant les points. Les deux Witchblades ne sont décidément plus amies et chacune d’entre elles est convaincue (à tort ou à raison) d’être la seule en droit de pouvoir récupérer. Alors Dani, la Witchblade blonde, a l’idée “idéale” d’essayer de passer arranger les choses à l’amiable. Et ensuite ? C’est le drame, forcément, ne le cachons pas… Le déroulement de cet épisode surprend car en dehors d’une scène d’introduction qui remet le pouvoir de l’Angelus dans son contexte religieux, le reste se déroule pratiquement dans une unité de lieu, donnant à un moment l’impression qu’on avance peu. Ce n’est cependant qu’une impression car d’abord Ron Marz continue d’utiliser le temps qui lui est donné pour faire ressentir tout le relief de la déchirure entre les deux personnages. Et ensuite, le scénariste transforme la situation en l’espace de quelques cases. Non, décidément, ces deux-là ne partiront pas en vacances ensemble. En tout cas pas ce soir.

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Review: Witchblade #126

Witchblade 126 starts to explain a bunch of the questions that began in Witchblade 125. Why does the Angelus force want to kill Sara? Who is the mysterious guy who seems to be connected to the Darkness, and to Sara? As it turns out, when the Witchblade spit, it had to split along the same axis it was created to balance: darkness and light. Sara in issue 126 reveals just how far toward the Darkness she has fallen, while Dani realizes she has to take the Witchblade away from Sara for balance to be restored (and so that Sara doesn’t destroy herself and everyone she cares about).

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Advance Image Solicits, August 2009

Image Comics has provided CBR with a first look at cover artwork and solicitation information for brand new titles debuting in August 2009. The full August solicitations will be released on CBR later this week.

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Tuesday Top Cow gave our readers a first look at the cover to this summer's The Darkness/Pitt #1, and today the publisher sends along a first look at the cover to The Darkness #79, featuring the return of artst Jorge Lucas.

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Mark Waid on Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer

When writer Mark Waid returns to his Hunter-Killer series this summer, he'll be relaunching the Cyberforce characters that Top Cow fans know so well.

"It's a combination of wanting to get back on board with the Hunter-Killer characters, but also getting a chance to work hand-in-hand with Top Cow to develop the Cyberforce characters to give them the sort of purpose and direction they've sort of been lacking for the last couple of years," Waid said of the series, which was previewed in a Free Comic Book Day issue.

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Action Figure News reviews Witchblade #127

In this issue, Sara's odd behavior shifts violently from forgetful outings to full blown war as the dark side of the Witchblade takes hold. Can Dani rejoin the ancient weapon and make all right in the world or will she be consumed as well, taking Hope; the child embodiment of The Darkness; with them? Maybe the angels have something to say about it as well.

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Scoop reviews Fusion #1

What happens when you combine The Avengers and The Thunderbolts from Marvel with CyberForce and Hunter-Killer from Top Cow Productions? The answer, courtesy of writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and artist Tyler Kirkham, is Fusion, a mini-series with a massive cast.

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Comic Book Review: Fusion #1

Marvel’s Thunderbolts and Avengers and Top Cow’s Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer teams cross paths in the brand new, three-part crossover, Fusion. Whether you’re new to either alliance or familiar to all four hero groups , the debut issue makes jumping into the action a smooth transition. Sit back and enjoy.

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Comic Book Jesus reviews Fusion #1

It’s been a while since the comics biz had had a good x-over. In the 90s we couldn’t get enough of them. Batman teamed up with everyone. Spider-Man teamed up with everyone. Punisher and Archie teamed up with each other.

Now the concept is back. In grand fashion. Two teams from Marvel and two teams from Top Cow in the same book is a great way to start. Of course, Top Cow artists have been doing cover and interior work for the House of Ideas recently, so this is no big stretch. Fusion debuts spectacularly, with plenty of cool costumes and powers to please any fan of superheroes. This issue primarily focuses on the Mighty Avengers and Ripclaw, but with two more issues to come, the balance should be restored.

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EXCUSIVE: Witchblade #127 Preview on CBR

The momentous “War of the Witchblades” story arc continues!

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 hostility between Sara Pezzini and Dani Baptiste spills over into an all out battle and Sara’s partner, Patrick Gleason, may be the one to pay the price. Meanwhile, the Curator confronts the mysterious manipulator pulling the strings.

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Filip Sablik Signing This Wednesday, Promotes Fusion #1, Checks Out Your Doodles

The Top Cow Productions/Marvel Comics crossover comic Fusion arrives this week, and Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik is going to promote the event by signing copies at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA.

From the press release:

The publisher is teaming with the popular Los Angeles area retailer to hand sell copies of the three issue limited series directly to fans. Beginning at 11am on Wednesday, May 13th, Sablik will act as a regular sales associate, ringing up customers, making recommendations, and following store owner Edward Greenberg’s every order. Additionally, the publisher will offer portfolio reviews to aspiring artists visiting the store.

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FIRST LOOK - 'The Darkness/Pitt #1'

Top Cow has provided Newsarama readers with a first look at the cover to this summer's The Darkness/Pitt #1, the first issue of a 3-issue limited series by Paul Jenkins and Pitt creator Dale Keown...

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Top Cow Releases May's "Let Us Win You Over" Participants, Preview Art

Top Cow Productions, Inc. revealed today the names of the participating retailers in their “Let Us Win YOU Over” initiative for May and the next free issue in the program - The Darkness #77.

The “Let Us Win YOU Over” initiative is a yearlong campaign by Top Cow Productions to give out free copies of its regular comics to potential fans in the U.S. and Canada through participating comic book stores. Each month, a different set of stores, each month a different free comic. The stores vary by geography and demographics. Top Cow has partnered with ComicsPRO to bring this promotion to fans and the majority of May’s retailers are members of ComicsPRO.

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EXCLUSIVE: Stjepan Sejic's Darkness/Pitt #1 Cover

Top Cow Productions has provided CBR with an exclusive first look at Stjepan Sejic's variant cover of "The Darkness/Pitt" #1. Written by Paul Jenkins with art by Dale Keown, this issue (the first of three) goes on sale August 26. When you're done checking out this exciting preview, don't forget to visit CBR's Image Comics forum to discuss "The Darkness/Pitt" with fellow readers.

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Read Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer First Look in its entirity on MySpace Comic Books

Exclusively on MySpace Comic Books, read the entire Free Comic Book Day offering from Top Cow - Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer First Look!
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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

Here's a sketch from Free Comic Book Day of Wolverine facing off with Sabertooth.

If you have some time this Wednesday and live in the LA area, I encourage you to come out and see me at Collector's Paradise in Winnetka, CA. I'll be working the counter, my first time working retail at a comic shop and promoting the release of Fusion #1. I'll also be giving portfolio reviews and signing for anyone who wants my worthless John Hancock. Stop on in!

This is Sketch #057.

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Top Cow Publisher Demoted To Working Retail

As part of the promotion for the Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Marvel Comics crossover, Fusion #1, Publisher Filip Sablik will spend this Wednesday, May 13th behind the counter at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA. The publisher is teaming with the popular Los Angeles area retailer to hand sell copies of the three issue limited series directly to fans. Beginning at 11am on Wednesday, May 13th, Sablik will act as a regular sales associate, ringing up customers, making recommendations, and following store owner Edward Greenberg’s every order. Additionally, the publisher will offer portfolio reviews to aspiring artists visiting the store.

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EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Top Cow's "Berserker" #1

Top Cow has provided CBR News with an exclusive first look at inked artwork from Milo Ventimigia's "Berserker" #1, by Rick Loverd and Jeremy Haun.

A brutal new series produced by Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia and DiVide Pictures!

The lives of Aaron and Farris, two young and completely different men, are turned upside down when they discover an animalistic and uncontrollable rage living inside them. Meanwhile, two mysterious organizations seek them out for their newfound strength and power for their own purposes.But what good is strength and power when you can't tell friend from foe?

From Friday Night Lights screenwriter Rick Loverd and artist Jeremy Haun (Chuck, Leading Man) comes a raw, bloody series in the spirit of Wanted! Featuring variant covers by series artist Jeremy Haun and Dale Keown (The Darkness/Pitt).

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Major Spoilers podcast reviews Rising Stars

This week on the Major Spoilers Podcast we dive into the Rising Stars Compendium from Top Cow Productions.

Rising Stars is a 24-issue comic book limited series by J. Michael Straczynski about 113 people (called “Specials”) born with special abilities following the appearance of a mysterious light in the sky above Pederson, Illinois. The series explores how society may react to the advent of superpowers, and how those who are Specials may react towards society and each other. Rising Stars was one of the first comics produced under Straczynski’s own Joe’s Comics imprint for Top Cow Productions.

As always, the Major Spoilers Podcast is nothing without comments from great readers and listeners like you. You can use the comment section below, drop us a voice mail by calling (785) 727-1939, or record your comments and send it as an MP3 file in an email to podcast@majorspoilers.com.

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Comic Addiction reviews Fusion #1

Top Cow and Marvel have had a very successful run of company crossovers through the years. I think they've all been pretty fun, well drawn, and overall worth the experience. I think it all started with "Devil's Reign" back in 1997 which saw Marvel's Mephisto going to the Top Cow Universe to steal souls so he could become more powerful and rule over the Marvel Universe. While the premise sounds a little weak, the crossover was fun. This new crossover event is a 3-issue miniseries called Fusion where we get to see the Avengers and Thunderbolts from the Marvel Universe and Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer teams from the Top Cow Universe come together for a reason that has not been made clear by the end of this first issue.

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Free Comic Book Day - Check Out Cyber Force/Hunter Killer

The huge stack of comic books I have to read from Free Comic Book Day has been dwindling down as I have read a lot of these issues over the past few days.

One that has stood out from the crop for me was the Cyber Force/Hunter Killer Firstlook from Top Cow Productions. It is written by my new hero, Mark Waid with artwork from Kenneth Rocafort. The series looks like it is going to be a pretty good read. I have never really been a fan of either series and have only had minimal exposure to Cyber Force through the various crossovers they have appeared in. The biographies of the characters in the back of the issue peaked my interest. There seem to be a lot of interwoven stories that I am really looking forward to seeing how they pan out.

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‘Witchblade’ Film Is Developing… All It Needs Is A Script!

“Witchblade,” the long-running Top Cow property created by Marc Silvestri and Michael Turner (among others), has enjoyed a celebrated comic book run for the past two decades and has even seen anime and live-action television adaptations — but as the Splash Page archives will tell you, there’s been very little movement on a big screen version of the sultry comic book heroine.

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

Another Free Comic Book Day sketch for everyone. I promise I'll get back to some new original Graze Anatomy sketches later this week, but these sketches were to fun to pass up sharing with everyone.
This young reader wanted Deadpool. Think he went to see X-Men Origins: Wolverine the night before?

This is Sketch #056.

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Comic Box reviews Fusion #1 (in French)

Tout est dans le sous-titre : Les Avengers et les Thunderbolts de Marvel contre la Cyberforce et les personnages de Hunter/Killer de Top Cow (même si la présence de H/K dans ce premier épisode est minimale). Autrement dit un crossover chargé en personnage, qui intervient chronologiquement juste après la formation des Mighty Avengers (avant Secret Invasion) et qui devrait pousser les Marvelophiles à s’intéresser un tant soit peu à l’univers Top Cow…

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Early Review/Preview Fusion

You have to love a good crossover. We don't see a lot of inter-company crossover these days. It seems that some publishers are too competitive to simply don't get along. Not so with Top Cow. Top Cow is about to release it's massive crossover with Marvel featuring Cyberforce, Hunter-Killer, the Mighty Avengers (pre-Secret Invasion) and the Thunderbolts.

The key to a good crossover is the set up. There has to be a good reason for the different characters to meet and/or fight each other. The nice thing about this is it's not crammed into one issue (like some past Top Cow/Marvel crossovers). Things are set up here. We get a taste of what is to come. And it tastes pretty good. We have a great creative team handling this. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are doing the writing with Tyler Kirkham doing the art. It looks good and we get a credible situation to bring the teams together.

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

This is fun guy from West Virginia (we talked about our Virginian roots and how West Virginia and Virginia are not the same place) wanted a Superboy Prime sketch. It just goes to show you how sometimes a sketch you aren't particularly excited to draw can turn out really cool and fun.

This is Sketch #055.

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Coming into the middle of a story is always tough, even in comics. The intro at the beginning of most ongoing series catches readers up – but only if they already have a basic idea of the mythology. The delightful thing about Witchblade #125 is that, even with only half of an idea about what’s going on in the series (I’ve read an earlier volume and caught a Free Comic Book Day promo last year), the art work was so hyper-realistic and intriguing that I was drawn into the characters regardless of the plot.

Since I tend to read novels and comics predominantly for story and character, the art pulling me in so dramatically is a big deal for me. I haven’t seen this style before, and Stjepan Sejic (if he is also the colorist) is doing tremendous work with lighting, making some of his images look almost Final Fantasy realistic.

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Late last year, I spoke to comic book writer and former studio exec Jeff Katz about “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and the various characters he helped bring to the big screen during the last decade. Along with co-writing DC’s “Booster Gold” series and work on other titles, Katz has been a driving force in bringing comics to Hollywood as adaptations received well by both comics fans and mainstream audiences alike (including the “Blade” and “X-Men” franchises).

That’s why today’s announcement about American Original, the new entertainment company created by Katz for developing genre content across comics, movies, television, gaming, toys and just about every other possible medium, really didn’t come as much of a surprise.

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Character Designs for Top Cow's "Blood in the Sands"

Top Cow Productions has provided CBR with an exclusive first look at character designs for "Witchblade/The Darkness/Angelus: Blood on the Sands." Drawn by Admira Wijaya, these designs imagine Witchblade bearers from the 13th century Middle East. Written by Philip W. Smith with art by Wijaya and Sheldon Mitchell, Tom Grindberg and a cover by Stjepan Sejic, the "Blood on the Sands" one-shot goes on sale in June.

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Jeff Katz has been quoting Teddy Roosevelt on Twitter a lot this week. With choice lines like "Wars are, of course, as a rule to be avoided; but they are far better than certain kinds of peace" and "We cannot do great deeds unless we are willing to do the small things that make up the sum of greatness," it may seem as though the studio executive and comics writer was preparing to invade a small country. But with an announcement this morning, it appears as though Katz is trying something much harder: taking on Hollywood.

Katz will launch a new company over the coming months called American Original, which will serve as both a comic book publisher and movie production shingle with an eye on giving the creators behind a much more significant cut of the profits from film and media adaptations of their work than that of the current system. Long rumored since Katz left his staff position at 20th Century Fox last year, American Original already announced the involvement of Top Cow Entertainment, who will help produce Katz's first lineup of ten or so comics, and am advisory board featuring "Superman: The Movie" director Richard Donner.

While specific titles, projects and creators will be announced in the lead up to San Diego's Comic-Con International this July, CBR News spoke with Jeff Katz -- fresh off a big opening for "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," which he worked on at Fox-- about American Original as a company and as a new deal for creators.

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Filip Sablik on Comic Geek Speak to discuss July Previews

Filip Sablik, publisher of Top Cow, joins us to go over our picks for comics shipping in July.
Listen to the podcast below or click on the link to listen to it on the CGS homepage!

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Filip Sablik to appear at Collector's Paradise on May 13th

I'll be working the counter at Collector's Paradise in Winnetka, CA next Wednesday, May 13th hand selling copies of Fusion #1 to hard working fans in the Los Angeles area. Plus portfolio reviews for aspiring artists. Come on by!

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Top Cow Talks Witchblade Film, American Original, and More

Its been 12 months since the Hollywood trades broke news of the development of a Witchblade movie, based on the flagship Top Cow Productions' property – a production that was aiming for a September 2008 shoot. No, you haven’t missed any casting announcements or publicity stills. The film did not begin principle production last year or as of yet.

How come? We talked with Top Cow's Matt Hawkins about the film and where it currently stands, Top Cow's involvement in Jeff Katz's new 'American Original' venture, and the difference between a "comic book" movie and a "graphic novel" film in the eyes of Hollywood...

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Photos from Free Comic Book Day '09

Check out Diamond's photos from Free Comic Book Day, including a shot of our very own Ron Marz.

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

Bone is one of my favorite series of all time and I had the pleasure of working with Jeff Smith and his wife Vijaya when I was in the purchasing department at Diamond for many years. I was pretty excited when a young kid asked for a Bone sketch at Free Comic Book Day. It is always harder to draw simply than complex. There's less room for errors and you can't cover up any shortcomings. So with apologies to my old friend, Jeff here's my take on Fone Bone.

This is Sketch #054.

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First Look: Fusion: Marvel & Top Cow #1

Top Cow has provided Newsarama with your first look at Fusion: Fusion: Cyberforce /Hunter-Killer /Avengers/ Thunderbolts #1. The solicitation for the issue reads: (W) Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (A) Tyler Kirkham (Cov) Mike Choi & Sonia Oback The mother of all Top Cow/Marvel crossovers debuts in May! Top Cow’s two covert tech teams collide with Marvel’s Initiative enforcers, the Mighty Avengers and the Thunderbolts. When a rapid and unregistered Ripclaw starts tearing through a small Northeast town, the Mighty Avengers move in to stop him. When the feral hero escapes, they’re drawn into an inevitable conflict with Cyberforce. A crossover event too massive to be contained in a single issue brought to you by the writing team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova) and Top Cow favorite artist Tyler Kirkham (Ultimate Fantastic Four, Broken Trinity: Aftermath). Fusion #1 will be in stores next Wednesday, May 13th

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Jeff Katz Launches American Original, Partners With Top Cow

Studio executive, producer and comic book author Jeff Katz (X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, FREDDY VS. JASON, SNAKES ON A PLANE, BOOSTER GOLD) has launched American Original, a new entertainment company that will provide content across multiple platforms geared to the growing genre consumer base as well as provide services to genre creators themselves, it was announced today. The newly launched entity will consist of multiple divisions, including publishing and film & television production, all operating under the American Original banner.

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Geek Power: Jeff Katz on American Original

The times, they are a-changin'.

As Hollywood's love affair with the comic book continues to change the face of the entertainment industry, one studio executive is taking his love of comics and creating a new way to do business in both industries.

Jeff Katz, who launched a comic book writing career on Booster Gold while still vice president of production at 20th Century Fox and New Line Cinema, has announced a new venture he's calling American Original, which will partner with comic book publisher Top Cow to make comic books while also developing them for other media. Katz claims that the company, which he's calling a "nerd machine," will put financial and creative power back in the hands of the people who deserve it – the comics creators.

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Jeff Katz emerges as an American Original

Talk about a company name designed to look good in headlines. I've always loved Terry Gilliam's infantile urge to name his production company Poo Poo Productions, just so lawyers would have to have serious conversations about Poo Poo, but I think most sane people want a name that conveys an attitude and suggests what you should expect. I like it when people bite off more than they can chew right out of the gate. If you name your company "Bad-Ass Ninja Robot Shark Productions," and you've got a logo that's four and a half minutes long and cost $2 million, you are making an inherent promise to your customer. I always laugh at the way people try to either go vague or "aha!" cute. And I wonder if there are people who regret their company name after living with it for a while.

All things I pondered as I opened the press release for Jeff Katz's new entertainment company, American Original. I met Jeff many years ago at New Line, as a junior executive there. He was incredibly young at the time... I think 13 or 14... and he had already had this wild other earlier career in the world of professional wrestling. And talking to him, I was amazed not that New Line had him meeting with people to discuss genre movies, but more that they would even let him in the building. He was way too real, too unpolished, too in love with movies and genre fare and comic books and pop culture to be anyone who any corporation would let make any degree of decision. It does not surprise me at all that he would announce his new company today as a "nerd machine." It does not surprise me at all that he's only 30 and he's not only worked for two studios (he had a good run at New Line before making the jump to Fox, where he was hired specifically to be the House Nerd. It does not surprise me at all that he's a really good comic book writer (his Booster Gold stuff is, yes, gold), since he seems to ingest comics and video games and pretty much everything nerd on a steady IV drip.

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Jeff Katz Launches American Original, Partners With Top Cow

For quite some time, studio executive and former Booster Gold co-writer Jeff Katz has kept comic book fans guessing as to what his next career move might be, revealing only (and repeatedly) that it had something to do with both comics and movies. As of today, the cat is out of the bag: The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Katz has launched American Original—what he’s referring to as a “multiplatform content company” and a “nerd machine” that will dabble in publishing, video gaming, filmmaking and serve as a kind of liaison between the comics community and the TV and movie studios.

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Hollywood Reporter reports on American Original & Top Cow

Studio executive turned comic book author turned producer Jeff Katz has launched American Original, an entertainment company aimed at supplying content across multiple platforms for geek consumers while providing services to creators working within the realm.

The company, which Katz sees as a "nerd machine" and hopes will be a voice for the comic book industry within Hollywood, will consist of multiple divisions, including publishing and film/television production.

American Original hits the ground running, with its publishing division, American Original Press, establishing a partnership with comic book publisher Top Cow Prods.

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Jeff Katz Launches American Original; Partners with Top Cow

Studio executive, producer and comic book author Jeff Katz (X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, FREDDY VS. JASON, SNAKES ON A PLANE, BOOSTER GOLD) has launched American Original, a new entertainment company that will provide content across multiple platforms geared to the growing genre consumer base as well as provide services to genre creators themselves, it was announced today. The newly launched entity will consist of multiple divisions, including publishing and film & television production, all operating under the American Original banner.

Katz, a former Vice President of Production at 20th Century Fox and New Line Cinema who oversaw production of X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, is one of the leading players in Hollywood’s genre community. Targeting the savvy genre audience, which has become one of the most lucrative and desired markets in Hollywood, American Original--playfully referred by Katz as the ‘Nerd Machine,’ will stand as a credible and authentic voice for the comic industry and its fans within the Hollywood community while creating the genre production business model of the future.

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Fusion #1 Preview now online

Hunter-Killer and Cyberforce will team up against The Mighty Avengers and Thunderbolts from Marvel Comics, in Fusion, a three part crossover mini-series with the first issue to debut in May 2009.

VIEW PREVIEW.

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Top Cow Teams Up with CBLDF with "Berserker" Exclusive

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that a limited signed variant cover of Berserker #1 will be included in a Retailer Support Pack for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The Support Pack will be an incentive for retailers who become members of the CBLDF. The publisher is proud to help support the CBLDF, which has fought censorship and protected the First Amendment rights of creators, publishers, and retailers in the comic book industry.

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

My first and only Spider-man from Free Comic Book Day. But for some reason, the kids they love Venom and Carnage. Why do kids like bad guys so much these days?
This Spidey seems to be Bagley influenced.

This is Sketch #053.

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Filip Sablik discusses “the New Letter Hacks”

I think people my age and older have a great fondness for letter columns in comics. Before the Internet it was our one way to communicate with the creators and editors who made the comics we loved. The only other way was conventions and back then there wasn’t one every other weekend all over the country. Something I’ve been pondering recently is the disappearance of printed letter columns in comics.

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Best Shots Extra: Witchblade 2009 Annual

After a bit of a delay Top Cow's Witchblade Annual 2009 is hitting comic store shelves this week. Though Sara Pezzini and her magical gauntlet has been around for about 15 years, I was surprised to know that this is their first annual. The almost 40 page issue is actually two stories, one a backup story about Ian Nottingham and his new cell mate, written by Joshua Cozine and Joe Henderson and penciled by Sheldon Mitchell.

The primary story has Sara and her partner/boyfriend Patrick Gleason chasing after beautiful women who suddenly have psychotic breakdowns and killing random people. After they catch the first murderer, who tries to severe Sara's arm off with a meat cleaver, she is taken into custody and questioned. She can remember her name, but not the events of the past few hours, so that takes care of the total amnesia theory.

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Broken Frontier reviews Witchblade Annual

I’m as surprised as anyone that this series has really matured in the last few years, due mainly to the talents of writer Ron Marz and artist Stjepan Sejic, and Top Cow’s trust in them. Witchblade has risen above its simple roots to carve a well developed mythology, especially since the "First Born" storyline. Now, the series gets its first ever annual. Realising that it was not created by the aforementioned duo, I was initially disappointed. However, that didn’t last long. This annual, which is made up of two stories within 40 pages, is a great read.

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Witchblade Annual reviewed on Jazma Online

"If Looks Could Kill" is about a beautiful woman in black and pink undies holding a neat cleaver while covered in blood tries to commit suicide. Now if that doesn't catch your interest nothing will. Sara and Gleason get to investigate why beautiful perfect women are killing people.

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

The fan who requested this image, asked for a shot of Darth Vader sitting outside of Comic-Con International smoking a cigarette and limply holding his light saber. Because apparently he'd seen this last year and thought it was the most amusing thing ever. Looking at the sketch afterwords, he may have been on to something...

This is Sketch #052.

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MTV’s 2009 Movie Award Nominations Are Packed With Comic Book Nods — Vote Now!

Voting is officially open for the 2009 MTV Movie Awards, and you’ve never had more opportunities to let your votes do the talking when it comes to comic book movies.

Last year’s wealth of films based on comic book properties is indeed reflected in this year’s list of MTV Movie Award nominees, with 11 nominations spread over 7 categories — from the grand “Best Movie” all the way to the most head-scratching “Best WTF Moment.”

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EXCLUSIVE: ‘Wanted’ Screenwriter Chris Morgan Explains His Departure From ‘Wanted 2’

Last month, it came as a bit of surprise that a new screenwriter would be brought in to script the sequel to “Wanted,” 2008’s live-action adaptation of Mark Millar and J.G. Jones’ comic book series. The studio’s choice of “Pooh’s Heffalump” writer Evan Spiliotopoulos as the scribe for the next chapter of the violent, R-rated tale came as an even bigger surprise.

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FIRST LOOK: Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men

Get an early glimpse at Marc Silvestri's variant cover to DARK AVENGERS/UNCANNY X-MEN #1!

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OPEN LETTER: Josh Medors Benefit Auction

This is a call to action!

As many of you may know already, artist Josh Medors (Frazetta's Swamp Demon & Sorcerer, Runes of Ragnan, 30 Days of Night) has been fighting a losing battle against a terminal form of cancer for well over a year, and it has recently taken a turn for the worst. The doctors and conventional medicine have all but given up on him and say there isn't anything else they can do. But he has found an alternative treatment that has the possibility of extending his life a bit and can help improve the quality of his life near the end so he can spend it with his wife and son. There is even a slim chance it can make him somewhat better, so he has to try. But of course the treatment is very expensive and Josh has no medical insurance.

(Josh Medors is a swell guy and a talented artist who we had the privilage to work with on The Darkness #76 cover. This is a worthy cause, so please consider helping out if you are able to.)

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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher

I'm going to cheat a bit here and show off some of my sketches from Free Comic Book Day over the next week. Sheldon Mitchell and I went over to Earth-2 in Sherman Oaks, CA and sketched for 5 hours for fans. I had a blast and it was really fun to sketch for kids who were quite impressed by my meager skills. This was my first sketch of the day and set the entire day off right!

This is Sketch #051.

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Milo Ventimiglia unveils Ultradome webseries

Who would win in a fight: Gandalf or Darth Vader? What about Neo vs. Harry Potter?

"Heroes" star Milo Ventimiglia is set to appear in and co-produce "Ultradome," a new scripted Web series where passionate fanboys settle hypothetical disputes in a special effects showdown.

"My whole life has been spent engaged with friends in intellectual debate ... like whether Captain Kirk is tougher than Spock or if Middle Earth is a more difficult place to live than Tatooine," Ventimiglia said. "With 'Ultradome,' we can bring these debates to the public and settle them in the most logical way possible: through armed combat."

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CC2K reviews Witchblade #126

As I’m reading part two of Top Cow’s (hope to be) epic Witchblade tale: "War of the Witchblades", all I keep thinking is what it must feel like to be Ron Marz. I assume that being Ron Marz is like knowing you are your parent’s favorite child. Granted, Marz has proven himself these past few years with Witchblade, still, I feel that Top Cow thinks Marz can do no wrong. For those of you asking, “what are you talking about?” Ron Marz has taken the original Witchblade heir Sara Pezzini, and turned her from a likable hard working cop into to a total @$$hole. Even though, there is a reason for her newly established bitchy character trait. It’s still a ballsy move that could shake up and upset many Witchblade fans.

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Weekly Comic Book Review reviews Witchblade #126

Some Thoughts Before The Review: With the Witchblade artifact divided between two owners, it was only a matter of time before some sort of conflict emerged. That’s where the War of the Witchblades event comes in. The first chapter showed a break in the friendship between Witchblade owners Dani Baptiste and Sara Pezzini and then left things hanging with the introduction of a few new creepy characters. I look forward to seeing what happens next.

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Fresh Ink Online with Guest Host Milo Ventimiglia!

TV fans know Milo Ventimiglia from Heroes and Gilmore Girls. Movie fans are familiar with him from his work in Rocky Balboa and the upcoming Armored. But the comic book crowd knows him one of the men behind the awesome Berserker and a co-founder of production company Divide Pictures. The man is a multi-tasker, that’s for sure.

So check him out as guest host of this week’s Fresh Ink Online, where he runs down some of his favorite new comics, including Bad Night, Deadpool, The Darkness, Incognito and Batman: Whatever Happened To Bruce Wayne?

He also gives you an exclusive look at the sketches for the upcoming issue Berserker, and makes a special announcement regarding the new home for his much talked about comic Rest that will have fans in a tizzy. Enjoy!

VIEW THE VIDEO.

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FCBD Preview - Top Cow's Cyberforce/ Hunter-Killer Preview

Sure, you can get the whole book free this Saturday, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying a preview today

Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer Preview Creative Team: (W) Mark Waid (A) Kenneth Rocafort Top Cow launches its biggest summer event to date with the return of Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer! When two fan-favorite antagonists join forces, both teams are thrust back into the spotlight and must band together to keep the world safe. But can they get along long enough to succeed? This FCBD09 preview issue leads directly into the five-issue event series launching in July and features an original story by Waid and Rocafort, plus special sneak-peeks of this year's "Pilot Season" contenders. 32pgs, FC FREE!

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Scoop spotlights "FCBD: Top Cow Across America"

Creators from Top Cow Productions will be appearing at a variety of comic shops around the country in support of Free Comic Book Day on Saturday, May 2, 2009. The company’s FCBD offering this year is Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer First Look, as an introduction to the their summer event of the same name, which brings together the two popular teams Cyberforce and Hunter-Killer.

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Comic Box reviews Witchblade Annual (in French)

Ces dernières années, Ron Marz a fait sienne Witchblade. Non seulement il a subtilement changé le ton de la série mais il a aussi inventé de toutes pièces une autre prétendante au titre. Aussi c’est avec un petit doute que je me lançais dans la lecture de cet annual écrit principalement par un autre (Jay Faerber). D’autant qu’il faut bien le dire que l’histoire est relativement dénuée de repère chronologique et que le dessin d’Eric Basaldua a un je ne sais quoi de l’écurie Aspen et donc, par moment, des faux-airs de Michael Turner. Non pas que ce soit mal en soi mais tous les éléments semblaient donc réunis pour promettre une sorte de bond en arrière, ne tenant pas compte des ajouts de Marz.

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CBR Previews Witchblade Annual

Presenting the first ever Witchblade Annual issue, complete with a new, original self-contained story by writer Jay Faerber and artist Eric Basaluda. Includes a second bonus story! Beautiful women all over the city are killing men they don't even know, and then claiming they don't even remember the events. When Sara and partner Gleason are assigned to investigate the case, they're thrown head-first into the dangerous and deadly world of... plastic surgery?

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Top Cow's Rob Levin cited in The Beat

Top Cow Consulting Editor, Rob Levin, now a freelancer, blogs about the freelancer’s need to “Roll With It (aka Be a Professional)”. His post caught the attention of Publisher's Weekly Heidi MacDonald on her blog "The Beat".

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