Flashback: CBR recaps Top Cows panel at C2E2

Chicago Comics & Entertainment Expo, Top Cow fans were treated to a panel filled with some of the company's most prominent creators including Phil Hester ("The Darkness"), Bryan Edward Hill ("Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box"), Nelson Blake II ("Magdalena") and Ron Marz ("Witchblade," "Angelus"). Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik moderated the panel and covered a wide range of topics, starting with the company's major summer event - "Artifacts."

Read the full article here.
Source: comicbookresources.com

Newsarama Exclusive Preview: Darkness/Darkchylde: Kingdom of Pain

The Return of Randy Queen’s Darkchylde!
A new armor for Jackie Estacado, the bearer of The Darkness, and a new beginning for Ariel Chylde, the girl who can become creatures from her nightmares! Jackie intercepts a physic plea for help, and frees Ariel from a self imposed, seven-year exile. But what happens when these fan favorite monster makers encounter a new threat that can create anything? Find out this Christmas, when things get dark! Guest starring Witchblade!

Read the full preview here.
Source: newsarama.com

Comic Box Reviews Witchblade #136 (in French)

heres another french review from the good peopl at comic box.

Read it here.
Source: comicbox.com

ICV2: Top Cow's Artifacts Event

Top Cow’s scribe-in-chief Ron Marz, who’s been shaping the direction of Top Cow’s top titles, has written a 13-issue series, Artifacts, which will shake the very foundations of the Top Cow Universe. Marz’ saga involves the thirteen artifacts (including the Witchblade and the Darkness) that guide the fate of the Top Cow Universe, and which if they fall into the hands of a single entity, would herald the destruction of mankind. In Artifacts #1, which ships in July, the kidnapping of Hope, the daughter of Sara Pezzini and Jackie Estacado, initiates a plot that could create Armageddon and which lays bare the underpinnings of the Top Cow world in ways that make it easy for new readers to understand and jump in.

Read the full article here

Source: icv2.com

Flames Rising Reviews Witchblade #128-130

Flames Rising's Alana reviews Witchblade #128-130:

As you could tell from my reviews of the first half of the “War of the Witchblades” arc, back in May, I was loving them. Matt would send me a new PDF from the publisher, and I’d eagerly open it to see the next installment.

Except when I didn’t. That’s right, I completely neglected to download Witchblade #128. Rather than miss the fourth issue in the saga after the download period expired, I did what any self-respecting comics reader (and reviewer) would do — I waited for it to arrive at my friendly local comic shop (FLCS) and bought that sucker. This was a good choice, because without issue #128, the rest of the story wouldn’t have come together so well. Since they’ve been on the shelves for awhile now, I thought I’d review the rest of the “War of the Witchblades” arc, and recommend that you all keep an eye out at your local FLCS for a trade collecting these six issues.

And here’s where the spoilers start:

As before, the artwork by Stjepan Sejic is hyper-realistic and fabulous. The textures he evokes on everything from the outfits of the Angelus to a completely altered by darkness Brooklyn Bridge are perfect.

Read the full review here.

Source: Flames Rising

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Heroic Bloggers Looks Back at "War of the Witchblades" and Reviews Angelus #1

Okay, the day is finally upon us, here is my review for Angelus #1. But first, let's go back in time. *enters timemachine to a few months back* LOL.

Witchblade #129.

I remember waiting for that issue. I was so happy when it came out, but I was thunderstruck by lightning after reading it. I hated the outcome. I really thought it was the end for her. I had never been angry at a comics writer before, but I really was after reading that issue, so angry it drove me to write a dark fanfiction with a character death. I'm not saying "Sara Pezzini sucks" and "Danielle Anastacia Baptiste kicks ass", but I had always loved Dani since her introduction. The only time I had ever been angry at a comic writer had been for the death of Kara in Final Crisis. I remember having broken down and cried one night while thinking about that Witchblade issue. Plus I had drank a bit and was really emotional to my mom about it. Sorry, it just was the effect that direction had on me.

So imagine my surprise at Witchblade #130. From the hateful emotion I had for Ron it jumped back to adoration. And it only grew when I read the announcement of an 6-issue Angelus mini-series with Danielle Anastacia Baptiste as the main character!

So, *returns to 2010, emerges from the timemachine* here we are, Angelus #1.

I totally loved the issue. It had awesome art and a very interesting plot. I wonder what the artifact is that Sabine has sent her followers to obtain from Hell. And now that we have seen the outside of 'Angelus Central', how will the inside look?

Can't wait for Angelus #2! The cover looks incredible!

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Comic Attack Reviews Angelus #1

Publisher: Top Cow
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Stjepan Sejic
Cover: Stjepan Sejic

“Illumination pt 1″: Danielle Baptiste has been through a pretty rough patch lately. She was bearer of half of the Witchblade, which immediately turned her world upside down. Her friend and bearer of the other half, Sara Pezzini, was later possessed by the darker half and tried to kill her in War of the Witchblades. When the dust settled, Sara was herself again and Danielle had been chosen to be the new host for the Angelus. However, she is unaware that there are a select few who feel she isn’t fit to be the host and are planning her immediate downfall.

Angelus is starting off pretty good with the quality of writing expected from Marz. He finds that natural balance of humanizing the characters while maintaining the fantasy element that helps drive the story. It’s in the little details, like Dani wanting to return to her home town to find a semblance of peace and just be around something that’s familiar, which is a natural thing to do when things just get too crazy for you. I also like the fact that Ron took her out of New York, as it gives us a change of scenery since New Orleans has a much different landscape and feel to it. Sejic is still as spectacular as ever with each page, and if you have only seen the scans from the preview and were amazed, then it’s time you grabbed the book.

I’ve got quite a few theories and questions regarding the outcome of this, but I’ll reserve those for later. For now I’m pleased with the beginning of Dani’s role as Angelus, and can’t wait to see if anything that’s bouncing around in my head is right!

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ComicBook.com Looks Forward to Angelus in the New Year

Get out the champagne, party horns and confetti! The new year is soon upon us, and like most other people who are out there reflecting on the year that was, we’re taking stock of the triumphs, the tragedies, the highs and the lows. Of course there are those “did that just happen” moments as well, just to keep things interesting. Let’s take a trip back over the past twelve months, shall we, to see the highs, lows and wth’s over this year in comics, using our own unique system of categories, labels and examples!



Already looking forward to in the new year: Angelus Top Cow has been producing some of the more cutting edge comics in the past couple of years, with titles such as The Darkness becoming cult hits. Recently with the resolution of the “War of the Witchblades” storyline in the pages of Witchblade, a new limited series focusing on the bearer of the Angelus begins in January with Angelus #1!

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Best Shots Reviews WITCHBLADE for Best of 2009

Witchblade (Top Cow): Talk about a series that has seen some highs and lows in the past decade. Once thought of just something pre-pubescent boys can drool on, Ron Marz has really put a new stamp on this book as easily one of the best. Supernatural hero, meshed with elements of a cop drama, with a lead character who is the mother of an infant makes for a great read with solid stories. Now, in 2009, there was "War of the Witchblades", with both bearers of the fabled gauntlet try to kill one another, with one almost succeeding.

Artist Stjepan Sejic really soared with the best of them on some of the more horror/mystical elements.

Witchblade is excellent and events coming in 2010,which makes this a book not to be missed.

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Comic Collector Live Reviews Angelus #1

After the War of the Witchblades, Sara Pezzini is the sole bearer once more. However, while the Angelus force had been without a host, in an interesting turn of events, Danielle Baptiste was chosen. Going from being a Witchblade bearer, and directly to being the Angelus, Dani is left somewhat confused and lacking direction.

She decides to head back to her roots, in New Orleans, where she is originally from. Unlike prior Hosts of the Angelus, who have been mostly taken over and controlled by the Angelus force, Dani exhibits the ability to retain her free will and stays in control when transforming to the Angelus.

This seriously disturbs Sabine (one of the top Angelus Warriors), who is still bitter that the Angelus did not choose her as the new Host. She believes Dani's ability to retain her free will, while taking on the Angelus form, to be counter productive to their cause.

Overall, a nice set up for the next 5 issues of this series, as well as a good continuation of Dani's story after Witchblade. This series is bound to have tie ins to the upcoming Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box, as well as Top Cow's next summer event, Artifacts. However, Ron Marz has stated a number of times that these individual titles will stand on their own.

I give it 4 out 5 stars. The story was solid, and entertaining, and the artwork was awesome, as usual for Stjepan Sejic. The use of storytelling through panel progression and balance between calm subtle moments, and double page action spreads, really give this book a nice feel. Marz and Sejic seem to be arriving at a place where most writer/artist teams want to be. Definitely recommended.

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Omnicomic Reviews Witchblade #132

Better late then never right?

Sara and boyfriend Patrick Gleason have decided that an appropriate thing to do in the aftermath of the War of the Witchblades would be a nice vacation. Nothing like a little rest and relaxation to clean up some of the relationship strains that happened while Sara was under the influence of the dark half of the Witchblade, right? Now that she has complete possession of it again (and for now at least is in complete control of her faculties) let’s go on vacation! Dani Baptiste is off being the host to Angelus. What could go wrong?

Well…apparently lots! Everyone knows heroes don't get vacations.

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Comic Box Reviews Angelus #1 (in French)

L’Angelus, c’est le pouvoir de la lumière divine qui repousse depuis des millions d’années la puissance des ténèbres. Passée une incontournable introduction à l’ambiance biblique, les tenants et les aboutissants de la mini sont établis. On pensait que les forces de l’Angelus étaient maintenant dirigées par Danielle, la nouvelle élue à leur tête. En fait, il n’en est rien. Tout reste théorique et dans les faits l’ambition de Sabine (personnage qui avait déjà animé « War of the Witchblades ») reste entière. Et si pour devenir la prochaine Angelus il fallait se débarrasser de la nouvelle… Ce serait loin d’être un problème. Assez vite ceux qui ont apprécié soit War of The Witchblades soit la présence de Danielle comme Witchblade remplaçante trouveront leurs marques dans ce nouveau titre. Si vous voulez vous mettre à l’univers Top Cow, par contre, on vous dirigera plutôt vers les TPB de Witchblade tant Angelus est avant tout une extension de ce que Ron Marz et Stjepan Sejic ont pu faire sur le mensuel ces dernières années.

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Witchblade & Angelus Included in Wizard's Best Of Issue

Released this month is Wizard Magazine's Best Of Issue.

Witchblade Volume 8: War of the Witchblades was listed as one of their anticipated trade paperbacks.




Wizard Magazine include the Angelus series in their new series pull list.

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Dani Baptiste Is The Angelus, New Series On The Way

Have you been reading Witchblade lately? We recently had the War Of The Witchblades and things didn't go too well. Top Cow has announced that former co-Witchblade bearer, Dani Baptiste will assume her role as the Angelus in Angelus #1. The first in a six-part series will be on sale December 2, 2009.

Angelus will be written by Ron Marz (Witchblade, Magdalena) and feature art by Stjepan Sejic (Witchblade). In the first issue, Dani will return home to New Orleans and has to come to grips as the Angelus, a human bearer of the primal force of light. To make things more complicated, Dani has to sort out her undefined relationship with Finch.

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CBR: COMMENTARY TRACK: "WAR OF THE WITCHBLADES" BY MARZ AND SEPJIC

Two sides. Two players. One is light, the other is dark.

No, that's not just the infinite wisdom of "Lost's" John Locke – it's also an accurate summation of "War of the Witchblades," the recently concluded story-arc from Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic's celebrated "Witchblade" run.

Over the course of several issues leading up to the storyline, the Top Cow series featured two protagonists wielding different halves of the mystical artifact known as the Balance – longtime heroine Sara Pezzini held the dark portion of the Witchblade, while relative newcomer Danielle Baptiste wielded the light. By the end of the story-arc, Sara once again became the sole Witchblade-bearer, while Dani moved on to become the new host of the Angelus.

Marz and Sejic joined CBR News for a detailed reflection on the creation process of "War of the Witchblades," offering their insight into some of the story-arc's most significant and notable scenes.



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Examiner.com: The Turn of the Witchblade

Just what I needed, a precursor to the squaring off of two incredibly hot gals who wield the "Witchblade". Although a little dated, I finally sat down to read Issue #124, which was published back in February '09 by the Los Angeles publisher Top Cow.

For two years I've been a fan of the art. Recently I'm now a fan of the story. Who wouldn't be? It's hard to resist the idea of a New York City police woman who holds an incredible, ancient force of both power and destruction.

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ComicAttack.net Reviews Witchblade #130

“War of the Witchblades” Part six of six: By the end of the last issue, the Witchblade had been unified and the Angelus had chosen a new host body! Too bad things didn’t quite work out the way some had planned, and there were still a few issues that needed to be dealt with. Sabine, who is an Angelus warrior, had planned on becoming the new host, and Dani is bleeding out while Sara ended up becoming a tool for the Darkness. When it rains, it pours!

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Albany Comic Con Witchblade Variant Cover

Here's the Matthew Dow Smith variant cover for Witchblade #131, the start of a new storyline by writer Ron Marz, and available exclusively at the Albany Comic Con on Sunday, November 1st at the Holiday Inn on Wolf Road in Colonie.

Witchblade #131
“A New Beginning”
(W) Ron Marz (A) Stjepan Sejic
(Cov) Sejic, Chris Bachalo, John Tyler Christopher

A new status quo begins here! Emerging from the ashes of “War of the Witchblades”, the new Witchblade bearer must struggle to adjust to her new responsibility with the reunified gauntlet. But will the gauntlet allow her a moment of respite in the wake of war and loss?

Full Color, 32 pages, $2.99, ongoing series.

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Witchblade "War of the Witchblades" reviewed (spoilers)

What you see above is the cover of the crown jewel of my admittedly weak comic collection. Witchblade #1. A book that, while I had to stop collecting for a while (I was only 14, income was a factor), I knew would take off into a fantastic series. As arguably the biggest event in the Witchblade series comes to a close, I have been given the honor of writing a massive War of the Witchblades review. I only hope I can do the series and all three people that read my reviews justice over the following paragraphs.

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Quarter Bin reviews Witchblade #130

“War of the Witchblades” concluded last week with Witchblade #130. You didn’t think being on vacation was going to stop me from seeing who emerged victorious, did you?

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