CBR: Artifacts #1 Goes to Third Printing

Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce that the first issue from their mega-event series, Artifacts, has sold out for a second time at Diamond and will head back to the printers for a third printing to meet demand, a first in Top Cow history.

The dynamic pairing of writer Ron Marz (Witchblade) with the art team of Michael Broussard (The Darkness), Rick Basaldua (The Darkness), Sal Regla (Magdalena) and Sunny Gho of IFS (Velocity) delivers one of the most accessible and engaging event series to date.

”The rapid sales velocity on Artifacts #1 has been incredibly gratifying and a testament to the fantastic work that the entire creative team of Ron Marz, Michael Broussard, Rick Basaldua, Sal Regla, and Sunny Gho have been doing,” commented Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik, “We’ve never gone to a third printing, but this is our biggest event to date and we want our retail partners to know that we are fully behind it.”

Read the full release here.
Source: CBR

Pop Matters Reviews Artifacts #1

Tomorrow's Just Another Word For Nothing Left To Do...

“The quotidian will find you out”, visionary writer William Gibson has always been keen to remind readers. Things will happen and will continue to happen. The danger of life on the cusp of the future, is that there might be no danger at all. No monsters lurking under the bed.

Gibson’s comments take on a very visceral sensation with the recent Artifacts #1. There is a preternatural crisis brewing. Strands of destiny are being drawn together. Pieces are blitzing across the board, and ancient forces have been set into motion. But this is not the same kind of ancient destiny you may have encountered in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or more recently in the Harry Potter series or the writings of Stephanie Meyer.

Instead, you’ll find something entirely different in Artifacts #1, you’ll find The Quotidian. The rise of the everyday. As the issue’s two (of the series’ presumably 13) protagonists wind their way through the streets of NYC, wearing the artifact that balances the quintessential light of the universe with the essential darkness, is really no more than any other single thing to do in the daily grind. And so too is carry the Artifact that brings judgment to all before it, the Rapture that doles out hope or despair. This 13-issue limited series already feels very much like, “remember to buy milk, pickup kitty litter and thwart evil”. This is Janis Joplin’s ‘Me and Bobby McGee’ rebooted for the 21st century—no more ‘Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose’, and more a case of ‘Tomorrow’s just another day for nothing left to do’.



Read the full review here.
Source: Pop Matters

Ideology of Madness' Podcast Reviews Artifacts #1

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it is that tacos are awesome. If there are two things we can all on agree on it is that crimes must be punished, wrongs must be righted, injustice will not stand. In this week’s episode of Funnybooks, we kick the show off by addressing the rudeness of others before jumping into a week full of terrific new comics including Top Cow’s Artifacts event, a ton of books from Radical, and even more from the big two. Plus, we discuss the new DVD release Batman: Under the Red Hood.

Get the podcast here.
Source: ideologyofmadness.spookyouthouse.com

League of Comic Geeks Reviews Artifacts #1

As a setup issue and introduction to the TCU, Artifacts #1 succeeds admirably. If you've never dipped your toes in the Top Cow waters, this really is the perfect jumping-on point, and an extremely enjoyable one at that. Ron Marz has a deft hand at characterization (as he demonstrated with the excellent Velocity #1, probably one of the strongest debut issues I've ever read), and keys us in to the major players within a line or two of dialogue. He also knows when to apply economy and let the art speak for itself. Together with the enormously talented Broussard, he delivers a cinematic experience that keeps the interest high and the pages turning, though its easy to pause when the art looks this good (with a tip of the hat to Sunny Gho's stellar coloring). A two-page spread explains the whole premise of the event, letting us know the players and what's at stake, while back-up character descriptions provide some history for those of us not so in-the-know. The team also proves they're not afraid of pulling any punches by ending the issue with a (literal) bang.

Read the full review here.
Source: leagueofcomicgeeks.com

Cosmic Book News Reviews Artifacts #1

Writer Ron Marz tells us himself that he is creating something new out of the old Top Cow Universe and what material he is presenting here for the first time, which is going to pay off for longtime readers and new readers alike. If you are new to the Top Cow Universe, more than likely you may be familiar with a couple of their denizens, namely the Witchblade and Darkness. These two are only pieces of a puzzle as there are other characters that make up the big picture as well. What’s great about this is that you need not worry about being heavily engrossed in the continuity of Top Cow as Marz gives us an introduction to each of the characters, whether it be in the main story itself or at the end with a series of write-ups. I love when comics include a bit of background on the story, whether it be month-to-month or information such as this.

The story itself is heavy on action, mystery, intrigue and drama; artist Michael Broussard did an amazing job showcasing Sara Pezzini as the first page testifies. The panel layouts were well done, heightening the emotion we readers feel as we read the dialogue. Broussard and company gave us some gorgeous art and the subtle positioning of the female body was appreciated! Top Cow is renowned for their fabulous art; no surprise to veteran Top Cow readers.

Read the full review here.
Source: cosmicbooknews.com

Kitty Pryde's Reviews Artifacts #1

Do you need to be up to date? Nope. Not at all. In that case this issue works extremely well. Marz does a great job, using the characters and secondary characters to bring us up to speed. The conversation between agents of the Angelus and Darkness, explaining why they are watching the daughter of Sara Pezzini, seems natural but explains just what we need to know. The art is great. Broussard fits squarely between the work of Silvestri and the work of Kenneth Roccafort. He's got a looser line than Silvestri but not as messy as Roccafort. Good layouts, good figures. Excellant choices of viewpoints. His work has a gritty feel to it. Works for this story. The colors chosen are great as well. Really help create an atmosphere for the story.



Read the full review here.
Source: kittyspryde.forumotion.com

Comic Book Revolution Reviews Artifacts #1

Artifacts is off to a great start, this doesn't exactly leave the world in shambles and leave me dying to see what happens next because of it, but its great character work, gorgeous artwork and the promise of great and epic things to come heave me very excited. While 13 issues is a big commitment, I highly recommend you jump on now as things are really going to heat up now and I can't wait to see more, a great start to what I have high hopes to be a great event

Read the full review here.
Source: comicbookrevolution.net

Ideology of Madness Reviews Artifacts #1

Artifacts #1 is awesome. There’s really no other way to describe it. While new readers to the Top Cow Universe will find plenty to enjoy, long-time readers are going to have a field day with a beloved character’s return, and the death of a major player. While both events will of course be interesting to those unfamiliar with the history of the Top Cow characters, the emotional core of the storyline will definitely be more interesting to those who know the characters involved.

Read the full review here.
Source: ideologyofmadness.spookyouthouse.com

Westfield Comics Reviews Artifacts #1

Marz frequently says that, albeit with different wording. The nice thing is he doesn’t just preach it, he practices it. I was helping a customer just yesterday, and seeing what he had in his pull list — Magdalena and Velocity (two other recent new Marz series from Top Cow) — I mentioned Artifacts (and its basic concept of bringing together of the Top Cow Artifacts for Universe changing epicness) to him. He added it to his pull list almost immediately. He, as a reader, felt comfortable buying Artifacts sight-unseen based off of the ease of coming into the other series and not knowing the back stories.

Read the full review here.
Source: westfieldcomics.com

Crave Online Reviews Artifacts #1

Artifacts is the long awaited thirteen part series from Witchblade/Darkness scribe Ron Marz and plethora of artists from the Top Cow camp. This is another event series where the very fate of mankind is up for grabs as forces of good and evil clash in an epic struggle.

Now as much as I enjoy stories with Lanterns and attacks on Viking worlds, there’s something about Artifacts that could teach the big two a lesson in pacing and storytelling. Not only does Ron Marz’s story give us what we want from an event series, it gives a little more.

The art by Michael Broussard is some of the most exciting work he’s done to date. The panels leap off the page with solid lines and a tremendous feel for motion. Broussard has not just dedicated himself to painstaking detail but also to bringing a real sense of life and desperation to the work.

Read the full review here.
Source: craveonline.com

Flames Rising Reviews Artifacts #1

Ron Marz is writing Artifacts, but joining him for the artwork are Michael Broussard on pencils, Rick Basaldua and Sal Regla on inks, and Sunny Gho on colors. The art team does a phenomenal job — it’s not Sejic’s surrealistic style from Witchblade and Angelus, but there’s a great deal to look at in these images, from shattering stained glass to a scruffy looking Tom Judge walking out of the panels. On one page, Sara lets loose with her gun, and in each progressive, page wide panel, the witchblade grows longer on her arm until she’s armored up and ready to fight. (There’s one panel that suffers from “comic-book-women-have-painfully-enormous-breasts” syndrome, but only one.)

The ending of this issue with a “holy crap, they just did that?” moment means we’re likely to get a lot of world shifting moments in this series. If you haven’t been reading any of the Top Cow series, I’m not sure this is the right place to start, but based on the recap from the Curator, Marz is trying to make it easy for new readers to dig in to the universe. If it keeps the tone of issue one, this is going to be a great ride.

Read the full review here.
Source: flamesrising.com

Nfamous Gamers Reviews Artifacts #1

With excellent writing by Ron Marz, and art chores handled by Michael Broussard, Rick Basaldua, Sal Regla, and Sonny Gho, Artifacts brings together some of the best talent Top Cow has to offer to bring their fans an exciting and entertaining ride. Issue one delivers just enough intrigue to make you need to pick up the second part of the event but delivers the right amount of action and answers that make reading this book fulfilling. And if you doubt just how exciting this storyline can be, let me just say that the casualties have all ready started as one character doesn’t make it out of issue one alive. I will personally admit that I have been waiting for this storyline for the better part of a year now and I am glad that the first issue didn’t disappoint. Top Cow fans, this one is a must have. Comic fans in general, if you have never read a Top Cow boo, pick this up and you will be a fan in an instant. In any case, I give this issue my highest recommendation.

Read the full review here.
Source: nfamousgamers.com

Multiversity Comics Reviews Artifacts #1

Today, Top Cow starts their latest event Artifacts, which seeks to unite all of the Top Cow Universe in a cohesive community much like Marvel or DC, have done. Written by Ron Marz and penciled by Michael Broussard, it certainly has the pedigree to be epic. But does it?

In a word; yes, it does. It’s shaping up to be a great jumping on point to the Top Cow universe, especially because Ron Marz’s specialty is boiling a story down to its most essential and letting you know exactly what you NEED To know, as opposed with making it too murky with continuity for new or perspective fans. Geoff Johns is another who is excellent at doing this, but Ron Marz doesn’t get nearly enough credit for doing the same. Every book of his I’ve read for the Top Cow brand is easily penetrable, with all back-story taken care of at the beginning of the story. Even before Top Cow he had the same talent. I recently read Emerald Twilight and it had the same inviting narrative.

Read the full article here.
Source: multiversitycomics.com

CBR Commentary Track: Artifacts #1

Warning: Major spoilers for "Artifacts" #1 lurk ahead.

The thirteen Artifacts of the Top Cow Universe are currently being united in the pages of "Artifacts," a 13-issue limited series written by Ron Marz and illustrated by a team of artists including Michael Broussard. Over the past several months, CBR News spoke with Marz and Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik on a weekly basis to discuss the thirteen deadly Artifacts at the center of the series - thirteen objects that could destroy the world when assembled all at once.

With "Artifacts" #1 currently available in comic book stores, the time for preparation is at an end and answers are most assuredly on the way. Continuing our coverage of Top Cow's most ambitious comic book event to date, CBR sat down with Marz, Broussard and Sablik for a detailed analysis of "Artifacts" #1, unearthing a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of the issue.

Read the full article here.
Source: CBR

Newsarama Reviews Artifacts #1

Review by Amanda McDonald

I'm pretty open minded, so there are a lot of kinds of books I love for a variety of reasons. What's so lovable about this one? This is the kind of book you read, and immediately want everyone around you to read it too so you can all talk about how awesome it was.

The concept is simple enough -- thirteen artifacts are placed with bearers around the world. These artifacts represent primal powers and are all balanced by the witchblade, however the thirteenth artifact is hidden. The thirteen book series will assumedly focus on a different artifact and bearer each issue. In addition to the main story, the issue also includes a short origin story explaining the witchblade.

The key here is Ron Marz's storytelling.

Read the full review here.
Source: Newsarama

ComicNews.info Reviews Artifacts #1

Artifacts #1 kicks off with a bang and through out the 30 some pages it never let’s up. The opening pages show Sarah Pezzini, the bearer of the Witchblade, facing a demon from the depths of hell who is on a mission to find “He Who is Damned”. Fast forward several pages and “He Who is Damned” is introduced into the story and things get even more intriguing. Throw in several wicked villains, an unexpected surprise and you’ve got a book that provides drama, excitement and some major shock value. All in all, this is one hell of a read and it’s only going to get better as the series progresses!

Read the full review here.
Source: comicnews.info

Comic Attack Reviews Artifacts #1

This is one of those set up issues that is executed very well, and Marz and Broussard definitely give you your money’s worth with this issue. The story’s pacing is smooth, and there is just enough expo that long time fans aren’t rushing through information they already know and a new reader gets just enough to draw them into the story. As the story progresses, Marz gets you comfortable and then hits you with a “DAMN!” moment that I’m pretty sure we didn’t see coming, and definitely sets up the drama for the second issue. I haven’t seen anything that visceral from Ron since he put a certain Green Lantern’s girlfriend in a refrigerator!

Michael Broussard brings the visual punch to Artifacts #1 and does well with the cast of characters that he normally wouldn’t have had access to when he was the artist on The Darkness. Everyone is easily recognizable, though I will admit that I didn’t recognize the balloon mime until it was too late, but that was probably the point. He does the final few pages justice, and will forever have me remembering that last panel whenever I see a balloon again. Now as good as Michael is, I’m excited to see who the other artists on the series will be, since he’s only doing the art for the first four issues. Ron Marz and Michael Broussard were able to work magic with their Unholy Union story years ago, and it’s good to see these two bringing the heat once again, even if it’s only for a short time.


Read the full review here.
Source: comicattack.net

iFanboy Spotlights Artifacts #1

There are a lot of you out there feeling burnt out from DC and Marvel cramming event after event down your throat. I know how you feel. It's not that it's bad, but it's just that, you've been there before. It's all too familiar. But what if you changed it up, just a little? Over at Top Cow, they've been doing good comics, and not enough people know about it. This is a shame. Think you're not into Witchblade? Try it. Ron Marz has been helming this whole ship for a good long while, but there's plenty to grab if this is your first time. If that's not enough, take a gander at Michael Broussard's work, and get on board early for a name you're going to see more and more. Trust me. Just one taste.


Read the full review here.
Source: ifanboy.com

Battlemouth Reviews Artifacts #1:

Artifacts #1 is a well-crafted issue that will lead into what will be an intriguing limited series. At this early stage, it looks like this event series will break the formulaic mold set by other major comic companies, and deliver to the reader something quite unique and exciting. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how this series will play out.

Read the full review here.
Source: battlemouth.com

Broken Frontier Reviews Artifacts #1

I took that challenge, having never read any of the aforementioned titles and being wholly unfamiliar with the stories in the Top Cow universe. Artifacts is being touted as equal parts entry point and game changer for all these characters, and judging by the swift effectiveness of this first chapter, it’s approaching the oncoming story successfully. Top Cow even included an Origin of the Witchblade and various character bios as back matter. They really want new readers to be as invested as old.

Read the full review here.
Source: brokenfrontier.com