UGO Exclusive First Look at Magdalena #4 Cover

UGO's got a first look at the next cover of Top Cow's hot comic, Magdalena!

Magdalena #4

Story: Ron Marz
Art: Nelson Blake II
Cover: Ryan Sook
32 pages / FC / $3.99

Patience, the latest in a long line of The Magdalena, bearer of the Spear of Destiny, and Kristof, her mentor and Knight of Malta, continue to race around Europe hunting a demonic cult intent on bringing about the era of the Anti-Christ. With Patience doubting whether she will be able to fulfill her duty or not, the Church moves to ensure that their servant will do its will... even if that servant is not Patience.

See the cover in all its glory here.
Source: UGO

Techland's Panel of the Week: Magdalena #3

Magdalena #3
This is turning into a detective story as our Magdalena checks on leads and inevitably fights a demon. Well, it's a detective story or an episode of Power Rangers. So far in all three issues of this series there's been the same inevitability of monster as there is an any episode of the Japanese live action children's show. It's just that Nelson Blake II draws such great looking monsters.

Read more here.
Source: Techland

Things From Another World: Ron Marz, Nelson Blake II & Ryan Sook Talk About Magdalena

Top Cow’s Magdalena series follows a line of female warriors who can see into the human heart and give them the chance to redeem themselves–or feel the wrath of her Spear of Destiny! Descended from Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene, the Magdalena is the protector of the Catholic Church and defender of the innocent!

Although the character of Magdalena has been around since 1998, her ongoing series, starring the newest Magdalena, Patience, just debuted this year. We recently had the chance to speak with her creative team, writer Ron Marz, artist Nelson Blake II, and cover artist Ryan Sook, and pick their brains about Magdalena’s past, present, and future!

TFAW.com: Hi guys, thanks for telling us more about Magdalena! Ron, can you catch our readers up on the history of Magdalena?

Ron Marz: There’s a Magdalena selected in each generation, a descendant of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. So each Magdalena literally has the blood of Christ running through her veins. The line of Magdalenas has served as the Catholic Church’s monster hunters and enforcers for more than a thousand years. It’s not a job that engenders a long life expectancy, unfortunately. Patience is the current Magdalena, but issue #1 seemed to hint there’s someone else waiting in the wings.

Read the full interview here.
Source: Things From Another World

Newsarama's Best Shots Advance Review: Magdalena #3

Nelson Blake II's use of sharp angles keeps the story at a nice pace as well as engages the reader. Showing how Magdalena moved around the building a la Batman, was a change of pace and I just wonder how easy it was to creep around with that armor on. Blake's action shots are drawn beautifully with a high impact feel. When somebody is shot, stabbed, or punched, you can sense the impact he was going for. His demonic designs are creative and feel they impose an actual threat, without them being over done. Sal Regla's inking style compliments Blake's pencils exceedingly well. The first six pages of Mags prowling around is evident of that. Dave McCaig's colors are brilliant as always. The use of reds and yellows is still dominant, but he has a chance to work with blues and purples.

Read the full review here.
Source: Newsarama

Graphic Policy: Top Cow at Baltimore Comic-Con 2010

Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that they will be returning to the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con, Baltimore’s premier entertainment convention, this weekend August 27-28,2010. This marks the third consecutive year the publisher has had a presence at the show.

Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik and Direct Market Liaison Atom! Freeman will be bringing writer Ron Marz (Artifacts, Witchblade) and artist Nelson Blake II to the show. Marz and Sablik (Pilot Season: The Asset, Last Mortal) will be on hand for signings both days at the Top Cow booth. In addition, Sablik will be available throughout the show for portfolio reviews for aspiring artists.

The publisher will be offering an exclusive Baltimore Comic Con variant cover to Velocity #1 for the event by Michael Broussard.

Read the full release, including mention of our panel, here.
Source: Graphic Policy

CBR Exclusive Preview: Magdalena #3

Story: Ron Marz
Art: Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla, Dave McCaig
Cover: Ryan Sook
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: Sept. 1, 2010

The Star of the Forthcoming Feature Film Gets Her Own Series!

Descended from the bloodline of Christ, Patience is the latest incarnation of the Magdalena. Armed with the Spear of Destiny, she is tasked with destroying any and all evil... even if it takes the form of a little boy. Patience might be able to destroy the boy's demonic protectors, but can she bring herself to murder a child who could ultimately prove to be innocent?

See the full preview here.
Source: CBR

Image Addiction Podcast Reviews Magdalena #2, Angelus #4 and Velocity #1

In New Release Reviews we discuss FORGETLESS #5, MAGDALENA #2, SAVAGE DRAGON #161, WALKING DEAD #73, DYNAMO 5 SINS OF THE FATHER #1, SEA BEAR AND GRIZZLY SHARK #1, ANGELUS #4, INVINCIBLE #73, and VELOCITY #1

Get the podcast here.
Source: imageaddiction.net

Twitter Report: Nelson Blake and that Thingy

Nelson Blake II (@nelsonblake2): Drawing comics professionally for 5 years and I JUST figured out how to use that triangle ruler thingy.

Read more tweets from the comic world here.
Source: ifanboy.com

Omnicomic Reviews Magdalena #2

Nothing too crazy takes place in this episode to “wow” us but it seems like that wraps up the introduction issues for Magdalena. Patience is back in uniform and we’ve gotten two good looks at the new enemy. I think part of why I love these titles is the way that putting Ron Marz at the head of the whole Witchblade universe gives them all a similar look and feel. It also allows him to tie them all together and have them make sense in the Artifacts series beginning soon. This particular artifact is interesting only because it involves the actual real-life church and the blood of Christ as its background. How that will coincide with the forces of light in Angelus and evil in the Darkness as primal formative forces in the universe is interesting.

Read the full review here.
Source: omnicomic.com

Bloody Disgusting Previews Magdalena #2

Havent gone to go pick up your own copy of Magdalena #2? Check out this first 6 page preview at Bloody Disgusting, if fighting a cool looking demon and a hot chick panties shot does not see you one, well check your pulse. Check it out, than visit your local comic book store and say "Wheres my Magdalena #2?"

See it here.
Source: http: bloody-disgusting.com

Graphic Policy Reviews Magdalena #2

Overall: The series is going to be a feature film. Don’t you want to be the cool one in your friends and say you knew about Magdalena when it was just a comic book? You know you want to. But beside how “with it” and ahead of Hollywood you’d be, the story is cool, the art solid and overall the first two issues are entertaining. You’re doing yourself a disservice by not picking this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

Read the full review here.
Source: graphicpolicy.com

Comic Attack Reviews Magdalena #2

This series is exceeding my expectations as I’ve never cared for Magdalena in her past incarnations. So I’m quite thankful I don’t have to go back and read past issues of her appearances to be familiar with the story going on here. Now if you’re one of those people who say “nothing happened” in this issue, than I’d suggest going back and reading it again because the “action” is in the dialogue and it was damn good!

Read the full review here.
Source: comicattack.net

Comic Related Reviews Magdalena #2

When the original Magdalena mini-series came out several years ago, it was one of my favorite concepts in comics. A holy warrior going out and beating evil in the face is such an appealing concept for me, and it's very rare to find these days someone who works for the church being portrayed positively. Subsequent issues and mini-series went by, the whole story of a descendant of Mary Magdalene and Jesus entered into the concept, but they really didn't capture the awe I had of that first arc, and the first appearances in The Darkness. I know that whole Davinci Code concept I mentioned was eluded to even in those books, but it wasn't in the forefront as much.
I was quite happy to find a couple of months ago that Magdalena was going to be helmed by one of my favorite writers, Ron Marz. Marz has been very busy in the Top Cow universe with nearly the entire line being written by him. So it seemed like a good fit.

Read the full Review Here.
Source: comicrelated.com

The Weekly Crisis Reviews Magdalena #2

Verdict: Buy It. I can’t say that I would ever think to buy Magdalena if it weren’t for the fact that Top Cow was nice enough to share it with me. Now that we are two issues in, I’m pretty sure I would buy it now. While I would like to see more plot in this issue and more backgrounds in the art, this is really solid comic featuring some strong craftsmanship and a lot of potential. I could have easily missed this comic but that doesn’t mean you should.

Read the full review here.
Source: weeklycrisis.com

Techland Adds Magdalena to Pull List

Magdalena #2
No one was as surprised as I was at how good this relaunched Magdalena book is. If the creative team can keep heavy on the fighting demons and light on the Vatican politics this book might have a shot. The art of Nelson Blake isn't hurting either. For sure, there will be some gratuitous swimsuit pages but after that he draws one hell of a Spear of Destiny.

To see the other titles, go here.
Source: Techland

Newsarama Reviews Magdalena #2

Magdalena #2
Written by Ron Marz
Pencils by Nelson Blake II
Inks by Sal Regla
Colors by Dave McCaig
Published by Top Cow

“The Church has been sacrificing my ancestors for a thousand years. If you truly think that’s going to change…you’re more gullible than those people taking Communion down there.” — Patience, the Magdalena

Talk about hating your job, huh?

The Magdalena team (or as I call them in my head: Team Mags) are two for two with the second issue of Top Cow’s newest ongoing series, Magdalena. Ron Marz continues the story of Patience, this generation’s Magdalena, as she is trying to find her place and destiny in a world and Church that she’s at constant odds with. Meanwhile the Son of Satan, no, not that one, is planning another demon summoning since Patience just wiped the floor with the one he had sent earlier.

Read the full review here.
Source: Newsarama

Newsarama: Nelson Blake Wields Magdalena's Spear of Destiny

Before even beginning the Magdalena series, I had to make sure I understood what the Magdalena is wearing. Is it a costume, armor or uniform? In her case, it's a combination of armor and uniform. Once I got that worked out, I was able to begin the design process with a set focus.

I probably took more liberties with Kristoff than with Patience. I did a bunch of drawings for him, and Ron, Filip and Phil picked the ones that they like, gave some notes and we came up with what we have. So far Kristoff has been kind of in the background, but his coolness will emerge as the series continues.

As for Patience, I really didn't do much outward designing. The biggest thing was getting rid of the superfluous elements like extra crosses and weapons. I look at Patience as a knight or samurai, and I like to think of her spear as the staple of her combat strategy. The swords, shuriken and knives really have no place on her at this point. After she proves herself with the spear, I might throw in an emergency dagger.

Read the full process piece here.
Source: Newsarama

Hollywood Jesus Reviews Magdalena #1

This book spins off the mini series wherein Patience, the current Magdalena, left the Church after witnessing the many lies and cover-ups of it’s leaders. The beginning of this story reveals that the Church is preparing a new Magdalena to replace Patience, by any means necessary. We also see Patience’s’ mentor (who discovers that the son of Satan has been born), pleading with the church to give Patience an opportunity to come back. He explains that, although she is not under the “church’s command”, she is still serving the church by fulfilling her duties in fighting demons as The Magdalena.

Read the full review here.
Source: live.hollywoodjesus.com

CBR Exclusive Preview: Magdalena #2

STORY BY: Ron Marz
ART BY: Nelson Blake II
COVER BY: Ryan Sook
PUBLISHER: Top Cow Productions
COVER PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE DATE: Wed, June 16th, 2010

The Star of the Forthcoming Feature Film Gets Her Own Series!

Patience, the current Magdalena, and her mentor Kristof fight for their lives against a demonic horde. Even if she survives the encounter, Patience must decide if the Church is merely luring her back like a lamb to the slaughter…

To see the preview pages, go here.
Source: CBR

CBR: Magdalena Prays on the Road to Artifacts

One can't walk the road to "Artifacts" without Patience. No, really.

Better known to the Top Cow herd as the current Magdalena, Patience is a warrior woman that comic book scribe Ron Marz describes as the Catholic Church's monster hunter. She's also the wielder of the Spear of Destiny, one of thirteen deadly Artifacts carried by certain characters within the Top Cow Universe including Sara Pezzini (Witchblade), Jackie Estacado (The Darkness), Danielle Baptiste (The Angelus) and Tom Judge (Rapture). It's an object that will most assuredly come into play during "Artifacts," the July-launching 13-issue limited series written by Marz and illustrated by a team of artists including Michael Broussard. CBR News spoke with Marz and Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik to learn more about Patience, the Spear of Destiny and their mutual roles in the forthcoming series.

Read the full article here.

Source: CBR