Rob Levin Casts The Darkness Into "Shadows and Flame"

In January, Top Cow's "The Darkness" enlists a new ally in the form of H.P. Lovecraft. The legendary author's influence casts a shadow upon writer Rob Levin and artist Jorge Lucas's "The Darkness: Shadows and Flame," a one-shot issue that combines Lovecraftian horror with turn-of-the-century drama. As a standalone issue, "Shadows and Flame" shines the spotlight on Salvador Gomes, a broken man looking to restore meaning to his life after the tragic deaths of his wife and child. Gomes's drug-laced journey takes him from the pits of despair to an even darker place, as he comes into conflict with a nefarious being known as the Shadow God.

CBR News spoke with Levin about the story of "Shadows and Flame," how it came to be and what interested him and Lucas about utilizing Lovecraftian horror in a "Darkness" story.

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Multiversity Comics Reviews Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer #3

I have never read Cyberforce before. I have never read Hunter-Killer before. These are very important to how I view this crossover event, I believe. That being said, I am now both a fan of Cyberforce and a fan of Hunter-Killer. I only really started looking into this title due to our budding relationship with Top Cow, but I can easily say that this was an absolutely great find.

The first thing I noticed about the book was the writer - Mark Waid. I'm a 100% fan of this guy and will not hesitate to read anything I see his name on. It just goes to show you the true talents of a writer when he can take characters that I have no memory of and have not ever read before and make them 100% intriguing to me. Right off the bat I immediately loved the "leader" of Hunter-Killer, Ellis, and thought everything he did was brilliant. I love the way that the two teams meet up and fight in order to showcase all of their different abilities. And despite never having read either title before, I absolutely love all the twists and turns being taken on the book. It feels as if I've known these characters forever and I've managed to grow to love them in such a short time. That's all due to the superb writings of Waid which make this crossover event a surefire hit and definitive gateway for new fans to join the books.

Read the rest of the review following the link below.

Final Verdict: Buy


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Marc Silvestri Discusses Witchblade with Newsarama

If there's one comic book property that has been most associated with Top Cow publishing since its origins, that comic is Witchblade.

Based on the wielder of an ancient weapon with supernatural beginnings, Witchblade was launched by Image founder Marc Silvestri in 1995, with writers Brian Haberlin and Christina Z and artist Michael Turner. Since then, the character has gone through a lot of changes and the comic has seen several spin-off titles and crossovers. There was a TV show several years ago, and an upcoming feature film is expected next year from producer Michael Rymer of Battlestar Galactica fame.

In the first part of a series looking at the Witchblade and Angelus characters at Top Cow, we talked to Marc Silvestri about how Sara and the Witchblade character has evolved over the years, and what comes next as we head into 2010.

Newsarama: Marc, just to start out, why all the attention on Witchblade recently? Are there big plans coming for the character?

Marc Silvestri: We've been talking internally about where we want to go with her, which you're not getting out of me, by the way. [laughs] We have some really cool ideas for Sara and the whole Witchblade mythology. We're planning some big event stuff for next year.
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Image/Top Cow Solicitations for February on Newsarama

ANGELUS #3
story RON MARZ
art & cover STJEPAN SEJIC
FEBRUARY 10
32 PAGES / FC
$2.99
Guest Starring the Darkness!
Since the beginning of time, the Angelus has been diametrically opposed to the Darkness. But will Danielle Baptiste, the newest bearer of the Angelus, be able to choose her own path when confronted by sometimes ally Jackie Estacado, bearer of the Darkness?

Read the rest of the solicitations following the link below.

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Image/Top Cow Solicitations for February on CBR

BROKEN TRINITY: PANDORA’S BOX #1
story ROB LEVIN & BRYAN EDWARD HILL
art ALESSANDRO VITTI
cover TOMMY LEE EDWARDS
FEBRUARY 17
32 PAGES / FC
$3.99

The Road to ARTIFACTS Begins Here!
Finn and Glori, the bearers of the Glacier and Ember Stones, first introduced in Broken Trinity, return this month in a pulse-pounding, world-spanning adventure series. When a fanatic cult embarks on a quest to remake the world with the mythical Pandora’s Box, Finn and Glori’s individual goals of gathering the 13 Artifacts is kicked into overdrive.
From newcomers Rob Levin (The Darkness: Butcher) and Bryan Edward Hill (Broken Trinity: Aftermath) and artist Alessandro Vitti (Secret Warriors). Featuring covers by Tommy Lee Edwards (1985)!

Read the rest following the link below.

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This Weekend's Virginia Comicon Features Witchblade #132 Variant

Come to Richmond, Virginia this weekend, November 21-22, and support the Virginia Comicon!

Randy Green has produced an exclusive holiday themed cover for the VA Comicon edition of Witchblade #132. The first 1000 paid admissions get a copy of this “Sweet Christmas!” variant for FREE! There will also be a extremely limited sketch variant cover produced as a thank-you to the attending exhibitors and guests.




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IGN Announces Top Cow's Big 2010 Event -- Broken Trinity: Pandora's Box

In the build-up to 2010's big event, Top introduces a new mini-series dealing with the aftermath of Broken Trinity.

While Marvel and DC seem to be grabbing most of the headlines these days thanks to major event storylines like Blackest Night and Siege, they aren't the only publishers in the business of big events. Top Cow has debuted several crossovers in recent years that have led to radical changes for their lineup of characters, and that trend will only continue in 2010.

For those who haven't been following Top Cow closely of late, the trend began with a mini-series called First Born. That series saw the birth of a daughter to Sara Pezzini and Jackie Estacado, better known as Witchblade and The Darkness, respectively.

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