As long as I've been reading comics and reading about comics, there are so many characters I have heard of but have never read. Top Cow's Magdalena is one of those characters. After reading the first issue in the new Magdalena series, I'm wondering why I just now discovered this title. Take the adventure and snark of Danger Girl and mix it with BPRD-style demon hunting, and you have Ron Marz's Magdalena.
When reading this book I got the sense that there was an established story, but Marz does a great job of bringing new readers into the mythos of Magdalena. He skillfully integrates the history into conversations so it doesn't feel like a recap. In this book the first encounter we have with Patience, the current Magdalena, is in conversations about her. She's gone rogue, and there is another Magdalena-in-training waiting in the wings. Kristof travels to Elba to find Patience, who is a dynamic character. Her dialogue with Kristof is snappy--she doesn't pull any punches. She's flirtatious, but she's also very serious about her issues with the Church. Marz also throws in a little demon-hunting action for good measure, and it all adds up to a great first issue.
Along with this story, Top Cow assembled a phenomenal art team for this book. Nelson Blake II's pencils, augmented by Sal Regla's inks and Dave McCaig's colors are beautiful. The splash describing the history of the Magdalena is one of the most gorgeous splashes I've seen in a while. They even make the demon-hunting pretty. The most beautiful piece of all is Ryan Sook's cover art, but then I would say that about any book where Ryan Sook works his cover magic.
All in all this is a fantastic relaunch of a Top Cow title. It made me want to go back and read more of the past Magdalena stories, as well as adding this to my pull list. It's interesting, fun, and exciting.
Stacey Rader
Review Editor
Read more...
Read More
Top Cow would like to offer you a preview of Ron Marz and Nelson Blake II's Magdalena #1, which is out in stores this coming Wednesday, April 21st.
MAGDALENA #1
story RON MARZ
art NELSON BLAKE II
cover RYAN SOOK
APRIL 28 32 PAGES / FC $3.99
The Star of the Forthcoming Feature Film Gets Her Own Series!
The Magdalena has been the official protector and warrior of the Catholic Church for over two thousand years, sworn to defend the Faith with the Spear of Destiny against all manner of supernatural threats. However, Patience, the latest Magdalena, has seen through the hypocrisy of her masters and struck out on her own. When her old mentor comes to her with a mission to prevent Armageddon, will she be able to resist the call?
From writer Ron Marz (Witchblade, Angelus) and the art team of Pilot Season: Murderer, Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla, and Dave McCaig.
Featuring covers by Ryan Sook (Wednesday Comics)!
Read more...
Read More
Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce Lance Briggs, the 5-time Pro Bowl player and Co-Defensive Captain of the Chicago Bears, will play a special role in Top Cow’s plans for next week’s Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2).
"I've been in love with comics since I was 7 years old. I remember reading my first ever comic, the Original X-Men, and thinking that it was the coolest thing ever," said Briggs. "Top Cow and C2E2 are making my childhood dreams come true."
”It’s very in vogue for celebrities to espouse a love of comics these days, but rarer to find someone of Lance’s stature that has a true, deep seeded love of comics,” commented Publisher Filip Sablik. “Lance’s love of comics is clear to anyone who spends five minutes with him and his passion for Top Cow and The Darkness is second to none. We’re incredibly proud to showcase his love of Marc Silvestri’s favorite son on the special commemorative cover for Chicago fans.”
Shot at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, CA (http://comicsandcards.net), Briggs makes a special appearance on the exclusive Top Cow C2E2 cover variant of The Darkness #84 sporting a Darkness t-shirt by Iron Fist (www.ironfistclothing.com) [Photo credit: David Dearmore, www.dearmorephoto.com]. The exclusive variant is extremely limited and will be made available for the first time anywhere at C2E2. Fans are encouraged to stop by the Top Cow booth early to secure an issue. Briggs will be autographing at C2E2’s Autographing Table 2 on Sunday, April 18th from 12:45 PM to 1:45 PM. There will be a charge for the autograph, with all proceeds going to his charity Briggs 4Kidz.
Lance Briggs will be hosting a panel titled “Lance Briggs: Dreams Come True” on Saturday, April 17, at E353 from 3:00-4:00pm. At the panel, geek out with Briggs as he talks about his favorite comics and shares the stage for a dream come true conversation with some special guests from Top Cow including Matt Banning, Ron Marz, Phil Hester, Nelson Blake II, and Mark Waid. Briggs will also make a special appearance at the Top Cow “Herd It Through the Bo-Vine” panel on Saturday, April 17 at 7:15-8:15pm in E450.
The C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) convention will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois for the weekend of April 16-18, 2010. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.C2E2.com.
About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.
About Briggs4Kids
Briggz4Kids is a foundation developed to provide emotional and financial support, by raising funds and awareness for at risk youth in the Chicago area. The organization has executed numerous charity efforts since it's launch. One project Briggs4Kiz is most proud of is it's annual Holiday Shopping Spree. Since 2006, the Briggs4Kidz foundation has taken a total of 100 local children from the Chicago land area who need it most on a holiday shopping spree, each child received $250. Eligibility was decided based on their performance in school. Today, Briggs4Kidz has plans to expand these philanthropic endeavors to Sacramento, CA and Phoenix, AZ.
Read more...
Read More
PUBLISHER TO DEBUT FRAGRANCE LINE AT C2E2
Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce the publisher has partnered up with Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs to launch the WITCHBLADE Fragrance line, with a portion of each purchase to be donated to Hero Initiative. The WITCHBLADE Fragrance line will debut at this month’s C2E2 convention in Chicago.
The WITCHBLADE Fragrance line features 5ml perfume oil blends based on the characters from Top Cow’s Witchblade series, including Witchblade (Antediluvian, sacred metal, glowing red musk, blessed frankincense, antiqued amber), Witchblade-bearer Sara Pezzini (Hint of leather and an understated vintage musk layered over the scent of lightly perspiring, honey-dusted skin), Detective Patrick Gleason (A classic men’s cologne splashed over a leather trench coat with a hint of gunshot residue) and the Curator (Mysterious herbs and ancient resins). The Sara Pezzini and Witchblade scents are meant to be layered together, but can be worn alone.
The WITCHBLADE Fragrance line retails at $26 a bottle, and will be available for purchase at the Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs booth at C2E2 (#951). For every purchase, five dollars will be donated to the Hero Initiative. Following the show, the WITCHBLADE Fragrance line will be available online at www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com.
The C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) convention will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois for the weekend of April 16-18, 2010.
About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.
About Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab
Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab (www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com) is a cult perfume house that crafts hand-blended body and household scents. They have over two decades of experience in the field, and specialize in eliciting emotional responses through perfume while creating unique scent environments that capture legends and folklore, poetry, and the stuff of dreams and nightmares.
Black Phoenix has several literature-based fragrance lines, including Alice in Wonderland, and the works of Neil Gaiman, and H.P. Lovecraft. With the success of scent lines created to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the Hero Initiative, they have found themselves in demand as a creator of fragrances based on comic properties.
About The Hero Initiative:
The Hero Initiative is the first-ever federally chartered not-for-profit corporation dedicated strict to helping comic book creators in need. Hero creates a financial safety net for yesterday’s creators who may need emergency medical aid, financial support for essentials of life, and an avenue back into paying work. It’s a chance for all of us to give back something to the people who have given us so much enjoyment.
Since its inception, The Hero Initiative has had the good fortune to grant over $400,000 to the comic book veterans who have paved the way for those in the industry today. For more information, visit www.heroinitiative.org or call 626-676-6354.
Read more...
Read More
JOIN THE HERD AT THE INAUGURAL COMIC EXPO IN CHICAGO
TOP COW AT C2E2 2010
Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce its plans for this year’s inaugural Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), the new pop culture convention brought together at McCormick Place in Chicago from April 16th-18th.
Top Cow is a proud sponsor of C2E2 and can be found at booth #551. Fans who stop by the Top Cow booth will be among the first to be able to get a glimpse and purchase Magdalena #1 by Ron Marz (Witchblade, Green Lantern) and Nelson Blake II (Pilot Season: Murderer, The Darkness). The story centers on Patience, the current Magdalena and bearer of the Spear of Destiny in the Top Cow Universe. Patience finds herself unable to trust those in charge of the Catholic Church and faced with the decision if she can work with them to fulfill her role as the Church’s protector or not. Magdalena #1 will arrive in stores on Wednesday, April 21st.
The publisher will be offering two exclusive C2E2 variant covers for the event: a wrap-around Magdalena #1 variant by Blake II and a Darkness #84 photo cover featuring Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs. The exclusives are both extremely limited and will be initially made available at C2E2. Fans will also be able to pick up numerous free promotional items, posters and free comics at the Top Cow booth. Fans interested in sketches from some of the artists should stop by at the beginning of each day to acquire a sketch ticket. Sketch tickets are limited to one per attendee per day. Publisher Filip Sablik will be available throughout the show for portfolio reviews for aspiring artists.
Top Cow will be joined at C2E2 by the following guests: writers Ron Marz (Witchblade, Green Lantern), Phil Hester (The Darkness, Green Arrow), Joshua Hale Fialkov (Pilot Season: Alibi, Tumor) and Bryan Edward Hill (Broken Trinity: Pandora’s Box); pencillers Nelson Blake II (Pilot Season: Murderer, Magdalena), Eric Basaldua (Hunter-Killer, Witchblade Annual) and Alessandro Vitti (Broken Trinity: Pandora’s Box, Secret Warriors); and inker Ryan Winn (The Darkness).
On Saturday, April 17 at 7:15-8:15pm in E450, join Sablik as the publisher launches Magdalena #1 with Marz and Blake II. Special guest, Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs will also stop by to discuss his love of Top Cow’s comics including his favorite character, The Darkness. Additional guests of the panel include Hester, Basaldua, Hill and more as they share with fans what’s coming from Top Cow in 2010, including exclusive early looks, exciting announcements, and special gifts for every panel attendee.
The C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) convention will be held at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois for the weekend of April 16-18, 2010. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.C2E2.com.
About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.
Read more...
Read More
It takes a lot for me to read a vampire story these days. With the media being plagued with vampire stories, I tend to shy away from them, just because I am tired of fangs and pale skin showing up everywhere. That's not to say I don't like vampires; I just don't like sub-par storytelling, especially when it comes to vampires. When I read the synopsis of Top Cow's Impaler, I decided to put my prejudices aside and give this vampire story a try. I am glad I did. William Harms and Matt Timson have created a story that is a solid vampire story, but also tells the story of humanity in crisis.
The premise is pretty straightforward: vampires have taken over the US, and those that are still alive are trying to survive. The survivors are a couple of GIs, a mother and child, a widower, and two dark horse heroes, Vlad and Victor. The tales of the survivors reminded me of reading Walking Dead, in that the monsters everyone's running from both polarize and unify--some people, like the widower, extend kindness to strangers in times of crisis. Others take what they can get in order to survive.
It's always interesting to me to see how vampires are portrayed in a story, whether they're the charismatic undead, charming the female population, or if they're more base creatures, lacking the ability to speak and even rejecting human needs like clothes. The vampires in this story are more of the latter. They can speak, but they are very pale and monster-like.
Harms' writing is beautifully complemented by Matt Timson's art. Timson's style visually depicts the bleakness the survivors face, where landscapes and interiors in neutral tans and grays give way to pools and spatters of blood. My favorite scenes were the wide angle shots, especially of the New Mexico desert.
I read this book not knowing what to expect, and I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed it. For something I had not heard of until this issue, it was one of the best out of the blue reads I've encountered in a while. This is a must-read for any horror comic fan.
Stacey Rader
Review Editor
Read more...
Read More
The Darkness is one of those characters that I feel like I know something about, even though I've never picked up a Darkness book. With all of the reading I do about comics, that happens to me all the time. When I found out there was a book about the character's origins, I decided it was something I needed to read. Though this is not normally my cup of tea in art style or in story, I'm glad I took the time to read it. Garth Ennis and Marc Silvestri have put together an epic origin story that is a good jumping on point for anyone who is curious about this indie icon.
For the uninitiated, here's the basic info you need to know about the Darkness: Jackie Estacado, on his 21st birthday, learns that he has inherited dark powers from his father. These powers allow him to do pretty much whatever he wants, as long as he gives in to the darkness that holds them. Jackie is a mob hitman and a playboy. His new powers help him with the first part. The second? Well, that's another story. The curse of having his new powers is that if he conceives a child, he will die, passing along the power to the child. Oh yeah, and there's Angelus--the light being determined to destroy the Darkness in the hopes of ruling with light, law and love (for her, of course).
About the only other Ennis I've read is his work on Punisher a few years ago, so this makes the second time that Ennis brought me to a character I wouldn't have otherwise had any interest in. He mixes gritty mob violence with supernatural violence and sometimes witty dialogue. (My favorite line was when someone describes the Darkness' power as "the Force on crack".) Reading this book, I got the impression that inheriting this power is actually going to make him a better person, which is saying a lot, considering he's essentially a demon. Lucky for us, he only makes bad things happen to bad people.
Silvestri is best known to me as one of the guys who helped start Image Comics, and for that I am eternally grateful to the guy. Though I didn't really read a lot of early Image, I am fully supportive of their current titles (I'm looking at you, Walking Dead, The Sword, the currently on hiatus Madman Atomic Comics). Silvestri's art has that '90s feel to me: a lot of lines, lots of girls in thongs and metallic looking bras, and lots of little monsters with sharp teeth. It's not a knock against the style at all. Silvestri is a great artist and very successful at what he does; it's just not my style. That being said, I think it works here. The Darkness got its start in the latter part of the '90s, so you get that same feeling from this book you might have back then.
This book was definitely something that should be on a required reading list for anyone interested in comics. If you're like me and it's not something you'd normally pick up, I encourage you to give it a try.
Stacey Rader
Review Editor
Read more...
Read More
JOIN THE HERD AT THREE DAY COMIC AND POP CULTURE EVENT IN SAN FRANCISCO
Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that they will be joining Image Comics at WonderCon 2010. The three-day event will open to the public on Friday afternoon, April 2nd and run through Sunday, April 4th, at the Moscone Center South. Fans are encouraged to stop by the Image Comics booth (#407) to meet their favorite creators and shop for limited edition convention exclusives as well as their favorite Top Cow comics.
Among the creators appearing at the booth will be pencilers Michael Broussard (The Darkness, Artifacts), Nelson Blake II (Pilot Season: Murderer, Magdalena), Sheldon Mitchell (Pilot Season: Stealth, Witchblade Annual) and inker Rick Basaldua (Witchblade Annual). Stop by the Image Comics (#407) booth for signing times.
WonderCon 2010 kicks off at noon on Friday, April 2nd and runs to 7PM. The convention will be open Saturday, April 3rd from 10AM to 7PM and Sunday, April 4th from 10AM to 5PM.
About Top Cow Productions Inc.
Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.
Read more...
Read More
Posts
