Witchblade #121 Review

Witchblade #121
As I mentioned in my Broken Trinity review, the current Witchblade arc features a threat to the Orthodox Jewish community in New York. And let me just say this issue is so much better then the previous one (even though there is still no indication whatsoever that the Broken Trinity crossover has any bearing on this series).

We are introduced to a grisly crime scene in which an Orthodox Rabbi has been brutally murdered in a way that no normal human being can do. After a witness tells her story of how she saw a monstrous beast just prior to the death, Detective Sara Pezzini and her partner/boyfriend Patrick Gleason go hunting for something that goes bump in the night. Pezzini runs into a journalist who has put the pieces of the Witchblade together and is in need of some proof to give her story some legs. So, the clingy reporter follows Pezzini into the den of what can only be a Golem.

A Golem is apparently a Jewish creation which is a creature made of mud and other natural things then given life to do the bidding of the one who raised it. I remember watching an episode of "The X-Files" (best TV show ever), in which a Jewish woman raised her dead husband from the dead as a Golem. It's interesting to see another take on the mythology of the Golem.

This issue brings another idea to the table. What if Pezzini's secret weapon became not so secret via a newspaper story by a certain nosy reporter. That's what I hope writer Ron Marz is thinking also. It would certainly allow for a lot more storylines to open up which Marz could really use since he's agreed to write 'Blade until at least issue #150.

Sejic's art is as always amazing. Sometimes I think his drawings are real life faces put in a comic book. He does an awesome job of creating a mood with his various shades of color.

While this issue is hands down better than issue #120, I still wish it had something to do with the crossover like First Born did. That reason really brings the rating down but I can only hope that Marz has some plans as to how he's going to work in Broken Trinity into the regular Witchblade series.

3.5/5 stars

Broken Trinity #2 Review

Broken Trinity #2
So, I really didn't want to write a review on this since there is only one more issue coming out and the series is running extraordinarily late. The series was solicited as being a summer crossover. October's around the corner and it's still needs to finish up. However, I felt it to be my blogorific duty to let the readers of Doc's Comic Blog know what this crossover is all about.

Speaking of the word crossover, this series so far has had absolutely no impact on the regular Witchblade series. The previous issue of the regular Witchblade series is all about Danielle's fight with some club guy, Sarah and Danielle talking and ends with a rabbi getting killed.

No mention of a giant Irish ice guy who has a third relic to the "broken trinity" or the return of Angelus.

Nice "crossover," it sure "crosses over" into the other series'.

Also, can I just say I'm really tired of the cryptic asian store owner. Seriously, just give the readers a little insight as to who the hell this guy is and why he knows everything about everything but doesn't like to mention anything to anyone. He just gets a little redundant as a character and could use a little fleshing out.

The art is the one thing the series has going for it. Stjepan Sejic's work is always good and I enjoy looking at every panel.

This whole crossover seems to have lost whatever its original intentions were. Luckily, there is only one more issue left and we can probably expect it out by late January 2025. Don't worry though, I'll take one for the team and actually spend some hard-earned student loan money on the issue and review it for all to see and avoid.

1.5/5 stars

Witchblade #120 Review

Witchblade #120
Sara Pezzini has come a long way during her 120 issue lifetime and with no real end in sight, Ron Marz continues to pump out good stories though lately they have been a little lack-luster.

This issue focuses on Daniel Baptiste, who shares the Witchblade with Sara, as she lashes out at a nameless club guy who hits on her a little too hard. Sara comes in to help her out and the two spend the rest of the night talking.

This is definately an issue for the lady readers. The two talk about their trouble with men and how the good ones want to be with them but they want the bad boys. It doesn't make for a very interesting read except when Sara does her badass cop thing with the punk clubber.

I found myself wondering how a dude like Ron Marz feels about writing girly stories. He does do a good job of catering to the female audience as Witchblade is the only comic book I buy that my fiance will read. (A girl reading a comic? I know, I know ... she's awesome. Why do you think I asked her to marry me?)

I just can't wait for when Marz writes a totally kick-ass story with lots of um ... violence and stuff.

The issue's big fault is that Sara and Danielle do things which aren't explained. The two end their talk up on a bridge. How the hell did they get up there? On the next page it's revealed that the Witchblade allows the weilder to FLY?! I haven't been reading Witchblade since the beginning but I'm pretty sure she never flew ... with fairy wings no less.

It looks cool but it was a big thing that I felt deserved a bigger unveiling or at least an explanation.

The art however was, as always, stellar. Sejic has a knack for drawing chicks and making them look especially hot and not in the stupid, cartoony, FFF's-cups and toothpick waist kind of way.

The issue's ending is kind of strange as well. Dani is dancing then cut to a Rabbi writing Hebrew and getting killed. I'm not really into killing Jews but I'm really not liking all these stories which aren't connected.

We had the awesome story of David Iron's and him taking the Witchblade from Dani, then we get a Aphrodite appearance and no continuation of that story. (I'll assume Marz has plans for the future, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, but definately could've used more Aphrodite.) Now we have a girls night out and I'm not really impressed. It's good for characterization but lets see some story arc's or something.

Speaking of story arc's, how does this issue tie in with the whole Broken Trinity thing? Even though BT hasn't had a second issue in nearly two months, I still really have no idea how they relate, if at all.

This issue wasn't bad but it wasn't good either so it gets an ok rating

2.5/5 stars