Wherever there is doubt … there is also danger.
Creative Staff:
Writer: Caitlin Kittredge
Artwork: Roberta Ingranata
Colors: Bryan Valenza
Letters: Troy Peteri
What They Say:
Struggling to adapt to her new life as the Witchblade’s host, Alex finds she’s the prime suspect in the death of an NYPD detective – and that the dead cop had powerful and corrupt friends who will do anything to keep his shady business quiet. But in the world of the Witchblade, nothing is quite what it seems, and Alex soon learns that there’s more than greed and graft at play inside the circle of corruption. The bent cops also have a supernatural backer, and Alex has just landed in his crosshairs.
Content (please note that portions of review may contain spoilers):
Blake Groves was a violent man who beat his wife Myra and when Alex missed his arraignment, they had no choice than to release the monster. Even with a restraining order, they both knew it was only a matter of time until he sought them out … and it would end violently. Unfortunately, the event soon came to pass, but as either imagined with the bloody mass that was a former cop now lying lifeless before them. As if it wasn’t bad enough Alex had to die that same night, but now she wears an strange artifact called the Witchblade, and it was this mystic weapon which lashed out on its own accord, mortally perforating the abuser. And now with the police investigating and Myra attesting Alex protected them in self-defense, neither can tell the truth or even stand to believe what occurred to end this nightmare.
The journalist in Alex seeks out the truth, but at the same time, when something as mysterious as this artifact appears before her, even she starts to question reality. There is no one other than the guardian of the blade, Ash, who can give her the answers she needs, but his response is just as baffling – she needs to accept the Witchblade. However as she ponders those words, something even more perplexing is revealed when returning to the office and accidentally drops Myra’s picture … a thumb drive was hidden within the frame. Even her partner Debbie begins to wonder if Alex is too consumed by the case, but after they see what was on the device, those doubts are put to rest. It seems Blake was surveying his fellow cops from the 78th precinct, filming meetings and keeping records of various activities. Though as they dig deeper into the files, they do notice one consistent element – a strange pentagram based tattoo, just like the one he had on his wrist. How far can this conspiracy go and does it bode well for anyone who dares to confront them, even the bearer of the Witchblade?
In Summary:
Now that we have established the new characters and a basis of how the reboot encompasses this fledgling bearer, writer Caitlin Kittredge can finally flesh out a proper foundation for the narrative. However, this is where the audience runs into a slowdown as she attempts to build the tension and construct a mystery around Blake’s investigation. While I can understand the stumbling block of having to design something new around a pre-established mythos, at the same time this plodding story is confusing to ourselves as well as Alex in trying to understand a new world opened by the Witchblade. There are times in which the tale feels like it is reaching too far from our comprehension as former fans of the title, and if we find it confusing, new readers may not follow it at all. This is especially true when Kittredge tries to introduce mystical elements which stretch our knowledge, by which it seems the scene was a dream and Alex is questioning her own and our sanity. Although this may be understandable later on in the series, for now that ghoulish avatar leaves us wondering what happened within that cold room and if it was a true warning or something conjured for Underwood by her partner. And as we slowly come to a halt within this melodrama, I myself am beginning to doubt if this title is about the Witchblade or an attempt in recreating a crime scene drama for our beleaguered amusement.
However even within this dreary story, the saving grace is the emotionally gripping and yet amazingly morose artwork of Roberta Ingranata, who takes our breath away with her intense cover. She has our attention from the start, and yet it is Bryan Valenza’s enticing colors which draw us into the narrative equally, magnifying Ingranata’s inspiring imagery as the combination feed of each other in a symbiotic relationship. The method of using a grey film gel to focus our attention almost makes it feel like we are watching the action through something akin to a burial shroud, the depressing tone set via this unseen technique. Even with the violence seen within the opening scene, nothing is too gory, with just the right amount of gruesomeness to set the mood and establish things will not get any better, any time soon. Every panel progresses the story forward, making words unnecessary due to the strength of the illustrative tension projected via each frame. You feel like you are being pulled deeper into the story as you turn each page, never being allowed to turn away, even as you realize something sinister is happening within the background. But strangely, the true nature of the title object is notably absent, just hinting its presence with that elegantly subdued ebony bracelet upon Alex’s wrist. While some may wonder when it will make its abilities known, as you stare longingly into this artistic partnerships’ hypnotic excellence, you think in the back of your mind … does it really matter?
The doldrums from the Witchblade are becoming more pronounced as the initial set-up is slowly progressing as we settle into the title. While I may be over enthused as to wanting or needing more action as I read with the previous series’ exciting stories fresh in my mind, it is unnecessary as long as we remind ourselves this is only the second issue. But as our attention is kept in line due to the brilliance of the artistic team’s wondrous visual montage, there is still the nagging desire to see this title equal or surpass what was shown before. And so with bated breath we wait, patiently wishing to see something which will make our wishes come true and turn this narrative into an something with no equal from before or since.
Grade: A
Rating: T (Teen)
Released By: Image Comics
Release Date: January 10, 2018
MSRP: $3.99
