Virtual Adept

Witchblade TPB vol 1 (2008) - This is a misnamed trade paperback, sort of. First of all, this isn’t the first Witchblade trade paperback that was published. This is actually from Witchblade issues 81-87 ish (don’t have the book in front of me right now but that’s close). However, this is actually a really good jumping on point for anyone thinking about trying Witchblade and/or The Darkness comics after the renewed popularity of these Top Cow Comics series thanks to the video game last year based on The Darkness. Which, not coincidentally, since I’m a gamer, is how I came to discover the series. Witchblade is the story about Sara Pazini, who is the bearer of the Witchblade, an ancient artifact whose purpose in the universe is to insure that there is Balance between Good and Evil (Heaven and Hell, lets say, since “good” and “evil” are not so clearly defined in Top Cow’s universe). This trade paperback is a good intro into the series because it introduces a new cop-friend for Sara who gets to learn about the Witchblade and Sara’s place in this cosmic war, and so as a new reader you get to go along for the ride learning too. It’s pretty obvious that Sara has a previous history, but it isn’t too relevant to what is going on in this particular story. The artwork in this trade is superb, very sexily drawn with a really unique style and crisp lines and colors. I really couldn’t ask for more in terms of artwork. The writing is also excellent, with a plot that moves quickly splattered with lots of action and cool scenes, plus enough character discovery to learn about who everyone in the book is without feeling like you’re lost. I highly recommend this trade paperback as a great jumping on point for a really unique and cool comic book series. 8.5/10