
As the saying goes everything old is new again. It is a saying that rings true throughout many parts of life, particularly in comics. After a long hiatus and four years after the return of the book was announced comic readers are being treated to the return of Sara Pezzini and The Witchblade.
This time around Marguerite Bennett has taken over the writing duties and with Witchblade #1 she is throwing the readers right into the action. From the start, we find out that like the original series, Sara Pezzini is a New York City Police detective. She took the career path, after the brutal murder of her father, to track down those responsible. The pace of the story is quick, and it feels like we go from 0-100 in no time. Then just as fast the issue comes to a screeching halt. Even with the fast pace, there feels to be the right amount of character-building and laying out the foundation for the future.
Those readers who remember the 90’s version of the series know that the T & A was what brought some readers to the book. Random lingerie-filled panels or a supernatural being that ripped Sara’s clothes away were commonplace. Thankfully as that has become less and less the norm Witchblade #1 follows suit. Giuseppe Cafaro does the line work for this book, and it is gorgeous. The characters jump off the pages while feeling grounded in reality. The action is swift and chaotic, as you would expect from a supernatural being, but is easy to follow. There were several of the panels where I just stopped to enjoy all the details as body parts flew through the scenery. Complimenting Cafaro’s line work was Arif Prianto colors which brought true depth to the pages. When the script called for things to slow down a bit the colors became more muted and soothing, while when the action was at its peak bright pops brought your view right where it needed to be.
It is hard to hit the right balance when rebooting a series. The creative team needs to walk the tightrope of introducing fresh ideas, while not ignoring the established lore. Bennett and her team have done just that with Witchblade #1. Long-time fans will recognize elements that drew them to the original series. Meanwhile, those looking to jump on for the first time will not feel as if they need a backlog of information to enjoy the story. If this first issue is any indication, then this reboot should enjoy a long and rewarding run.