Witchblade Annual #1

Top Cow have released a number of preview pages from their forthcoming - and long awaited - Witchblade Annual #1. The main feature has been written by Jay Faerber with artwork from Eric Basaluda and there is also a backup story about Ian Nottingham, written by Joshua Cozine and Joe Henderson and penciled by Sheldon Mitchell.

Plot detail from the main feature are sparse although writer Jay Faerber describes it as a ''detective story with supernatural elements ... it's completely self-contained. You don't need to know anything about Witchblade continuity to appreciate it''.

There's a choice of 2 superb covers - each drawn by Basaluda - I'll be taking cover A (shown here).

If you've been thinking about reading Witchblade but didn't want to commit to a whole story-arc then I think this 'one shot' would be a great stepping-on point.

Witchblade Annual #1 is published 6 May 2009.

More Witchblade

I make no apologies for my latest mention for Witchlade - as I've said before, far and away the best thing I'm reading at the moment. Publishers Top Cow have released a number of preview pages of issue #126 and again Stjepan Sejic's artwork looks superb. This issue continues the War of the Witchblades story arc.

Events have been building to this storyline for two years, and by the time it's all over, everyone the Witchblade touches will be changed forever.

The rift between wielders Sara Pezzini and Danielle Baptiste deepens into all-out hostility. Meanwhile, the mysterious manipulator who has been pulling the strings in Sara and Dani's lives finally reveals himself, and chaos follows in his wake.

Check out the preview pages here and order your copy from Destination Venus.

The Art of Stjepan Sejic

I previously mentioned what a great read Witchblade is and I wanted to highlight the work of artist Stjepan Sejic.

Sejic is a 27 year old Croatian who graduated from Fine Arts Academy. Apparently his initial influences were a number of smaller Italian comic book titles before coming across a copy of Witchblade.

The tools he uses to create his art are 3ds Max, Mental Ray, Photoshop and ZBrush - not being an artist myself the only one of these I'm familiar with is Photoshop. If you can tell me anything about the other applications please leave me a comment.

Sejic often uses the alias Nebezial when releasing his work. Examples of his incredible work can be found in his portfolio at deviantART, where he also hosts a blog. I've added a link to the portfolio to the list of my favourite websites on the right.

Witchblade

My favourite monthly read at the moment - for a little while now in fact - is Witchblade, published by Top Cow.

The series follows the life of New York police detective Sara Pezzini who is the bearer of the Witchblade - a supernatural artefact that carries great powers. The Witchblade has been worn by many woman over the centuries and indeed Pezzini currently shares it with Danielle Baptiste, a young dancer from New Orleans.

The Top Cow universe is populated by demons, dimensional gates, ghosts and magic. As Sara goes about her business she encounters all of these elements and uses the Witchblade to overcome them.

The writing on Witchblade is always to the highest standards of sequential story-telling - at the end of each issue I find myself desperate for the next - while the artwork - both interior and cover - is beautiful and menacing in equal measures.

If you're a long-time comic book reader then chances are you are already reading Witchblade - if you're not or you are new to comics then pick up a copy - you will not be disappointed.

[Try Destination Venus for your comic book orders - in terms of choice and customer service I've not found a better online store]