With Witchblade being on TNT, you'd think that the focus for the comic would be an accessible read for new readers, but instead, Wohl is serving up a comic aimed at the long-time readers. For those who have been following the book, I suspect the book is entering a new golden age, as it ties in old villains, returning villains and more of a focus on the mystical aspects of the story than the police aspects. However, for those just coming on, the book comes off as a little impenetrable, although the impressive action sequences and feeling of a lot of interconnected history is somewhat alluring even as it is off-putting.
There are a lot of villains in this book: The Brotherhood of the Darkness, which is tied into one of Top Cow's other prominent characters The Darkness. Evil business tycoon Kenneth Irons and his henchmen, the suddenly-powerful Ian Nottingham. Tora-No-Shi, the deadly and famous assassin. It's impressive that Wohl manages to convey the basics of all of these villains in the same issue, but at the same time, four villains means that there's room for basics, there's not much room for deeper and more interesting characterization.
I'll be honest, the ideas at the heart of Witchblade and The Darkness leave me cold, and the feeling of being an outsider in someone else's continuity isn't exactly welcoming either. Wohl makes multiple references to past storylines and status quo changes that happened in previous chapters of the book, and unless you were there for them or want to drop some bucks on the trades, you're just not going to get the full appreciation for what's going on in the present as a result. Still, I have to respect Wohl's writing, as he covers a lot of plot territory in a little amount of space, and the book never feels rushed or crowded, even with all the plots and subplots going on. I could use a whole lot more in the realm of characterization, but plot-wise, the book is solid.
Art-wise, the book is Top Cow house style, which means it's not my particular cup of tea. Scratchy lines, a relatively small number of facial expressions, and a lot of torn clothes, fire and blood rule over the work. However, the skimpy nature of the heroine's costume is nowhere to be seen on the interior, showing up instead only on the front cover, complete with breast-grabbing metal hands and Sara cozing up to a very phallic snake. Still, the cover will likely sell the book, even though it isn't really reflective of the interiors, which are more restrained and generally more classy.
Witchblade is not my thing in general, and so I honestly would have been surprised to like this book more than I did. However, despite my lack of interest in the property, I must admit to some admiration for the creators, particularly the writer, who have covered all the basics of storytelling and could well interest me in something else that fits more into my particular sensibilities.
