WITCHBLADE #2, by Image Comics on 8/21/24, finds Sara Pezzini struggling to make sense of her amplified senses since the amulet took hold. Little does she know that her transformation is closely watched.
Credits:
- Writer: Marguerite Bennett
- Artist: Giuseppe Cafaro
- Colorist: Arif Prianto
- Letterer: Troy Peteri
- Cover Artist: Giuseppe Cafaro, AriPrianto (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: August 21, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of WITCHBLADE #2:
First Impressions:
Hmm. Well, okay. Marguerite Bennett delivered a relatively strong first issue that sped through the discovery of the amulet that joined with Sara Pezzini to become the Witchblade with tight efficiency. Witchblade #2 takes a decidedly different tack with a “getting to know you” issue that’s short on plot and action but long on a woman exploring the amplification of her senses, but that exploration comes mostly through talking and narration.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Sara Pezzini in Witchblade #1, Sara’s attempt to infiltrate a human trafficking ring took a violent turn when a body-hopping artifact from Europe found its way to her. The artifact unlocked deadly power in Sara, leading to a massacre of the entire trafficking gang.
In Witchblade #2, we catch up with Sara sitting in a jail cell. After the warehouse massacre, all witnesses are brought in for questioning, and Sara soon learns she’s suspended for two weeks pending an investigation because her presence at the warehouse was… unofficial.
Marguerite Bennett begins the issue with a strong, dramatic start by showing the consequences of Sara’s actions. The outcome of Sara’s questioning leads to a logical excuse for Sara to adapt to her new predicament without worrying about the rigors of daily police duty.
What follows is a lengthy series of montages and vignettes depicting Sara feeling the breezes, tasting the rain, eating copious amounts of food, and getting aggressively horny, with emphasis on the horny. Meanwhile, Sara is continually watched by the residents of the Iron Spire as they conspire to bring Sara and the Witchblade under their control.
The preceding series of vignettes and montages take up the lion’s share of the issue. In terms of plot, action, and all-around story milestones, nothing of note happens. Bennett is dead set on getting the reader inside Sara’s head and senses, particularly from a woman’s point of view.
The issue concludes with a visit from a familiar face and the realization that Sara and the amulet don’t agree about who’s in control.
Overall, this is a fine issue in terms of getting to know what it feels like to be the new host of the Witchblade. That said, the plot is placed on the back burner, and the plot pacing slows dramatically compared to the first issue. Stranger still, Sara doesn’t take any time to question the amulet, where it came from, or why it chose her. In short, Bennett is hyper-focused on Sara’s amplified feelings to the detriment of everything else.
Artwork and Presentation:
Giuseppe makes the most of a sedate issue by presenting a series of visually interesting scenes and settings to keep the readers’ eyes engaged. In fairness, there are two action scenes to give Cafaro a chance to flex creative muscle, so the visual experience is positive.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
For readers wondering where this series fits within the greater Witchblade canon, consider it a full reboot from square one. Sara joins with the amulet in issue #1, but all the characters and events you may be familiar with are not present.
Final Thoughts:
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WITCHBLADE #2 is an adequate character-building issue that shows how Sara is adjusting to the power and amplified senses granted by the amulet. However, Bennett’s hyper-focus on Sara’s experience pushes the plot, investigation into where the amulet came from, and everything else to the side. Witchblade #2 is a significant downgrade from the first issue.
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