WITCHBLADE #4, by Image Comics on 10/16/24, begins the long, slow dance of seduction between Sara Pezzini and Ian Nottingham.
Credits:
- Writer: Marguerite Bennett
- Artist: Giuseppe Cafaro
- Colorist: Arif Prianto
- Letterer: Troy Peteri
- Cover Artist: Giuseppe Cafaro, Arif Prianto (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: October 16, 2024
- Comic Rating: Mature
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 36
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of WITCHBLADE #4:
First Impressions:
Is this supposed to be a romance comic? It sure feels like Marguerite Bennett decided to write a romance comic. Witchblade #4 holds consistent with the previous three issues by spending an awful lot of time exploring Sara Pezzzini’s feelings, from outright horniness in issue #2 to self-reflection in issue #3 and now, non-stop seduction during her training with Ian Nottingham in issue #4. It’s unclear if anyone thought the reboot would be a slow-burn exploration of feelings issue after issue, but that’s what we get.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left Sara Pezzini in Witchblade #3, she began to settle back into her life of revenge against the crooked cops who murdered her father. What transpired was a lengthy montage of scenes where Sara thought, reflected, and thought some more about who she is now that she has the Witchblade. The issue ended with Sara getting attacked by a man with a sword.
In Witchblade #4, Sara Pezzini immediately decides to trust Ian Nottingham and subject herself to training in a pocket dimension without an ounce of setup or vetting. As the two spar, Sara becomes increasingly unsure of her ability to hold her mind in check as the Witchblade commandeers her body at a primal level.
Marguerite Bennett dips full-on into romance novel territory as every slash, kick, and punch contains a subtext of physical attraction between Sara and Ian. Ian’s dialog challenges Sara to let go of her polite societal exterior to unleash the pure woman underneath, and it’s clear from Sara’s narration that she’s eating up like a pint of Ben & Jerry’s on a lonely Friday night at home.
To level up her training, Ian brings out a demon-possessed corpse so Sara can let loose without fear of killing. The rush of pleasure as Sara feels free to unleash her lethal potential is exhilarating. Later, Ian reports to his boss that the training and his efforts to fully corrupt Sara are on schedule.
And that’s about it.
Overall, Witchblade #4 is an odd issue in that it reads more like a slow-paced supernatural romance novel than a Witchblade comic. Marguerite Bennett’s pacing is slow, Sara is almost entirely a reactive character, and it’s becoming clear that a full reboot may have been a bad choice.
Artwork and Presentation:
Giuseppe Cafaro’s artwork is generally solid. It may surprise you to learn that a healthy chunk of this comic is action, albeit of the sparring variety, so Cafaro has much to work with. Cafaro’s sense of motion is fluid and dynamic, making even the most mundane scenes relatively interesting.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
As noted in previous reviews, this series could rightly be considered a full reboot of the Witchblade canon using the same characters and setup. It’s unclear why a reboot was necessary if the same characters are in play, but here we are.
Final Thoughts:
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WITCHBLADE #4 continues the reboot at a snail’s pace. Marguerite Bennett keeps the focus almost entirely on Sara Pezzini’s primal desires, turning this series into a corny supernatural romance rather than a Witchblade comic. Still, the action is on point, thanks to Cafaro’s strong art.
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