Pull-O-Rama: July ’09

[Stephanie]

It’s time for another comic book Pull-O-Rama, where we present an assortment of recent comics and let you know how much they rock, whether they’re not quite up to par ... or if you should skip them altogether.

This month we’ll flip through the war of darkness versus light in Witchblade #128, the brand new Descendant comic, Winick’s continuation in Batman #688, and the return of a beloved character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #26.

Witchblade #128

If you’re a Witchblade fan, then you won’t want to miss the current “War of the Witchblades,” guaranteed to change the comic as we know it. In Witchblade #128, Ron Marz clashes light against dark in part four of the climactic storyline that holds the fates of the two Witchblade bearers in hand.

Previously, Danielle Baptiste and Sara Pezzini went head-to-head after the Darkness influence of Sara's half of the Witchblade causes her to attack Dani and send her tumbling over the edge of a rooftop. The bloodshed didn’t stop there, however; Sara was viciously impaled by the spear of the Angelus warrior Sabine, who desires to reign as the next Angelus host.

Sara’s boyfriend, Patrick Gleason, manages to show up with their daughter, Hope, before the warriors can take both bearers with them, but they only allow him Sara’s bleeding body, soon-to-be healed body. They leave, vowing to reclaim Sara’s half of the Witchblade later. Now Dani must decide whether to join or work against the Angelus’ wishes, but whatever the decision, the war is far from over—and Sara is plummeting down a dark path. Stejepan Sejic couldn't have been a better pick to illustrate the rising world of Witchblade, which continues to collide with forces that make for edge-of-your-seat storytelling courtesy of Ron Marz.

Descendant #1

Sometimes you really shouldn’t judge a comic by its cover—and the new comic Descendant does well to drive home that point. Its premiere issue just might surprise you with how much it has in store.

Writers Michael Dolce and Marcus Perry take the issue and pack it full of content while still maintaining a smooth, enjoyable pace. In a world where terrorism has lost its religious purpose and livelihood in the sake of freedom, the atrocity has now become simply business. That’s where Lieutenant Rayne Santiago and her government-associated crew come in; it’s their job to run head-long into the heat of terrorism and put a clean, inconspicuous end to it before it can do any real damage. She has an adrenaline-packed job and a life that’s just starting to blossom with romance, but sometimes the past just refuses to stay where it belongs.

A face from Rayne's childhood days makes an appearance, seeking out her aid and reminding her of her dangerous secret and why her “people” need her protection and guidance now. Going home isn’t going to be easy, but the people and well-being of the nation of Martagal in South America are confronted with a threat that requires a savior’s attention. But whether Rayne is demon or goddess—or maybe a little of both—has yet to be decided.

Not only is the comic engaging, but Mariano Navarro’s art in Descendant #1 simply takes your breath away. From the dramatic, vibrant colors to the well-placed panels, Navarro knows when to let Dolce and Perry's story take the spotlight and when the comic calls for a more intense approach.

Batman #688

I enjoyed Judd Winick’s take on the previous Batman #687, as it truly revealed the hearts of those most affected by Bruce Wayne’s death. Many of its moments were heartbreaking and genuine, focusing on the struggle to move forward. It’s almost strange to see this current issue take such a different turn. Winick's telling of Batman leaps into the next generation of caped crime-fighting and villainy while still reminding us that the new age of Gotham is far from in full swing.

The issue begins by showing a battered and bleeding Batman taking punches from a shadowed man in a fight set three weeks from now. Winick starts off Batman #688 well by having the speaker harshly challenge Dick Grayson’s choice to don the cape and cowl, but once the focus backtracks to the present, things begin to slip in quality. Grayson’s tactics are clearly much different from Bruce’s, and Gotham and especially its police are beginning to notice the drastic change. Winick does a great job of communicating this, and Mark Bagley’s art complements it well—giving us some truly eye-popping panels wonderfully colored by Ian Rannin.

The sparring moments between Damian and Dick, and the chemistry between Dick and Alfred, are quite enjoyable, but the rest of the issue—from the rooftops of the GPD to an angry Penguin and a plotting Two-Face—doesn't have the same emotionally stirring or engaging effect that the previous comic did. However, Winick does a great job at handling such a difficult point in the Batman comics’ legacy, so it’s hard to complain too much. But it would be nice to see some real action again.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #26

Fans of Whedon and Dr. Who will be familiar with the name Jane Espenson, and now she’s scripting the latest Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic to hit the shelves, “Retreat.” Espenson's story boasts great dialogue and keeps your interest far from undead.

Buffy #26 brims with magical spells and counter-attacks, defenses and, well, retreat. In between demon attacks and reunions that aren’t all of the happy kind, the issue focuses mainly on the battle and finally on what needs to be done to win the war against Twilight. However, the story suffers from certain flaws that drag it down to a more average status.

The comic jumps more times plot-wise than the late Anya did in the presence of bunnies, giving Buffy #26 a rushed feel that consequently pulls the story in different directions and even has you asking, “Wait, what just happened? How did they get there?!” Espenson might have the spotlight, but she should have stuck with a better-paced approach rather than trying to cram in as much as she could in twenty-two pages. While this issue doesn’t feel essential, there are some little, important moments that will surely be expanded on in following issues. Not to mention a certain zen master makes his return debut on the final page.

Good or bad, you can check out all of these comics in the Impulse Creations shop. Want to pick next month’s Pull-O-Rama comics? Email your suggestions and why to wita.gen@gmail.com.