Witchblade, Magdalena, and Manapul

[greenmask]

Way back when I put up the last requests post (the next one is COMING SOON), I promised some of Francis Manapul's run on Witchblade to somebody. I forget who. I am sorry.

I just managed to get those scans done. The quality is weird and I don't know why. Better late and dodgy than never??

One thing I didn't notice at the time but find wanting in hindsight, is that whilst I was reading Witchblade in.. 2002-2003?.. and in the live-action television show as well, Sara doesnt really have that much in the way of female support characters. Her flake sister shows up sometimes, and there was that daughter of her dead best friend, and every now and then Lara Croft would drop by.. but the day to day, comic to comic stuff was pretty dudefilled.

So it was always nice when another lady did come and visit - such as here. I picked these scans in particular because it's also always neat to see some evidence of in-world "rules" when you're dealing with supernatural jiggery pokery.



I'm not that fond of the way Top Cow chose to advertise it, but maybe you are.



Backstory: Sara has been chasing a suspect from a murder inquiry. That's all you need.





[there is a page of fighting that I cut for length]











I'm not sure if I have the next issue/s. But I'll look, if anyone's interested.



Written by David Wohl.

Comments

[terrykun]

She's got actual arm and shin guards! And she's wearing flat boots! FLAT! I can give the belly area a pass, because that is a nice kickass and relatively practical costume on a woman. (:

And she gets a permit for her weapon. :D

[greenmask]

Far as I remember, she's dressed by nuns.

Fashion nuns?

[darkknightjrk]

Yeah--the fact that she's a nun makes it a little weird for her to show that much skin, but it's still a pretty decent costume. :)

[greenmask]

I do like it actually, most of the time. It's a good-looking costume. And I guess stomach muscle could be intimidating to opponents.

[darkknightjrk]

It could be a minor bit of rebellion as well.

"As a Bride of Christ you can't show off your body like this!"
"I have to wear something skin-tight to better move anyway--and besides, I'm doing a thousand sit-ups a day and I GOTTA show off!"

[greenmask]

Or something to do with the non-judging of Mary Magdalene by Jesus?

Not wanting to equate bare midriffs with being a prostitute or being a prostitute with bad character depiction, but thinking about Top Cow gender politics.

That would be an interesting design feature maybe?

Someone with knowledge chip in and tell us all about this costume's canon!

[darkknightjrk]

I suppose that's possible--I guess I'm just thinking about this with the standard depiction of the Catholic Church in mind, which might be a little silly when we have in cannon that this young female from Magdalene and Jesus' bloodline is the savior of the Earth or whatever.

Though I would assume that, if that was the case, it was something that was added in later, and the beginning was probably just "sexy girl fighting demons," which, again, I wouldn't have a problem with if it weren't for her also being a nun.

[okkult3000]

Mary Magdalene wasn't a prostitute.

[greenmask]

I beg your pardon. Did i remember my school-religion really poorly, or are there conflicting canons?

[greenmask]

Wikipedia sez: pope Gregory thought she might have been, in 591 when he wrote a note on it. This was based on conjecture re: Luke's wording in his gospel.

It seems to have been taken up quite popularly; I had no idea it wasn't actually in the bible as bible facts. I have read some of the bible.. But not all. I can imagine it's an aspect of her potential character that might seem quite storyworthy, but I can't speculate that the Top Cowverse Mary Magdalene was as Gregory supposed or not.

More googling needed.

[okkult3000]

This kind of confusion was bound to happen. Eighty percent of the women in the Bible are named Mary.

[greenmask]

Actually surprisingly it dOesnt seem to be down to that - Gregory took mention of a female sinner and put it together with mention of Mary Magdalene who had seven demons chased out, deciding these demons must be seven sins, and assuming a perfume bottle that's associated with her must have been full of Prostitution perfume(I guess that was a thing).. according to wikipedia.

However also according to wikipedia, Top Cow Jesus and Mary Mag. were royals who married, Jesus' divinity being fabricated upon his good reputation post-mortem, so, that original conjecture is out.

[werehawk]

Please do put up the next Requests post. I have been watching and waiting...not that most of my requests are so obscure or unpopular (like Starro cameos) that they rarely get filled.

In the meantime, I wouldn't mind seeing more Witchblade, especially with Magadelena. I have some of the very earliest stuff and then Ron Marz's run up til 2010, but nothing in the middle.

[greenmask]

I have done it! Sorry sorry sorry it took so long. I do have an excuse, but not a reason (alas!).

Keep on asking, though. I'm sure someone will have what you're looking for eventually!

I shall go through and see what else I can find from my Witchblade days. I do know I have SOME more Magdalena.

But of course.. I can't promise it will be soon. :O

[werehawk]

Thanks! And no worries on timing. I am so busy these days.

[darkknightjrk]

It's interesting seeing early Manapul--I can definitely see it in the way he draws faces, but putting it in the modern coloring style as compared to his more water-color-y style does make it feel very different.

And yes, this is a pretty fun story. I'd like to see more of these two teamed-up and kicking ass. :D

[greenmask]

It is interesting, huh? When he started on (teen titans? Whichever DC book) I recognised his style right away from this old run, and you're right how Different the colouring makes things. I like how he's refined his lines over time.

Actually there was a pencilling assistant on This issue, now I look - I'll see if there's any without.

There's this one large panel I remember so clearly and dearly. Sara Pezzini, front-on, in a t-shirt. No nipple outline! Barely any breast accentuation!

[darkknightjrk]

I think his first DC work was one of the Legion spin-offs. L.E.G.I.O.N. maybe?

Is that panel in these scans? 'Cause now that you mention it, that is a pretty cool thing--Sara and...whatever Magdelena's real name is...looked quite sexy, without any real bendy spines or such stupidity.

[greenmask]

No it's in another.. I'll make a pile of all my witchblade floppies right now and have a look, all I am doing is watching csi: Miami.

[darkknightjrk]

Sweet--I've read a little bit of the classic Witchblade, but it was the early Turner stuff which...has it's ups and downs, so this is really cool to see. :D

[greenmask]

I found it! In the very next issue.

I can only scan in office hours, but I'll try to get it up tomorrow now that I've found it. Or I will forget again.

[korilian]

Oh man that reminds me of those old Top Cow ads! "Our sister can kick your sisters ass!" I used to love those, although they didn't quite entice me to pick up the book :).

[q99]

-
One thing I didn't notice at the time but find wanting in hindsight, is that whilst I was reading Witchblade in.. 2002-2003?.. and in the live-action television show as well, Sara doesnt really have that much in the way of female support characters. Her flake sister shows up sometimes, and there was that daughter of her dead best friend, and every now and then Lara Croft would drop by.. but the day to day, comic to comic stuff was pretty dudefilled.-

Another thing that the Marz run improved. Her boss at her new precent was a dudette, her sister stopped by more, etc..