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

[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.