Artifacts #26 Review


The end of the “Progeny” arc is here, but does it deliver a conclusion that’s truly worthwhile?  Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

“THE FESTERING OF EREWHON”

Tom Judge’s plans to recruit Witchblade bearer Sara Pezzini in his quest to overthrow Darkness bearer Jackie Estacado didn’t pan out quite the way he expected. In a desperate grasp to turn his fortunes in battle, Tom has turned his attention to attacking the perversion of the universe Jackie created at its core. But will Tom do what needs to be done when he must brace himself to end the life of an innocent bystander?

When something is billed as an important jaunt that’s going to shape a whole universe, even a smaller one, there’a certainly expectations that by the final page the creative team will have delivered something huge to shake things up.  In this case that’s exactly what happens but I don’t think it’s the ending fans will be expecting.

Ron Marz tests his writer’s mantle by allowing the full weight of the idea of sacrificing an innocent life to save billions of others to be thoroughly explored, while setting the stage for yet another confrontation.  In the process he proves why Sara Pezzini is the bearer of the one artifact that’s meant to balance this world.  It’s a brilliant script that reads exceptionally well and should have devoted fans quite content and even happy by the time they reach the final page.

Art duties this month shift to Marco Turini who turns in a good job overall.  There are panels where faces or forms seem rather rushed resulting with some off-putting sequences but these are quickly forgotten as the talent gets more comfortable with each passing page.  By the end the illustrator is firing on all proverbial cylinders resulting in a solid visual affair.

Artifacts #26 is a fitting conclusion to something that’s been in the works since the Top Cow Rebirth began.  It does suffer from some stumbles along the way, but for the most part this is exactly how this chapter needed to end.  Recommended.

4/5

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