Witchblade Case Files #1 Review

Does this deserves a spot on your pull-list? Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

Take a look into the personal files of Sara Pezzini! 19 years and 180 issues of juggling her career as both a law enforcement officer and the Balance of Good and Evil means a whole lot of crooks, ne’er-do-wells, and straight-up monsters, and we’ve got the scoop on the worst of them. Includes a never-before-seen backup story from Talent Hunt runners-up!

This is without a doubt a unique release where we see the nineteen year history of this franchise boiled down to a barrage of pages that takes us from the Microwave Murderer to the Corruption Cataract. Taken for what it is this is an awesome experience, where we as fanboys and fangirls get to take a moment and just bask in the fact that this independent title that many, even today, write off didn’t only survive but thrived.

Ryan Cady sets up the first 18 pages with a series of illustrations, case details and a few sticky notes to further cement the authenticity of this outing. Sara Pezzini is, and always will be, a tough broad that’s come up against nightmarish odds and came out the other side. Whether she’s a detective, private investigator or a small town sheriff, her stint as the bearer of the Balance has forced our heroine to fight on even as she endured personal loss. The biggest detriment to the text are a few bits that feel overly robotic in their execution but the structure acts as a refresher course and a primer for newcomers.

The rest of the package features a short story titled “Working Late.” It centers on Butcher Joyce and a young Jackie Estacado where we see the man who would one day recreate the world in his image kill his first victim. Jed McPherson pens the script and from the first page to the final panel he carries a clear level of quality. The written word is matched by the steady illustrations of Mike Crawford. Add in the colors and the entire look for this feature works within the greater Top Cow universe, so kudos to these two Talent Hunt runner-ups.

Witchblade Case Files #1 is an excellent release for long-time fans and a decent one for newcomers. The contributions found here honor a franchise that’s lasted for nineteen years and still carries an audience. Recommended.