If you follow a comic for a while there are moments that cement how good or bad a new creative teams is. These moments can make them stand up and be counted with the talented people that came before them, or make you want to drop the comic book in its entirety. Thankfully, Witchblade #156 is an issue that cements the new creative team in a positive light.

The official description from Image:

Sara Pezzini thought she had reached an understanding with Chicago P.D.’s Jane “Big Woz” Wosnicki, but clearly she was mistaken. In order to protect her secret life, Pezzini will agree to help solve a personal problem for Woz, which will inadvertently lead her to discover another aspect of Chicago’s supernaturally corrupt nature.

A standalone issue from the new creative team of TIM SEELEY (HACK/SLASH, BLOODSTRIKE) and DIEGO BERNARD (The Man With No Name) is a perfect jumping on point for readers just now catching up with WITCHBLADE! Featuring two wraparound covers by DIEGO BERNARD and JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER (ARTIFACTS, Voodoo).

The story follows a simple enough premise, an antagonist turned ally for Sara Pezzini has a brother who is haunted by the ghost of his missing girlfriend. Sara agrees to help deal with the situation. She stays the night with Officer Jane “Big Woz” Wosnicki, and her brother and what unfolds is another layer of the supernatural mess that is Chicago.

Tim Seeley does a wonderful job crafting this issue’s narrative but then proceeds to flip it on its head just seven pages into the story. His characterization of Sara Pezzini and the world of the Witchblade is improving with each issue, as he finds a way to balance the detective habits of this ex-Cop and the arcane world surrounding the Witchblade.

Diego Bernard continues his stint on Witchblade, offering a wealth of detail and style that makes this world and this book work in unison. Chicago looks cold and a bit eerie as our hero traverses the spaces between the skyscrapers. The characters themselves are very expressive but at times they do look a bit static, but thankfully those moments are few and far between.

Overall the art is really good, the story is engaging and as a bonus this issue is new reader friendly. All that adds up to a comic that’s worth checking out.