Artifacts #36 Review

What will happen when a series of equations cause mass murder? Read on to find out.

The official description from Top Cow:

Tom Judge and Tilly track down students who used a math equation to open up a portal to the Ancient Ones (featured in THE DARKNESS: REBIRTH). Former Angelus and Witchblade bearer Daniel Baptiste investigates related murders.

Following Ron Marz departure from the series Artifacts has been the host of Top Cow’s 2012 Talent Hunt Winners. Following three issues it has however finally moved on and though all the Talent Hunt issues were good I’m glad it has. Though I love the fact that Artifacts gives the chance to showcase many characters from the Top Cow Universe I felt that the one-shot stories didn’t have enough time to convey massively impressive stories whereas now it’s moved back to multi-issue stories it has no excuse to fail to do so.

Dan Wickline handles the script for this issue and it looks as if he may be the permanent replacement for Ron Marz also being solicited for the next issue. Wickline utilises two of Artifacts most well loved characters in the form of Tom Judge and Tilly Grimes, though decides to focus more on Tilly. The way that he manages to give such a deep and mysterious story out of a crazy idea is simply amazing, as though I initially found the thought of equations causing mass murder a bit amusing Wickline has really produced something really interesting here.

For me the best talent to come out of Top Cow’s 2012 Talent Hunt is -ROM- as though all the other winners proved worthy of the feat her art in particular impressed me. The sheer detail of her art is simply captivating, as though the facial expressions are sometimes slightly stiff the overall quality is amazing. -ROM- also gives us a lot of intensity and suspense with her layouts giving an energetic surge to the story. The best thing about her art however has to be her beautiful painted colours which I personally could stare at for hours.

Artifacts moves onto a new story and though it may be quirky it is also very interesting and captivating having wonderful art to accompany it. Highly recommended.