Witchblade #175 Review

Is this really a key issue? Read on to find out.

The official description from Image:

DOUBLE-SIZED ANNIVERSARY ISSUE! Starting a new storyline, the team of writer RON MARZ and artist LAURA BRAGA continue their acclaimed run, providing an entry point for new readers, as well as a celebration of all that’s gone before. Also features a second story by MARZ & BRAGA, revealing a previously untold tale of the Witchblade in feudal Japan, as well as other bonus features.

One of the toughest things to do with a hyper-reality title is to find a perspective that speaks to an audience in a way that keeps the content fresh. That’s the balancing act this creative team faces with each entry and I have to say, they’ve done a splendid job. From the first page to the final panel they keep an old series special, as they warrant the attention of new eyes.

I never thought that Ron Marz tackling the immediate aftermath of a plot where Sara Pezzini abandoned the Witchblade would speak to me as well as it honestly has. Because of how the author’s played it this latest issue acts as an epilogue of sorts, prior to a subtle shift that begins to take shape. The scribe knows how to attack the core mechanics without damaging them, as our bearer confronts the gauntlet and her life with or without it. In a property that’s survived many labels while in the midst of supernatural battles it maintains substance, which after 175 issues says something.

Laura Braga continues to be an impressive illustrator, as the talent gets to draw some downright creative conversation piece. There’s a soft but dark touch that echoes this journey and highlights the burden this artifact represents. It suits the text as the colors handed in by Betsy Gonia cement the visuals in a rather appealing way. I literally have zero gripes for the overall display, as the art amplifies the written word without stepping on the toes of talents that have long since departed from these festivities.

Witchblade #175 is exactly the type of high caliber comic I look forward to reviewing. It represents a turning point for our heroine as it adds in a couple companion stories plus the Witching Hour. With all that in mind this book instantly becomes a must own for fans and a decent jump on point for new readers. Highly recommended.