Witchblade #1

Writer: Caitlin Kittredge

Artist: Roberta Ingranata

Colorist: Bryan Valenza

Published by: Top Cow Publications

After being away for the past years, Witchblade is back in a new volume and a new heroine who is about to take up the mantle. We are introduce to Alex Underwood, a woman who has gone through quite a bit in her life, as we are informed midway through the issue, who works for a witness aid services unit within the district attorney office in New York city.

Her current case, to protect the ex-wife of a cop who is trying in all his power to get to her, leads Alex into this whole witchblade “mess”. When the issue begins, we learn that Alex has been having the same recurring nightmare for the past week: her, lying in an alley, bleeding to death. What this all means, Kittredge make sure to not let on too quickly, but luckily we get answers quicker than most comics these days. Why? We get the answer in the same issue!

Without knowing much about the original mythology, one thing I do remember is that the Witchblade acts as a parasite to its host by attaching itself to them. After this issue, we learn how this is done and it all links back to Alex’ nightmare that she had been having.

Unfortunately, that is pretty much all I can talk about this issue without going into spoiler territory. What I can say is, the art by Ingranata is beautiful with great color contributions from Valenza. The art helps bring home the impact of the story within the pages and really makes me want to read more. Though the story is a little bit paint-by-numbers as to how Alex will become the witchblade, it is still enjoyable in Kittredge’s great use of foreshadowing throughout.