The Magdalena #12
Written by Ron Marz
Pencils by Nelson Blake II and David Marquez
Inks by Sal Regla and David Marquez
Colors by Dave McCaig
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover by Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla and Dave McCaig
Top Cow Productions
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

I’m a sucker for a strong, badass heroine. I’m not talking some woman that is half-dressed and somehow managing to pose with her boobs and bum in full effect (though, as a pre-teen, that might have been the case, just sayin’). I’m talking about a well written, driven character that shows purpose in her actions and is in it for the long haul. Well, The Magdalena #12 gives us just such a person.

Patience is, for all intents and purposes, not a big fan of the church with which she is so deeply affiliated. They have lied and betrayed her and her friends many times over. But as she is the official bearer of the Spear of Destiny, she is sort of stuck with them to some extent. She is also discovering that not everyone in the church follows blindly, there are others that continue to work for the greater good regardless of the intent behind the orders they are given. Kristof is one such person and one that she finds herself trusting in spite of her fears.

Comics fans, it’s our day!!! It’s our Super Bowl. Our World Series. Our Wrestlemania. It’s FREE COMIC BOOK DAY!!!

Every year, on the first Saturday in May the comics industry comes together and gives out FREE COMIC BOOKS!! Depending on your local comic store, you can choose one or up to ALL of the specially selected free comic books that a slew of publishers put out. Chances are, if you’re a comics fan, you all ready know just what you’re going to pick. But, if you haven’t had the time to look over the Free Comic Book Day website, here’s a brief rundown of SOME of the titles that will be given away at thousands of shops throughout the country. In NO particular order, they are…

The Magdalena #11
Written by Ron Marz
Pencils by Nelson Blake II and David Marquez
Inks by Sal Regla and David Marquez
Color by Dave McCaig
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover by Nelson Blake II, Sal Regla and Dave McCaig
Top Cow Productions, Inc.
Release Date: March 7, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

I have been a fan of Top Cow comics for years, unfortunately I have never had the chance to read this series before. Lucky for me, though, Dave3 sent the first ten issues to catch me up for The Magdalena #11. Like most comics from this company, it rocks! Plus, in this issue, we have Sara Pezzini… you know, the freaking Witchblade!

Our story for this issue revolves around Patience (The Magdalena) and Kristof (a Vatican agent) searching for not only a piece of the one true Cross, but also for the freshly stolen Spear of Destiny. Knowing she needed help, Patience contacted Sara for assistance. Not just the bearer of the Witchblade, Sara is also a detective… and pretty handy to have around.

Witchblade/Red Sonja #1
Written by Doug Wagner
Art by Cezar Razek
Colors by Marlon Ilagan
Letters by Troy Peteri
Covers by Ale Garza
Dynamite Entertainment | Top Cow
Release Date: February 22, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

The new series Witchblade/Red Sonja combines two of the comic book world’s most famous female warriors and puts them together for a major crossover event between Top Cow and Dynamite Entertainment. In Witchblade/Red Sonja #1 we learn that a quest for vengeance has led Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, into uncharted lands far from her native Hyboria. Her tale takes place in the past “in an age undreamed of” where she’s hunting down a beast who’s been taking female virgins for sacrifice. Meanwhile, in modern-day New York City, police detective Sara Pezzini, the bearer of the ancient mythical Witchblade artifact, gets called in to investigate the gruesome death of a Catholic priest.

Witchblade #151
Story by Tim Seeley
Art by Diego Bernard
Covers by John Tyler Christopher, Dennis Calero
Top Cow
Release Date: January 4, 2011
Cover Price: $2.99

It’s been awhile since I’ve read the title, but with Witchblade #151 being the start of a brand new creative team, I thought I’d check it out and give it a try. I was very pleasantly surprised.

It seems that writer Tim Seeley has breathed new life into this book. It’s no longer the hot girl with mystical weapon fighting monsters book, now it’s the hot girl private eye with mystical weapon fighting monsters and solving cases book. And it makes a big difference. It’s nice to have the heroine be proactive instead of reactive for a change. As a covert “first issue” this book did exactly what it should have done — got me interested in the story and characters and hooked me enough for me to want to buy the next issue.