Tag Archives: ron marz

Preview – Witchblade Volume 8 “War of the Witchblades” Trade Paperback

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WITCHBLADE VOLUME 8 “WAR OF THE WITCHBLADES” TRADE PAPERBACK

(w) Ron Marz   (a) Stjepan Sejic   (cov) Stjepan Sejic

The biggest storyline in Witchblade to date is finally collected!
Don’t miss your opportunity to find out what all the excitement was about. Sara Pezzini gives in to the dark side of the Witchblade and only Dani Baptiste can bring her back into balance. And with an ambitious Angelus Lieutenant and an Angelus force without a host circling, neither Sara nor Dani may survive the battle.

Collects Witchblade #125-130 including the bonus story “Augury” from issue #125.

Full Color   176 pages   $14.99   Trade Paperback

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Review – Magdalena #3

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Magdalena 3I’m a big fan of Magdalena written by Ron Marz with great art from Nelson Blake II.  The issue picks up with Patience on the trail of the little boy she’s tasked with killing.

Descended from the bloodline of Christ, Patience is the latest incarnation of the Magdalena. Armed with the Spear of Destiny, she is tasked with destroying any and all evil… even if it takes the form of a little boy. Patience might be able to destroy the boy’s demonic protectors, but can she bring herself to murder a child who could ultimately prove to be innocent?

While the issue is a long fight it serves a pretty important purpose.  We need to see Patience in a fight and what she and Kristoff can do in a brawl.  The issue serves as that bridge and does it’s job well.  Even without the normal out front and center character focus a lot of Top Cow comics have, the fight and interaction is entertaining.  Instead any character development is subtle and pulled off well.

The series is a build up.  We know Patience will confront the evil little boy in a future issue and she’ll face the task of having to kill him.  Will she go that far and complete her mission?  We get the build up and hints by watching her interaction here with others.  We know she has it in her to do what needs to be done, but when push comes to shove, will she do it when she really has to?

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Artifacts #1 Goes to Third Printing Plus Artifacts #0 In Its Entirety

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Official Press Release

TOP COW CELEBRATES A FIRST WITH ARTIFACTS

ARTIFACTS #1 GOES TO THIRD PRINTING

LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 31, 2010 – Top Cow Productions, Inc. is proud to announce that the first issue from their mega-event series, Artifacts, has sold out for a second time at Diamond and will head back to the printers for a third printing to meet demand, a first in Top Cow history.

The dynamic pairing of writer Ron Marz (Witchblade) with the art team of Michael Broussard (The Darkness), Rick Basaldua (The Darkness), Sal Regla (Magdalena) and Sunny Gho of IFS (Velocity) delivers one of the most accessible and engaging event series to date.

”The rapid sales velocity on Artifacts #1 has been incredibly gratifying and a testament to the fantastic work that the entire creative team of Ron Marz, Michael Broussard, Rick Basaldua, Sal Regla, and Sunny Gho have been doing,” commented Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik, “We’ve never gone to a third printing, but this is our biggest event to date and we want our retail partners to know that we are fully behind it.”

“Obviously I’m thrilled we’re going go to a third printing of Artifacts #1,” said Marz.  “Huge thanks to the readers and retailers for supporting the book. The most gratifying aspect to the whole thing is that a lot of new readers are trying out Artifacts, finding it absolutely accessible, and using it as their gateway into the Top Cow Universe.”

Bringing together a number of plot threads from all over the Top Cow Universe the past few years, Top Cow’s first foray into a universe-tying event has been well-received across comic book and pop culture communities, including Comic Book Resources, Newsarama, Comic Vine, iFanboy, Techland, USA Today and many, many more taking notice.

Artifacts #1 3rd Printing, a 32-page full color comic book for $3.99, will be in stores September 22, 2010.  The saga continues with Artifacts #2 arriving in stores the same day.

About Top Cow Productions Inc.

Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008.  WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.

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Baltimore Comic Con 2010 – Top Cow Panel

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Ron Marz, Nelson Blake II, Filip SablikI sat down at one of the Baltimore Comic Con panels to see what my friends at Top Cow had to say about what we can expect and hear them dish on a little insight into their comic making madness.

On the panel was über writer Ron Marz, artist Nelson Blake II and Top Cow publisher Filip Sablik.  Here’s some of what they had to say.

  • Artifacts brings together the fantasy and science fiction aspects of the Top Cow universe together.Ron Marz
  • At the stories heart is Sara Pezzini and Jackie Estacado’s search for their daughter Hope and challenges them both to see how far they’ll go, what lines they’ll cross and what they’ll do to get their child back.
  • Marz described the event as a Michael Bay movie but with characters on top of the action.
  • Marz then went to talk about the overall writing philosophy of Top Cow and that you shouldn’t need a degree in continuity to enjoy a comic.  It’s basic writing 101 in that a comic should be accessible for new and old readers alike.  Artifacts is especially written to make sure that’s the case.
  • Artifacts #1 is going back for a third printing, the first Top Cow comic to do so.
  • The panel went on to talk about the Velocity mini-series and how the original project was scrapped due to creator disagreement.  A pitch by Marz when he stepped in to write the series was to have it be a relay race where Nelson Blake IIeach issue is handed off to a new writer and artist.
  • Nelson Blake II described Magdalena as “a symptom of what’s going on in the Top Cow universe.  It’s all part of the same vision.”
  • There was lots of discussion in how creating comics needs to be a collaborative project between the writers and the artists and Top Cow makes sure that’s the case.  Other companies take an assembly line approach to production.  The writer creates the script and artist draws what they write.
  • When it comes to the overall universe Filip stated that you should be able to buy just one comic book series if you like and enjoy it on it’s own, but ifFilip Sablik you purchase everything, you should be rewarded with a richer story.
  • They’ve launched some graphic novels for $5 to get you, the readers, to take a chance on the series (they’re worth it).  They’ve even launched one that has six first issues for $5 understanding the economy is tough and it’s more difficult for individuals to try out and take a chance on a new series.
  • When it comes to a Witchblade movie, the funding is in place but they haven’t gotten a script they like and have gone through 3 or 4 scripts.  They’d rather have no movie than put out crap.

Preview – Angelus #5 (of 6)

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Angelus #5 (of 6)

(W) Ron Marz        (A) Stjepan Sejic      (Cov) Stjepan Sejic

Just as Dani and Finch’s relationship reaches a turning point, Dani must embrace the role of the Angelus once again, finally facing down an enemy who has lurked in the shadows and plotted her doom. Forced to make a choice between her humanity and her life as the Angelus, what will Dani choose?

Full Color        32 pages        $2.99      limited series

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Baltimore Comic Con 2010 Recap

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We’ll have lots of videos, reviews and in-depth highlights coming over the week, but let me first say Baltimore Comic Con is a fantastic show.  I haven’t been to a comics focused show in a long time, and this was a hell of a show to dive back into the comics convention scene with.  Here’s my thoughts off the top of my head.

  • BCCC is heavily focused on writers, artists and independents with a healthy mix of shops.  It’s great to see this as I geeked out seeing legends some of my favorite current writers and artists in person.
  • The show backed up what I originally saw at Gen Con, vampires are out and zombies are in.
  • The Top Cow folks, especially Ron Marz (more on that later) are as fantastic in person as they are to deal with online/virtually.  It was great meeting them in person and I can’t wait to see them all again in New York in October.
  • It was great to finally meet Len Wallace in person.  We gave his comic Love Buzz our first perfect 10 and named it the best graphic novel of 2009.  Go buy it on Amazon right now!
  • Local shows are where you need to go to find lots of independent comics in one place and the bonus is you get to talk to the creators in person.

Check out all of the great of the great stuff we brought back (we’ll be busy for a while).

Baltimore Comic Con goodiesBaltimore Comic Con goodiesBaltimore Comic Con goodiesBaltimore Comic Con goodiesBaltimore Comic Con goodiesBaltimore Comic Con goodiesBaltimore Comic Con goodiesBaltimore Comic Con goodies

Preview – Magdalena #3

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Official Press Release

Magdalena #3

(W) Ron Marz        (A) Nelson Blake II      (Cov) Ryan Sook

The Star of the Forthcoming Feature Film Gets Her Own Series!
Descended from the bloodline of Christ, Patience is the latest incarnation of the Magdalena. Armed with the Spear of Destiny, she is tasked with destroying any and all evil… even if it takes the form of a little boy. Patience might be able to destroy the boy’s demonic protectors, but can she bring herself to murder a child who could ultimately prove to be innocent?

Full Color        32 pages        $3.99      ongoing series

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Top Cow: November 2010 Solicitations

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Top Cow Items Shipping In November 2010

Artifacts Volume 1 Trade Paperback

(W) Ron Marz                  (A) Michael Broussard      (Cov) Top Cow’s Finest

Catch up on the Event of the Year!

Discover the series that has everyone buzzing with this introductory priced trade paperback collection released to coincide with the beginning of the second chapter of the yearlong event! Separately, thirteen mystical Artifacts will guide the fate of the Universe. Together, thirteen Artifacts will end the Universe. When a mysterious antagonist kidnaps, Hope, the daughter of Sara Pezzini and Jackie Estacado, Armageddon is put into motion. Starring virtually every character in the Top Cow Universe, this is a series for diehard fans and new readers alike.

Written by Top Cow Universe architect Ron Marz (Witchblade, Magdalena) and featuring art by Michael Broussard (The Darkness), this volume collects Artifacts #1-#4 along with the Free Comic Book Day #0 issue and a beautiful cover gallery, behind-the-scenes extras, and much more!

“ It’s loud, widescreen comic book mayhem that sticks to the roof of your brain” – 4 out 5 stars – Comic Book Resources

“…dramatic and heavy…visually striking…” – Newsarama

“…great writing and great art are in perfect tandem.” – Crave Online

“I have a feeling this book is going to be huge.” – 4.5 out of 5 stars – Comicvine

Full Color                        160 pages                        $9.99              trade paperback

Expected Ship Date – November 17th, 2010

Artifacts #1 Second Printing

(W) Ron Marz                  (A) Michael Broussard         (Cov) Michael Broussard

For fans who missed out on Artifacts the first time around, Top Cow offers this special wraparound cover second printing of the landmark first issue.

Full Color            32 pages            $3.99                        limited series

The Darkness #89

(W) Phil Hester         (A) Sheldon Mitchell      (Cov) Bane

Outer Darkness, Part 1 of 6!

With the threat of the Sovereign finally removed from his life, Jackie believes he can get some well-deserved rest. Beaten and worn down, Jackie simply wants some brief peace. But just as he believes he has a grasp on the true nature of The Darkness, Jackie’s world is opened up to another dimension all together. And with it, the Darkness War begins…

Full Color                        32 pages                        $2.99              ongoing series

Expected Ship Date – November 3rd, 2010

The Darkness/Darkchylde: Kingdom Pain San Diego Comic-Con Wraparound Variant Cover

(W) Randy Queen         (A) Randy & Sarah Queen         (Cov) Randy & Sarah Queen

Get this gorgeous wraparound convention variant cover by artists Randy & Sarah Queen, previously available exclusively at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Quantities are limited, allocations may occur.

Full Color            48 pages            $15.00            Convention Exclusive

The Darkness: Four Horsemen #4 (of 4)

(W) David Hine                  (A) Jeff Wamester                  (Cov) Jeff Wamester

The Darkest Tale of The Darkness Yet!

Apocalypse has come to Ginsberg, CA! Two ominous powers arrive in town, one of ultimate light and the other of deepest darkness, and Jackie Estacado is trapped between them. The Four Horsemen are ascending to their full power. Can Jackie muster the power to prevent the end of the world?

From David Hine (Batman: Arkham Asylum) and up-and-coming artist Jeff Wamester (Frenemy of the State).

Full Color                        32 pages                        $3.99              limited series

Expected Ship Date – November 10th, 2010

Magdalena #5 (of 13)

(W) Ron Marz                  (A) Nelson Blake II      (Cov) Ryan Sook

The Penultimate Chapter in Patience’s Return!

When Patience, the latest in a long line of The Magdalena, bearer of the Spear of Destiny, and Kristof, her mentor and Knight of Malta, confront the demonic cult in ancient catacombs they soon find themselves overwhelmed. Patience has been told that Magdalena bearers tend to lead short lives and she is about to find out why first hand.

Full Color                        32 pages                        $3.99              ongoing series

Expected Ship Date – November 3rd, 2010

Witchblade #143
(W) Ron Marz                  (A) Stjepan Sejic                  (Cov) Stjepan Sejic

Tiamat, Part 4 of 4!

Sara knows that it is always darkest before the dawn, but this time, the combined toll of the “War of the Witchblades,” the death of her sister Julie, the kidnapping of her daughter Hope, and now the relentless onslaught of the God-Queen Tiamat on New York may prove to be too much for even the bearer of the Balance to overcome.

Full Color             32 pages             $2.99              ongoing series
Expected Ship Date – November 10th, 2010

Velocity #1 Supercon Blank Sketch Variant Cover

(W) Ron Marz                  (A) Kenneth Rocafort                  (Cov) Your Favorite Artist

Get this blank sketch convention variant cover, previously available exclusively at Florida Supercon. Quantities are limited, allocations may occur.

Full Color            32 pages            $10.00            Convention Exclusive

Top Cow Bible Addendum #1
(W) Top Cow’s Finest                  (A) Top Cow’s Finest                  (Cov) Top Cow’s Finest

Find Out What Top Cow Has In Store in 2011 and Beyond!

Debuting at Comic-Con International in San Diego, Top Cow releases its first Addendum to the Top Cow Bible. Featuring over 25 new properties and series overviews accompanied by stunning brand new art from artist like Marc Silvestri, Dale Keown, Kenneth Rocafort, Jeffrey Spokes, Erik Jones, Jorge Lucas, and many more. This is a must have for any true Top Cow fan. Find out how “We Create…”

Full Color             32 pages             $5.00                        convention exclusive
Expected Ship Date – November 10th, 2010

Velocity #1 San Diego Comic-Con Variant Cover

(W) Ron Marz                  (A) Kenneth Rocafort                  (Cov) Kenneth Rocafort

Get this stunning sketch convention variant cover by series artist Kenneth Rocafort, previously available exclusively at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Quantities are limited, allocations may occur.

Full Color            32 pages            $10.00            Convention Exclusive

Tracker Volume 1 Trade Paperback

(W) Jonathan Lincoln         (A) Francis Tsai, Derec Donavan, Abhishek Malsuni         (Cov) Francis Tsai

The first property from Heroes and Villains Entertainment collected!

Alex O’Roark, the FBI’s top tracker, has his perfect life ripped to shreds when a case to capture the world’s most dangerous serial killer leads him straight into the maw of a werewolf.  Now, keeping his secret from his gorgeous fiancé and the FBI, he must hunt down the wolf that infected him before the disease turns him into a monster.

“All in all, I was pleasantly surprised with Tracker, and look forward to more.” – Newsarama

“It’s mature and gritty, yet mysterious and supernatural, allowing the reality to lead the fiction into believable circumstances.” – Fangoria

“The book manages to take a basic serial killer story and give it a twist” – Player Affinity

“Lincoln’s writing is concise, and easy to follow, but never oversimplified.” – Geeks of Doom

Full Color            144 pages            $14.99              trade paperback

Expected Ship Date – November 24th, 2010

HVE 2011 San Diego Comic-Con Exclusive Preview Book

(W) Various                  (A) Paolo Pantalena, Eric Basaldua                  (Cov) Paolo Pantalena

Find out the exciting new series in store from Heroes and Villains Entertainment and Top Cow Productions in 2011 in this exclusive preview book, first offered only at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Included in this preview book are first looks at Epoch, Son of Merlin, and Netherworld.

Full Color            24 pages            $1.00                        Convention Exclusive

Updated: Top Cow at Baltimore Comic-Con 2010

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Official Press Release

TOP COW HEADING TO BALTIMORE COMIC-CON 2010

LOS ANGELES, Calif., August 23, 2010 – Top Cow Productions, Inc. proudly announced today that they will be returning to the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con, Baltimore’s premier entertainment convention, this weekend August 27-28,2010.  This marks the third consecutive year the publisher has had a presence at the show.

Top Cow Publisher Filip Sablik and Direct Market Liaison Atom! Freeman will be bringing writer Ron Marz (Artifacts, Witchblade) and artist Nelson Blake II to the show.  Marz and Sablik (Pilot Season: The Asset, Last Mortal) will be on hand for signings both days at the Top Cow booth.  In addition, Sablik will be available throughout the show for portfolio reviews for aspiring artists.

The publisher will be offering an exclusive Baltimore Comic Con variant cover to Velocity #1 for the event by Michael Broussard.

Attendees are invited to join Sablik, Marz and Blake for a frank and lively discussion of upcoming events in the Top Cow Universe spinning out of the world-shatter event series – Artifacts – in the Top Cow: We Create…Universes panel in Room 308 at 1 pm on Saturday.  Every attendee will receive a free gift just for attending.

For more information on Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Baltimore Comic-Con, please visit www.topcow.com and www.baltimorecomiccon.com, respectively.

Velocity #1 Baltimore Comic Con

About Top Cow Productions Inc.

Top Cow Productions, Inc. (www.topcow.com), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades. Its flagship franchise, WITCHBLADE, was TNT’s #1 original film of 2000 and the subsequent TV series was released on DVD on July 29, 2008. A feature film, co-produced by Platinum Studios, Inc. and Arclight Films, is slated to begin production in Australia with director Michael Rymer. WITCHBLADE is also the first American property to be fully adapted in Japan as an original anime and manga by Studio GONZO in 2006. Top Cow’s other flagship property, THE DARKNESS, was developed into a major next-generation video game release by Starbreeze and 2K Games and achieved platinum sales status. WANTED, an Eisner-nominated miniseries published by Top Cow from 2003-2005, is now a major motion picture from Universal Pictures starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. Virtually all of Top Cow’s other properties are in development as feature films, live-action television, animation or video games. Top Cow has also successfully licensed and merchandised its franchises into toys, statues, clothing, lithographs, puppets, posters, magnets, shot glasses, lighters, lunch pails, wall scrolls, mouse pads, die-cast cars, calendars, Christmas ornaments, Halloween masks, trading cards, standees, video games and roleplaying games.

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