We’re four issues into this Top Cow event and the first chapter has come to a close.  Artifacts #4 isn’t bad in any ways, but it’s not something I came away blown away by like the first two issues.  The issue is that point where both sides come together and their first main goal is laid out.  It’s a chapter, and that’s it.  It can’t really stand on it’s own, but as part of that bridge to the second act it works well.

The first chapter of Top Cow’s biggest event concludes!
Artifact bearers from around the globe including Sara Pezzini, bearer of the Witchblade; Jackie Estacado, bearer of The Darkness; Dani Baptiste, bearer of The Angelus; the Magdalena, bearer of the Spear of Destiny; Tom Judge, bearer of the Rapture; and many others have found themselves pulled into an ancient struggle ignited by the kidnapping of Hope Pezzini. And now, the architect of this fateful orchestration is revealed!

Ron Marz is a fantastic writer and the interaction of the characters and some tension that exists is great, but not a whole lot happens.  Again, it doesn’t really stand on it’s own, but it’s just one part of a larger story.

Michael Broussard puts in the fantastic artwork we’d expect and there’s a great mix of action of quiet moments.  The artwork is top notch as always and that’s part of what we expect in a Top Cow book.

On it’s own, it’s hard to recommend this issue, but for those who love Top Cow and are reading Artifacts, it’s a can’t miss chapter.

Plot: Marz can write, sadly I’ve run out of ways to praise him.  The issue’s interactions between everyone is great as usual and it’s clear this is setting up the plot for the next 9 issues and continuing to introduce the personalities and potential conflicts.  This is still set up, but knowing him, it’ll be vital set up.  Rating: 7.5

Art: Broussard’s art is solid as always.  There’s a lot of characters and they’re all unique and you tend to linger looking at all of the small details he throws in.  This is a slower paced issue for the most part, and the art works quite well bouncing from the beginning’s fast pace to the later slower.  Rating: 8.25

Overall: This isn’t a stand alone issue.  It’s one part of a larger story so it’s a tough one to rate.  For those that are invested in Top Cow or this series, it’s a definite buy, for those who haven’t read any of it, they’d likely shrug their shoulders after reading.  So, I think that’s where I’m at.  This is for the Top Cow fanboys only.  Overall rating: 7.75

Recommendation: Buy for those already reading Artifacts, Pass for the rest.

Page count: 32 pages    Price: $3.99     Release: 12/22/2010

Top Cow provided Graphic Policy with an advance copy of this issue for FREE for review.