Messages from Marz

Releasing this week is Artifacts #24, a stand-alone issue that catches up with the current Angelus host in the Top Cow Universe, the singularly-named Finch. The story brings Finch, as well as her girlfriend and NYPD detective Danielle Baptiste, to the Angelus dimension, which is under attack from … well, I won’t spoil the details.

The art, of course, is by my usual partner in crime, Stjepan Sejic. The story is self-contained, but plants some seeds that will bear fruit in the upcoming “Progeny” storyline, starting in Artifacts #25, and continuing in Witchblade #164 and Darkness #111 before concluding in Artifacts #26.

A preview of Artifacts #24 has been released, and can be found at Comic Book Resources, as well as other sites. Here’s a link:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=14771

The first review of the issue has already been posted, ReadComicBooks.Net rating it 9 out of 10, calling it “…simply another great installment in a standout fantasy series.” The full review can be seen here:

http://readcomicbooks.net/home/artifacts-24/

Cheers,

Ron

This week, Artifacts #23 hits stores, concluding the two-part “Blood Rites” storyline, focusing on everyone’s favorite defrocked priest, Tom Judge. It’s got a demon, it’s got an exorcism, it’s got Tilly Grimes in some cool pants. The issue’s art is, as always, by my Croatian brother in arms, Stjepan Sejic. (He hates it when you call him the Croatian sensation.)

You can view a six-page preview of the issue here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=14517

Some nice reviews of the issue have already been published.

ComicBooked:

http://www.comicbooked.com/book-review/review-artifacts-23/

Comic Hype:

http://www.comichype.com/2012/12/10/artifacts-23-let-the-exorcism-begin/

Unleash the Fanboy:

http://www.unleashthefanboy.com/comics/artifacts-23-review/36804

Comic Attack:

http://comicattack.net/2012/12/artifacts23rev/

One Geek Nation:

http://www.onegeeknation.com/2012/12/13/review-artifacts-23/

Read Comic Books:

http://readcomicbooks.net/home/artifacts-23/

I also did an interview with Newsarama about Artifacts past, present and future. That can be read here:

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/witchblade-vs-darkness-artifacts-25-ron-marz-interview.html

Cheers,

Ron

After last week’s barrage, just one new release for this week, Artifacts #22 from Top Cow/Image. The issue begins a new two-part storyline, featuring Tom Judge and Tilly Grimes investigating a ritual murder in Washington, D.C. As always, my artistic partner is Stjepan Sejic.

The “Blood Rites” storyline brings together Tom Judge’s present work as special investigator for the F.B.I., with his past as a defrocked Catholic priest. Though Artifacts regularly touches upon other characters in the Top Cow Universe, Tom Judge is the spine that runs through the series.

Originally, we had planned a Magdalena storyline for these two issues, but some timing issues caused us to delay that storyline until after the “Progeny” crossover that will run through Artifacts #25-#26 and respective issues of Witchblade and Darkness. That Magdalena story will now appear in Artifacts #27-#28. It’s also worth mentioning that Nelson Blake II and I will soon begin working on a five-issue Magdalena/Tom Judge series that was announced at New York Comic Con.

So what’s coming up in Artifacts #24, you ask? Angelus.

Cheers,

Ron

Two new books on shelves this week (to go along with last week’s Magdalena Vol. 2 trade paperback collection). First up is Artifacts #19 from Top Cow/Image, which kicks off a new storyline, featuring an Artifacts bearer we’ve met before, albeit briefly. Dr. Rachel Harrison appeared in issue #14, finding a corpse that was ultimately traced to a gangland execution, Jackie Estacado style.

In issue #19, Rachel takes center stage, setting up her life as an emergency-room doctor, and now bearer of the Heart Stone. The three-issue arc will take Rachel to some unexpected places, and bring her face to face with Tom Judge once again. Art is my Stjepan Sejic, as usual, and you can see a preview here:
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=12867

My other work out this week is the introduction I wrote for Tarzan: The Jesse Marsh Years Vol. 11 from Dark Horse. I suppose my love for Tarzan is no secret at this point, but I’m thankful for the opportunity to wax poetic about one of my favorite characters ever in the intro. I’d work on a Tarzan comic in a heartbeat.

Of course, I don’t think anybody’s crazy enough to shell out 50 bucks just to read my intro. This volume contains a big chunk of Marsh’s simply powerful and powerfully simple Tarzan work. Plus, the cover has Tarzan fighting a shark. A shark! A preview of the interiors, though not my intro, can be found here:
http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/18-004/Tarzan-The-Jesse-Marsh-Years-Volume-11-HC

Kreegah!

Ron

It’s not new, per se, but it is a new edition. In stores this week is a new pritning of the previously sold-out First Born trade paperback, now branded as part of an Artifacts line of collected editions. The volume contains the First Born mini-series as well as the tie-in Witchblade issues, featuring art by Stjepan Sejic, as well as the incomparable Kevin Nowlan inking over Luke Ross, Stephen Sadowski, and Rick Leonardi, plus a gorgeous Magdalena short story by Ryan Sook.

The storyline is one of my favorites, both because of the gorgeous art, and because we were able to bring a permanent of status quo-altering change to Sara Pezzini’s life. Even if you’re not familiar with the Top Cow Universe or characters, everything you need to know is within the pages of First Born.

Cheers,

Ron

The event that was a maxi-series that turned into an ongoing series goes on this week. Artifacts #15 by me and Stjepan Sejic hits stores Wednesday, continuing the exploration of the “new world” we’ve set up. Disgraced priest-turned-Artifact bearer Tom Judge has realized all is not well in the new world, and all roads lead to Jackie Estacado, host of The Darkness.

You can see a preview of the issue’s opening pages here: http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=45813

Cheers,
Ron

It’s an Artifacts kind of week this week, as both Artifacts #14 and the Artifacts Volume 3 TPB hit stores. The collected edition contains issues #9-#13, with art by Jeremy Haun and Dale Keown respectively, plus a cover gallery and assorted extras.

Artifacts #14 is the continuation of the saga, picking up where #13 left off by exploring the new world that was created at the end of the initial 13-issue storyline. I’m joined on the now-ongoing Artifacts series by Stjepan Sejic, my artistic partner on Witchblade for the last few years. Stjepan and I plan on settling in for a nice, long run on Artifacts, which features Tom Judge and Tilly Grimes as main characters, with everyone from Jackie Estacado to Sara Pezzini to Aphrodite orbiting around them.

By the way, Witchblade: Redemption Volume 4 TPB, by me and Stjepan, was released last week. It contains the final issues of our run, #146-#150.

There’s an 11-page preview of Artifacts #14 here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=11397

Cheers,

Ron

Hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year. Kind of a big week this week, as both Shinku #4 and Artifacts #13 are released on Wednesday. I’ll be doing a signing at Main Street Comics in Middletown from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday as part of Top Cow’s “End of the World” event happening in venues literally across the country.

Artifacts #13 brings to a conclusion the largest storyline we’ve ever done in the Top Cow Universe. The issue is drawn by Dale Keown, with colors as always by Sunny Gho, and a two-page origin feature drawn by my buddy Tom Raney. I couldn’t ask for a better collaborator for this finale chapter of the series, as Dale handles both the epic and character stuff with equal aplomb. It’s just a gorgeous issue.

While issue #13 does bring this story to an end, it does not mark the end of Artifacts. My Witchblade artistic collaborator, Stjepan Sejic, and I will be continuing the series next month, picking right up with issue #14, exploring the new status quo of the Top Cow Universe.

Shinku #4 continues my creator-owned series from Image with Lee Moder, aided and abetted by inker Matthew Waite, colorist Mike Atiyeh, letterer Troy Peteri, and editor/designer Phil Smith. There’s blood, there’s swearing, there’s full a nudity, there’s dead vampires. What more could you want?

Five-page preview here: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=10959

The initial arc wraps up next month with issue #5, followed by a trade collection jammed with extras, and then a new arc starting in April with #6.

Cheers,

Ron

Two new issues on the stands for me this week, as both Artifacts #12 and Voodoo #4 reach stores.

Artifacts #12, the last issue in artist Jeremy Haun’s tenure on the series, brings the storyline to a head in a big way. To say much more than that would spoil the fun. The origin backup features the Thirteenth Artifact, with art by Michael Broussard. There’s a nine-page preview of the issue here:

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=10908

Artifacts #13 will be in stores next Wednesday, Jan. 4, so you won’t have to wait long to see how the storyline winds up … and how the stage is set for the ongoing Artifacts series.

Voodoo #4 is also out this Wednesday. It’s my last issue on the title, for reasons that, unfortunately, are still unclear to me, beyond DC wanting a “different direction” for the book. I absolutely loved working with my art team of Sami Basri and Jessica Kholinne, and hope to work with them again soon. I’d also like to thank my immediate editors on the book. I had three editors over the course of four issues, but all of them were a pleasure to deal with: Brian Cunningham, Rex Ogle and Bobbie Chase, ably assisted by Darren Shan and Katie Kubert. Best of luck to everyone from issue #5 onward.

You can see a preview of Voodoo #4 here:

http://www.comicvine.com/news/exclusive-preview-voodoo-4/144026/

Cheers,

Ron

Can’t remember the last time I actually had four issues hit stores on the same day, but that’s the case Wednesday: Voodoo #1, Witchblade #148, Magdalena #8, and Artifacts #10.

All the issues were actually completed in different weeks, as I recall, but the vagaries of the shipping schedule sometimes result in a week like this. I’ll be signing all four issues, plus whatever else you have, at Midtown Comics Downtown, 64 Fulton St. in NYC, from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

The Witchblade issue is part 3 of the “Tiamat” storyline, with Stjepan Sejic on art, with an appearance by the Angelus. Magdalena is the second and final part of Keu Cha’s guest spot on art, and features a battle in the rain atop Notre Dame. Artifacts reveals more about the bearer of the mysterious 13th Artifact, with art by Jeremy Haun and Sunny Gho.

Voodoo #1

Voodoo, of course, is part of DC’s New 52 initiative, and already has sold out at distributor level (though stores should have copies on the shelves for at least a few days). A second printing is on the way. Hope you give it a try.

Witchblade #148 preview: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=9941

Magdalena #8 preview: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=9937

Artifacts #10 preview: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=9893

Cheers,

Ron