Witchblade #178
Publisher: Top Cow
Writer: Ron Marz
Artist: Laura Braga
Cover: Laura Braga
Sara gets to cut loose in this issue as she goes up against a remnant of the Darkness that has infected her partner, Deputy Rooney. If you know anything about Sara and her determination, then you know this will be one intense fight that’ll she try to win at any cost, and save Rooney in the process.
As with the majority of Marz’s run on Witchblade, he brings Sara’s character to the forefront regardless of how things play out in the story. This one has a fast pace and is heavy on the action, but Sara’s loyalty and “won’t back down” attitude come through perfectly. Marz also makes it very plain that if you pick a fight with Sara, you better be prepared to go the distance, because she is. She gives as good as she gets, but it’s her dialogue that goes over as well as the fighting. Solidifying my opinion that other writers may have written Sara well, no one writes her like Marz.
As far as the artwork is concerned, Braga makes each issue a visual story worth looking at whether it’s an action heavy sequence or just dinner at the Estacado mansion. She also channels all of the attitude needed for Sara when she taunts the Darkness about returning Rooney. That is just one great looking sequence of panels right before the fight kicks into high gear again. The fight itself is ferocity at its best, and is another extension of who Sara is when her friends are in danger. Though as good as the issue looks, it is given an extra kick with Betsy Gonia’s colors that help keep things looking very intense.
Overall, this is yet another great issue that you can just get into and have fun with. The cliffhanger is proof of that, and makes a certain reviewer wish he had that ability when driving through Saratoga at night.
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