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Review: ‘X’ #4

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Shotgun blasts for everyone in “X” #4. Things get dirtier and nastier for our anti-hero trying to clean up the city of Arcadia in the most blood-splattered ways possible. Nothing is clean, sacred or safe in this town. X is irritating everything corrupt is ultra-violent fashion without consideration for his or anyone else’s safety.

WRITTEN BY: Duane Swierczyski
ART BY: Eric Nguyen
PUBLISHER: Dark Horse Comics
PRICE: $2.99
RELEASE: 14 August 2013

I honestly would not be surprised at all if they do an all-red issue in the future. There is so much spilt blood and body parts flying in this issue I half-thought it was a zombie story. Sadly for the inhabitants of this tale, these people have turned themselves into monsters with no viral infection as an excuse to be found anywhere. The horror of people’s base nature is profiled in writer Duane Swierczyski’s coda for X’s first act of vigilante terrorism. Natives of this town seem capable of doing anything in order to survive, no matter how filthy it may be.

I have never heard of a villain who you could literally punch in the face forever since he can’t feel it. The fact that his skin is grafted from pigs is a not-so-subtle nod to show how ugly Berkshire is on the inside and on the outside. This is a horror film with vigilantes mixed in to give readers a bracing new story. Absolutely every character gets theirs hands, mouths, and everything else dirty here.

Is there a horror channel out there that could adapt this? I don’t know as I only get two English channels here in South Korea. This issue screamed zombie-gore, but no undead were anywhere to be found. It’s fascinating to see uninfected people can be as gruesome as flesh-eating monsters. There’s more mysteries to be explored in Arcadia and how X plans to exact justice. Now that I think of it, this story IS already on TV in a PG-friendly version: the CW’s Arrow. Only this crusader is rated a hard R. Duane Swierczyski and Eric Nguyen are keeping me distressingly compelled to see where they’re going next.

4/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Your Friendly Neighborhood Brady

Comics

‘The Wicked Trinity’ – Preview New Archie Comics One-Shot Inspired by ‘The Craft’ [Exclusive]

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From Sabrina’s Magical World, Bloody Disgusting has learned this afternoon that Archie Comics will be releasing brand new one-shot comic The Wicked Trinity this coming June.

You’ll be able to meet The Wicked Trinity in the 32-page comic on June 12, 2024.

In The Wicked Trinity, “Sabrina’s magical nemesis Amber Nightstone and her sidekicks, Jade Kazane and Sapphire Gill, are intent on becoming the most powerful witches in the world. Isolated from so many around them, the three have formed a coven based on their individual needs for vengeance and true freedom.

“But when there is some dissent among the ranks, their small coven is threatened to be obliterated from within.”

The Wicked Trinity features a script by Sam Maggs, art by Lisa Sterle, colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, main cover by Lisa Sterle, and variant cover by Soo Lee.

Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante tells Bloody Disgusting, “When Editor-In-Chief Mike Pellerito came up with the idea of the Wicked Trinity—Amber Nightstone, Jade Kazane, and Sapphire Gill—I was immediately intrigued. I even had the good fortune to work on the script for Jade and Sapphire’s first appearance in last year’s SABRINA ANNUAL SPECTACULAR comic for younger readers. What I especially loved about these magical teens is that they could seamlessly transcend from classic-Archie stories into more mature, even horror stories. I was eager to start developing their world with a modern sensibility, taking cues from the great work of Kelly Thompson and Veronica Fish on our SABRINA THE TEENAGE WITCH series, and Sarah Kuhn and Carola Borelli on our recent DARKLING one-shot. Inspired by series like Charmed and films like The Craft, I knew there was so much potential to build up this coven in a story that beautifully blends magical fantasy with horror.”

Writer Sam Maggs previews, “Real witches writing real witches—that’s how we do things over at Archie Comics! I was named after a famous witch—Samantha from Bewitched—and so I grew up absolutely obsessed with everything witchcraft, devouring every book series I could about teen witches. That makes WICKED TRINITY a dream project for me. The power and energy of teen girls is absolutely unmatched (just look at the engine behind fandom culture) and being able to harness that metaphorically for a story like this is such a delight. Everything I write focuses on the power of female friendship, and this story is no exception. And what’s better than a morally grey female character? I struggle to think of anything. Cat familiars, maybe? Also, I’m totally a practicing witch now. So maybe if you read this, you’ll find yourself imbued with magical powers, too.*

Artist Lisa Sterle adds, “I can’t wait for people to be re-introduced to The Wicked Trinity! Witches, fashion, and Archie Comics; this is truly a magical trifecta and I’m so happy to have the opportunity to put my own personal stamp on this. I love to create stories in which girls find their own power, both from within themselves and through their friendships and coven. If you’re a fan of my Modern Witch tarot, you’ll find this comic just as magical.”

Exclusively check out the two covers for The Wicked Trinity one-shot comic below!

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