Artifacts #1

100 Words Or Less

The 13 Artifacts guide the Top Cow Universe but they must never come together, for that means the end of the universe. And someone out there is trying to do exactly that. It's time to draw a line in the sand and choose a side. Tom Judge has been summoned to oppose whoever is trying to gather the artifacts but will he accept the call? And what does Aphrodite IV want with Hope, daughter of Sara Pezzini (bearer of the Witchblade) and Jackie Estacado (the Darkness)?
 

So Then I Said...

I wasn't sure what I was thinking, jumping into a huge event that encompassed the entire Top Cow Universe without having read a single Top Cow title linked to this event, except The Magdalena. I guess I thought this would be my way into a world I really wanted to see. Obviously, to fault this title for not giving more back story would not be right. This 13-issue series was never meant to be easy for new readers to get with because of the involvement of all the major characters already established. But jump on I did and although there were spots I didn't fully understand, there was enough to understand the entire story in general. There are 13 artifacts and if they all come together, the world will end. Pretty simple when you put it that way. The real fun begins next issue when we find out who is on what side and all hell breaks lose when more characters are added into the mix.
 
Ron Marz wrote the first issue and did a good job not losing the new readers. We get introduced to Sarah and Tom and it seems Tom will have a major role in this series. And as far as first issues go, something I didn't see coming happens and all I could say was wow. Marz didn't waste any time with this first issue so all I can say is bring it on hard. At the end of the issue, there was a two-page origin story for the Witchblade. Worthy inclusion for people like myself that have not read any Witchblade before. Also included at the end was a bio on each of the characters introduced in this first issue. This will help the new readers out if they weren't able to get a copy of Issue #0, given out free on Free Comic Book Day.
 
I loved the jam cover; it looks like a few different artists all had a hand in contributing to the cover with their respective characters. I also got the other 2 regular covers and they are also pretty gorgeous. The interior art by Michael Broussard works well with the story; I can tell this is going to be a dark, heavy-hitting, experience. While Nelson Blake II's art on The Magdalena worked extremely well there, it wouldn't have had the same effect here. I'm glad Broussard's on board.
 

Bottom Line

So far, so good. Everything is new to me and that is a good thing and a bad thing. Bad because I'm not going into this with a history of what has happened thus far in the Top Cow Universe and that could mean some of the story could be lost on me. Good because I don't have any preconceived notions on the characters so I really don't know what to expect. Heck, it could be the Witchblade that is trying to gather all the artifacts together! Good first issue, tries to welcome new readers and can't wait to see what happens next and how all the characters will be integrated and interact with each other. If you like Top Cow, this is Worth It. Even if you don't know anything about the company, I'd still suggest you give this first issue a try and see what you think personally.