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{{Short description|American comic book series and its franchise}}
:''This article is about the Top Cow comic book series. For its fictional star character, sometimes colloquially known as Witchblade, see [[Sara Pezzini]]. For the TV series, see [[Witchblade (TV series)]]. For the [[anime]] series of the same name, see [[Witchblade (anime)]].
{{About|the Top Cow comic book series}}
{{Supercbbox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
title = Witchblade
{{Infobox comic book title <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| image =
| image = TheWitchblade.jpg
| caption = Witchblade Wallpaper. Art copyright of [[Top Cow Productions]].
| caption = Front cover to ''Witchblade'' Vol. 1 ("Witch Hunt") TPB (Feb 2008)
| schedule = Monthly
| schedule = Monthly
| format = [[Ongoing series]]
| format = [[Ongoing series]]
| publisher ={{Flagicon|United States}} + {{Flagicon|Canada}} [[Top Cow Productions]] / [[Image Comics]]
| publisher=[[Top Cow Productions]] ([[Image Comics]])
| date = November 1995 – October 2015<br>December 2017 – January 2020
<br/> {{Flagicon|France}} + {{Flagicon|Belgium}} [[Delcourt (publisher)|Delcourt]]
| issues = 203
| date = [[1995 in comics|1995]] - present
| issues =
| Superhero = y
| main_char_team = [[Sara Pezzini]]<br />[[Danielle Baptiste]]
| main_char_team = Witchblade<br/>[[Sara Pezzini]]<br/>Alex Underwood
| writers = [[Christina Z]], [[David Wohl]], [[Marc Silvestri]], [[Brian Haberlin]], [[Ron Marz]]
| writers = David Wohl<br>Marc Silvestri<br>Brian Haberlin<br>Christina Z<br>[[Ron Marz]]
| artists = [[Michael Turner (comics)|Michael Turner]], [[Keu Cha]], [[Marc Silvestri]], [[Stjepan Sejic]]
| artists = Michael Turner<br>Marc Silvestri<br>[[Stjepan Šejić]]
| pencillers =
| pencillers =
| inkers =
| inkers =
| colorists =
| colorists =
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_month =
| creative_team_year =
| creative_team_year =
| creators = [[Marc Silvestri]]<br>[[David Wohl]]<br>[[Brian Haberlin]]<br>[[Christina Z]]<br>[[Michael Turner (comics)|Michael Turner]]
| creators = [[Marc Silvestri]]<br>[[David Wohl]]<br>[[Brian Haberlin]]<br>[[Christina Z]]<br>[[Michael Turner (comics)|Michael Turner]]
}}
}}


'''''Witchblade''''' is an [[USA|American]] [[comic book]] [[Ongoing series|series]] published by [[Top Cow Productions]], an [[imprint]] of [[Image Comics]], from [[1995 in comics|1995]] until present. The series was created by Top Cow editors [[Marc Silvestri]] and [[David Wohl]], writers [[Brian Haberlin]] and [[Christina Z]], and artist [[Michael Turner (artist)|Michael Turner]]
'''''Witchblade''''' is an American [[comic book]] [[Ongoing series|series]] published by [[Top Cow Productions]], an [[imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of [[Image Comics]], which ran from November 1995 to October 2015.<ref>{{cite web |author=Albert Ching |url=http://www.cbr.com/exclusive-witchblade-to-end-in-october-sejics-now-top-cow-exclusive/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: "Witchblade" to End in October, Sejics Now Top Cow-Exclusive |website=Comic Book Resources |date=2015-06-26 |access-date=2017-01-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201234206/http://www.cbr.com/exclusive-witchblade-to-end-in-october-sejics-now-top-cow-exclusive/ |archive-date=2017-02-01}}</ref> The series was created by Top Cow founder and owner [[Marc Silvestri]], editor [[David Wohl]], writers [[Brian Haberlin]] and [[Christina Z]], and artist [[Michael Turner (comics)|Michael Turner]].


The ''Witchblade'' comic was adapted into a [[Witchblade (2001 TV series)|television series]] in 2001, as well as an [[Witchblade (2006 TV series)|anime]], a [[manga]] and a [[novel]] in 2006. A [[feature film]] based on the comic, titled ''The Witchblade'', was announced for a 2009 release,<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |author=SuperHeroHype |url=http://www.superherohype.com/features/96665-witchblade-teaser-poster-and-site-revealed |title=Witchblade Teaser Poster and Site Revealed |website=Superhero Hype |date=2008-05-26 |access-date=2013-09-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107014243/http://www.superherohype.com/features/96665-witchblade-teaser-poster-and-site-revealed |archive-date=2014-11-07}}</ref> but was never produced. A second ''Witchblade'' television series was announced for development in January 2017,<ref name="THR">{{cite web |author=Lesley Goldberg |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/witchblade-reboot-carol-mendelsohn-caroline-dries-set-at-nbc-966629 |title='Witchblade' Reboot From Carol Mendelsohn, Caroline Dries Set at NBC |website=Hollywood Reporter |date=2017-01-20 |access-date=2017-01-23 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126195345/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/witchblade-reboot-carol-mendelsohn-caroline-dries-set-at-nbc-966629 |archive-date=2017-01-26}}</ref> but there has been no update since.
The series previously starred [[Sara Pezzini]], a tough-as-nails [[New York City Police Department|NYPD]] [[homicide]] [[detective]] who comes into possession of the Witchblade, a supernatural, [[Sentience|sentient]] [[Artifact (fantasy)|artifact]] with immense destructive and protective powers. The weapon has bonded with various women throughout history, the most recent being [[Danielle Baptiste]]. Others who have come into contact with the Witchblade include [[Cleopatra]] and [[Joan of Arc]]. Sara struggles to hone the awesome powers of the Witchblade and fend off those with a nefarious interest in it, especially entrepreneur [[Kenneth Irons]]. She also struggles to maintain a personal life.


Top Cow relaunched ''Witchblade'' comic in December 2017 with the creative team of writer [[Caitlin Kittredge]] and artist Roberta Ingranata. The series features journalist Alex Underwood as the main character.<ref name="Staley">{{cite web|last1=Staley|first1=Brandon|title=Witchblade Returns with Female Writer, Artist|url=http://www.cbr.com/witchblade-female-creative-team/|website=Comic Book Resources|access-date=26 September 2017|date=18 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Marston">{{cite web|last1=Marston|first1=George|title=WITCHBLADE Gets a New #1 - and a New Wielder|url=https://www.newsarama.com/36449-witchblade-comic-book-reboot.html|website=Newsarama|access-date=26 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406075519/https://www.newsarama.com/36449-witchblade-comic-book-reboot.html|archive-date=2019-04-06|language=en|date=18 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Look Inside WITCHBLADE (2017) #1 |url=https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/witchblade-2017-1 |website=Impact Comics |access-date=23 June 2021}}</ref>
The title was written largely by [[Christina Z]] and edited by [[David Wohl]]. There have been talks of a reunion {{Fact|date=March 2007}}, though it is unclear if that will occur.


The first of a new ''Witchblade'' comic series was released in July 2024 featuring a new ''Witchblade'' creative team: writer [[Marguerite Bennett]], artist Ariel Kristantina, colorist Bryan Valenza and letterer Troy Peteri.
There have been many [[spin-off]] titles, which place the Witchblade in other times and settings. The character of Sara Pezzini was also featured in [[fictional crossover|crossovers]] with characters from other franchises, including [[Tomb Raider (comics)|Lara Croft]], [[Justice League|JLA]], the [[X-Men]]'s [[Wolverine (comics)|Wolverine]], and the cast of ''[[Battle of the Planets (comics)|Battle of the Planets]]''.


==Plot summary==
''Witchblade'' was adapted into a moderately successful [[Witchblade (TV series)|television series]] in 2001-2002, starring [[Yancy Butler]] as Sara Pezzini.
The series follows [[Sara Pezzini]], an [[New York City Police Department|NYPD]] [[homicide]] [[detective]] who comes into possession of the Witchblade, a [[Magic in fiction|supernatural]], [[Sentience|sentient]] [[Gauntlet (glove)|gauntlet]] that bonds with a female host and provides her with a variety of powers in order to fight supernatural evil.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} Sara struggles to hone the powers of the Witchblade and fend off those with a nefarious interest in it, such as entrepreneur [[Kenneth Irons]] and his bodyguard Ian Nottingham.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}


==Characters==<!--Character list needs to be limited to characters from the Witchblade comic/property-->
The title was also adapted into an [[Witchblade (anime)|anime]] and <!--an unrelated--> [[manga]] series in 2004. Each takes place in a futuristic Japan and features a new blade-wielder, with little resemblance to Pezzini or to each other, in the role. There have been two soundtracks to the comic books series (which had a limited print run).
[[Image:Wb80cover.jpg|thumb|right|170px|''Witchblade'' #80]]
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2024}}
===The Witchblade===
The Witchblade is a sentient gauntlet; described as being the offspring of [[The Darkness (comics)|the Darkness]] and [[Angelus (comics)|Angelus]] and serving as the balance between the two forces. Often described as being a male entity, though occasionally taking a feminine form whenever it manifests itself, the Witchblade symbiotically bonds itself to humans—typically women—to serve as its bearers.


===Sara Pezzini===
A [[feature film]], currently titled ''[[#Film adaptation|The Witchblade]]'', is scheduled for a 2009 release.<ref name="autogenerated2">[http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=7255 "''Witchblade'' Teaser Poster and Site Revealed "; superherohype.com; [[May 26]], [[2008]].]</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.witchblade2009.com/ Official site of the 2009 feature film]</ref>
A New York City detective, [[Sara Pezzini|Sara]] first encountered the Witchblade while on a case with her then partner, Michael Yee. After both officers were mortally wounded by criminal Ian Nottingham, the gauntlet suddenly left the possession of his employer, Kenneth Irons, and gave its power to Sara, healing her wounds. When Jackie Estacado, the host of [[The Darkness (comics)|the Darkness]], was possessed by its influence, he impregnated a temporarily comatose Sara as part of an effort to sway the Witchblade's balance. However, neither of them became aware of this until later. Eventually, Sara met and relinquished the Witchblade to Danielle Baptiste, to whom the artifact had a strong affinity. Amidst complications during the birth of her daughter, Hope, Sara's life was saved when she received half of the Witchblade from Dani. Sara now possesses the full Witchblade and Dani is now the host for [[Angelus (comics)|the Angelus]].


==The Witchblade==
===Danielle Baptiste===
[[Danielle Baptiste|Danielle]] is a young ballet dancer who was born in [[New Orleans]]. After moving to New York to pursue her career, she experienced a mysterious dream in which she saw herself inheriting great power by means of a mystical gauntlet. Dani found herself taking a walk and wandering to an antique shop the next day. It was there that she encountered Sara Pezzini, the current host of the Witchblade. Having become pregnant, Sara realized that the time had come for her to relinquish the artifact. Sara relinquished the Witchblade to Dani when she realized that she was meant to become its next host. While exploring her powers, Dani faced and overcame a number of mystical opponents. Eventually, Dani returned half of the Witchblade to Sara in order to save Sara's life following the birth of her child. She currently does not have any portion of the Witchblade as she is the present host to the Angelus.
The Witchblade is an intelligent, ancient, and conscious weapon with [[supernatural]] origins. It is one of thirteen artifacts of similar kind.
It is the offspring of the universe's opposing aspects, [[The Darkness (comics)|the Darkness]] and [[Angelus (comics)|the Angelus]] (the dark and the light). The Witchblade is a male aspect created to act as a balance, which must have a female as a host. The Witchblade was discovered in modern times in [[Greece]] by [[Kenneth Irons]], but before he found it, it had many wielders. When not in use, it can look like an ornate, jewel encrusted, right-handed gauntlet. When wielded by an unworthy user, that person will lose their arm. It forms a [[symbiotic]] relationship with the host, who can hear the Witchblade. When used, it expands across the body of the wielder, shredding clothes and covering the body like an armour. The amount and coverage of the armour depends on the level of the threat. For example, when facing mortals, it will usually generate less armour than when facing a demon of hell. This armor can produce extensions of itself that can form swords, other stabbing weapons, hooks, chains, shields, and wings, enabling the wielder to fly. It may also become temperamental if it chooses not to be used. When wielded, it can shoot energy blasts from the hand or sword, fire projectile darts, and whip-like grapples to attack or to climb. The Witchblade is also an excellent lock pick, and can heal wounds, even mortal ones. The Witchblade can re-animate the dead, empathically show the wielder scenes of great trauma, and allow the wielder to relive experiences from past wielders as dreams. The Witchblade has now split into two parts following the events in the "First Born" crossover. One half belongs to Dani while Sara has reclaimed the other half.


==Top Cow's world==
===Patrick Gleason===
An NYPD detective, Sara's partner and boyfriend. Following Hope's birth, he serves as the baby's surrogate father and Sara's confidant in issues involving the Witchblade.
The Top Cow universe is populated by demons, dimensional gates, ghosts and magic. Supers are generally enhanced humans from government, or private entrepreneurial projects. Both the mafia and the Yakuza are prominent forces. Sara's old precinct, the 18th, or "the One Eight" is in the roughest part of New York, where murders occur often. There is a reference to a time that no homicides were reported for two days straight, which the precinct took as a sign of the Apocalypse. Religious followers of [[God]] and [[Satan]] are prolific, with agents of both sides frequently showing up with their minions to do battle.


===The Curator/The Survivor===
==Characters==
The owner of an antiques shop, the Curator is a sage-like spectator, occasional informant, and the second primary antagonist of the series. One of Sara and Dani's most trusted confidants, he knows much about the various Artifacts. The Curator later dies, spontaneously exploding after saying "all hope is lost". It was later revealed that the Curator was actually the Survivor, the mysterious mastermind behind all of the recent events in Sara's life. He is the sole survivor of the previous universe in which he was the "Codex", a being meant to ensure its survival in the event of Armageddon. Having failed in his duty and witnessed the destruction of his family, the Survivor has been gradually gathering and manipulating the Artifacts and their bearers throughout history as part of his plan to resurrect his universe.
*'''[[Ian Nottingham]]''': Formerly a Captain of the British [[Special Air Service]] regiment, Ian subsequently joined MI5. Underwent behavioural modifications for the purpose of infiltrating the Yakuza. Forgot his past, and became a bodyguard for Kenneth Irons. Has phenomenal skill, both with archaic and modern weapons, bordering on the supernatural. In Issue #1, Ian kills Sara's partner, Michael Yee. For a time his body and soul underwent a great change, allowing Ian the capability to absorb great quantities of energy, even going so far as to temporarily host both the Witchblade and the Darkness. For a time, he wielded Excalibur, the Witchblade's twin, but it was revealed that the sword was merely a shard of the Witchblade, which quickly reabsorbed it.


===Tau'ma===
*'''[[Kenneth Irons]]''': A rich entrepreneur that discovered the Witchblade in [[Greece]]. His age is undefined, laying somewhere between eighty and more than a century (recent events with his son have placed Irons now as older than 800 years thanks to drinking from the Holy Grail). However, due to his exposure to the Witchblade during an attempt to wield it, Irons does not age at a normal rate, appearing to be no older than thirty-five. He travels everywhere with his trusted bodyguard Ian Nottingham, until both Irons' and Ian's fascination with Sara Pezzini drove a wedge between them. In a failed bid to gain control of the Witchblade, Kenneth Irons lost his hand and sacrificed his wife. In issue #75, Kenneth Irons was one of the two characters left in the Deathpool. As a result, Chief Joe Siry killed Irons for all of the troubles that Irons had unleashed on Sara.
The Curator's brother, Tau'ma has sided with the Darkness and can pull Darklings from out of his head to attack or spy on others. He also wields a powerful cane with a gem-encrusted hawk head.


===Hope Pezzini===
*'''[[Joe Siry]]''': Sara's captain at 18<sup>th</sup> precinct He was the partner to Sara's dead father, Detective Vincent Pezzini, and has a tendency to dote on her as if she was his daughter. He is married to Dalia. It was revealed that Siry had a hidden agenda with Irons, which forced him to kill Vincent Pezzini in order to protect Sara.
Sara's daughter with Jackie Estacado. She is neither of the Darkness nor the Angelus, but has unknown powers that are dormant. Hope is the subject of a search by several Artifact bearers following her capture by the Survivor. Hope is the "Codex" for the entire universe, meant to survive and ensure its survival. The Survivor planned to kill Hope and replace her as the Codex in order to guarantee the resurrection of his own universe.


===Julie Pezzini===
*'''[[Jake McCarthy]]''': Sara's best friend and partner. Madly in love with Sara, but it is unrequited. He fell into a coma after he was wounded defending a weakened Sara. When he awoke in issue #100, he was possessed by a malevolent being, bent on destroying the world. Sara drove the demonic force out of his body, but Jake committed suicide to ensure that it could never return.
Sara's sister. She was romantically involved with Jake, but the two broke up when Jake discovered that she was running drugs. Jake later returned and shot Julie, but she survived, leading to her arrest and imprisonment. Julie was later released after serving her sentence and was reunited with Sara. While taking Hope to a fair, Julie was surprised by Aphrodite IV, who killed her after shooting her in the head.


===Ian Nottingham===
*'''Lisa''': Daughter of Maria, a deceased friend of Sara's. Sara promised Maria that she would keep an eye on Lisa. Makes her living as a model.
Formerly a Captain of the British [[Special Air Service]], Ian subsequently joined MI5. He underwent behavioural modifications for the purpose of infiltrating the Yakuza. Afterwards, he forgot his past and became Kenneth Irons' bodyguard. Ian has phenomenal skill with both ancient and modern weapons. Ian kills Sara's partner, Michael Yee. For a time he underwent a great change, allowing him the capability to absorb great quantities of energy and to drain energy from entities, even going so far as to temporarily host both the Witchblade and the Darkness. He also temporarily wielded [[Excalibur]], the Witchblade's twin, but it was revealed that Excalibur was merely a shard of the Witchblade, which quickly reabsorbed it. After he lost Excalibur and was defeated by Sara, Ian was taken to prison, only to be freed later by Aphrodite IV. He then retrieved the Blood Sword from Michael Finnegan, gravely wounding the wielder of the Glacier Stone in the process, and left him in the river to die.


===Kenneth Irons===
*'''[[Julie Pezzini]]''': Sara's sister. Was romantically involved with Jake, but the two broke up when Jake found that she was running drugs. Under the effects of a hope-suppressing evil, Jake later returned and shot Julie. She survived and is still recuperating.
The first main antagonist of the series, [[Kenneth Irons]] is a wealthy entrepreneur who discovered the Witchblade in Greece. Irons' age is unknown. It was eventually revealed that he was a Templar Knight of the [[Third Crusade]] and that he once drank from the [[Holy Grail]], granting him a healing factor and immortality, establishing his age as greater than 800 years. However, due to his exposure to the Witchblade during an attempt to host it, Irons does not age at a normal rate; he appears to be no older than 35. In a failed bid to gain control of the Witchblade, Irons lost his hand and sacrificed his wife. Later he was one of two characters left in the Deathpool. As a result, Chief Joe Siry killed Irons for all of the trouble that he had unleashed on Sara. Kenneth is the father of Geraud Irons.


===Joe Siry===
*'''[[The Darkness (comics)|The Darkness (Jackie Estacado)]]''': Wielder of the Darkness. Jackie has had many run-ins with Sara, as he is not only a wielder of a force of supreme supernatural power, but also a mafia hitman.
Sara's former captain when she served at the 18th Precinct. He was the partner of Sara's dead father, Detective Vincent Pezzini.


===Jake McCarthy===
*'''[[Magdalena (comics)|Magdalena (Patience)]]''': The warrior of the Catholic Church.
An NYPD detective, Jake was Sara's best friend and former partner. He fell in love with Sara, but his feelings were [[Unrequited love|unrequited]]. A demon came to Earth and entered Jake's body, possessing him while he was wounded defending a weakened Sara. While in a coma he was placed in a hospital. When he woke up later, the god-like demon took full control of his body. The demon was bent on destroying the world to remake it into a hellish kingdom with him as ruler. Sara eventually drove the demon's influence out of Jake's mind, but Jake, still possessed by the demon, committed suicide to ensure that the demon could never control his body again.


===Lisa Buzanis===
*'''[[Angelus (comics)|The Angelus (Celestine)]]''':Wielder of the Angelus. Celestine is the bi-polar adversary of Sara Pezzini.
Daughter of Maria, a deceased friend of Sara's.


===Alex Underwood===
*'''[[Tora No Shi]]''': [[Yakuza]] assassin who is introduced in Witchblade 15. Works for the Yakuza in the Family Ties storyline and gets beaten by Jackie. Reappears in issue 54. Fights Ian Nottingham, then attempts to assassinate Kenneth Irons at Caulty Towers. Ian shows up and destroys Tora. After that Irons takes Tora as his new bodyguard/tool and begins a series of chemical rituals on him (Story can be shown in the Blood Relations TPB). In the Deathpool storyline Tora is one of the characters voted to be killed by the fans. He is promptly killed by Ian in issue 75.
A journalist who bonds with the Witchblade.<ref name="Staley"/><ref name="Marston"/>


==Witchblade wielders==
===The Darkness===
[[The Darkness (comics)|Jackie Estacado]] is a former mob hitman and later becomes the host for the Darkness. The Darkness is one of the parents of the Witchblade and one of the primordial forces of the Witchblade universe. He is a supporting character in the ''Witchblade'' series and is the main character in his own spin-off series.
[[Image:Witchblade Dark Minds The Return of Paradox.jpg|thumb|[[Akane Nakiko]], on the cover of ''Witchblade/Dark Mind: Return of Paradox''. Art by Lou Kang]]
[[Image:Witchblade 104 (by Adriana Melo).jpg|thumb|[[Danielle Baptiste]], on the cover of ''Witchblade'' #104a. Art by [[Adriana Melo]].]]


===The Angelus===
In reverse chronological order (fictional chronology, not publication dates):
[[Angelus (comics)|The Angelus]] is the light counterpart of the Darkness and one of the parents of the Witchblade. The Angelus possesses many female hosts and is the arch-enemy of the Darkness. The Angelus was the primary antagonist of the ''Darkness'' series and the third primary antagonist of the ''Witchblade'' series.


===Magdalena===
* Persephani (fictitious, wielder in the far future)
[[Magdalena (comics)|Magdalena]] is a supporting character in the spin-off series ''Darkness'' and later in ''Witchblade''.
* [[Witchblade (anime)|Masane Amaha]] (fictitious, from the Witchblade anime, near future)
* [[Yuri Miyazono]] (fictitious)
* [[Takeru Ibaraki]] (fictitious, from the Witchblade manga)
* [[Akane Nakiko]] (fictitious, from Witchblade/Dark Mind: Return of Paradox, near future)
* [[Debbie Santalesa]] (fictitious, from Dark Minds/Witchblade, near future)
* Selina Alice Lauren (fictitious, wielder, near future)
* Ivy Pezzini (fictitious, Sara's daughter in a possible future)
* [[Danielle Baptiste]] (fictitious, the wielder after Sara)
* [[Predator (alien)|Sister Midnight]] (Fictitious, from Aliens/Predator/Witchblade/Darkness: MindHunter Crossover)
* [[Wonder Woman]] ([[JLA]]/Witchblade)
* [[Ian Nottingham]] (fictitious, second male wielder. Only wielder to so far combine the Witchblade with either the Darkness or the Angelus)
* [[Kimberly Tossovova]] (alt. reality, fictitious)
* [[Sara Pezzini]] (fictitious)
* Colin X (fictitious, first male wielder)
* [[Tasya Federova]] (fictitious)
* [[Josephine Valmont]] (fictitious)
* [[Elizabeth Brontë]] (fictitious)
* [[Marie Curie]]
* [[Florence Nightingale]]
* Enola
* [[Anne Bonny]]
* [[Roxanne Laroque]] (fictitious)
* Yuka-chan (fictitious)
* [[Shiori-sama]]
* [[Isabella of Castile|Queen Isabella]]
* Queen Kijani
* [[Joan of Arc]]
* Maitea
* [[Annabella Altavista]]
* [[Hangaku Gozen|Itagaki]]
* [[Leung Lin Yao]]
* Zara, Queen of Bones (fictitious, from Dark Crossings)
* [[Zenobia|Septima Zenobia]]
* [[Cathain]]
* Samantha McRenald (fictitious)
* [[Boudica]]
* [[Cleopatra VII of Egypt|Cleopatra]]
* Princess Raquel (fictitious)
* [[Artemisia]]
* [[Lysandra]]
* [[Myrine]]
* Una, the first bearer (fictitious)


===Pretenders===
==In other media==
===Television===
In reverse chronological order:
====TNT series====
{{Main|Witchblade (2001 TV series)}}
Following a pilot film in August 2000, [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] premiered a [[television series]] based on the comic book series which ran for two seasons from June 12, [[2001 in television|2001]] to August 26, [[2002 in television|2002]]. The series was directed by [[Ralph Hemecker]], written by [[Marc Silvestri]] and J.D. Zeik, and starred [[Yancy Butler]] as Sara Pezzini.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274298/ |title=Internet Movie Database entry on the 2001 Witchblade TV series|website=[[IMDb]] }}</ref> Although critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, the series was canceled in September 2002, reportedly due to Butler’s issues with substance abuse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/43825/witchblade-sliced-by-tnt |title=Witchblade Sliced by TNT|website=E! News|date=2002-09-05|access-date=2017-01-20|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202014856/http://www.eonline.com/news/43825/witchblade-sliced-by-tnt|archive-date=2017-02-02}}</ref> [[Warner Home Video]] released ''Witchblade: The Complete Series''—a seven-disc collector's set including the original made-for-TV movie, all 23 episodes of the series, and special features—on DVD on July 29, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Witchblade-The-Complete-Series/9296|title=Witchblade DVD news: Announcement for Witchblade—The Complete Series|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|date=2008-04-01|access-date=2013-08-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105063929/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Witchblade-The-Complete-Series/9296|archive-date=2013-11-05}}</ref>


===Music===
* Fiona (fictitious)
{{Infobox album
* John Sansmain (fictitious)
| name = Witchblade: The Music
* Dannette Boucher (fictitious)
| type = [[Compilation Album]]
* [[Kenneth Irons]] (fictitious)
| artist = Various Artists
* [[Abigail Williams]]
| cover = Witchblade.jpg
* [[Elizabeth Paris]]
| alt =
* Marie d'Estrada (fictitious)
| released = 2004
* Mirabella Avila (fictitious)
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Rock music]]
| length = 54:20
| label = Edge Artists
| producer = [[Gerard McMahon|G Tom Mac]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}


'''''Witchblade the Music''''' is a [[compilation album]] of music from/inspired by the [[Witchblade (U.S. TV series)|Witchblade TV series]] and the comic book. The songs included on this album are performed by Various Artists. It was compiled and produced by [[Gerard McMahon|G Tom Mac]], it was conceived by [[Christina Z]] and released in 2004 on the Edge Artists record label. The album notes credit G Tom Mac a.k.a. [[Gerard McMahon]] for the music and Eddie Kislinger for the lyrics for "Wicked Town", "Drop Dead Pretty", and "Was It Magic”. McMahon is also credited for "Greater Powers"; "Child of Mine" with Roger Daltrey; and "Cry Little Sister" which he wrote with Michael Maineri. In addition, McMahon and Kislinger are credited as the Executive Producers of the soundtrack.
==Adaptations==
===Television series===
{{main|Witchblade (TV series)}}
Following a pilot film in August 2000, the [[cable television|cable]] network [[Turner Network Television|TNT]] premiered a [[television series]] based on the comic book series in [[2001 in television|2001]]. The series was directed by [[Ralph Hemecker]] and written by [[Marc Silvestri]] (who also wrote the comic book) and [[J.D. Zeik]]. [[Yancy Butler]] starred as Sara Pezzini. Although critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, it was cancelled in September 2002.<ref name="EOnline-WitchbladeCancelled">{{cite web
| publisher=E! Online
| title="Witchblade" Sliced by TNT
| url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=79462aa7-4e88-49cb-9d58-429008f1b665
|date=2002-09-05
| first=Grossberg
| last=Josh
| accessdate=2006-12-29
}}</ref> Announced as a production decision, the cancellation nevertheless provoked widespread speculation that the true reason was Butler's alcoholism. Butler was ordered to enter rehab for [[alcoholism]] a year later, after being arrested for wandering drunk amidst traffic.<ref name="EOnline-ButlerRehab">{{cite web
| publisher=E! Online
| title="Witchblade" Star Ordered to Rehab
| url=http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=d58f45ce-6162-413d-bf44-a71b7c2127e8
|date=2003-11-24
| first=Grossberg
| last=Josh
| accessdate=2006-12-29
}}</ref>


====NBC series====
''Witchblade'' ran for two seasons on TNT, each featuring 12 episodes. The first episode aired on [[June 12]] [[2001 in television|2001]], and the last episode aired on [[August 26]] [[2002 in television|2002]]. On April 1, 2008, [[Warner Home Video]] announced a long-anticipated DVD release. ''Witchblade: The Complete Series'' — a seven-disc collectors set including the original made-for-TV movie, all 23 episodes of the series, and special features — is scheduled for release July 29, 2008.<ref>[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Witchblade-The-Complete-Series/9296 Witchblade DVD news: Announcement for Witchblade - The Complete Series | TVShowsOnDVD.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In January 2017, [[NBC]] announced the development a ''Witchblade'' television series, with [[Carol Mendelsohn]] and [[Caroline Dries]] serving as executive producers.<ref name="THR"/>

===Film adaptation===
[[Image:Witchblade film teaser poster.jpg|thumb|right|Teaser poster for the upcoming 2009 feature film.]]
An upcoming [[2009 in film|2009]] [[Cinema of the United States|American]] [[superhero film]] based on the series is currently in development.<ref name="autogenerated2" /><ref name="autogenerated1" /> The film will be directed by [[Michael Rymer]], who directed the 2002 film ''[[Queen of the Damned (film)|Queen of the Damned]]'', and various episodes of ''[[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica]]'', and written by [[Everett De Roche]].<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0753382/ Michael Rymer at the Internet Movie Database]</ref> <ref>[http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/12487 BD Horror News - 'Witchblade' Director and Writer Revealed!<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

The film is one of two being produced and financed back-to-back by Platinum Studios, IDG Films and Relativity Media. The film will be produced by Arclight's Gary Hamilton and Nigel Odell, Platinum Studios' Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, and Steve Squillante of Havenwood Media. Top Cow's Marc Silvestri and Matt Hawkins will be executive producers with Platinum Studios' Rich Marincic and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg. Filming is scheduled to begin in September 2008, with China and Australia among the possible locations being considered for filming.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117934492.html?categoryId=1350&cs=1 McClintock, Pamela; "Pic trio wields 'Witchblade': Platinum, IDG, Relativity to finance, produce pics"; ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''; [[December 12]], [[2005]].]</ref><ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117985461.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562 'Witchblade' sharpened for bigscreen; ''Variety''; [[May 11]], [[2008]].]</ref> [[Megan Fox]] was recently aproached for the role of Sara Pezzini at the [[2008]] [[San Diego Comic-Con]]. <ref>[http://topcow.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=42179&st=60-->]</ref>
<ref>[http://men.style.com/gq/features/full?id=content_7458-->]</ref>
The film's website and teaser poster were released in May 2008.<ref name="autogenerated2" />


===Anime series===
===Anime series===
{{main|Witchblade (anime)}}
{{Main|Witchblade (2006 TV series)}}
Top Cow and Japanese animation studio [[Gonzo (company)|Gonzo]] produced an [[anime]] adaptation of ''Witchblade'',<ref name="animenewsnetwork2004">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-08-16/gonzo-to-produce-witchblade-anime |title=Gonzo to Produce Witchblade Anime |website=Anime News Network |date=2004-08-16 |access-date=2014-05-31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409204834/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-08-16/gonzo-to-produce-witchblade-anime |archive-date=2014-04-09}}</ref> which began broadcast during April 2006 and ran for 24 episodes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gonzo.co.jp/works/0601.html |title=GONZO 作品一覧 -ウィッチブレイド |website=Gonzo.co.jp |access-date=2013-10-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019194928/http://www.gonzo.co.jp/works/0601.html |archive-date=2013-10-19}}</ref> Although the anime features a new story with all new characters, it exists in the same continuity as the comic book and manga.<ref name="animenewsnetwork2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-12-12/top-cow-announces-witchblade-manga-in-2007 |title=Top Cow Announces Witchblade Manga in 2007 |website=Anime News Network |date=2006-12-12 |access-date=2014-06-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724192428/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-12-12/top-cow-announces-witchblade-manga-in-2007 |archive-date=2015-07-24}}</ref> The anime focuses on Masane Amaha, who has no recollection of her past beyond six years earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/witchblade/dvd-1|title=Witchblade DVD 1|date=October 2, 2023|website=Anime News Network}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ricedigital.co.uk/waifu-wednesday-masane-amaha-witchblade/|title=Waifu Wednesday: Masane Amaha (Witchblade) - Rice Digital|first1=Lilia HellalVisual novel|last1=enthusiast|first2=Otome|last2=Lover|first3=wife of|last3=Hibari|date=June 7, 2023|website=ricedigital.co.uk}}</ref>

In 2004 [[Japan]]ese [[animation]] studio [[GONZO]] announced an [[anime]] version of ''Witchblade'', with a subsequent [[manga]] adaptation. The anime version is considered controversial by some because GONZO has announced that the main [[fictional character|character]] of the anime is of Japanese ethnicity but is not [[Hangaku Gozen|Itagaki]], one of the previous bearers of the Witchblade. Instead it is a new character named Masane. This has caused some fans to cry out against what they see as a [[Nipponisation]] of the franchise. The fact is although this series sets up an entire new story, with all new characters, it is considered [[Canon (fiction)|canon]].<ref name="ANN-WitchbladeAnnouncedCanon">{{cite web
| publisher=Anime News Network
| title=Top Cow Announces Witchblade Manga in 2007
| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2006-12-12/top-cow-announces-witchblade-manga-in-2007
| date=2006-12-12
| accessdate=2007-03-24
}}</ref>

The anime series began broadcast during April 2006 and ran for 24 episodes (a standard series run). The lead character (and new blade wielder) is the kind-hearted Masane who, despite her good intentions, is fairly clumsy and not good around the house. After the events of an earthquake that struck her home 6 years before the series, "year zero", Masane has no recollection of her past previous to this date. When she comes into contact with the Witchblade, Masane also finds herself under the watchful eye of an organization called the NSWF (National Scientific Welfare Foundation), and struggles to hold onto her daughter Rihoko, whom the government is trying to take from her. Unlike the comic witchblade, which only induces bloodlust when in a violent confrontation and creates armor, the anime Witchblade entirely transforms Masane, giving her different eyes and hair, and will ultimately destroy her body.


===Manga===
===Manga===
In August 2004, Top Cow made an agreement with manga publisher [[Kodansha]] to produce a [[manga]] adaptation of ''Witchblade''.<ref name="animenewsnetwork2004"/> The subsequent adaptation, {{nihongo|''Witchblade Takeru''|ウィッチブレイド丈流|Wicchibureido Takeru}},<ref name="heiseidemocracy2006">{{cite web |url=http://heiseidemocracy.com/2006/04/09/manga-review-witchblade-takeru-chapter-1/ |title=Modern Visual Culture Digest » Manga Review: Witchblade ~Takeru~ Chapter 1 |publisher=Heisei Democracy |date=2006-04-09 |access-date=2014-05-31 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105122543/http://heiseidemocracy.com/2006/04/09/manga-review-witchblade-takeru-chapter-1/ |archive-date=2013-11-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kazuasa|first1=Sumita|title=Wichblade Takeru|date=2006|publisher=[[Akita Shoten]]|location=Tokyo|isbn=9784253231558}}</ref> was released in March 2006, written by the anime's main writer [[Yasuko Kobayashi]] ([[:ja:小林靖子|小林靖子]]) and drawn by {{nihongo|Kazuasa Sumita|隅田 かずあさ|Sumita Kazuasa}}.<ref name="animenewsnetwork2006"/> The manga features a different plot and characters from the ''Witchblade'' anime and comic book but is set in the same continuity as both.<ref name="productions2006">{{cite book|author=Top Cow Productions|title=Witchblade Lost Generation: Midori no Shōjo|date=2006|publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]]|location=Tokyo|isbn=9784199051623}}</ref> The manga focuses on Takeru Ibaraki, an average Japanese high school girl raised in a Buddhist convent who experiences recurring nightmares about the Witchblade and eventually becomes its newest bearer.<ref name="heiseidemocracy2006"/> The manga was released in the U.S. by Top Cow and [[Bandai Entertainment]] from February 2007 to February 2008.<ref name="animenewsnetwork2006"/>
Likewise, one [[manga]] incarnation is being serialized, introducing a different story that features a unique plot & characters and with little similarities (except for the Witchblade and some other settings) with the anime, though the script is written by the same writer [[Yasuko Kobayashi]] ([[:ja:小林靖子|小林靖子]]).

====''Witchblade: Takeru''====
{{nihongo|''Witchblade: Takeru''|ウィッチブレイド丈流|Witchibureido Takeru}}<ref>[http://heiseidemocracy.com/2006/04/09/manga-review-witchblade-takeru-chapter-1/ Manga Review: Witchblade ~ Takeru ~ Chapter 1]</ref> introduces Takeru, who is an average Japanese high-school girl raised in a Buddhist convent by nuns. She has been experiencing recurring nightmares about the Witchblade calling out to her. This is due to the secret that the temple houses the Witchblade, sealed inside a glass box. Furthermore, her lineage keeps an unknown connection with the mystic artifact and the folklore of the [[Oni (mythology)|Oni]], hence explaining Takeru's strong attraction to the gauntlet which is locally called ''Oni-no-Te'' (鬼の手, "Hand of Oni"). Ultimately, Takeru's life suffers a drastic change when she becomes the next bearer of the Witchblade due to some circumstances that force her to randomly encounter it.

''Witchblade: Takeru'' started serial run since March 2006 in [[Champion Red]] magazine under publisher ''[[Akita Shoten]]''. Story by {{nihongo|[[Yasuko Kobayashi]]|小林 靖子|Kobayashi Yasuko}} with art made by {{nihongo|[[Kazuasa Sumita]]|隅田 かずあさ|Sumita Kazuasa}}, whose art and illustrations carry over an erotic style.

Moreover, at a press conference, [[Bandai Entertainment]] entered an agreement with Top Cow Productions to release an English language version of the manga. In spite of its violent and erotic content, Bandai Entertainment stated that they won't be censoring the manga.


===Japanese novel===
===Japanese novel===
{{nihongo|''Witchblade: Ao no Shōjo''|ウィッチブレイド 碧の少女|Witchibureido Ao no Shōjo}} is a Japanese [[novel]] written by Satoshi Ichikawa ([[:ja:市川智士|市川智士]]) with art and illustrations by Makoto Uno ([[:ja:うのまこと|うのまこと]]), who previously worked on the ''Witchblade'' anime as the lead art and character designer. It was published in August 2006.<ref name="productions2006"/> The protagonist is Yuri Miyazono, a sickly 15-year-old [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]n girl who bonds with the Witchblade for her own survival.<ref name="productions2006"/> The novel is set the same continuity as the ''Witchblade'' anime and manga, with Yuri as the immediate successor of Takeru Ibaraki from ''Witchblade Takeru'' and the immediate predecessor of Masane Amaha from the ''Witchblade'' anime.<ref name="productions2006"/>
====Witchblade Lost Generation: Midori no Shōjo====
{{nihongo|''Witchblade Lost Generation: Midori no Shōjo''|ウィッチブレイド 碧の少女 LOST GENERATION|Witchibureido Midori no Shōjo Lost Generation}} is another story published as a Japanese [[novel]] since August 2006 by ''[[Tokuma Shoten]]'' with art and illustrations done by [[Uno Makoto]], who previously worked in the Witchblade anime as the lead art & character designer.


===Cancelled film and untitled video game adaptation===
The main protagonist is a sickly 15-year-old [[Okinawa]]n girl, Yuri Miyazono, who wields the Witchblade for her own survival. Not much specific details have been disclosed regarding the date and time when this novel takes place, besides the postscript has explained it happens in the same timeline as the anime. It says that Yuri is the bearer who immediately precedes Masane Amaha. It also says she is the immediate successor of Takeru Ibaraki from ''Witchblade: Takeru''.
A [[feature film]] adaptation of the comic was announced in 2008 and scheduled for a 2009 release,<ref name="autogenerated2"/> but was never produced. The film was to have been produced by Platinum Studios, Top Cow Productions, and Arclight Media, with Top Cow's Matt Hawkins & Marc Silvestri, Platinum's Rich Marincic, and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg serving as executive producers. Production was planned for September 2008, with filming to be done in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |author=Michael Fleming |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/witchblade-sharpened-for-bigscreen-1117985461/ |title='Witchblade' sharpened for bigscreen |website=Variety |date=2008-05-11 |access-date=2016-02-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307055104/http://variety.com/2008/film/markets-festivals/witchblade-sharpened-for-bigscreen-1117985461/ |archive-date=2016-03-07}}</ref> A video game was announced but was later scrapped.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://topcowblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/cbr-witchblade-goes-from-comic-to.html|title = CCI: Witchblade Goes from Comic to Console|date = 24 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vgsmproject.com/category/witchblade/|title = Witchblade| date=2 December 2019 }}</ref>

==Parodies==
* A parody of the witchblade, called the "Doucheblade" appears in ''[[Howard the Duck]]'' volume 2 issue 3, which was published under [[Marvel Comics]]' [[MAX (comics)|MAX]] imprint. The Doucheblade, empowered by the god/demon [[Pazuzu]], endows the wielder with revealing and spikey armor just like the Witchblade, but also tremendously augments her bust size. The Doucheblade's metal component is [[uranium]], however. The first wielder died of radiation poisoning, but the uranium appears to have become depleted, since its most recent user was [[Eleanor Roosevelt]]. It originally started to bond with a police woman named Suzi Pazuzu, but after a timely intervention by [[Dr. Bong]] bonded to Howard instead, whose DNA was unstable at the time, causing him to spontaneously change genders.

* In the Pazuzu entry of ''[[Marvel Zombies]]: The Book of Angels, Demons, & Various Monstrosities'', the Doucheblade is given the alternate (and more PG-13) name of "Gub-gala-emegir," which in Sumerian roughly translates as "Cleansing Blade."

==Notes==
{{reflist}}


==References==
==References==
{{refbegin}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=character|id=4443|title=Sara Pezzini}}
*{{comicbookdb|type=title|id=1754|title=''Witchblade''}}
*[http://www.toonopedia.com/witchbl.htm/ Witchblade] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]
*[http://www.comicon.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php/ubb/get_topic/f/36/t/006099.html THE PULSE news of The Year of the Witchblade]
{{refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Witchblade}}
*[http://topcow.com/comics/31/current Top Cow Witchblade page]
* {{Comicbookdb|type=title|id=1754|title=Witchblade}}
*[http://www.bladetv.com/ Unofficial Witchblade television site]
*[http://www.witchblade.jp/ GONZO Witchblade anime site] ([[Japanese language|Japanese]])
* [http://www.toonopedia.com/witchbl.htm ''Witchblade''] at [[Don Markstein's Toonopedia]]
*[http://epguides.com/Witchblade/ Air dates and episode guide]
* [http://www.topcow.com/ Top Cow]
* [http://epguides.com/Witchblade/ ''Witchblade'' TV series air dates and episode guide]
*[http://www.sarapezzinifan.co.uk/ Sara's Precinct]
* [http://www.witchblade.jp/ GONZO ''Witchblade'' anime site] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112124633/http://www.witchblade.jp/ |date=2010-11-12}}) {{in lang|ja}}
*[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=81702 Inside Bandai' Witchblade Manga collections]

*[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=105690 ''Witchblade: Shades of Grey'' #1]
{{Witchblade}}
*[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=109089 ''Witchblade'' #105, ''Witchblade: Takeru'' #3]
{{Top Cow Productions}}
*[http://www.freeclyde.com "Witchblade-The Original Soundtrack"]
{{Marc Silvestri}}
*[http://www.moviejungle.com/search/details.asp?Movie_ID=5335 "MovieJungle.com - Information about the 2009 film"]


[[Category:Witchblade| ]]
[[Category:Witchblade| ]]
[[Category:1995 comic debuts]]
[[Category:1995 comics debuts]]
[[Category:2015 comics endings]]
[[Category:2017 comics debuts]]
[[Category:Bandai Entertainment titles]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into animated series]]
[[Category:Comics adapted into television series]]
[[Category:Horror comics]]
[[Category:Image Comics superheroes]]
[[Category:Top Cow titles]]
[[Category:Top Cow titles]]

[[de:Witchblade]]
[[es:Witchblade]]
[[fr:Witchblade]]
[[it:Witchblade]]
[[he:ויצ'בלייד]]
[[hu:Boszorkánykard]]
[[ja:ウィッチブレイド]]
[[sv:Witchblade]]

Latest revision as of 04:42, 14 October 2024

This article is about the Top Cow comic book series. For other uses, see Witchblade (disambiguation).

Witchblade
Front cover to Witchblade Vol. 1 ("Witch Hunt") TPB (Feb 2008)
Publication information
PublisherTop Cow Productions (Image Comics)
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
Genre
Publication dateNovember 1995 – October 2015
December 2017 – January 2020
No. of issues203
Main character(s)Witchblade
Sara Pezzini
Alex Underwood
Creative team
Created byMarc Silvestri
David Wohl
Brian Haberlin
Christina Z
Michael Turner
Written byDavid Wohl
Marc Silvestri
Brian Haberlin
Christina Z
Ron Marz
Artist(s)Michael Turner
Marc Silvestri
Stjepan Šejić

Witchblade is an American comic book series published by Top Cow Productions, an imprint of Image Comics, which ran from November 1995 to October 2015.[1] The series was created by Top Cow founder and owner Marc Silvestri, editor David Wohl, writers Brian Haberlin and Christina Z, and artist Michael Turner.

The Witchblade comic was adapted into a television series in 2001, as well as an anime, a manga and a novel in 2006. A feature film based on the comic, titled The Witchblade, was announced for a 2009 release,[2] but was never produced. A second Witchblade television series was announced for development in January 2017,[3] but there has been no update since.

Top Cow relaunched Witchblade comic in December 2017 with the creative team of writer Caitlin Kittredge and artist Roberta Ingranata. The series features journalist Alex Underwood as the main character.[4][5][6]

The first of a new Witchblade comic series was released in July 2024 featuring a new Witchblade creative team: writer Marguerite Bennett, artist Ariel Kristantina, colorist Bryan Valenza and letterer Troy Peteri.

Plot summary

[edit]

The series follows Sara Pezzini, an NYPD homicide detective who comes into possession of the Witchblade, a supernatural, sentient gauntlet that bonds with a female host and provides her with a variety of powers in order to fight supernatural evil.[citation needed] Sara struggles to hone the powers of the Witchblade and fend off those with a nefarious interest in it, such as entrepreneur Kenneth Irons and his bodyguard Ian Nottingham.[citation needed]

Characters

[edit]
Witchblade #80

The Witchblade

[edit]

The Witchblade is a sentient gauntlet; described as being the offspring of the Darkness and Angelus and serving as the balance between the two forces. Often described as being a male entity, though occasionally taking a feminine form whenever it manifests itself, the Witchblade symbiotically bonds itself to humans—typically women—to serve as its bearers.

Sara Pezzini

[edit]

A New York City detective, Sara first encountered the Witchblade while on a case with her then partner, Michael Yee. After both officers were mortally wounded by criminal Ian Nottingham, the gauntlet suddenly left the possession of his employer, Kenneth Irons, and gave its power to Sara, healing her wounds. When Jackie Estacado, the host of the Darkness, was possessed by its influence, he impregnated a temporarily comatose Sara as part of an effort to sway the Witchblade's balance. However, neither of them became aware of this until later. Eventually, Sara met and relinquished the Witchblade to Danielle Baptiste, to whom the artifact had a strong affinity. Amidst complications during the birth of her daughter, Hope, Sara's life was saved when she received half of the Witchblade from Dani. Sara now possesses the full Witchblade and Dani is now the host for the Angelus.

Danielle Baptiste

[edit]

Danielle is a young ballet dancer who was born in New Orleans. After moving to New York to pursue her career, she experienced a mysterious dream in which she saw herself inheriting great power by means of a mystical gauntlet. Dani found herself taking a walk and wandering to an antique shop the next day. It was there that she encountered Sara Pezzini, the current host of the Witchblade. Having become pregnant, Sara realized that the time had come for her to relinquish the artifact. Sara relinquished the Witchblade to Dani when she realized that she was meant to become its next host. While exploring her powers, Dani faced and overcame a number of mystical opponents. Eventually, Dani returned half of the Witchblade to Sara in order to save Sara's life following the birth of her child. She currently does not have any portion of the Witchblade as she is the present host to the Angelus.

Patrick Gleason

[edit]

An NYPD detective, Sara's partner and boyfriend. Following Hope's birth, he serves as the baby's surrogate father and Sara's confidant in issues involving the Witchblade.

The Curator/The Survivor

[edit]

The owner of an antiques shop, the Curator is a sage-like spectator, occasional informant, and the second primary antagonist of the series. One of Sara and Dani's most trusted confidants, he knows much about the various Artifacts. The Curator later dies, spontaneously exploding after saying "all hope is lost". It was later revealed that the Curator was actually the Survivor, the mysterious mastermind behind all of the recent events in Sara's life. He is the sole survivor of the previous universe in which he was the "Codex", a being meant to ensure its survival in the event of Armageddon. Having failed in his duty and witnessed the destruction of his family, the Survivor has been gradually gathering and manipulating the Artifacts and their bearers throughout history as part of his plan to resurrect his universe.

Tau'ma

[edit]

The Curator's brother, Tau'ma has sided with the Darkness and can pull Darklings from out of his head to attack or spy on others. He also wields a powerful cane with a gem-encrusted hawk head.

Hope Pezzini

[edit]

Sara's daughter with Jackie Estacado. She is neither of the Darkness nor the Angelus, but has unknown powers that are dormant. Hope is the subject of a search by several Artifact bearers following her capture by the Survivor. Hope is the "Codex" for the entire universe, meant to survive and ensure its survival. The Survivor planned to kill Hope and replace her as the Codex in order to guarantee the resurrection of his own universe.

Julie Pezzini

[edit]

Sara's sister. She was romantically involved with Jake, but the two broke up when Jake discovered that she was running drugs. Jake later returned and shot Julie, but she survived, leading to her arrest and imprisonment. Julie was later released after serving her sentence and was reunited with Sara. While taking Hope to a fair, Julie was surprised by Aphrodite IV, who killed her after shooting her in the head.

Ian Nottingham

[edit]

Formerly a Captain of the British Special Air Service, Ian subsequently joined MI5. He underwent behavioural modifications for the purpose of infiltrating the Yakuza. Afterwards, he forgot his past and became Kenneth Irons' bodyguard. Ian has phenomenal skill with both ancient and modern weapons. Ian kills Sara's partner, Michael Yee. For a time he underwent a great change, allowing him the capability to absorb great quantities of energy and to drain energy from entities, even going so far as to temporarily host both the Witchblade and the Darkness. He also temporarily wielded Excalibur, the Witchblade's twin, but it was revealed that Excalibur was merely a shard of the Witchblade, which quickly reabsorbed it. After he lost Excalibur and was defeated by Sara, Ian was taken to prison, only to be freed later by Aphrodite IV. He then retrieved the Blood Sword from Michael Finnegan, gravely wounding the wielder of the Glacier Stone in the process, and left him in the river to die.

Kenneth Irons

[edit]

The first main antagonist of the series, Kenneth Irons is a wealthy entrepreneur who discovered the Witchblade in Greece. Irons' age is unknown. It was eventually revealed that he was a Templar Knight of the Third Crusade and that he once drank from the Holy Grail, granting him a healing factor and immortality, establishing his age as greater than 800 years. However, due to his exposure to the Witchblade during an attempt to host it, Irons does not age at a normal rate; he appears to be no older than 35. In a failed bid to gain control of the Witchblade, Irons lost his hand and sacrificed his wife. Later he was one of two characters left in the Deathpool. As a result, Chief Joe Siry killed Irons for all of the trouble that he had unleashed on Sara. Kenneth is the father of Geraud Irons.

Joe Siry

[edit]

Sara's former captain when she served at the 18th Precinct. He was the partner of Sara's dead father, Detective Vincent Pezzini.

Jake McCarthy

[edit]

An NYPD detective, Jake was Sara's best friend and former partner. He fell in love with Sara, but his feelings were unrequited. A demon came to Earth and entered Jake's body, possessing him while he was wounded defending a weakened Sara. While in a coma he was placed in a hospital. When he woke up later, the god-like demon took full control of his body. The demon was bent on destroying the world to remake it into a hellish kingdom with him as ruler. Sara eventually drove the demon's influence out of Jake's mind, but Jake, still possessed by the demon, committed suicide to ensure that the demon could never control his body again.

Lisa Buzanis

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Daughter of Maria, a deceased friend of Sara's.

Alex Underwood

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A journalist who bonds with the Witchblade.[4][5]

The Darkness

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Jackie Estacado is a former mob hitman and later becomes the host for the Darkness. The Darkness is one of the parents of the Witchblade and one of the primordial forces of the Witchblade universe. He is a supporting character in the Witchblade series and is the main character in his own spin-off series.

The Angelus

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The Angelus is the light counterpart of the Darkness and one of the parents of the Witchblade. The Angelus possesses many female hosts and is the arch-enemy of the Darkness. The Angelus was the primary antagonist of the Darkness series and the third primary antagonist of the Witchblade series.

Magdalena

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Magdalena is a supporting character in the spin-off series Darkness and later in Witchblade.

In other media

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Television

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TNT series

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Main article: Witchblade (2001 TV series)

Following a pilot film in August 2000, TNT premiered a television series based on the comic book series which ran for two seasons from June 12, 2001 to August 26, 2002. The series was directed by Ralph Hemecker, written by Marc Silvestri and J.D. Zeik, and starred Yancy Butler as Sara Pezzini.[7] Although critically acclaimed and popular with audiences, the series was canceled in September 2002, reportedly due to Butler’s issues with substance abuse.[8] Warner Home Video released Witchblade: The Complete Series—a seven-disc collector's set including the original made-for-TV movie, all 23 episodes of the series, and special features—on DVD on July 29, 2008.[9]

Music

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Witchblade: The Music
Compilation album by
Various Artists
Released2004
GenreRock music
Length54:20
LabelEdge Artists
ProducerG Tom Mac

Witchblade the Music is a compilation album of music from/inspired by the Witchblade TV series and the comic book. The songs included on this album are performed by Various Artists. It was compiled and produced by G Tom Mac, it was conceived by Christina Z and released in 2004 on the Edge Artists record label. The album notes credit G Tom Mac a.k.a. Gerard McMahon for the music and Eddie Kislinger for the lyrics for "Wicked Town", "Drop Dead Pretty", and "Was It Magic”. McMahon is also credited for "Greater Powers"; "Child of Mine" with Roger Daltrey; and "Cry Little Sister" which he wrote with Michael Maineri. In addition, McMahon and Kislinger are credited as the Executive Producers of the soundtrack.

NBC series

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In January 2017, NBC announced the development a Witchblade television series, with Carol Mendelsohn and Caroline Dries serving as executive producers.[3]

Anime series

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Main article: Witchblade (2006 TV series)

Top Cow and Japanese animation studio Gonzo produced an anime adaptation of Witchblade,[10] which began broadcast during April 2006 and ran for 24 episodes.[11] Although the anime features a new story with all new characters, it exists in the same continuity as the comic book and manga.[12] The anime focuses on Masane Amaha, who has no recollection of her past beyond six years earlier.[13][14]

Manga

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In August 2004, Top Cow made an agreement with manga publisher Kodansha to produce a manga adaptation of Witchblade.[10] The subsequent adaptation, Witchblade Takeru (ウィッチブレイド丈流, Wicchibureido Takeru),[15][16] was released in March 2006, written by the anime's main writer Yasuko Kobayashi (小林靖子) and drawn by Kazuasa Sumita (隅田 かずあさ, Sumita Kazuasa).[12] The manga features a different plot and characters from the Witchblade anime and comic book but is set in the same continuity as both.[17] The manga focuses on Takeru Ibaraki, an average Japanese high school girl raised in a Buddhist convent who experiences recurring nightmares about the Witchblade and eventually becomes its newest bearer.[15] The manga was released in the U.S. by Top Cow and Bandai Entertainment from February 2007 to February 2008.[12]

Japanese novel

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Witchblade: Ao no Shōjo (ウィッチブレイド 碧の少女, Witchibureido Ao no Shōjo) is a Japanese novel written by Satoshi Ichikawa (市川智士) with art and illustrations by Makoto Uno (うのまこと), who previously worked on the Witchblade anime as the lead art and character designer. It was published in August 2006.[17] The protagonist is Yuri Miyazono, a sickly 15-year-old Okinawan girl who bonds with the Witchblade for her own survival.[17] The novel is set the same continuity as the Witchblade anime and manga, with Yuri as the immediate successor of Takeru Ibaraki from Witchblade Takeru and the immediate predecessor of Masane Amaha from the Witchblade anime.[17]

Cancelled film and untitled video game adaptation

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A feature film adaptation of the comic was announced in 2008 and scheduled for a 2009 release,[2] but was never produced. The film was to have been produced by Platinum Studios, Top Cow Productions, and Arclight Media, with Top Cow's Matt Hawkins & Marc Silvestri, Platinum's Rich Marincic, and Greenberg Group's Randy Greenberg serving as executive producers. Production was planned for September 2008, with filming to be done in Australia.[18] A video game was announced but was later scrapped.[19][20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Albert Ching (2015-06-26). "EXCLUSIVE: "Witchblade" to End in October, Sejics Now Top Cow-Exclusive". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  2. ^ a b SuperHeroHype (2008-05-26). "Witchblade Teaser Poster and Site Revealed". Superhero Hype. Archived from the original on 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  3. ^ a b Lesley Goldberg (2017-01-20). "'Witchblade' Reboot From Carol Mendelsohn, Caroline Dries Set at NBC". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
  4. ^ a b Staley, Brandon (18 September 2017). "Witchblade Returns with Female Writer, Artist". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b Marston, George (18 September 2017). "WITCHBLADE Gets a New #1 - and a New Wielder". Newsarama. Archived from the original on 2019-04-06. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Look Inside WITCHBLADE (2017) #1". Impact Comics. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Internet Movie Database entry on the 2001 Witchblade TV series". IMDb.
  8. ^ "Witchblade Sliced by TNT". E! News. 2002-09-05. Archived from the original on 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
  9. ^ "Witchblade DVD news: Announcement for Witchblade—The Complete Series". TVShowsOnDVD.com. 2008-04-01. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
  10. ^ a b "Gonzo to Produce Witchblade Anime". Anime News Network. 2004-08-16. Archived from the original on 2014-04-09. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
  11. ^ "GONZO 作品一覧 -ウィッチブレイド". Gonzo.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
  12. ^ a b c "Top Cow Announces Witchblade Manga in 2007". Anime News Network. 2006-12-12. Archived from the original on 2015-07-24. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  13. ^ "Witchblade DVD 1". Anime News Network. October 2, 2023.
  14. ^ enthusiast, Lilia HellalVisual novel; Lover, Otome; Hibari, wife of (June 7, 2023). "Waifu Wednesday: Masane Amaha (Witchblade) - Rice Digital". ricedigital.co.uk.
  15. ^ a b "Modern Visual Culture Digest » Manga Review: Witchblade ~Takeru~ Chapter 1". Heisei Democracy. 2006-04-09. Archived from the original on 2013-11-05. Retrieved 2014-05-31.
  16. ^ Kazuasa, Sumita (2006). Wichblade Takeru. Tokyo: Akita Shoten. ISBN 9784253231558.
  17. ^ a b c d Top Cow Productions (2006). Witchblade Lost Generation: Midori no Shōjo. Tokyo: Tokuma Shoten. ISBN 9784199051623.
  18. ^ Michael Fleming (2008-05-11). "'Witchblade' sharpened for bigscreen". Variety. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  19. ^ "CCI: Witchblade Goes from Comic to Console". 24 July 2010.
  20. ^ "Witchblade". 2 December 2019.
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