I’m not normally the type to jump into a series part way, especially not 136 issues in. I stick to new series or try to pick an event in the time line, like the "Death of Captain America," which marks something of a new starting point for the series even though it’s quite a few issues in. So when I was sent Witchblade #136 to review it was always going to be an interesting read, but is any of that down to the actual comic?
In short, yes, and I think that’s partly helped by my chance picking up of the Top Cow Free Comic Book Day Comic Artifacts #0. Artifacts #0 features Aphrodite IV, a fourth generation cyborg assassin. She is introduced to the 13 artifacts, a collection of objects which hold the key to the fate of the world. Each object has a bearer and the bearer of one of those objects, the Witchblade, is New York City police detective called Sara Pezzini. The Witchblade is the offspring of two other objects, The Darkness and Angelus, and is a balancing force between the dark and light of the universe.
Witchblade #136 is the third part of a story arc called "Almost Human," and it sees Sara Pezzini working with Aphrodite IV. They have established an uneasy truce between them as they need each other’s help to achieve their goals, Pezzini’s is the taking down of a corrupt mega-corporation Cyberdata and Aphrodite’s is the tracking down of a scientist that Cyberdata is trying to protect. At the Cyberdata complex they battle three Cyborgs based off Aphrodite’s design in a rather impressive yet short altercation that’s made exciting by the unique abilities of Pezzini and the cyborgs.
Within the issue there is no reason given for why Pezzini needs to bring down Cyberdata, I mean, sure, they’re corrupt, and she’s a cop, but there’s got to be some greater reason for her risking her life on missions like this. I know it’s probably explained prior, but it was just frustrating because Aphrodite was given a reason for pursuing Dr. Singh in this issue. He was one of the people who created her, but he’s fled and is selling the designs she is based on to the highest bidder. She’s been given a mission, to terminate him, so her involvement has a purpose. Pezzini just seems to be meandering along like some sort of vigilante, and her actions at the end of the issue further confuse her reasoning.
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