It seems that Top Cow is on a mission to make their products more accessible to the masses. How would they go about that? One way would be to allow for digital download of their products. Another would be to slash prices on those products. How about both?
Top Cow sent some good news our way this afternoon when they announced that the Witchblade Anime is now available via iTunes, and that an upcoming Darkness trade will retail for a measly $4.99. The masses thank them.
More details on the iTunes deal. Witchblade: The Anime Series spawned from a collaboration between Funimation and anime studio GONZO, and breaks far from the traditional Witchblade formula. The series stars Masane Amaha – a woman who knows little of her past other than that she has a young daughter. The story takes place far in the future in an alternative Tokyo demolished at some point in the past.
Unlike in the Western Witchblade property, Masane is not the pillar of strength you have come to expect. She has a hard time keeping her head on straight, and an even more difficult time staying afloat when she comes in contact with the Witchblade. More often than not her daughter keeps her out of trouble – cooking, cleaning and caring for her when she is hung over.
Also in anime-fashion, the character is more sexualized than before. Hard to believe right? Her costume covers only the essential bits – and in addition the Witchblade seems to be a much more primal – and therefore sexual – entity. Fight scenes are broken by battle cries that sound equally like something born of ecstasy. Masane finds herself craving battle – which scares her more than she would like.
I won’t tell you much more about the anime – you will just have to go and check it out yourself here. Trust me – it is worth watching. The best part about the iTunes deal? You can download the first episode free until October 26. Get on that!
In addition to the above good news, Top Cow also announced that they are slashing the price on one of their upcoming trades. In an effort to get more readers to check out Jackie Estacado – who, by the way, is totally worth checking out – Top Cow plans on selling the upcoming The Darkness: Accursed Vol. 1 trade for $4.99. If any of you have yet to get on the Darkness train – now is the time to do so. At this price, you can’t really say no.
The trade contains the initial storyline written by Phil Hester and illustrated by Michael Broussard – which runs six issues in total. The trade is the first of the current Darkness volume.
“The Darkness: Accursed Vol. 1 represents not only a fresh start for new readers, but a dramatic turn of events for longtime fans of the book or the video game,” explained Phil Hester. “You don’t need to know every last detail of Jackie Estacado’s past. If you ever played the game or read the book and imagined yourself in Jackie’s shoes, as I have, this storyline is a logical extension of those thoughts. And if you’re simply looking for blood-spattered mayhem, sexy femme fatales, gritty crime, plus a dose of existential horror, we got that, too!”
“Anyone who is apprehensive about picking up this book because they think have to read up on past Darkness issues, no need to worry. “Jackie is no longer content being a hitman for the mob, or even the boss of a family,” said Hester. “With a newfound understanding of his power, the sky’s the limit. So he goes south to a banana republic that will offer only token resistance to see just how far he can get with his powers turned up to eleven. Plus, it’s all lavishly illustrated by the (IMHO) MVP of Top Cow, Michael Broussard.”
In order to get the $4.99 deal you must purchase the book exclusively at a comic retailer, not just a book store. Book retailers will continue to sell the trade for $9.99. I have to admit I like that bit, it is nice to see the small guys have a heads up over the nation-wide chains every once in a while. You can pick up the trade starting this November.
“Just like we did when Ron Marz first took over writing Witchblade, we want to reward longtime readers of The Darkness and at the same time entice new readers to come and check out Phil Hester’s storytelling, and you just can’t beat $4.99 for six, full-color quality issues of a comic series,” proclaimed Top Cow VP Marketing and Sales Mel Caylo.”
So there you have it. Top Cow loves us. Now go and download the first episode of Witchblade.
October 17th, 2008 at 5:30 am
OMG! I’m so getting the TP (Jackie Rules…Although Sara does kick his butt-sometimes). I hope that they come out with more as I like the TC brand of comics almost better than Marvel or DC.
Oh……Cos Ideas!
October 19th, 2008 at 11:29 am
The first episode is pretty awesome; I agree, definitely for mature audiences.
And yar, The Darkness is in a very convenient place right now for new readers. It rocks!