Top Cow has sent Major Spoilers the cover images and solicitation information for titles arriving in March 2009. Highlights on this list include the 125th issues of Witchblade, which kicks off the six-part War of the Witchblades storyline, and a brand new series called Black Vault.
Witchblade #125
(W) Ron Marz      (A) Stjepan Sejic   (Cov) Chris Bachalo, Stjepan Sejic
One of the longest-running series in comics reaches a milestone: 125 issues and still going strong! There’s no better way to mark this occasion than with the start of the biggest Witchblade story arc ever!
For more than a year now, the Witchblade has been split between two bearers—NYPD Detective Sara Pezzini and dancer Danielle Baptiste—and they have coexisted peacefully. But that’s all about to end.
Beginning in this issue, the six-part “War of the Witchblades†arc will change Sara, Dani and the Witchblade forever. Sara has been Dani’s friend and mentor, but now she becomes her bitter enemy. By the end of the storyline, only ONE bearer will remain.
The critically acclaimed team of writer Ron Marz and artist Stjepan Sejic is joined by cover artist Chris Bachalo (Uncanny X-Men, Amazing Spider-Man), who contributes a two-part cover of Sara and Dani.
Cover A – Chris Bachalo
Cover B – Chris Bachalo
Cover C – Stjepan Sejic
Full Color      32 pages      $2.99    ongoing series
Black Vault #1
(W) B. Clay Moore   (A) Nelson Blake II   (Cov) Jeremy Haun
From Kickstart Productions (“Wanted†movie); B. Clay Moore, the creator and writer of the critically acclaimed Hawaiian Dick; and brilliant new talent Nelson Blake II (Broken Trinity: Witchblade, Orphan) comes a gripping tale of torture, terror and the threat of nuclear annihilation…set in deep space.
When the astronauts aboard the International Space Station help install a state-of-the-art weather observation satellite, everything seems perfectly routine…until the screaming begins. Now it’s up to the ISS crew to face down the threat, and the stakes are higher than they could ever imagine.
Full Color      32 pages      $2.99    ongoing series
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The Darkness #76
(W) Phil Hester   (A) Michael Broussard     (Cov) Frazer Irving, Josh Medors
Jackie’s face-off against his deadliest foe yet continues as the Legacy numbering of The Darkness goes into full effect, taking into account every issue ever published, regardless of volume.
The Sovereign’s bloody mission for Jackie has finally driven him to despair. Broken and lost, Jackie falls for an otherworldly seductress who seeks to exact a centuries-old curse against The Darkness. Plus, who is The Foreigner and how does his connection to The Darkness predate Jackie Estacado’s?
Cover A – Frazer Irving
Cover B – Josh Medors
Full Color      32 pages      $2.99    ongoing series
The Darkness Vol. 3 #3 2008 NYCC Variant Cover Edition Signed
(W) Phil Hester   (A) Michael Broussard, Dale Keown      (Cov) Michael Broussard
Get it while it’s still available! This exclusive variant cover from the 2008 New York Comic-Con is soon to run out. Signed by cover and series artist Broussard.
Full Color      32 pages      $14.99   convention exclusive
The Darkness #71-74 Cover Set
(W) Phil Hester   (A) Jorge Lucas   (Cov) Jorge Lucas, Stjepan Sejic, Matt Timson, Frazer Irving
Previously known as The Darkness Vol. 3 issues #7-10, get all seven covers for these soon-to-be collectibles at a fraction of the cost!
Full Color      32 pages each      $16.99   Comic Set (x 7)
Impaler #3
(W) William Harms   (A) Matt Timson   (Cov) Matt Timson
Vampires are overwhelming America, state by state, and the only chance of survival lies at the hands of an ancient hero!
Lt. George Wagner arrives in Washington, D.C., hoping to find reinforcements. Instead, he discovers the nation’s capital has been abandoned, its citizens headed west, away from the approaching vampires. In New Jersey, Victor and Vlad are attacked by the unlikeliest of enemies – Vlad’s brother, Mircea, who was long thought dead but is out for revenge!
Full Color      32 pages      $2.99      ongoing series
Impaler #1 Cover Variant Signed
(W) William Harms   (A) Matt Timson   (Cov) Sheldon Mitchell
Get this alternate cover of the new series signed by writer William Harms and cover artist Sheldon Mitchell before it’s too late!
Full Color      32 pages      $10.99   signed exclusive
.jpg "Rising Stars Compendium (not final art).jpg")
Rising Stars Compendium Softcover
(W) J. Michael Straczynski, Fiona Avery   (A) Brent Anderson, Keu Cha, David Finch, Karl Moline
Now available in softcover!
When Rising Stars first debuted in 1999, people hailed its fresh take on the superhero mythos, grounding the fantastic in reality. The groundbreaking series by acclaimed writer J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Thor) spawned three spin-off mini-series and has influenced successful TV shows like The 4400 and Heroes.
Now, every issue of Rising Stars, from the #0 to the last issue of the last mini-series, is collected into one comprehensive softcover.
This edition includes Rising Stars #1-24, #0 issue, #½ issue, Prelude issue, Rising Stars: Bright, Rising Stars: Voices of the Dead and Rising Stars: Untouchable.
Full Color      1,008 pages      $59.99      softcover
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Blood Legacy: Heir to the Throne (Novel 3)
(W) Kerri Hawkins
In this third installment of the Blood Legacy novel series by author Kerri Hawkins (The Darkness novels), the story of Ryan Alexander continues. Heir-apparent to those that inspired the legend of the vampire, Ryan is a woman who possesses all of the mythical creature’s abilities and none of its weaknesses. Surrounded by ancient beings who seek to dominate her by force or seduction, Ryan has become the most powerful of her Kind.
But just as she begins to solidify her power, old and new enemies appear, challenging not only her supremacy, but her conception of all that she is. Once thought immortal, she is confronted with the previously unimaginable: defeat, destruction…and death.
B/W      160 pages      $6.99    novel
Freshmen: Summer Vacation Special Sheldon Mitchell Paradise Comics Variant
(W) Hugh Sterbakov      (A) Sheldon Mitchell      (Cov) Sheldon Mitchell
Get the limited, exclusive cover of this oversized one-shot for the series co-created by star Seth Green!
Full Color      48 pages      $10.00   exclusive variant
