Witchblade Revives Beloved Character After Years of Anticipation

WARNING! Potential spoilers for Witchblade #7 ahead.

The iconic character of the 1990s, The Darkness, is set to make a notable re-entry this year within the pages of Witchblade. Jackie Estacado, Top Cow’s notable supernatural hitman, has been largely absent in recent narratives, but he is poised to reemerge to face off against Sara Pezzini, potentially wielding the formidable powers of the Darkness.

Scheduled for release on January 15, 2025, Witchblade #7 marks a significant chapter in Top Cow/Image Comics’ ongoing revitalization of their flagship character. In this new installment, readers will witness Sara Pezzini grappling with her newly acquired powers as the current bearer of the Witchblade.

Witchblade #7
Release Date:	January 15th, 2025
Writers:	Marguerite Bennett
Artist:	Joseph Cafaro
Colorist:	Arif Priyanto
Cover Artists:	Giuseppe Cafaro & Arif Prianto
In the narrative, New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini assumes her role as this generation’s Witchblade bearer, tasked with balancing the opposing forces of light and darkness. Her relentless pursuit of her father’s murderer has brought her into contact with the enigmatic billionaire, Kenneth Irons, whose ties to NYC’s criminal underbelly are undeniable. Enter Jackie Estacado, a young member of the Franchetti crime family, who is about to realize the extraordinary powers of the Darkness as he turns 21, forever altering Sara’s trajectory in the Top Cow universe.

The Darkness Returns to Challenge the Witchblade

Originally introduced by David Wohl, Marc Silvestri, and Garth Ennis in 1996’s Witchblade #10, The Darkness quickly became a prominent figure at Top Cow’s Image Comics. Alongside Witchblade, these characters helped to define the nascent Top Cow Universe during the ’90s. Both entities, which embody ancient powers, resonate through history, attaching to human hosts in the eternal conflict between order and chaos.

The Witchblade is conceived as a progeny of the Darkness and the Angelus, the embodiment of divine light. As the current bearer of Jackie Estacado, this character wields an impressive arsenal of supernatural capabilities. Most notably, The Darkness manifests as an armor that enhances the host’s strength and durability, enabling Jackie to create bladed constructs at will. Experienced bearers of The Darkness can even sprout wings and shapeshift, alongside claiming dominion over demon-like creatures known as “Darklings”which inhabit shadows.

The 90’s Are Back with the Return of Witchblade & The Darkness

Comic Book Criminals The Darkness Jackie

Initially adversaries, Witchblade and The Darkness have historically evolved into allies as they explore their powers’ origins. In the original storyline, Jackie and Sara had a daughter named Hope, who emerged as one of the most potent entities within the Top Cow Universe. Observers eagerly anticipate how this reboot’s creative team will depict the dynamic between Sara and Jackie. The potential for exhilarating confrontations between these two powerful forces looms on the horizon. Ideally, Top Cow will announce a revitalized Darkness comic series that complements the reborn Witchblade in the upcoming year.

Witchblade #7 will be available starting January 15, 2025, through Top Cow/Image Comics.

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